Were there any shows that dramatically changed their style of writing for whatever reason (Increased ratings for example) from one season to the next; not small changes, but complete overhauls in the pacing and writing of the shows. For example, one show going from a complete soap style drama in one season, and then turning into a flat out sitcom style tv show in later seasons, or vise versa.

the flintstones and saturday night live both changed there writing style from one season to the next with the flintstones the first 4 seasons had eps that kids liked but they were more targeted to adults with mother in law jokes marrrage jokes and even a couple of eps where each suspected the other of having an affair :eek: after season 4 the shows were aimed almost entirely at kids with most of the stories being about pebbles and bamm bamm. snl went the other route .during its first 5 years .the first 3 seasons had alot of political jokes and things aimed at a coilage audience but after john belushi hit it big with animal house in the summer of 78 more and more high school and grade school kids began tuning in and the houmour became louder and more shrill during seasons 4 and 5 this is not to say it still wasant a funny show but if you watch the shows from that era today the change is noticeable

I think both Happy Days, and M*A*S*H are good examples of this. Between the first and second season, a decision was made to go from film to live audience recording on Happy Days, this naturally affected the writing style, so to accomodate the audience reaction and applause, as well as to pander to a different type of audience.

M*A*S*H became more and more 'drama' like over it's run, until it really became a drama with some humor elements, as opposed to a flat-out 'sitcom'.

Anything But Love went through several incarnations during it's short run; i'm guessing it had to do with low ratings. Almost every season of the show had a different cast.

For Seinfeld, the writing didn't change much, but the writing definitely got more zanier over the seasons. Once Larry David left, the storylines really got wacky, especially in the last 2 seasons.

Family Matters was originally a Full House type show with those "soft", "mushy" moments in season one. Then after Urkel was introduced it started to be less mushy and more comedic. Starting in season 5 it became more sci fi with Urkel's inventions and by season 7 it was for the most part very unrealistic.

I'll have to say The Wonder Years starting with the 1991-92 season after the original writers left. Kevin went from being likeable to rebellious. Winnie went from being sweet to witchy. (Actually, the word I want to use rhymes with "witchy" and relates to dogs, but I won't use it here!)

Beverly Hillbillies went from being about the Clampetts trying to figure out life in the big city to the last four seasons revolving around the antics of Jethro, trying to find Elly Mae a husband, or some guest star trying to get money from them. Married With Children went from being the perfect send up of a family sitcom during the first five seasons to being a live action dirty cartoon during its final five. Night court also suffered the same fate as MWC going from clever and funny to nothing but sex jokes and cartoonish situations.

I'll have to say The Wonder Years starting with the 1991-92 season after the original writers left. Kevin went from being likeable to rebellious. Winnie went from being sweet to witchy. (Actually, the word I want to use rhymes with "witchy" and relates to dogs, but I won't use it here!)

I definitely agree with that - I want to say the show got "meaner" by seasons 5 and 6. It wasn't really a lighthearted, nostalgic show anymore as it was in the earlier years, mainly because the characters were growing up and going their seperate ways. But, it was also the characters that got meaner because of the change in writing that occurred. One reason I never liked the last 2 seasons as much as the first 4.

"Boy Meets World" - It started off as a relatively lighthearted, coming-of-age sitcom. As the kids got older, it seemingly turned more into a emo-filled, dramedy. It didn't help matters that the characters' personal traits/backgrounds kept being altered.

Sanford And Son-The first season episodes seemed to be based on Step Toe And Son episodes. Season 2-5 seemed like the writers came up with their own material. Plus Lamont was mean and impatient with Fred during the first season as well.

Mork & Mindy-Season 1 went from Mork trying to learn from humans to buffoonary writing out Mindy's Dad and Grandmother as well as the music student. By season 4 Mork got pregnant and had a kid who aged backwards like Orkans.

Nurses - the first season the writing was a nice, healthy mixture of comical and serious. Then in S2, the wiritng became a tad more comical, thanks to some eps. focusing on Paco and Jack's antics and by S3, it was all-out slapstick, thanks to them focusing entirely the vast majority of episodes on Loni Anderson's character.

Family Matters - the first season was more focused on the family while the second and subsequent seasons, while still focusing on the family members, most of the stories seemed too focused on Steve and his antics.

Beverly Hillbillies, The - the B&W years focused on the Clampetts adjusting to life in Beverly Hills, whereas the color eps. seemed to come off as the writers just sticking the characters in any screwball situation.

Family Matters was originally a Full House type show with those "soft", "mushy" moments in season one. Then after Urkel was introduced it started to be less mushy and more comedic. Starting in season 5 it became more sci fi with Urkel's inventions and by season 7 it was for the most part very unrealistic.

I was just going to mention that. I am watching Family Matters on Nick at Nite currently and they have the first season on right now. Back then, Urkel was in maybe a handful of episodes and on for maybe five minutes or something. He wasn't a big part of the cast yet, but after the first season, it became all about him. Personally, I loved Season 1, because it dealt with more personal family issues and how to deal with them. In Season 2 and beyond it became the Urkel Show and lost it's original premise.
I liked Jaleel White but turning the show over to him was a mistake. It should have stayed with it's original plot.

Another thing that changed was how dumb Eddie was in Season 1 and after that they brought on Waldo and made him the dumb one and made Eddie smart.
They never should have gotten rid of Judy or Rachel just so they could have more Urkel. Judy was a cute, sweet character and I would have loved to have seen her grow up.
Why were the Winslow's raising Rachel's son Richie? After Rachel left the show, she left Richie with them. It didn't make much sense.

I was just going to mention that. I am watching Family Matters on Nick at Nite currently and they have the first season on right now. Back then, Urkel was in maybe a handful of episodes and on for maybe five minutes or something. He wasn't a big part of the cast yet, but after the first season, it became all about him. Personally, I loved Season 1, because it dealt with more personal family issues and how to deal with them. In Season 2 and beyond it became the Urkel Show and lost it's original premise.
I liked Jaleel White but turning the show over to him was a mistake. It should have stayed with it's original plot.

Another thing that changed was how dumb Eddie was in Season 1 and after that they brought on Waldo and made him the dumb one and made Eddie smart.
They never should have gotten rid of Judy or Rachel just so they could have more Urkel. Judy was a cute, sweet character and I would have loved to have seen her grow up.
Why were the Winslow's raising Rachel's son Richie? After Rachel left the show, she left Richie with them. It didn't make much sense.

I've been watching season 1 as well, and it was much better than remembered - I loved the whole family aspect. But in season 2, and especially in later seasons, they completely ditched that concept for the "wackiness of Urkel."

I liked the first season of Family Matters the best also before it became the Steve Urkel show.

I liked the first season of Family Matters the best also before it became the Steve Urkel show.

Yeah, it's much better than I remember it being. It's a shame how bad and stupid it became by season 9. Looking back, I can say it went about 3 seasons too long.

I agree with you guys. Family Matters was much better in seawson one. If it came to dvd i wouldn't even buy past season 4 because it was ruined after that!I like how Urkel is only in it for a few minutes and not the whole show too.

I like the first season of "Family Matters" better now than what I did as a teenager. Only yesterday, my sister and I watched the episode, where Eddy ran for Freshman class president against a nerdy girl, and Rachel went overboard with her environmentalism. And I've come to realise now, that the show changed gradually over the years. (I didn't notice that as a teenager.)

But still, I don't understand why everybody has to complain about Steve. Steve was that show's gold mine, the reason why anyone still remembers it today. I don't mind his inventions or his bafoonery, not even the unrealistic kind, that we saw in seasons 7 and 8... I won't mention season 9 though, because even though I haven't watched much of it, if Steve dumped Myra for Laura, how good can it be?

I agree about Judy though. They should have given the girl a chance to shine, but they never did. I would have loved it, if they had made episodes about her as teenager, instead of those more or less lame episodes about Stephan or Myrthle, not to mention those stupid episodes, where Steve is stupid enough to still lust for Laura, when he's got Myra by his side!

I like the first season of "Family Matters" better now than what I did as a teenager. Only yesterday, my sister and I watched the episode, where Eddy ran for Freshman class president against a nerdy girl, and Rachel went overboard with her environmentalism. And I've come to realise now, that the show changed gradually over the years. (I didn't notice that as a teenager.)

But still, I don't understand why everybody has to complain about Steve. Steve was that show's gold mine, the reason why anyone still remembers it today. I don't mind his inventions or his bafoonery, not even the unrealistic kind, that we saw in seasons 7 and 8... I won't mention season 9 though, because even though I haven't watched much of it, if Steve dumped Myra for Laura, how good can it be?

I agree about Judy though. They should have given the girl a chance to shine, but they never did. I would have loved it, if they had made episodes about her as teenager, instead of those more or less lame episodes about Stephan or Myrthle, not to mention those stupid episodes, where Steve is stupid enough to still lust for Laura, when he's got Myra by his side!

What i never understood was how Rachel totally dissappears, never to be mentioned again and yet Little Ritchie is still on the show, living in the Winslow's house!

Judy and Rachel both dissapear never to be seen again.

Thelma Hopkins, who played Rachel, left to star in another show, that never really took off. She actually appeared now and then even during the latter half of the show, but she never was a regular again, but only a special quest star.

But I agree, that it was weird to keep Richie on the show, when his mother had (seemingly) disappeared. But they probably thought, that he was cuter than Judy.

Thelma Hopkins, who played Rachel, left to star in another show, that never really took off. She actually appeared now and then even during the latter half of the show, but she never was a regular again, but only a special quest star.

But I agree, that it was weird to keep Richie on the show, when his mother had (seemingly) disappeared. But they probably thought, that he was cuter than Judy.

Thelma Hopkins left to star on the short-lived "Getting By," which ironically ran for 2 seasons and got cancelled by 2 networks, ABC, then NBC!

Barney Miller - the 1st season focused more on the personal lives of the officers, then by S2 or S3, it focused more on the activities of the officers of the squad room.

B/c in S2, Barney's wife was seen less and less than she was in S1.

Bosom Buddies changed at the start of season 2 when their identities were exposed and could still stay at the Hotel, no longer having to dress as women.

Angie changed from the waitress rich customer/boyfriend to marring him in season 2. I think it also led to the beginning of the end for the show no more romance, in addition to all the schedule shuffling the show went through.

Thelma Hopkins left to star on the short-lived "Getting By," which ironically ran for 2 seasons and got cancelled by 2 networks, ABC, then NBC!

Right i knew that, but they never really said where Rachel the character went. She kind of just vanished. they never really wrote her out of the show.They should have just written Rachel out of the show, maybe she got married and moves away and decideds Ritchie is better off with Carl and Harriette or something. Or they just say that she's away for work or something, just address it somehow. it was odd to never mention her again.

Thelma Hopkins left to star on the short-lived "Getting By," which ironically ran for 2 seasons and got cancelled by 2 networks, ABC, then NBC!

i actually loved that show! it was great! i remember loving Cindy Williams and her together, they had great chemistry! i wish that show had become a bigger hit.

"MASH" went from being a wacky sitcom with the flavor of the movie and book to a drama with some comic moments, after season 3. That's when it became "THE ALAN ALDA SHOW" and it was ruined! I'll never understand why they made the decision to let him do the writing and directing and take it in that direction.

Right i knew that, but they never really said where Rachel the character went. She kind of just vanished. they never really wrote her out of the show.They should have just written Rachel out of the show, maybe she got married and moves away and decideds Ritchie is better off with Carl and Harriette or something. Or they just say that she's away for work or something, just address it somehow. it was odd to never mention her again.
She quest-starred at "Family Matters" on several occasions though. That's more than what can be said about poor Judy.

i actually loved that show! it was great! i remember loving Cindy Williams and her together, they had great chemistry! i wish that show had become a bigger hit.

I don't remember that show at all.

The Facts Of Life at first focused on seven girls, Mrs. Garrett and the headmaster, Mr. Bradley. Then in the second season, it just focused on Mrs. Garrett, Jo, Tootie, Blair, and Natalie. Some people didn't like the first season, but I thought it was good.

As for Family Matters, I hated Urkel, he was too annoying. The first season was the best, Urkel only appeared on a few minutes per episode. It just got wacky after that, with Judy and Rachel disappearing.

For MASH, I thought the episodes with the Hawkeye/B.J./Charles trio were the best. Alan wanted focus on real-life situations in the Korean War. The writers would travel to Korea to get inspiration for storylines and also talked to war veterans.

The Hogan Family - During the Valerie years, the show had a more realistic feel to the show. During the post-Valerie Years, the show sometimes became another typical Miller-Boyett sitcom, in the unrealistic, silly department in the lines of Full House and Family Matters.

Looking back, I can say it went about 3 seasons too long.

I agree. :)

I agree. :)

which show are you talking about?

which show are you talking about?



Looking back, I can say it went about 3 seasons too long.

I agree.

I took the liberty of checking out previous posts, and the answer I came up with was "Family Matters."

I think "Family Matters" was two seasons too long rather than three seasons too long. The 7th season had a great finale.

I think "Family Matters" was two seasons too long rather than three seasons too long. The 7th season had a great finale.
I think it went FIVE seasons too long because it didn't make sense after Judy and rachel dissapeared. Maybe if they were still there I would agree (and I know Rachel came back but it was as if she never left. They really didn't like to explain things on that show.)

While I agree about Judy, seasons 5, 6 and 7 were still great. Even season 8 had a lot of good episodes, even though I haven't seen these in many years.

I think it went FIVE seasons too long because it didn't make sense after Judy and rachel dissapeared. Maybe if they were still there I would agree (and I know Rachel came back but it was as if she never left. They really didn't like to explain things on that show.)

I think 7th Heaven definetly lasted longer than it should have. It had already exhausted itself by the time if went off the air. I mean the kids had all grown up and were boring. Ruthie just wasn't interesting enough to keep the show running. It should have ended when Jessica Biel left the show.

I think Family Matters was for sure on too long. Perhaps it should have ended with it's ABC run. The last season was beyond horrible.

Yes, "7th Heaven" was better in the early years. I still watched the later years too though.

I agree about 7th Heaven it should have been canceled after the actors who played Simon and Matt Camden left and the show wasn't the same after Jessica Biel left. :)

Bonanza, M*A*S*H, and Andy Griffith all ended up more serious than at the beginning. I'm not saying that they were better or worse for it, because I liked both the earlier and later writing in their own right, but you could clearly see how the writing evolved.

(Note on Bonanza: Bonanza obviously wasn't a comedy, but the earlier episodes had the Cartwright boys doing some goofy antics, like Hoss falling into a horse trough, let's say--and Little Joe laughing his head off; along comes Pa and shakes his head in disapproval.) Older brother Adam, was like, the mature one.) --or like Hop Sing getting p***** off because Hoss said something about the food.)

yes, I've seen a couple episodes of "BONANZA" from the later years that were written and directed by Micheal Landon; and the plot was re-used later on "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE".