I think it's kind of strange to have this show listed as a sitcom. It was a mostly a one-hour weekly drama.

But now, I think I can remember canned laughter during some occaisional scenes. That's really odd when you think about it. Canned laughter was supposed to represent an audience watching the filming of the show. But with this particular show, you knew there was no audience. At least half of the scenes were set outdoors.

I thought it would be listed under Dramas/Dramedies, but it wasn't. I kind of liked the show.

Good point. I never realized it was under sitcoms. Strange.

I haven't seen EIE in years...It would be nice for it to get a DVD release. I'd love to watch it again.

The show was never given a fair shake in reruns either. When TBS added it, it pulled it off after like 2 weeks. Then PAX only aired it like on Saturdays. To me, this would be a good show for any of the more family oriented channels to add.

To me, this would be a good show for any of the more family oriented channels to add.

What a splendid idea! Why none have is a mystery to me.

What a splendid idea! Why none have is a mystery to me.


I imagine anyone who enjoys "7th Heaven" or even "The Brady Bunch" would also enjoy this series. I haven't seen it in so long, that the episodes would all seem new to me.

^ Same here - I haven't seen this show since one of our local stations aired the reruns back in 1985-86 or so. I couldn't really understand the show then...I'd love to see it through adult eyes.

It really is one of my favorite shows--I have about 3/4 of the eps on videotape.

I think it's kind of strange to have this show listed as a sitcom. It was a mostly a one-hour weekly drama.

But now, I think I can remember canned laughter during some occaisional scenes. That's really odd when you think about it. Canned laughter was supposed to represent an audience watching the filming of the show. But with this particular show, you knew there was no audience. At least half of the scenes were set outdoors.
I remember the laugh track on this show- very odd for a one hour filmed series. If this is considered a "dramady" what is the proper classification for series such as BJ and the Bear and its spinoffs, Dukes of Hazzard and shows like that? No way are those dramas, but none used a laugh track, suggesting that in some ways they were more astute that anyone who watched them would pick up on the absurdist humor of the whole thing without cues from the production.

I remember the laugh track on this show- very odd for a one hour filmed series. If this is considered a "dramady" what is the proper classification for series such as BJ and the Bear and its spinoffs, Dukes of Hazzard and shows like that? No way are those dramas, but none used a laugh track, suggesting that in some ways they were more astute that anyone who watched them would pick up on the absurdist humor of the whole thing without cues from the production.


BJ, Lobo and Dukes--I would classify those as "Comedy Adventure".

TV Guide in the olden days classifed Eight as "Comedy-Drama"

BJ, Lobo and Dukes--I would classify those as "Comedy Adventure".

TV Guide in the olden days classifed Eight as "Comedy-Drama"
How about "Enos"?? :rofl:

How about "Enos"?? :rofl:


8pm CBS Enos-wants to be a comedy but fails miserably :D

BJ, Lobo and Dukes--I would classify those as "Comedy Adventure".

TV Guide in the olden days classifed Eight as "Comedy-Drama"
Had they not stuck the laugh track onto it, it wouldn't have seemed so strange. Love Boat was basically a comedy as well, light, frothy and escapist, though an hour long series- Fantasy Island was like its dark twin.

More shows that are some kind of hybrid: Scarecrow and Mrs King, Fall Guy, Remington Steele, Moonlighting, Crazy Like A Fox- all these shows are intentionally tongue in cheek.

Some other shows are played rather over the top so they could be interpreted as comedies even though that may not have been the intent: Dragnet for example.

I think it's kind of strange to have this show listed as a sitcom. It was a mostly a one-hour weekly drama.

But now, I think I can remember canned laughter during some occaisional scenes. That's really odd when you think about it. Canned laughter was supposed to represent an audience watching the filming of the show. But with this particular show, you knew there was no audience. At least half of the scenes were set outdoors.

I'm a fan of Eight is Enough, grew up watching it when it originally aired, watched in in reruns in the 90's, but the 'canned laughter' was out of place- I think there was far more comedy in shows like Dukes of Hazzard and Love Boat(like others on here have said)

It was even more odd when they had canned laughter on cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby Doo- did cartoon characters from other shows come to watch the tapings?

It was even more odd when they had canned laughter on cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby Doo- did cartoon characters from other shows come to watch the tapings?

Yeah Yogi Bear watched them film The Flintstones, he even made an appearance in one episode, LOL.

I really liked Eight Is Enough and wish they would put it on dvd.

There's no reason why this show can't be on Hallmark--which plays LHOP, 7th Heaven and recently, The Waltons, so this show would be a great fit with all those family shows. Heck, even a small net like FamilyNet should consider this one.

It was even more odd when they had canned laughter on cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby Doo- did cartoon characters from other shows come to watch the tapings?

^ I can picture that now. Characters from Looney Tunes, The Jetsons, and The Superfriends coming to watch a taping of Scooby Doo and laughing themselves silly. :lol:

I found the "dramedy" aspect in Eight Is Enough to be appealing. It wasn't out and out silly like some Brady Bunch episodes were, and yet it didn't take itself too seriously either.

I would like to see it come out on DVD too.

I must be one of the few that liked the canned laughter. It put me in the mood to laugh. :D

There's no reason why this show can't be on Hallmark--which plays LHOP, 7th Heaven and recently, The Waltons, so this show would be a great fit with all those family shows. Heck, even a small net like FamilyNet should consider this one.
I haven't seen the EIE in any shape or form since the mid-80s. I'd love to see it again.

I'd love to see EIE get a DVD release. Failing that it would be nice to at least see the reruns on TV again!

Didn't PAX air it a few years ago?

Didn't PAX air it a few years ago?

I don't remember if it was PAX, but I do remember watching reruns in the late 90's('98 or '99), I also remember watching reruns on Saturday afternoons around '94 or '95 with my wife who I got to watch them because she had never watched it in its original run(we lived in the Seattle area at the time so it may have been a local network)

^ It was either PAX or the Family Channel, but it was several years ago. It hasn't aired in the local Cleveland market since the mid-80s. :(

I don't remember if it was PAX, but I do remember watching reruns in the late 90's('98 or '99), I also remember watching reruns on Saturday afternoons around '94 or '95 with my wife who I got to watch them because she had never watched it in its original run(we lived in the Seattle area at the time so it may have been a local network)

Yes, it was PAX that had the reruns of "Eight Is Enough" during their first year of existence (1998-99).

^ Thanks for confirming that!!!!