Some shows have perfect titles that just cant be touched (I Love Lucy, The Odd Couple and Cheers to name a few).... but other series have titles that are either very uncreative (The *fill-in-the-blank* show) or just a random title that could work with anything (Family Matters comes to mind immediately)

But the whole point of this thread is, if you had the power to change the title of a show, what would you change it to??

You can ONLY use shows you like, I dont want this to become a "what show do you hate" thread in disguise.

I think a better title for The Dick Van Dyke Show would've been "The Alan Brady Show". I know, it still incorporates a "The *fill-in-the-blank* Show", but the best part of TDVDS was easily Rob at work.

I think The Simpsons is a great title, but it doesn't allow the show to expand as much as it could. A lot goes on in Springfield, but the storyline is always tethered to the Simpson family, which would be fine if most of the best characters weren't outside of the family. If the show were named something like Springfield, then we could ignore the family once in a while and have episodes just focused on the police station, Lenny and Carl, etc. I know there already are episodes focused on other characters, but their stories are often undermined by what happens to the Simpsons. This title would give the show more liberty to explore several of its underrated characters. Just an idea.

I can think of a better title for Laverne & Shirley's final season: Laverne.

Originally posted by Chambers
I think The Simpsons is a great title, but it doesn't allow the show to expand as much as it could. A lot goes on in Springfield, but the storyline is always tethered to the Simpson family, which would be fine if most of the best characters weren't outside of the family. If the show were named something like Springfield, then we could ignore the family once in a while and have episodes just focused on the police station, Lenny and Carl, etc. I know there already are episodes focused on other characters, but their stories are often undermined by what happens to the Simpsons. This title would give the show more liberty to explore several of its underrated characters. Just an idea.

brilliant.
Especially for me, because I prefer dozens of other Springfield characters over the Simpsons themselves.

But just to note one thing -- a Simpsons spinoff would never work.
Unless the rumors about Homer and Marge as themselves in highschool, titled Old School, are true, because that might work.

Originally posted by Brian
I can think of a better title for Laverne & Shirley's final season: Laverne.

Likewise, Brian, I can think of a better title for The Waltons' final two seasons: The Burtons. :D

Originally posted by barwars
I think a better title for The Dick Van Dyke Show would've been "The Alan Brady Show". I know, it still incorporates a "The *fill-in-the-blank* Show", but the best part of TDVDS was easily Rob at work.

Barwars, it's ironic isn't it that TDVDS has such an uncreative name, yet has very creative episode titles! :crazy: :lol: The only replacment name for TDVDS I can think of is what Carl Reiner used in his original pilot: "Head of the Family."

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is another "fill-in-the-blank-show." I cna't think of a replacement name for that tho. Maybe "WJM in Minneapolis"? Or just "Mary"?

Originally posted by DickVanDykeMan
Barwars, it's ironic isn't it that TDVDS has such an uncreative name, yet has very creative episode titles! :crazy: :lol: The only replacment name for TDVDS I can think of is what Carl Reiner used in his original pilot: "Head of the Family."

Very true.
Some of the best episode titles ever.
It was never "it is what it is", the titles were very creative.
I think "Head of the Family" would be cast aside as another title that could really fit anywhere.

I made sense with the Carl Reiner pilot, because it was obvious the show was more about life at home.
But, as I said before -- the beauty of TDVDS was the perfect blend of work and home, which with a few *minor* exceptions (basically just MTM and The Bob Newhart Show) never worked again until the 90s.

Originally posted by barwars
I made sense with the Carl Reiner pilot, because it was obvious the show was more about life at home.
But, as I said before -- the beauty of TDVDS was the perfect blend of work and home, which with a few *minor* exceptions (basically just MTM and The Bob Newhart Show) never worked again until the 90s.

Which show(s) had that blend in the '90's? Frasier?

Originally posted by DickVanDykeMan
Which show(s) had that blend in the '90's? Frasier?

Yup, along with Home Improvement and Coach.


Wow, thats about it.
So really, only about 6 shows ever had the perfect mix of work and home.

Originally posted by barwars
Yup, along with Home Improvement and Coach.


Wow, thats about it.
So really, only about 6 shows ever had the perfect mix of work and home.

Well... I'm sure more shows with the perfect home/work combo will come along...

eventually...

....

....

someday...

;) :lol:

Maude shouldve been called Maudezilla

In all seriousness though

Happy Days IMO had a great name but another name for it cxouldve been The Cunninghams or That 50's Show

Originally posted by "Weird" Jack Wilso-vic
Maude shouldve been called Maudezilla



:lol:

Originally posted by Small Wonderian
:lol: :D

Originally posted by "Weird" Jack Wilso-vic
Maude shouldve been called Maudezilla

:rotflmao:

Ia lso agree with everything else, Springfield would be a cool title for The Simspsons

Oh and I totally agree with TDVDS I mean the whole series was about him being a writer so it should be called The Alan Brady Show, good idea, Tim

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:rotflmao: :D

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:rotflmao:

ditto

Originally posted by barwars
ditto :D

Originally posted by "Weird" Jack Wilso-vic
:D

:lol: you give me a laugh when you do that :lol:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:lol: you give me a laugh when you do that :lol: LOL

Originally posted by "Weird" Jack Wilso-vic
LOL

Yet, he misses the perfect oppurtunity to use it.

Originally posted by barwars
Very true.
Some of the best episode titles ever.
It was never "it is what it is", the titles were very creative.
I think "Head of the Family" would be cast aside as another title that could really fit anywhere.

I made sense with the Carl Reiner pilot, because it was obvious the show was more about life at home.
But, as I said before -- the beauty of TDVDS was the perfect blend of work and home, which with a few *minor* exceptions (basically just MTM and The Bob Newhart Show) never worked again until the 90s.

Alice was able to achieve a good blend of home and work too.

Originally posted by JT
Alice was able to achieve a good blend of home and work too.

Yup, very true.
Anymore??

Originally posted by barwars
I think a better title for The Dick Van Dyke Show would've been "The Alan Brady Show". I know, it still incorporates a "The *fill-in-the-blank* Show", but the best part of TDVDS was easily Rob at work.

Speaking of shows with titles, "The so-n-so Show", I think they all need to be changed. That title is so boring and annoying. Especially when the show is an emsemble show. The Dick Van Dyke Show...it was anything but just his show. Same with The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Speaking of shows with titles, "The so-n-so Show", I think they all need to be changed. That title is so boring and annoying. Especially when the show is an emsemble show. The Dick Van Dyke Show...it was anything but just his show. Same with The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

The shows had their names in it cuz even tho it was an ensemble show, they were the stars. TDVDS was called that due to Danny Thomas. I remember hearing this in some interview from somewhere saying his show changed from "Make Room for Daddy" to "The Danny Thomas Show." He didn't want Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke coming up with a creative name when he knew the same thing would happen to Van Dyke's show. Thus, TDVDS was born!

And since we're on the topic, it's not called "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." It's just plain old "Mary Tyler Moore." The book TV Land to Go says: "By the way, it is Mary Tyler Moore and not The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The producers and Mary herself made that a disticnct choice. They felt that the latter title would imply that the show was all about Mary, while the former implied the ensemble show they were creating." (Hill, 280)

Either way, it's not a creative title!:lol:

The Andy Griffith Show - "Mayberry" or "The Mayberry Show"

That way, the final three seasons, "Mayberry R.F.D." would probably be included as the same series.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - "The Comedy Man" or "The Comedy Dad" or something like that.

The Patty Duke Show - "Cousins" or "The Lanes"

more "name show's" that can change..

The Cosby Show = The Huxtable House
Ellen = Reading Morgan (since she owned and operated the bookstore)
Seinfeld = Nothing
Whoopi = Mavis' Hotel
Roseanne = Roseanne Connor's World

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79

Seinfeld = Nothing

:lol: That's great.

What do you watch on TV?
Nothing.

Originally posted by DickVanDykeMan
The shows had their names in it cuz even tho it was an ensemble show, they were the stars. TDVDS was called that due to Danny Thomas. I remember hearing this in some interview from somewhere saying his show changed from "Make Room for Daddy" to "The Danny Thomas Show." He didn't want Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke coming up with a creative name when he knew the same thing would happen to Van Dyke's show. Thus, TDVDS was born!

And since we're on the topic, it's not called "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." It's just plain old "Mary Tyler Moore." The book TV Land to Go says: "By the way, it is Mary Tyler Moore and not The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The producers and Mary herself made that a disticnct choice. They felt that the latter title would imply that the show was all about Mary, while the former implied the ensemble show they were creating." (Hill, 280)

Either way, it's not a creative title!:lol:

I've always refered to Mary Tyler Moore, as just that -- Mary Tyler Moore. That's what the themesong shows, so I just rolled with that. But, of course, the DVD (I believe) says "The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Season 1"

I think a better title would've been WJM or Work and Life.

i have to say it gets kinda annoying after awhile when you name a show "Boy Meets World" and it goes past high school. Or "That 70's Show" they should be in the 80's but because of the title they no longer say the year.

I wish people would consider naming these shows something broader just in case. For instance "Life As We Know It" is great if this series makes it past high school. Because it will always be "Life As We Know it"

I think that Will and Grace should have been called "The Four OF Us" or "Life At Work and Home" because the show has always been about Will, Grace, Karen and Jack and most times focused on life at both work and home. and the truth is some episodes don't even focus on Will/Grace.

I always wanted Sabrina The Teenage Witch to drop the Teenage Witch part after she graduated high school, since she wasn't a teenager anymore, she was a women.

Originally posted by factsoflife
I think that Will and Grace should have been called "The Four OF Us" or "Life At Work and Home" because the show has always been about Will, Grace, Karen and Jack and most times focused on life at both work and home. and the truth is some episodes don't even focus on Will/Grace.

I always wanted Sabrina The Teenage Witch to drop the Teenage Witch part after she graduated high school, since she wasn't a teenager anymore, she was a women.

As for Will & Grace, I completely agree.

But I know that Sabrina The Teenage Witch wanted to be changed to just "Sabrina", but due to legal rights with Archie Comics, they had to keep the title that the comic series used.