for a couple of years? When Laverne and Shirley premired the Fonz not only appeared in several eps but L&S aired RIGHT AFTER Happy Days on Tuesday Nights. Same thing with the Cosby Show, the cast members from the Cosby Show guest starred on A Different World several Times in the first season and ADW aired right after the Cosby show on Thursdays. So I think both spinoffs received a HELPING HAND in getting off the ground the first couple of seasons. What do you think?

for a couple of years? When Laverne and Shirley premired the Fonz not only appeared in several eps but L&S aired RIGHT AFTER Happy Days on Tuesday Nights. Same thing with the Cosby Show, the cast members from the Cosby Show guest starred on A Different World several Times in the first season and ADW aired right after the Cosby show on Thursdays. So I think both spinoffs received a HELPING HAND in getting off the ground the first couple of seasons. What do you think?

NO

NO


Can you tell me why?

I believe A Different World benefitted from Cosby Show greatly. Had this show been conceived without a Cosby Show to help it, it would have fallen flat on its face. HOWEVER, because of that "helping hand" it did the show more bad than good. It needed to separate itself from Cosby Show, which it did by getting rid of Lisa Bonet. It helped it alot more when they got rid of Marisa Tomei and also that stupid smarty girl with the glasses that was always stuck with Whitley. She was soooo not needed. And it wasn't believable that a character like Marisa Tomei's character would be at a black majority college. I think the viewers were taken aback by that. I know I would be. There are all black colleges.

Can you tell me why?


I don't think that TCS carried ADW in any way. The first season had Denise on ADW and you saw nothing but the Cosby cast, and we all know that the first seasons ratings weren't good at all. The second season of ADW was so far away from Cosby, you only saw Claire on 2 or three episodes. So I don't think that's carrying anything.

Also with L&S you only saw Fonzie about 2 or 3 times, and he wasn't a big part of the episodes that he was in, you only saw him for a few minutes and that was it. Also Richie was in a couple of L&S episodes and the episodes didn't focus on him at all. So Happy Days didn't carry L&S at all they were two completely different shows.

LAVERNE and SHIRLEY was a good show for the era
good cast, good gimmicks, lots of slapstick
the show would have been a hit regardless
it just had that 70s Hit Feel to it

A DIFFERENT WORLD ---- i never got the show at all
i hated it
and after lisa bonet left, it was not really even like a cosby show spinoff---- i mean it TECHNICALLY was still a spinoff, but without lisa bonet, the show had no connection to the cosby show at all, and was a pretty stupid 80s sitcom

OTHER spinoffs from Happy Days---
MORK AND MINDY would have been a hit no matter b/c of robin williams

BLANSKYS BEAUTIES and JOANNIE LOVES CHACHI--- nothing could save them, they were pure crapola

TCS absolutely carried ADW especially during the first season.Critics trashed the show and the storylines for that first season were weak. Thankfully the show was revamped and got a lot better. IMO it became better than TCS eventually. But if it hadn't been between Cosby and Cheers that show would have flopped. HD helped L&S too as the Fonz did make a few appearances on that show too and it had a great timeslot but within a few years the show had become #1 so it eventually made it on it's own at least until it was moved opposite The Waltons.

TCS absolutely carried ADW especially during the first season.Critics trashed the show and the storylines for that first season were weak. Thankfully the show was revamped and got a lot better. IMO it became better than TCS eventually. But if it hadn't been between Cosby and Cheers that show would have flopped. HD helped L&S too as the Fonz did make a few appearances on that show too and it had a great timeslot but within a few years the show had become #1 so it eventually made it on it's own at least until it was moved opposite The Waltons.



And as soon as ABC moved L&S to Thursday Nights, it was no longer in the top 30. These numbers below proves that Happy Days carried Laverne and Shirley.

From 1975 to 1979, these are the ratings for L&S when it aired AFTER Happy Days

1975-76-#3
1976-77-#2
1977-78-#1
1978-79-#1


Now when L&S was moved to Thursday Nights in the Fall of 1979, here was the Ratings

1979-80-Below #30


When L&S was moved BACK to Tuesdays Nights, it reached the top 20 the next season

1980-81-#20
1981-82-#20
1982-83-#25


So L&S obviously needed Happy Days as a Lead In to be in the Top 20/30.

A Diff'rent World did not depend on the Cosby Show at all. Like any series it takes time for a show to take off and this is 1 show that got better and better from season to season.

In my opinion it was the secondary characters that carried it early on and they eventually became the stars by the end of it's run. (i.e Dwayne and Whitley)

One of my favorite comedies of the 90's

And as soon as ABC moved L&S to Thursday Nights, it was no longer in the top 30. These numbers below proves that Happy Days carried Laverne and Shirley.

From 1975 to 1979, these are the ratings for L&S when it aired AFTER Happy Days

1975-76-#3
1976-77-#2
1977-78-#1
1978-79-#1


Now when L&S was moved to Thursday Nights in the Fall of 1979, here was the Ratings

1979-80-Below #30


When L&S was moved BACK to Tuesdays Nights, it reached the top 20 the next season

1980-81-#20
1981-82-#20
1982-83-#25


So L&S obviously needed Happy Days as a Lead In to be in the Top 20/30.
have you checked to see what Laverne & Shirley was airing against when it was moved to Thursday nights? that might play a part in its ratings.

A Diff'rent World did not depend on the Cosby Show at all. Like any series it takes time for a show to take off and this is 1 show that got better and better from season to season.

In my opinion it was the secondary characters that carried it early on and they eventually became the stars by the end of it's run. (i.e Dwayne and Whitley)

One of my favorite comedies of the 90's
As soon as TCS went off the air ADW tanked and it had Cosby's timeslot. I agree it was a great show but the timeslot was the key.

And as soon as ABC moved L&S to Thursday Nights, it was no longer in the top 30. These numbers below proves that Happy Days carried Laverne and Shirley.

From 1975 to 1979, these are the ratings for L&S when it aired AFTER Happy Days

1975-76-#3
1976-77-#2
1977-78-#1
1978-79-#1


Now when L&S was moved to Thursday Nights in the Fall of 1979, here was the Ratings

1979-80-Below #30


When L&S was moved BACK to Tuesdays Nights, it reached the top 20 the next season

1980-81-#20
1981-82-#20
1982-83-#25


So L&S obviously needed Happy Days as a Lead In to be in the Top 20/30.
The last 3 years it was set in California and those years were awful. It wasn't the same show.

have you checked to see what Laverne & Shirley was airing against when it was moved to Thursday nights? that might play a part in its ratings.


It went up against the Waltons. But that shouldn't have mattered because L&S was the number 1 show the previous season. It was from #1 to ?????-LOL

The last 3 years it was set in California and those years were awful. It wasn't the same show.


Yeah it was obvious that ABC thought by moving it back to Tuesday Nights that the show would reached the Top ten but since the setting was dfferent it lost viewers

Yeah it was obvious that ABC thought by moving it back to Tuesday Nights that the show would reached the Top ten but since the setting was dfferent it lost viewers
what are the shows that it was up against when it was moved to Thursday nights?

what are the shows that it was up against when it was moved to Thursday nights?


The WALTONS and BUCK ROGERS

You could have a show that has ranked hi in the ratings, and when it's moved around the ratings will fall.

Solomon you should look into getting another hobby on the side, just think about it. It never hurts to have more then one hobby.

You could have a show that has ranked hi in the ratings, and when it's moved around the ratings will fall.

Solomon you should look into getting another hobby on the side, just think about it. It never hurts to have more then one hobby.


L&S was carried by HD, no other way to explain it, numbers don't lie

You could have a show that has ranked hi in the ratings, and when it's moved around the ratings will fall.

Solomon you should look into getting another hobby on the side, just think about it. It never hurts to have more then one hobby.
I know that when a show is popular, people get used to a particular night. Like recently, I have forgotten when Commander in Chief is on and some other shows, simply because of the hiatus matter or some other show that is put on temporarily, it kinda ruins the momentum of things. It doesn't mean a show is doing bad, just the changing around of the schedule can throw people off.

The Waltons was always a great show, it had its legions of fans. So if you get fans of both L&S and the Waltons, they didn't have the option of taping the show, it was either/or.
that is what a lot of people, especially in this day and age forget, there wasn't video tape recording available...man, we have it made nowadays.

I know that when a show is popular, people get used to a particular night. Like recently, I have forgotten when Commander in Chief is on and some other shows, simply because of the hiatus matter or some other show that is put on temporarily, it kinda ruins the momentum of things. It doesn't mean a show is doing bad, just the changing around of the schedule can throw people off.

The Waltons was always a great show, it had its legions of fans. So if you get fans of both L&S and the Waltons, they didn't have the option of taping the show, it was either/or.
that is what a lot of people, especially in this day and age forget, there wasn't video tape recording available...man, we have it made nowadays.


there were VCR's in 1979-lol

I know that when a show is popular, people get used to a particular night. Like recently, I have forgotten when Commander in Chief is on and some other shows, simply because of the hiatus matter or some other show that is put on temporarily, it kinda ruins the momentum of things. It doesn't mean a show is doing bad, just the changing around of the schedule can throw people off.

The Waltons was always a great show, it had its legions of fans. So if you get fans of both L&S and the Waltons, they didn't have the option of taping the show, it was either/or.
that is what a lot of people, especially in this day and age forget, there wasn't video tape recording available...man, we have it made nowadays.
Exactly. In My house The Waltons was my mothers favorite show so we had to watch that every week so I missed shows like Barney Miller, WBK, What's Happening and Mork And Mindy whenever they aired in that hour. I had to watch them during the or when The Waltons was in reruns.

there were VCR's in 1979-lol


Give me a Break.

there were VCR's in 1979-lol
I didn't know anybody who had them back then.

Give me a Break.


Well they had to be out Brie because I have Original Airings of What's Happening, Three's Company, Mork and Mindy, Barney Miller, and Welcome Back Kotter on VHS from 1978/79

Exactly. In My house The Waltons was my mothers favorite show so we had to watch that every week so I missed shows like Barney Miller, WBK, What's Happening and Mork And Mindy whenever they aired in that hour. I had to watch them during the or when The Waltons was in reruns.
yeah, I loved the Waltons too, so it was hard to decide what to watch.

Solomon, you say yes there were like there were VCR's in a million homes like DVD's are nowadays. I didn't get a VRC until 1984. Solomon, wake up, you say it like they were cheap and everyone had them. Even so, VCR's don't tell the nielsen's who is recording and what is actually being watched.
Too many good shows and a lot of people only had one t.v. We were lucky, I had one in my room, but still if my brother wanted to watch a certain show, he would get to watch it. So Solomon, get off of numbers and listen to people who were actually teens or young adults at that time and know what was being watched or why a show was popular, dropping in ratings, etc. It was the schedule change. plain and simple

VCR's back in those days were EXPENSIVE and not everyone had them. I can remember when we got our first VCR I was 5.

And moving a show around does make the ratings drop, like Irene said people get use to a certain time when a show airs. And when you move it, it's hard for some people to find, Or they'll get interested in another show.

yeah, I loved the Waltons too, so it was hard to decide what to watch.

Solomon, you say yes there were like there were VCR's in a million homes like DVD's are nowadays. I didn't get a VRC until 1984. Solomon, wake up, you say it like they were cheap and everyone had them. Even so, VCR's don't tell the nielsen's who is recording and what is actually being watched.
Too many good shows and a lot of people only had one t.v. We were lucky, I had one in my room, but still if my brother wanted to watch a certain show, he would get to watch it. So Solomon, get off of numbers and listen to people who were actually teens or young adults at that time and know what was being watched or why a show was popular, dropping in ratings, etc. It was the schedule change. plain and simple



I know a lot of people didn't have them but they were out because like I said I have ABC eps of Mork and Mindy from 1979 and NBC eps of Hello Larry,

VCR's back in those days were EXPENSIVE and not everyone had them. I can remember when we got our first VCR I was 5.

And moving a show around does make the ratings drop, like Irene said people get use to a certain time with a show airs and when you move it, it's hard for some people to find, Or they'll get interested in another show.
No one said they didn't exist. You made it sound like they were in all homes at that time.
Yeah they were expensive, I paid almost $400 for mine...and that was the top of the line model in 1984. People didn't really start getting them until 1982...how do I know, because that's when the rental movie places started opening up.

I know a lot of people didn't have them but they were out because like I said I have ABC eps of Mork and Mindy from 1979 and NBC eps of Hello Larry,


Why ask us a question if you don't accept our answers or opinion

Why ask us a question if you don't accept our answers or opinion
because we were only teenagers and that's too young and we don't HAVE PROOF TO SCAN AND PUT HERE.

Why ask us a question if you don't accept our answers or opinion


I accept your opinions, i just was backing my opinions up with numbers-lol

No one said they didn't exist. You made it sound like they were in all homes at that time.
Yeah they were expensive, I paid almost $400 for mine...and that was the top of the line model in 1984. People didn't really start getting them until 1982...how do I know, because that's when the rental movie places started opening up.
I didn't get my first VCR until 1986. I had asked my parents to get me one for years but they always said it was to expensive.

I accept your opinions, i just was backing my opinions up with numbers-lol
numbers that we have to accept that you posted here??? we don't see the actual source...scan the source and put it here...


besides, NUMBERS DON'T MEAN CACA TO ME BECAUSE like I said many homes had one television. you have to watch one program. if the family wanted to watch the Waltons, then L&S was screwed because of the schedule. Why do you think Happy Days remained on Tuesdays????? No one wanted to go up against that show.

I accept your opinions, i just was backing my opinions up with numbers-lol

Well I've become disinterested :lol:

and looking at the shows Good Times aired against, I can see why I didn't watch it regularly. It was up against Happy Days for a few years, The Bionic Woman one year and Eight Is Enough one year and Chips during the last year. . I watched all those shows. I really needed a VCR back then. :lol:

I don't expect everyone in this thread to agree with me, I was just saying to me L&S would have not been good in the ratings if it wasn't behind HD.

I don't expect everyone in this thread to agree with me, I was just saying to me L&S would have not been good in the ratings if it wasn't behind HD.
I agree HD did help it a lot. That whole Tuesday night lineup back then was great. It was one of my favorite nights of the week.

I agree HD did help it a lot. That whole Tuesday night lineup back then was great. It was one of my favorite nights of the week.


And I still don't know why ABC didn't put the Ropers after Three's Company on Tuesday Nights. The Ropers needed Three's Company's help, BAD!!!!!-lol

I agree HD did help it a lot. That whole Tuesday night lineup back then was great. It was one of my favorite nights of the week.
I still remember that line-up. it was great. it was murder for any show up against those shows. It just seems nowadays, everything is scattered around, it's hard to remember what shows are on what night, especially when they move the sceduling around, go on hiatus, etc. it's crazy.:crazy: :crazy:

And I still don't know why ABC didn't put the Ropers after Three's Company on Tuesday Nights. The Ropers needed Three's Company's help, BAD!!!!!-lol
Yea. I stopped watching it when it moved to Saturdays. I think I forgot it was still on the air. :lol:

I still remember that line-up. it was great. it was murder for any show up against those shows. It just seems nowadays, everything is scattered around, it's hard to remember what shows are on what night, especially when they move the sceduling around, go on hiatus, etc. it's crazy.:crazy: :crazy:
Half the time I use my VCR to make my own lineup. :lol:

I have to use my reminder feature from my cable box to remind me when something is on...tooooo many channels and too many shows.

Tuesday Nights on ABC was the best part of the 1970s (damn, I feel like an old fart right now):o
but one great fart!!!! join the OLD FART CLUB...(what's that smell????) LOL

Happy Days holds a special place in my heart, because Richie Cunningham was one of the very first boys that I ever fell in love with..I even had a Richie doll as a child, a present for my 10th birthday (that I immediately took the clothes off of, because I was curious what was underneath..damn, was I disappointed!!!):lol:
:rofl:

Happy Days holds a special place in my heart, because Richie Cunningham was one of the very first boys that I ever fell in love with..I even had a Richie doll as a child, a present for my 10th birthday (that I immediately took the clothes off of, because I was curious what was underneath..damn, was I disappointed!!!):lol:
OH SH*T!!!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :eek:

That wonderful Tuesday Night lineup was destroyed right at the start of the 1980-81 season.

Happy Days-No More richie and Ralph

Laverne and Shirley-Set in california

Three's Company-No more Chrissy

I think the Parent shows did help the spinoffs initially, but it is the quality of the show that is going to either help it succeed or flop.

I like Laverne and Shirley a hell of a lot more than I will ever like Happy Days. I think it started out as being "Carried", but it eventually came into it's own, and was a ratings powerhouse. (Even with all that drama for all those years).