Hi, I think this is an interesting question: what classic shows would not be given the chance to become a classic in today's tv? With the fast turn around of shows today, once you get use to one it gets caned. Some pretty good shows only last four to six years today. But that's off topic. I'm asking for shows of yesteryear that hit it big, but today would not be able to last today.

I'll start:

Cheers; it's first year finished next to last in the ratings. If it wasn't for the move to after the Cosby Show, Cheers might not have been a hit.

MASH; it took nearly three years for fans to find and love this show.

the Mary Tyler Moore show; I believe the piolt still holds the record for lowest test score. It would probably not get picked up today

The Dick Van Dyke show; CBS cancaled it after one year, cigerattes saved it

I love all these shows but I don't think they would be on if they tryed them today. Anyone have other shows that would not air today.

Seinfeld- very low ratings first couple of years, if it came out today (like Cheers) a network would ax it because it wasn't an immediate success.

Leave it to Beaver/The Brady Bunch- while not complete disasters in the ratings, they were never the hits during their original runs that they have been in syndication.

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

If you think that way, even All in the Family would not air today

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

I agree with you on that.

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.



I couldnt agree more. Times have changes


Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

I couldnt agree more. Times have changes


Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

Not to mention Amos 'n' Andy. :lol:

I Love Lucy! When was the last time a woman was allowed to be zany and the husband, the straight man? Maybe the Nanny comes close......but this concept would not fly today.

I couldnt agree more. Times have changes


Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

Totally, totally correct, and utterly depressing as well. I don't see much hope of ever returning to television that wasn't afraid to take chances, that was written by true craftsmen who's inspiration is LIFE not OTHER television shows.

Everything is geared so cynically to certain demographics and the studios are so cautious with their time and money they end up making only mildly entertaining shows (at best). I'm glad I found a site like this that caters to my need for nostalgia and my appreciation of classic shows.

I don't want to "live in the past" but when the present is so tepid and shallow, what other choice is there?

Anything with any taste? lol Or anything where the wife was stupid and the husband was smart. Or the wife was a fat, slovenly woman married to a skinny hottie guy. Not sure if there were any shows like that, but they wouldn't succeed today for sure.

the hooney mooners
i love lucy
thehulk
fAMILY TIES
SANFORD AND SON
Perfect strangers
mamm's family
wleocme back,kottoer
the brandy bunch
the munsters
my favorite martian
i dream of jennie
bewithced

once i think might make it are today:
family ties
i love lucy
sanford and son
Perfect strangers
mamma's family

Maude

Anything with any taste? lol Or anything where the wife was stupid and the husband was smart. Or the wife was a fat, slovenly woman married to a skinny hottie guy. Not sure if there were any shows like that, but they wouldn't succeed today for sure.

the closest that concept came to being was What About Joan?--where Joan Cusack was involved with Kyle Chandler. Joan wasn't fat but she also wasn't a knockout type like Patricia Heaton, Leah Remini or Jami Gertz.

the closest that concept came to being was What About Joan?--where Joan Cusack was involved with Kyle Chandler. Joan wasn't fat but she also wasn't a knockout type like Patricia Heaton, Leah Remini or Jami Gertz.
Apparently then that concept would never work no matter when it aired!

I strongly believe that something like I Dream of Jeannie wouldn't fly today primarily because the entire concept of a beautiful woman like Barbara Eden being subservient to a man would immediately be deemed as sexiest.

I kind of think Bewitched could have made it today.

AITF
Happy Days
Laverne & Shirley
Mork & Mindy Robin Williams ****ck wouldn't fly with todays audience
Gunsmoke westerns that don't have foul mouth drug addict cowboys aren't chic today
The A Team
Miami Vice
Married With Children
Buffalo Bill
Soap
Three's Company

I don't think many would, like someone said times have changed.

Political correctness would've killed many of these shows which aired back in the day which is ironic when one puts into consideration that allot of these shows like MASH and All In The Family were considered to be pc for the era and both Norman Lear and Carrol O Conner were at the time big time liberals.

Few, if any would make it (IMO). Good as they are, they were made for a different time, and no matter how timeless some of them are (e.g., I Love Lucy, Three's company), I don't think that they would have the same appeal (unfortunately) today. I'm not saying I think today's shows are better, only that people nowadays have different tastes.

Of course, speaking from my point of view, all the classic TV shows would make it. In fact, if they played in an endless loop 24/7, that would make me happy.

AITF
Happy Days
Laverne & Shirley
Mork & Mindy Robin Williams ****ck wouldn't fly with todays audience
Gunsmoke westerns that don't have foul mouth drug addict cowboys aren't chic today
The A Team
Miami Vice
Married With Children
Buffalo Bill
Soap
Three's Companyi do think buffalo bill would be a bigger hit today because obnuxios mean cinycs are kind of in now ie house in 1983 people didnt know what to make of a show like buffalo bill today it would be a top 25 show it was kind of ahead of its time