Both These Companies Put Out All my Favorite Shows So I Was Wondering Which One Everyone Else Like's Better Than The Other

Here Is A List Of Some Shows From Each:

Miller-Boyett:
Perfect Strangers
Family Matters
Full House
Step By Step

Carsey-Werner:
The Cosby Show
A Different World
Roseanne
Grace Under Fire

Carsey-Werner by far. I liked Full House, Family Matters and Perfect Strangers as a kid but not as an adult. I love Cosby, Roseanne and A Different World, and I also enjoyed Grace a lot as well

Carsey Werner

Carsey Werner

Carsey Werner.

I like all of those shows, but Carsey-Werner has the better bunch. Like John said, Miller-Boyett would have been my pick if I were 7 or 8 years younger, but not now.

Carsey-Werner hands down. Miller-Boyett shows don't have such a good replay value and they get old very quickly and the last seasons of the shows Miller-Boyett shows listed (with the exception of Full House) were boring.

Carsey-Werner hands down. Miller-Boyett shows don't have such a good replay value and they get old very quickly and the last seasons of the shows Miller-Boyett shows listed (with the exception of Full House) were boring.

I thought the last few seasons of Full House sucked. The show wasn't half bad until the twins were born. After that - blah.

Actually, with the exception of A Different World, all 8 of these shows were terrible in their last seasons compared to their first.

Carsey-Werner's bunch of shows are so much better. I liked the Miller-Boyett classics when I was about 6 but when they had some of the other shows in the later seasons "Family Matters/Step by Step" being on CBS the bunch started sucking. I like Carsey-Werner because they have some good shows like Cosby and better show e.g. That '70s Show. So it's Carsey Werner for me. :D

Do You Think Either Of These Companies Will Have A Major Come Back, I Mean I Haven't Heard About Anything From Miller-Boyett In A While And The Last Time We Heard From CW It Was ONe Year Wonders Whoopie And Tracie 2 Seasons Ago.... So Do You Think Either Will Make A Come Back?

I think C/W has a better shot at a revival than M/B. Now that we have Disney Channel, there's no need for Miller-Boyett shows. Even then, I'd rather watch That's So Raven over Full House or Urkel.

I think C/W has a better shot at a revival than M/B. Now that we have Disney Channel, there's no need for Miller-Boyett shows. Even then, I'd rather watch That's So Raven over Full House or Urkel.

Seriously?? Even the first 2 or 3 years of Family Matters when everything was still logical??

Seriously?? Even the first 2 or 3 years of Family Matters when everything was still logical??

well, early Family Matters was good when it was about The Winslows and Steve was just the nerdy neighbor who stole the show, but once Steve became a mad scientist and "Stefan Urquelle" came along, etc... the show was horrid.

well, early Family Matters was good when it was about The Winslows and Steve was just the nerdy neighbor who stole the show, but once Steve became a mad scientist and "Stefan Urquelle" came along, etc... the show was horrid.

I agree. I still like it though, but I think only because it was a part of my childhood.

I voted Carsey Werner, although they have shows I really like - they have others I really hate. I guess you either love or hate their shows.

Miller-Boyett for a fact. I like most of their cool television shows like Valerie/Hogan Famliy, Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, Going Places & Step By Step. I can careless about Carsey-Werner. But I do like Oh, Madeline from the Early 80s (which was Carsey-Werner's first sitcom). But for Miller-Boyett's earlier shows like Happy Day's or Bosom Buddies, I'd put the up against all the shows that troopoleon had mentioned.

C/W, if only for ADW (my fave) but the others were good too

What Would You Consider The Best C-W Sitcom And The Best M/B Sitcom?

What Would You Consider The Best C-W Sitcom And The Best M/B Sitcom?

M/B - Family Matters is my favorite, but Perfect Strangers is the better show.

C/W - The Cosby Show is the best, on all levels.

barwars, you switched them around.

C/W- Third Rock From the Sun

M/B- Perfect Strangers

barwars, you switched them around.

Oops. All fixed.

Carsey-Werner hands-down! Sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Roseanne are considered landmark sitcoms in television history which broke new ground. You certainly can't say the same for anything from Miller-Boyett.

The Cosby Show and Roseanne are their worst seasons beat anything from Miller-Boyett imo.

What if The Cosby Show and Roseanne were up against the Norman Lear sitcoms like All In The Family, and Sanford & Son?

Do You Think Either Of These Companies Will Have A Major Come Back, I Mean I Haven't Heard About Anything From Miller-Boyett In A While And The Last Time We Heard From CW It Was ONe Year Wonders Whoopie And Tracie 2 Seasons Ago.... So Do You Think Either Will Make A Come Back?

I read that CW is no longer in TV business any more.

They didn't get any shows on for the new fall season.

Didn't Miller-Boyett also have something to do with the production of Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy with Paramount?

Didn't Miller-Boyett also have something to do with the production of Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy with Paramount?

they had some of the same producers, but those were Garry Marshall-owned. Which is why those 3 shows are on Paramount yet the others are Warner titles. I'm sure if they owned all the shows, either Paramount would wanna release Full House or Warner would wanna stake a claim in Happy Days

I'm giving Carsey Warner the edge in this one :)

!

Miller/Milkis/Boyett from 1974-1984 beats all of them. It even beats Cosby Show's Carsey-Werner.

true, old-school Miller-Boyett was actually good, it's just the second wave of shows such as Full House and Step By Step that really makes people think all M-B is capable of are sappy kiddie sitcoms.

Miller-Boyett all the friggin way. I never got into Carsey-Werner shows.

I dunno what it is, but I HATE Miller-Boyett shows. The sole exceptions to the rule are Happy Days, Laverne And Shirley and Mork And Mindy, and those were from a different era. Their shows from the late 80's and early/mid 90's to me represented everything that was wrong with sitcoms and the reason why people like Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne were so drastically needed to save the genre.

Wasn't Perfect Strangers a Miller Boyett show? :confused:

Yeah, Sasette, but that was during the time when the sitcom wasn't sucking. When Full House and Family Matters were in their so called glory years, the rest of the sitcoms on the air ranged from bad (Major Dad) to worse (who can't remember the disaster that was Woops!).

Wasn't Perfect Strangers a Miller Boyett show? :confused:

Yes it was...... Technically Happy Days and Laverne & Shirly cannot be considered Miller-Boyett shows becuase they were Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions/Henderson Productions shows. I know, you're thinking, "what's the difference?" The Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions/Henderson Productions shows are Paramounth owned and the Miller-Boyett shows are Warner owned. Added to this, Gary Marshal oversaw everything that had to do with Happy Days and its spin-offs, he had nothing to do with the Miller-Boyett shows.

Carsey-Werner shows like The Cosby Show and Roseanne defined an era of television, nothing by Miller-Boyett ever came close.

Carsey-Werner shows like The Cosby Show and Roseanne defined an era of television, nothing by Miller-Boyett ever came close.

I disagree. While I can agree that Carsey-Werner shows became an integral part of television, I can say that Miller-Boyett shows made an impact too in a way. Miller-Boyett shows in the late 80s and 90s were part of the ABC TGIF lineup, which became an essential part of youth culture in those days. The reason why I love watching shows like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step today was because it brings back memories of when I was a little kid-I used to watch shows on the TGIF lineup at my grandma's house every Friday night.

I disagree. While I can agree that Carsey-Werner shows became an integral part of television, I can say that Miller-Boyett shows made an impact too in a way. Miller-Boyett shows in the late 80s and 90s were part of the ABC TGIF lineup, which became an essential part of youth culture in those days. The reason why I love watching shows like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step today was because it brings back memories of when I was a little kid-I used to watch shows on the TGIF lineup at my grandma's house every Friday night.

I understand your points and I do agree, but in general, I meant the two main Carsey-Werner shows alone (The Cosby Show and Roseanne) helped changed the landscape of television and explored a lot of social boundaries. To this day, no Miller-Boyett show (with the exception of maybe Full House) has been as successful in syndication as The Cosby Show and Roseanne. In fact none of the Miller-Boyett shows have aged as well either, you hardly see Family Matters or Step By Step mentioned in the media or discussed in shows and articles about television that was groundbreaking. The only reason I think Full House has ended up so well compared to the other Miller-Boyett shows is the fact that it's a major part of the Olsen Dynasty.

Added to this, the Miller-Boyett shows were never very successful ratings-wise. Of course Full House being kinda the exception, but the only started becoming popular in like it's 5th season ratings-wise.

Youth culture is a very ambitious and small part of the television landscape. In general, you can't deny the impact Carsey-Werner had on television as opposed to Miller-Boyett. None of the Miller-Boyett shows are critically acclaimed, however, most of the major Carsey-Werner shows are.

Anyway, I think a more fair vs. thread with Carsey-Werner should be against Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions.

I understand your points and I do agree, but in general, I meant the two main Carsey-Werner shows alone (The Cosby Show and Roseanne) helped changed the landscape of television and explored a lot of social boundaries. To this day, no Miller-Boyett show (with the exception of maybe Full House) has been as successful in syndication as The Cosby Show and Roseanne. In fact none of the Miller-Boyett shows have aged as well either, you hardly see Family Matters or Step By Step mentioned in the media or discussed in shows and articles about television that was groundbreaking. The only reason I think Full House has ended up so well compared to the other Miller-Boyett shows is the fact that it's a major part of the Olsen Dynasty.

Added to this, the Miller-Boyett shows were never very successful ratings-wise. Of course Full House being kinda the exception, but the only started becoming popular in like it's 5th season ratings-wise.

Youth culture is a very ambitious and small part of the television landscape. In general, you can't deny the impact Carsey-Werner had on television as opposed to Miller-Boyett. None of the Miller-Boyett shows are critically acclaimed, however, most of the major Carsey-Werner shows are.

Anyway, I think a more fair vs. thread with Carsey-Werner should be against Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions.
I think you're right. :(

You wanna know why I choose Miller/Milkis/Boyett over M/B & Carsey "Freaking" Werner?

Because Miller/Milkis/Boyett had the greatest shows like Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy. It also produces some good short-lived sitcoms (except for Angie) like Goodtime Girls, Bosom Buddies, and Joanie Loves Chachi.

The only Miller-Boyett shows I like are Valerie/The Hogan Family, Perfect Strangers, and Going Places, Getting By. I really don't care for the other ones.

I hate that overrated Carsey "Freaking" Werner. There's only a couple of sitcoms I like:
Oh! Madeline (which shouldn't have lasted 18-20 episodes)
3rd Rock From The Sun

But I can't stand C/W's other shows.

"That 70's Show" seems like a more adult Miller-Boyett sitcom with its cheesy characters ("Fez" is that "That 70's Show" Mork/Burt/Urkel/Balki), Kelso is like Uncle Jesse (but not an uncle), Fonzie, Chachi, Rich (Tom Hodges from "The Hogan Family), Cody, J.T., Flash, Jean-Luc, AND Rich combined (the first character from "Full House" and the rest from "Step By Step"); Kitty's laugh reminds me of Steve Urkel; Jackie can be like the preppy Kimmy Gibbler; Kelso could also be the male equivalent of Kimmy Gibbler; Bob and Midge were like the annoying neighbors (the annoying Kimmy and Urkel/the not-so annoying Mrs. Poole and Cody); Red is like a hardcore Mike Hogan/Carl Winslow/Frank Lambert; Eric and Donna are (to a lesser extent) Rich and Dana from the last two years of "Step By Step"; Kitty can also be as perky as both Patty Poole and Sandy Hogan from "The Hogan Family" (yes, this was ALSO a Miller-Boyett sitcom); and Leo (Tommy Chong) was like a hippie Cody. Hyde is obviously the Fonz of "That 70's Show". Eric Foreman is kind of like Richie Cunningham, David Hogan (Jason Bateman's "The Hogan Family" character) and Mark Hogan (Jeremy Licht from "The Hogan Family") combined. "3rd Rock From the Sun," another recent C-W sitcom, had this same cheesiness, although to a lesser extent: Harry (French Stewart) Solomon was like the alien "Urkel/Balki/Cody/Kimmy" (ironically Bronson Pinchot guest starred on an episode playing Jane Curtin/Dr. Mary Albright's brother; Steve Witting "Burt" also made an appearance on this show). "Grounded for Life" is like a trashed-up M-B show to an even lesser extent. Is Carsey-Werner the Miller-Boyett of the late 1990's/2000's???

BTW, I love all of the Miller (Milkis) Boyett shows of the 70's/80's/90's (Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley/Mork & Mindy/Bosom Buddies/Perfect Strangers/Hogan Family/Full House/Family Matters/Step By Step) as well as Carsey-Werner's recent hit, "That 70's Show"...I also used to really enjoy "3rd Rock From the Sun" and "Roseanne" (3rd Rock isn't on and Roseanne's on waaaaaaaay too much); I watch "The Cosby Show" in moderation, and have started to get into "A Different World" on N@N. I used to watch "Grace Under Fire" when I was little but I do not watch it in Oxygen reruns. I've watched a little of "Grounded for Life", which is decent. My favorite family sitcoms that are still on the air are The WB's "Reba," Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh," (the first two are kinda-like what a modern-day Miller-Boyett sitcom would be), and Fox's "King of the Hill" (yes, I know it's animated but it's a sitcom!) "7th Heaven" is also great but is a dramedy instead of a sitcom. "The War at Home" is ok, too. "Family Guy," "The Simpsons," and "American Dad" are set around families but are too random to really be considered sitcoms.

miller boyett from happy days all the way to step by step and everything in between

as much as i like full house and step by step i like carsey warner shows better

Carsey Werner has so many good shows That 70's Show,Third RockFrom The Sun,The cosby Show,A Different World
it's definitly better than miller-Boyett

Carsey-Werner hands down. Miller-Boyett shows don't have such a good replay value and they get old very quickly and the last seasons of the shows Miller-Boyett shows listed (with the exception of Full House) were boring.

The thing about Miller-Boyett's shows (especially during the TGIF heyday, which was when they were arguably at the peak of their notoriety if you want to call it that) is that they really don't stand up to well when looking at things from an older or more adult perspective (maybe I'm particularly thinking of this since the Hub has just started airing Step by Step). What I mean to say, is that becomes quite easy to figure out the formula and/or redundancy for those types of sitcoms.

Miller-Boyett. Hated all the Carsey Werner shows other then The Cosby Show.

Both These Companies Put Out All my Favorite Shows So I Was Wondering Which One Everyone Else Like's Better Than The Other

Here Is A List Of Some Shows From Each:

Miller-Boyett:
Perfect Strangers
Family Matters
Full House
Step By Step

Carsey-Werner:
The Cosby Show
A Different World
Roseanne
Grace Under Fire

I gotta go with Carsey-Werner... PS: they also did That 70's Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun and Cybill.

Carsey-Werner simply dominated the landscape of television during their hey-day. As much as I love the shows of Miller-Boyette, I gotta say, CW has the far superior shows.

Carsey-Werner, hands down. The Cosby Show and Roseanne were the game changers for sitcoms. C-W also gave us awesome shows like A Different World, 3rd Rock from the Sun, That 70's Show, and the wrongfully-cancelled Townies (damn you ABC :mad:). All Miller-Boyett gave us was a bunch of generic, cookie-cutter garbage. Full House is the most unwatchable piece of trash to ever exist, Family Matters is only popular because of Urkel, and Step By Step is just boring and uninspired. MB hasn't done anything good since the early 80s.

Carsey-Werner, hands down. The Cosby Show and Roseanne were the game changers for sitcoms. C-W also gave us awesome shows like A Different World, 3rd Rock from the Sun, That 70's Show, and the wrongfully-cancelled Townies (damn you ABC :mad:). All Miller-Boyett gave us was a bunch of generic, cookie-cutter garbage. Full House is the most unwatchable piece of trash to ever exist, Family Matters is only popular because of Urkel, and Step By Step is just boring and uninspired. MB hasn't done anything good since the early 80s.

Miller-Boyett Productions are for better or for worse to me at least, that era's version of the It's a Laugh! sitcoms that have dominated the Disney Channel in recent years (just like how ABC allowed MB to homogenize their TGIF line-up). They all feel rather and otherwise cookie-cutter, interchangeable, and formulaic after repeated viewings.

I don't think all the Miller-Boyett ones were that cookie cutter. Full House and Family Matters yes. But, Perfect Strangers was basically one of the only Miller-Boyett (if not the only...unless they did Bosom Buddies...I cannot remember) to feature two adults on their own of the same sex who were best friends living as roomies and so-called cousins...Hey Balki and Larry didn't go on Maury ya know! (But, I like to think of them really being cousins)

Until the 7th and 8th seasons of course. When they had to screw it up by having Larry and Balki get married and then have kids.

I loved PS when it still had it's "BFF and workplace comedy" format from seasons 1-6. But, 7 and 8 started feeling like the other Miller-Boyett sitcoms too much.

Also. I think Step By Step was a show that was different than the other MB ones as well. From an adult prospective at least. Now that I'm watching with my 26 year old eyes and not my 6 year old ones. Also, since I am actually from a step family myself now. And, wasn't until season 5 of SBS.

A) The show was on par with what being in a step family is really like. At least for the first few seasons of the show of course. My step brothers and I hated each other at first. My stepdad made stupid rules and was nothing like my real father. I wanted to leave home (I was just like Al in the 3rd episode...I felt so unwanted by my stepdad...though, Al felt unwanted by her stepmom. I knew what she was going through). When they brought along Lily though to really get the Foster-Lamberts to like each other more. That was the issue. My mom had a pregnancy scare herself a year into the our step family. And, I'm really glad she wasn't.

B) Carol and Frank were hornier than toad frogs on a hot summer's night. You really didn't see that much "getting it on" on the other MB sitcoms. I mean. You really need a crowbar to get Frank off of Carol. It's a wonder she didn't get knocked up by season 2.

C) C is for Cody. Cody who had to be on pot. 24/7. NOBODY acts the way Cody Lambert did sober. NOBODY. Why do you think he lived in his van? Duh...So he could set out there all day long and toke like crazy! Then, everytime he came in the house. It was all about how much food he could get. Even in his debut episode "Woooah...YOU ALL HAVE FRUIT!" That was his first line. With fruit hanging out his mouth. Come on. Kids don't pick up on that. But, Cody had to be high. I'm not a stoner. But, I have a few friends from high school and a next door neighbor that are and they act just like Cody.

Bosom Buddies was by them when they were Miller-Milkis-Boyett (Boyett joined 'Miller-Milkis' in 1980). Don't forget this company in its earlier incarnation produced classics such as Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.

According to Wiki the company ceased being in 1999 after 'Two of A Kind' ended and a year after 'Step-By Step' and 'Family Matters' ended.

Here's an interesting summarizing of the "good and bad" regarding Miller-Boyett Productions:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?topic=16114.65;wap2

Let's not pretend like Full House was a landmark television show that was one of the classics of all time. It had it's run and it's relevance in 2013 is highly questionable. You can certainly argue it brought positive attention to the BB during it's run but I think it's very hard pressed to say in 2013 people watch reruns and suddenly become fans. It is now getting harder and harder to find on reruns even.

Exactly and anyone trying to argue against your point needs to ask themselves the following question: How many stars did "Full House" spin off? None that I can count.

John Stamos is perhaps the most successful of the cast and he is known more for the women he dates than anything else...NEXT! Lori Loughlin? I actually think Lori is pretty talented and remember watching her as a teenager on a soap opera called "The Edge Of Night". I thought she had talent back then and still do now but the last thing I saw her in was the revamped "90210" where she was essentially still playing the same character she portrayed on "Full House".

The Olsen Twins were perhaps the smartest of the bunch sticking their fingers in as many pies as they could when they were younger so when their acting careers went belly up they had a lucrative fashion career to fall back on and are now millionaires many times over. Good on them but two of the most untalented child actors to ever grace the screen in my opinion. The rest of the cast went nowhere after "Full House" and while the show is fondly remembered by the generation that grew up watching it, to others it's a saccharine piece of trash. That "moral in every episode" deal that filledeplage brings up? Well that is essentially the number one reason why the show is absolute trash. They focused so much on imparting their skewed version of wisdom and not enough on creating solid programming. It's sad too because Miller-Boyett actually put together some entertaining shows in the mid eighties such as "Valerie" and "Perfect Strangers" but by the time they got to stuff like "Full House" or "Family Matters" they sacrificed substance for what they knew would draw ratings. Seriously if you want to watch some good Miller-Boyett programming, go watch the first season of "Valerie" if you can find it. It's miles away better than anything Miller-Boyett ever came up with for "Full House".

Sorry that this post got away from The Beach Boys but man oh man "Full House" sucks.

I liked both Carseywarner seemed to deal with serious issues while Miller/Boyette was more cute sitcoms.

Tough choice but I'll pick Miller-Boyett by a hair.

Speaking of these two prolific 80's sitcom producers, reminds me of a third...Witt-Thomas-Harris.

All these 80's sitcom producers almost sound like law firms!

Carsey-Werner for Roseanne alone! Of the Miller-Boyett shows, I liked The Hogan Family, Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step and Two of a Kind.

Look at Sitcom Production Companies-Carsey-Werner (http://www.manic-expression.com/a-look-at-sitcom-production-companies-the-carsey-werner-co/)

Look at Sitcom Production Companies-Miller/Boyett (http://www.manic-expression.com/a-look-at-sitcom-production-companies-millerboyett-productions/)

After years of local syndication, shows from both companies are gone from antenna channels. We have THE COSBY SHOW right now on Centric channel weekdays and on TVLand weekend. FULL HOUSE on TBS and Nick@Nite. ROSEANNE on WE, TVLand, and LOGO. STEP BY STEP on Hub. FAMILY MATTERS on BET. No other shows on cable and local syndication right now. Care to prepare a petition for other shows?

After years of local syndication, shows from both companies are gone from antenna channels. We have THE COSBY SHOW right now on Centric channel weekdays and on TVLand weekend. FULL HOUSE on TBS and Nick@Nite. ROSEANNE on WE, TVLand, and LOGO. STEP BY STEP on Hub. FAMILY MATTERS on BET. No other shows on cable and local syndication right now. Care to prepare a petition for other shows?
The only shows (of the mentioned shows above that aren't already being shown) I would petition to get reruns on the air would be "Perfect Strangers" and "Grace Under Fire".

My vote is for Miller-Boyett. I grew up with a lot of their shows and just always personally prefer how they did sitcoms. Carsey-Werner seemed to deal with much more adult, mature themes in their shows. I loved The Cosby Show and 3rd Rock From The Sun. I've got the complete series for both of those in my collection. I bought the Roseanne Series Box earlier this year. I wasn't terribly big on that show originally but decided I need to completely watch through it to form a competent judgement of it.

Do You Think Either Of These Companies Will Have A Major Come Back, I Mean I Haven't Heard About Anything From Miller-Boyett In A While And The Last Time We Heard From CW It Was ONe Year Wonders Whoopie And Tracie 2 Seasons Ago.... So Do You Think Either Will Make A Come Back?

Miller-Boyett exited Sitcom development in 1999 and they've almost literally fallen off the face of the planet. Not a word, interviews, nothing since then. I've gotta imagine they are both pretty far up there in age given their long careers and at this point would probably rather live quietly with no intention to return again. It's sad since I do have a show proposal idea that once I can get it to where I can get an agent to submit it for me I would have loved to get their input on it and see if it was maybe something they'd want to work on.

As for Carsey-Werner there actually is some recent buzz on them..they're currently trying to pitch a return to TV to Bill Cosby. It would basically be The Cosby Show with grown kids and would deal with how grown kids and parents relate to each other. We will see what happens with that, but those two seem far more open to newer projects.

They both have great shows.:) :cool:

I don't think all the Miller-Boyett ones were that cookie cutter. Full House and Family Matters yes. But, Perfect Strangers was basically one of the only Miller-Boyett (if not the only...unless they did Bosom Buddies...I cannot remember) to feature two adults on their own of the same sex who were best friends living as roomies and so-called cousins...Hey Balki and Larry didn't go on Maury ya know! (But, I like to think of them really being cousins)

Until the 7th and 8th seasons of course. When they had to screw it up by having Larry and Balki get married and then have kids.

I loved PS when it still had it's "BFF and workplace comedy" format from seasons 1-6. But, 7 and 8 started feeling like the other Miller-Boyett sitcoms too much.

Also. I think Step By Step was a show that was different than the other MB ones as well. From an adult prospective at least. Now that I'm watching with my 26 year old eyes and not my 6 year old ones. Also, since I am actually from a step family myself now. And, wasn't until season 5 of SBS.

A) The show was on par with what being in a step family is really like. At least for the first few seasons of the show of course. My step brothers and I hated each other at first. My stepdad made stupid rules and was nothing like my real father. I wanted to leave home (I was just like Al in the 3rd episode...I felt so unwanted by my stepdad...though, Al felt unwanted by her stepmom. I knew what she was going through). When they brought along Lily though to really get the Foster-Lamberts to like each other more. That was the issue. My mom had a pregnancy scare herself a year into the our step family. And, I'm really glad she wasn't.

B) Carol and Frank were hornier than toad frogs on a hot summer's night. You really didn't see that much "getting it on" on the other MB sitcoms. I mean. You really need a crowbar to get Frank off of Carol. It's a wonder she didn't get knocked up by season 2.

C) C is for Cody. Cody who had to be on pot. 24/7. NOBODY acts the way Cody Lambert did sober. NOBODY. Why do you think he lived in his van? Duh...So he could set out there all day long and toke like crazy! Then, everytime he came in the house. It was all about how much food he could get. Even in his debut episode "Woooah...YOU ALL HAVE FRUIT!" That was his first line. With fruit hanging out his mouth. Come on. Kids don't pick up on that. But, Cody had to be high. I'm not a stoner. But, I have a few friends from high school and a next door neighbor that are and they act just like Cody.

I get where you're coming from, but what I mean is that Step by Step (at least based on watching it again on the Hub) had to follow the at that point, "tried and true" Miller-Boyett formula (just like Full House and Family Matters in particular) of wrapping things up w/ a heavy-handed "moral to the story" (complete w/ the trademark maudlin music during speeches as a emotional plot device).

What Would You Consider The Best C-W Sitcom And The Best M/B Sitcom?


Best M/B Show = Laverne & Shirley

Best C/W Show = The Cosby Show

I don't think all the Miller-Boyett ones were that cookie cutter. Full House and Family Matters yes. But, Perfect Strangers was basically one of the only Miller-Boyett (if not the only...unless they did Bosom Buddies...I cannot remember) to feature two adults on their own of the same sex who were best friends living as roomies and so-called cousins...Hey Balki and Larry didn't go on Maury ya know! (But, I like to think of them really being cousins)

Until the 7th and 8th seasons of course. When they had to screw it up by having Larry and Balki get married and then have kids.

I loved PS when it still had it's "BFF and workplace comedy" format from seasons 1-6. But, 7 and 8 started feeling like the other Miller-Boyett sitcoms too much.

Also. I think Step By Step was a show that was different than the other MB ones as well. From an adult prospective at least. Now that I'm watching with my 26 year old eyes and not my 6 year old ones. Also, since I am actually from a step family myself now. And, wasn't until season 5 of SBS.

A) The show was on par with what being in a step family is really like. At least for the first few seasons of the show of course. My step brothers and I hated each other at first. My stepdad made stupid rules and was nothing like my real father. I wanted to leave home (I was just like Al in the 3rd episode...I felt so unwanted by my stepdad...though, Al felt unwanted by her stepmom. I knew what she was going through). When they brought along Lily though to really get the Foster-Lamberts to like each other more. That was the issue. My mom had a pregnancy scare herself a year into the our step family. And, I'm really glad she wasn't.

B) Carol and Frank were hornier than toad frogs on a hot summer's night. You really didn't see that much "getting it on" on the other MB sitcoms. I mean. You really need a crowbar to get Frank off of Carol. It's a wonder she didn't get knocked up by season 2.

C) C is for Cody. Cody who had to be on pot. 24/7. NOBODY acts the way Cody Lambert did sober. NOBODY. Why do you think he lived in his van? Duh...So he could set out there all day long and toke like crazy! Then, everytime he came in the house. It was all about how much food he could get. Even in his debut episode "Woooah...YOU ALL HAVE FRUIT!" That was his first line. With fruit hanging out his mouth. Come on. Kids don't pick up on that. But, Cody had to be high. I'm not a stoner. But, I have a few friends from high school and a next door neighbor that are and they act just like Cody.

Step by Step was clearly M/B's spin on The Brady Bunch. They didn't even try to hide it.

It loses brownie points with me immediately based on that.

The thing about Miller-Boyett's shows (especially during the TGIF heyday, which was when they were arguably at the peak of their notoriety if you want to call it that) is that they really don't stand up to well when looking at things from an older or more adult perspective (maybe I'm particularly thinking of this since the Hub has just started airing Step by Step). What I mean to say, is that becomes quite easy to figure out the formula and/or redundancy for those types of sitcoms.

Agreed about Miller-Boyett.

They had a cutesy formula that worked for all of their shows during the 80s and 90s. Over time, you could tell all of the M/B shows were the same (besides the characters having a different name and being played by different actors).

Once shows such as Friends changed the name of the game for sitcoms, their formula become played out by audiences.

But as far as my choice, while Miller-Boyett shows were more memorable and trend-setting, Casey-Werner's shows had a lot more substance and staying power to them.

Notice that you see The Cosby Show and Roseanne in syndication a lot more than Full House and Family Matters.

Miller and Boyett had another one that was forgotten. It was Angie with Donna Prescow.

Carsey-Warner had style, class, and sitcoms that are legendary. Miller-Boyett had witless sitcoms written for the lowest common denominator, where actors and actresses were constantly written out of the show for whatever latest fad was in at the time. Urkel. Cody. Olsen twins. Ugh.

Miller and Boyett had another one that was forgotten. It was Angie with Donna Prescow.

Holy crap I remember that..just barely but yeah they did that too and from the little I remember it did not last long at all. I'm wanting to say less than 1 season but it was on no more than a full year.

By the way, Bill Cosby has agreed to do the sitcom Carsey-Werner were pitching to him. It will be on NBC. No start date has been given yet but I'm thinking it won't be till 2015 sometime. Depends on how far away the pilot shoot is I guess but thought I'd pass that along.

I never saw that show in its' original run until I saw it on youtube. I love the opening song.

Holy crap I remember that..just barely but yeah they did that too and from the little I remember it did not last long at all. I'm wanting to say less than 1 season but it was on no more than a full year.


Angie lasted 2 seasons (36 episodes).

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289333_2,00.html

Intriguingly enough, Carsey-Werner's problems on Grace are only the latest examples of an unenviable trend for the producers. With hits like The Cosby Show and Roseanne to its credit, the production company is one of the most successful and profitable in TV history. But the producers have also developed a reputation for troubled shows. In addition to Grace, Carsey-Werner has had to deal with noisy clashes on the sets of Roseanne, Cybill, and most recently, Men Behaving Badly. After numerous backstage problems last year, Men opens this season with Ron Eldard and Justine Bateman gone and only Rob Schneider remaining from the original cast.

Many fault the company's management style. "Carsey-Werner empowers the stars and gives them too much weight," says one former ABC programming executive. "They take the power away from the executive producer, and that is who needs to call the shots." Adds a former Grace executive producer, "They won't stick up for the writer, and it's very frustrating." The producer, who quit before his contract expired, explains, "It's not worth the money."

Holy crap I remember that..just barely but yeah they did that too and from the little I remember it did not last long at all. I'm wanting to say less than 1 season but it was on no more than a full year.

By the way, Bill Cosby has agreed to do the sitcom Carsey-Werner were pitching to him. It will be on NBC. No start date has been given yet but I'm thinking it won't be till 2015 sometime. Depends on how far away the pilot shoot is I guess but thought I'd pass that along.It looks like we won't be seeing Cosbys' new afterall. With all those allegations out, Cosby is finished.

Here's an interesting summarizing of the "good and bad" regarding Miller-Boyett Productions:

I don't know if these are good enough examples of MB imparting "skewed version of wisdom" in to their shows, but I'll give it a shot. Take for example what often happened on Family Matters with Urkel. Even though he was a clumsy, destructive, socially inept stalker, if any of the Winslows told him off, we were supposed to feel sorry for him.

Besides that, remember that episode where Waldo, in his infinite wisdom, made out with Eddie's girlfriend because he thought Eddie told him to? Eddie called him an idiot, naturally, and Waldo responded by walking off somberly while the audience was all "Awwwwwww..."

Eddie had to apologize to him in the end...what kind of justice is that? :mad:

I have seen all of these shows at one time or another and Roseanne is the only show I liked. This was before she went totally nuts and killed her show. The show pretty much introduced us to John Goodman.

An interesting analyst on the ultimate demise of Miller-Boyett Productions:
http://www.avclub.com/article/uncertain-fate-tvs-most-radical-get-rich-quick-sch-207567

The origins of the 10/90 model can be traced back to 2006, but the logic behind it stretches to the repeal of the Financial Interest And Syndication (or fin-syn) Rules in 1993. The rules were enacted by the Federal Communications Commission to keep broadcast networks and their in-house production studios from shutting out independent producers like Partners co-creator Robert L. Boyett. With producing partner Thomas L. Miller, Boyett produced Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step in the ’80s and ’90s; Miller-Boyett was one of a number of production partnerships that primarily produced broadcast sitcoms during this period, and which, through the lucrative space of syndication, made millions. (Carsey-Werner, responsible for The Cosby Show and Roseanne, was another.) But when those rules were removed, the networks had no incentive to draw on outside producers when they could produce their own shows and keep the syndication profits for themselves. Miller-Boyett had no new series run longer than a single season after 1993, and with the 1999 cancellation of Two Of A Kind, the company disbanded, a relic of a bygone TGIF era.

I don't know if these are good enough examples of MB imparting "skewed version of wisdom" in to their shows, but I'll give it a shot. Take for example what often happened on Family Matters with Urkel. Even though he was a clumsy, destructive, socially inept stalker, if any of the Winslows told him off, we were supposed to feel sorry for him.

Besides that, remember that episode where Waldo, in his infinite wisdom, made out with Eddie's girlfriend because he thought Eddie told him to? Eddie called him an idiot, naturally, and Waldo responded by walking off somberly while the audience was all "Awwwwwww..."

Eddie had to apologize to him in the end...what kind of justice is that? :mad:

Now that I think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if the Miller-Boyett crew "honed their craft" and ran w/ what they knew best (so to speak) when they worked w/ Garry Marshall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller-Boyett_Productions#Miller.2FMilkis_Productions) on Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. It seemed like in almost every episode (especially after the first couple of seasons), they had to crudely shove down some "meaningful moment", complete with some "sad version" of the theme song.

Here's a lengthy article from 1990 about Miller-Boyett Productions. It does give you a lot of interesting insight in regards to the way that they conduct business (as well as the familiar tropes in their shows (http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/13/arts/a-team-with-a-genius-for-successful-sitcoms.html)):
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-14/entertainment/ca-408_1_tom-miller

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-14/entertainment/ca-408_1_tom-miller/2

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-14/entertainment/ca-408_1_tom-miller/3

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-14/entertainment/ca-408_1_tom-miller/4

Agreed about Miller-Boyett.

They had a cutesy formula that worked for all of their shows during the 80s and 90s. Over time, you could tell all of the M/B shows were the same (besides the characters having a different name and being played by different actors).

Once shows such as Friends changed the name of the game for sitcoms, their formula become played out by audiences.

Miller-Boyett just happened to be at the "right place at the right time". Their rise coincided w/ the functional family sitcom format gaining prominence in the '80s w/ The Cosby Show leading the way. During a time in which, networks had renewed interest in sitcoms, they were one of the few experienced sitcom producers who could respond to all that begging and pleading.

I think what did them in besides what has previously been mentioned is that family sitcoms (some of which were even inspired by The Cosby Show like Rosanne, Home Improvement, and Everybody Loves Raymond) going into the '90s had a more cynical edge to them, and yet, still got good ratings. Miller-Boyett had an extremely by-the-numbers and dare I say, clichéd formula. Their shows were easily digestible (hell, I still watch Full House today when it comes on Nick @ Nite even though I'm well aware that it was a totally corny, overly sentimental cheese-fest) but also very sophomoric and repetitive.

There must be a good reason why when the '90s began, Miller-Boyett never had another sitcom to last longer than a season and a half with the exception of Step by Step. I wrote this on TV Tropes (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DeaderThanDisco/LiveActionTV) to hopefully give you a better idea:
Other factors that may have killed the Very Special Episode trend include sitcoms simply getting too ironic to allow for such earnest polemics (for instance, far subtler social commentary seeps through nearly every episode of The Simpsons), audiences having become too familiar with TV conventions to accept such easy closure, and the rise of post-modern sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends.

I think the real death toll for M/B was when the repeal of the Financial Interest and Syndication Rules in 1993, followed by the 1996 Telecommunications act, both of which opened the door to networks being able to own and produce as many programs of their own as they wanted. Prior to this, laws restricted how much programming a single network could own, making it impossible to produce TV w/out indie producers such as M/B and Carsey-Werner. Now networks are not beholden to indie producers anymore.

I think the real death toll for M/B was when the repeal of the Financial Interest and Syndication Rules in 1993, followed by the 1996 Telecommunications act, both of which opened the door to networks being able to own and produce as many programs of their own as they wanted. Prior to this, laws restricted how much programming a single network could own, making it impossible to produce TV w/out indie producers such as M/B and Carsey-Werner. Now networks are not beholden to indie producers anymore.

Miller-Boyett's shows could be considered sweet yet naive and extremely conventional. I just think that going into the '90s, that type of formula was becoming more and more outdated (if that makes sense). I suspect that comedies were becoming more "ironic" to the point in which social commentary or lessons could be learned w/o delivering an overly sentimental speech to inform you when its time to learn the "moral to the story".

I think the real death toll for M/B was when the repeal of the Financial Interest and Syndication Rules in 1993, followed by the 1996 Telecommunications act, both of which opened the door to networks being able to own and produce as many programs of their own as they wanted. Prior to this, laws restricted how much programming a single network could own, making it impossible to produce TV w/out indie producers such as M/B and Carsey-Werner. Now networks are not beholden to indie producers anymore.

Fox was able to get around this by only having two hours of prime time programming instead of three and thus not counting as one. But as you said, until the law changed in the '90s, networks couldn't broadcast a lot series they owned.

Looking back now, I'll take Carsey and Warner over MB. I still love Laverne and Shirley but still, MB shows haven't aged well. Very dated.

Ken Levine's thoughts on ROSEANNE being cancelled (http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2018/05/my-thoughts-on-roseanne-being-cancelled.html)

But what about the enablers? What about the Carsey-Werner Company? For years they’ve built an empire on stars who were monsters and just threw money at the problems and went home while showrunners and writers were pummeled on a daily basis. ROSEANNE (http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2018/05/my-feud-with-roseanne-look-back.html), COSBY, CYBILL, GRACE UNDER FIRE (starring another loose cannon, Bret Butler). Writers were sent into a wood chipper. Carsey & Werner just threw a lot of money at them and a lot of money at the ones who replaced them when they just couldn’t take it anymore. The stories are legendary. These monsters (stars) got away with everything. So now if the COSBY show is pulled forever and ROSEANNE is yanked from schedules, you’ll pardon me if I don’t shed a tear for the poor production company that will no longer see syndication blood money. We all got into this business to be writers, not wranglers.

Both because they were good at producing shows in which these were aired on ABC and NBC respectively at that time.

When it came to making good quality sitcoms Carsey-Werner was THE king of TV and if a sitcom had Carsey-Werner in the credits you knew that it would be a hit. Take for example when The Cosby Show debuted in 1984 it was a smash hit for Carsey-Werner and soon they would produce hit sitcoms like A Different World and Roseanne and Grace Under Fire and others. Miller-Boyett was second in command in sitcom production companies and followed the same formula as Carsey-Werner by creating easy sitcoms that were a recipe for good family oriented sitcoms and when you work as a sitcom producer and creator making a successful sitcom is like a chef making a delicious soup. Miller-Boyett had a simple recipe for family comedies by choosing top actors/actresses to play funny and engaging characters with personalities all their own. And so beginning with Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family Miller-Boyett had started to prove that family sitcoms attracted a huge audience and it continued with Family Matters Perfect Strangers Full House and Step By Step. But when Miller-Boyett went belly up and sold to Warner Bros you could tell that the quality went downhill. But as many new production companies are founded as sitcoms are still being made Carsey-Werner and Miller-Boyett are remembered for making sitcoms that keep people watching
Bestie

You are right Bestie! Carsey-Werner made great sitcoms.Who would you compare them to in the list of great sitcom creators?
DTK

Both.

Neither has aged well

Miller-Boyett shows are mostly geared at children and young teens. I grew out of those shows some time ago. They just don't sit well with me when viewed as an adult

Casey-Warner shows have not aged well either. I loved Roseanne but as I grew up, I just lost interest for whatever reason. The Cosby Show certainly hasn't aged well for obvious reasons.

All in all, my answer would be neither

https://deadline.com/2021/06/perfect-strangers-robin-thede-london-hughes-reboot-80s-comedy-hbo-max-1234774772/

It looks like Perfect Strangers is getting the reboot for HBO Max but entirely with a new cast . Robin Thede and London Hughes are getting the lead roles. Apparently Miller-Boyett Productions is named as the EP of this reboot edition.

Note some of the premise that the New Perfect Strangers will be getting had some of its ideas borrowed from another show called "Sister Sister" that came out

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister,_Sister_(TV_series)

https://deadline.com/2021/06/perfect-strangers-robin-thede-london-hughes-reboot-80s-comedy-hbo-max-1234774772/

It looks like Perfect Strangers is getting the reboot for HBO Max but entirely with a new cast . Robin Thede and London Hughes are getting the lead roles. Apparently Miller-Boyett Productions is named as the EP of this reboot edition.

Note some of the premise that the New Perfect Strangers will be getting had some of its ideas borrowed from another show called "Sister Sister" that came out

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister,_Sister_(TV_series)

I was thinking the other day that PS would be ripe for a gender flip. I support reboots as they bring new awareness to the original material.

Angie was charming. Donna Prescow was great as the lead.