i was thinking to myself about all of these older shows i love (Good Times, Jeffersons, Golden Girls, Facts of Life, All in the Family, Laverne & Shirley...the list goes on) and can actually only name about 3 shows off the top of my head that I watch consistently today (Law & Order, America's Next Top Model, ELRaymond). that is really sad considering i spend more time watching DVDs or reruns of old shows instead of watching anything that is on television today.

What will it take to bring television back to the good ole days? When television was something you could watch with your entire family. When the writing was fresh and didn't rely on safe topics and scenarios. When there were memorable characters. When there were TRUE dramas in primetime that didn't involve homicide. When you watched characters and were reminded of yourself or a member of your family or a friend. When things were realistic (those people on Friends could not half afford to live in such a plush loft in NYC - trust me). I can go on and on....

i am so disappointed in TV programming of today. i spend more money on DVDs to meet my needs that it's getting a little out of control. who in the hell wants to see will & grace on DVD...this is not classic television?!?!?!

here's my assessment of the current stations.
NBC- they seem to have the comedy shows on lock. shows seem to have witty and young writers but the material is been there, done that from show to show.

CBS- most of the best dramas i think are on this channel. they seem to take more risks (Joan of Arcadia) with programming and are open to grittier shows and topics.

ABC- safe, family programming for comedies and drama. their strong suit is daytime programming with talk shows and soaps. they can't seem to find their niche in my opinion.

FOX - reality show haven and offbeat comedies and few dramas. guilt TV (you watch most of the shows on here, but don't want anyone to know you are hooked on them - American Idol).

having said this, here is my thinking on what could be done to bring TV back to the good ole days - when Good Times thrived:

-Put an end to this reality TV madness. This phase should've ended long ago. they have a reality show Gilligan's Island on TBS. how dare they?!?!
-CBS was the original home of a lot of these classic shows. They are going to have to step their game up and introduce more shows that are not in the mainstream.
-Stop giving stand up comedians shows. Most people that are funny, are funny without even trying. The beauty of comedic character is that they just ARE.
-Get some new faces on TV. So you think I'll watch LAX just b/c Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood are on there? Get real. Maybe if you introduce some new talent every once in awhile, I'll be interested in watching. Celebrities do not always guarantee a hit.
-Find some of those classic writers, editors, producers from classic television and put them back to work. Or, hire them as consultants to teach the new breed of writers what it's all about.
-Stop being so PC about everything. Yes, there is racism, yes there is poverty. Deal with it and let's see it. It's all in how something is presented and written. Do you recall a protest or boycott being staged with George Jefferson used the N or the H word? It's all about the writing and presentation.
-Know your writers. All comedies seem like college humor or the writing of someone who also works for Conan O'Brien. There's no more slapstick or subtle humor, it's in your face and cynical.

i welcome your thoughts on the topic.

Well I'm sorta with you, then I'm sorta not with you. I personally have issue's with the "funniness" of ELRaymond and wonder how on earth it wins awards, yet I think Will & Grace is hilarious.

Yes I think shows need to be more family orientated but you do get that with shows like "According to Jim", "My Wife &Kids", "King of queens". I do however think old shows should be brought back just to teach kids lessons in life. Yes it may sem cheesy when you're older, but kids need this guidance!

And I hate to admit it but I do like reality shows. I see their downfall and their negative effects, but I secretly do like them.

And I don't live in the US, so maybe my judgement is a little off.

Good post, well said I agree with everything you said. I am glad you brought up this topic, because I am a writer and my writing is realistic.

I'd deal with poverty, racism and politics. in the shows today we have no discussion of current events and controversial social issues. Whoopi was a good show, because it was relevant. I am still waiting and hoping for shows that are funny and bring up controversy. we have become so politically correct it makes us unrealistic. look at all these shows on all networks, none of the characters struggle with money and seem to have everything they need. as for racism it needs to be dealt with in sitcoms. not only in black sitcoms in all of them.

Family Ties and Growing Pains showed examples of it. the writers are afraid they'll offend someone. the point is these issues exist and shouldn't be overlooked.

the stand up comedian thing you said was good too. look at the cast of Good Time, only Jimmie Walker is a comedian and all the rest of the cast are just actors and they all could get laughs. what is funny is the writing and the delivery from the actor and a stand up can't always do that. I think more unknowns should be cast in shows. last the writing is the important part. the new class of writers don't know how to write. I think a lot of writers from classic shows would be willing to write new stuff. I also think the networks should hire viewer programing consultants to suggest shows. on this site I think there are a lot of future writers who will bring us back to the classic shows.

I more or less agree with what knl has said. The guy who said Tv is a vast wasteland in 1961 or so should be around to see it now!!

The writing is crucial to a show's success, and I think that one major problem now is that a lot of the people who write grew up watching tv and don't write from real life experience, but write what they think or are told that a tv audience wants to see. I think Tv needs an influx of both writers and actors who have been classically trained in the theater arts and are truly dedicated to the craft of putting together a high quality production, not just getting paid.

I also agree with casting actors who are not well known or are not necessarily stand-up comic types. I think a stand-up person should go take acting classes if they want to be in a sitcom, because there are certain nuances to that genre that can only be brought out by theatrical training. But the whole entertainment industry and the whole US culture in general isn't really supportive of this sort of thing anymore if you ask me. Money is more the bottom line than anything else.

Also, in addition to showing racism and poverty I want to know where are the middle aged and not so attractive people in tv shows, sitcoms especially. Not everyone in real life is attractive or looks like a model.

Good Times had realistic looking people in it and some of the characters wore the same attire for several seasons running. What show now is going to have that? And if you ask me the Afro American ones are far worse in terms of this political correctness nonsense than the other shows.

Give me a weak episode of Good Times or The Jeffersons over any of today's shows. The rapper Nas lambasts the Afro American UPN sitcoms and he has a point.

good points, jamesanthony. completely agree. although i have to correct you on a term in your post. Afro American is outdated. Went out just like Negro. The appropriate term is African-American.

i'm not a PC freak, but just wanted to share.

everybody loves raymond is hilarious! poor Robert is abused all the time LOL
but I totally agree with your point about the television then and now.
My kids spend more time watching good times on dvd with me then anything
my daughter can say some episodes word for word!

I'm a Good Times junkie too... I watch it every spare moment... and I only have Season 2 at the moment... so you can imagine! Season 3 is on the way though... have I mentioned that recently :crazy: !

I also think it's great that your kids watch it... gives them a easily digested history lesson and a lot of laughs!

I agree that the African American shows are too politically correct. and on UPN the comedy on those shows has sometimes been like Amos and Andy.

UPN shows have definitely gotten better, i have to say. especially with the new monday nite lineup. they show successful AA men and women living, loving and learning.

All of us
Half in Half
Girlfriends
One on One

They have a widely watched and raved about reality show (america's next top model), followed by a new drama that gives AA men a positive slant with the single dad of Kevin Hill.

They cleaned up quite a bit from its humble, ghettofied beginnings.