I'm starting to think I'm backing the wrong horse? Nextworks don't want to carry anything older then 10 to 15 years (some may go to 20 years but not that many). The DVDs of classics take forever to come out, if at all. I know there are a few shows that made it (MASH, Mary Tyler Moore, Three's Company, etc...) But I there are still hundreds that are incomplete or waiting for something to be relased. Now I'm getting the feeling netflix don't care either. There are a number of show I came accross were the dvds have become unavailable (with no chance of becoming available again). They have some shows on instant, but most are newer shows, while the older ones are just available on dvd (if it is availble). When I try talking about old shows with people the look at me like I have two heads. I think they just dont understand. There are times when I like I was born too late for anything I love (including my taste in music: 70s country).

I know there are planty of us, I don't know any personally, but every board seems to have people posting. What to you guys think? I'm I just sounding crazy? I hope so.

Thanks for reading my rant.
PS. I would take any show of the 70s over today any day.

I agree with you. The classics are getting harder to find. And even when they do come out on DVD the stores won't give them any shelf space so the only option is to order them online.

FanofRetroTV-- Which classic tv shows are you speaking of specifically?

The 50s-70s shows will always be the best!!

FanofRetroTV-- I dont know of anyone in central PA that likes the classic tv shows. There is one poor soul from work who will watch anything I put on but I kinda "wonder" when I show The Doris Day Show episodes :eek:

I've lost hope in today's tv viewers. I would have thought that all of these trashy reality shows would have ended years ago. It seems to be what everyone loves anymore. TV just isn't like it used to be.

I tend to disagree. I think the reason why reality shows are still on is because executives shove those shows down our throats. I also think nobody may care about classic tv because they dont hype classic tv, they only hype reality shows.

I feel the same way sometimes, that I'm from another time. TV today is garbage.... just like the music is as well. From the 1950's-early 2000's TV was good...especially shows from the 50's-80's, but sometime in the 2000's TV lost it's creativity and now where stuck with a bunch of crappy reality shows! Any time the networks start trying to remake classic sitcoms, you know they lost it. Bionic Women, Knight Rider and Kojak all flopped. Hawalie Five-O, surprisingly is doing well. King of Queens a very funny show but in actuallity is a 2000 version of the Honeymooners. Now I here they are making a new version of the hit 1970's show Wonder Women... What's Next Fantacy Island?!...smh.
Classic Sitcoms Rock!!!

. Now I here they are making a new version of the hit 1970's show Wonder Women... What's Next Fantacy Island?!...smh.
Classic Sitcoms Rock!!!
Acutally they did a new Fantasy Island it only lasted a month or so a few years ago, it was darker than the original. They're also coming out with a new Munsters though, it has been shelved for the moment.

I think classic TV is making a resurgance on television, just in a different method - digital subchannels. Look at RTV, MeTV, Antenna TV, THIS. All show classic shows and save for RTV, treat them much better.

Acutally they did a new Fantasy Island it only lasted a month or so a few years ago, it was darker than the original. They're also coming out with a new Munsters though, it has been shelved for the moment.
Oh....WOW I didn't know that they made a new Fantacy Island...
A new Munsters... that show needs too stay shelveld. They already remade that show back in the 80's, with The Munsters Today. That remake was horrible.

Oh....WOW I didn't know that they made a new Fantacy Island...
A new Munsters... that show needs too stay shelveld. They already remade that show back in the 80's, with The Munsters Today. That remake was horrible.

What's funny about "The Munsters Today" is that it actually lasted longer than the original show.

I agree the 1950's to 1970's was the best time for TV. However, I think the 1960's was by far the best decade of the three. The 1950's being a distant second, and the 70's third. Many 50's shows have become dated and are no longer watchable. The majority of 60's shows remain highly entertaining today. The decline of TV started in the 70's, but there were still a few good sitcoms and cop shows on the air during that time.

I've lost hope in today's tv viewers. I would have thought that all of these trashy reality shows would have ended years ago. It seems to be what everyone loves anymore. TV just isn't like it used to be.

a reason why i rarely watch tv today. it's almost as if the people who love reality shows, though it's out of choice, most enjoy watching others humiliate themselves, as well as believing these people who take part are true stars of the making. just by appearing on some reality show.

I tend to disagree. I think the reason why reality shows are still on is because executives shove those shows down our throats. I also think nobody may care about classic tv because they dont hype classic tv, they only hype reality shows.

that is true- i so agree. reality tv shows are cheap to produce with hardly any real effort required into making them, yet people continue to watch them. they offer almost very little in return.

for the exception of a few shows, i hated the 00s for TV and i can't see things improving as things stand. give me the 70s, 80s, 90s any day.

it's astonishing how much popular entertainment has fallen sadly- what with movies, TV shows, music.

I think TV Shows died by 9/11 (This may seem to be an odd date, but that's how I felt)!

Bit by Bit, TV Stations lost their identity and decided to air Reality Shows.

It seemed that once these underground Classic TV Shows came in fold, the trend is returning. Slowly, but surely...and maybe by the end of 2019 TV will be back to normal playing old and new shows!

I agree the 1950's to 1970's was the best time for TV. However, I think the 1960's was by far the best decade of the three. The 1950's being a distant second, and the 70's third. Many 50's shows have become dated and are no longer watchable. The majority of 60's shows remain highly entertaining today. The decline of TV started in the 70's, but there were still a few good sitcoms and cop shows on the air during that time.
The only shows from the 50's that is still funny is The Honeymooners and I love Lucy

I think TV Shows died by 9/11 (This may seem to be an odd date, but that's how I felt)!

Bit by Bit, TV Stations lost their identity and decided to air Reality Shows.


You make it sound like Snookie was flying the plane (no offense intended, sorry if this is a rude joke) but this is sort of ridiculous to point that date out.

What's funny about "The Munsters Today" is that it actually lasted longer than the original show.

That was the only thing funny about it.

This is an example of Cable Networks moving away from classic TV


26 year old woman at my job didn't know know who Suzzane Somers was and I said the blonde on Three's Company


Her reply-"What is Three"s Company?


I don't blame her one bit lOL

I think TV Shows died by 9/11 (This may seem to be an odd date, but that's how I felt)!

Bit by Bit, TV Stations lost their identity and decided to air Reality Shows.

It seemed that once these underground Classic TV Shows came in fold, the trend is returning. Slowly, but surely...and maybe by the end of 2019 TV will be back to normal playing old and new shows!

2019?! i'd be 38 by then! :eek:

in 2019 TVLand and N@N will be playing everything that started in 2011 or after-LOL

The only shows from the 50's that is still funny is The Honeymooners and I love Lucy

The Honeymooners, Amos N Andy, and Leave It To Beaver are still good shows. I've never been a big Lucy fan, The Lucy Show is OK but I'm not really fond of I Love Lucy or Here's Lucy.

"BURNS & ALLEN" is also still good.

Its almost like tv executives are afraid or embarrassed to be associated with anything classic. Look at Soapnet, MTV, ESPN CLASSIC , Look at all the reality tv on now. The thing that really bothers me is that NONE OF NETWORKS I just mentioned above had to change. They can give you this bs about changing with the times but I think thats bull. One person changed and got rid of classic stuff and everyone else followed suit.

Father Knows Best was good
Life Of Riley
Jack Benny

No I don't think that classics have gone out of style, I would say the networks are trying to push reality down the viewers throat.

I have over 350 series and nearly 40,000 episodes to watch so I don't need to catch anything the networks try to force on people. Infact I plan om counting the cord with the Sat in JUne

I love My Favorite Martian, I Married Joan, Bob Newhart, Burns and Allen Etc and would watch those over anything currently on TV

The only shows from the 50's that is still funny is The Honeymooners and I love Lucy

I disagree, I'll take almost any sitcom from the 50's over the majority of sitcoms on TV today.

2019?! i'd be 38 by then! :eek:

So will I! I was born about the same time you were, I think.

So will I! I was born about the same time you were, I think.

really? cool! :) but seriously, we have to wait that long for some good sitcoms? for me no thanks.

in 2019 TVLand and N@N will be playing everything that started in 2011 or after-LOL

In 2019, Nick at Nite and TV Land will be showing things like Two and a Half Men and Mike and Molly. But I actually like those shows though. But TV Land's editing will probably be even worse by then.

I still find tv classics relevant. In fact, most nights I actually watch the Hub or Antenna TV since there isn't much on the broadcast/cable networks that interests me anymore.

If I was able to pick up a network like Antenna TV, that is all I'd watch. Even my grandchildren prefer the old shows like Andy Griffith, Hazel, Lucy, Donna Reed etc...
I know there are masive numbers of people who all want the classic's but I don't think the networks care what people want.

Any time the networks start trying to remake classic sitcoms, you know they lost it. Bionic Women, Knight Rider and Kojak all flopped. Hawalie Five-O, surprisingly is doing well.
Watched the first Knight Rider episode because The Hoff was in it, and quit Hawalie Five-O after the first two episodes.

I'd still rather watch the original 5-0 any day of the week

I'd still rather watch the original 5-0 any day of the week

SECONDED!

However, I'm waiting for the new one to come out on DVD, so I can watch it WITHOUT the Commercials! :happyface

I think as long as there are poeple like all of us watching these good ole shows they will live on! Thanks for all the replys!

I just picked up the UK series UFO can't wait for it to come and watch it. Also I will be watching the Saint this next week

I just picked up the UK series UFO can't wait for it to come and watch it. Also I will be watching the Saint this next week

I'm sure you'll like it. Gerry Anderson put out a lot of good TV Shows in his day, and even a few Movies as well. I have all but one of his "Supermarionation" TV Series on DVD. One of them, Thunderbirds has the honor of being the first Science-Fiction Show I ever saw. As for the one show I don't have, Stingray it will probably be a "Birthday Presant from Me to Myself" later this Summer. :D

I am going to pick up Thriller, The Walton and a few others in June so I will be having alot of good eps to catch up on soon

Its almost like tv executives are afraid or embarrassed to be associated with anything classic. Look at Soapnet, MTV, ESPN CLASSIC , Look at all the reality tv on now. The thing that really bothers me is that NONE OF NETWORKS I just mentioned above had to change. They can give you this bs about changing with the times but I think thats bull. One person changed and got rid of classic stuff and everyone else followed suit.

I agree completely. They talk a big talk about having to change because the classic TV didn't attract enough viewers, but that's bull because it was the fans of classic TV that made some of these networks great in the first place.

(1) The Disney Channel had an overnight block showing old Disney movies and TV shows like Spin & Marty. That had to go.

(2) SoapNet made its name showing classic soaps like Ryan's Hope, Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Hotel, Another World, etc. It became successful doing so but then dropped everything except Ryan's Hope to become a recycler of current weekday soaps and recent dramas like One Tree Hill and The O.C.

(3) TV Land used to show a lot more classic TV shows, but not much is left except Norman Lear shows and huge blocks of westerns. I think the only show left with any B&W episodes is The Andy Griffith Show and that has been relegated to weekend afternoons.

(4) The former Sci Fi Channel used to show more classic shows like Dark Shadows, Time Tunnel, etc. I think only The Twilight Zone is left.

Apologists for these networks can claim that classic programming wasn't popular, but I think what really happened is...some young executive came in and wanted to make their own name and brand on everything, and did away with most of the classic programming. It was all about the egos of young executives who didn't care about classic TV; all they cared about was making a name for themselves.

Thank goodness for MeTV, RetroTV, THIS, and AntennaTV. I hope these networks do not get infiltrated by "brilliant" young executives who feel the need to change everything...

I agree completely. They talk a big talk about having to change because the classic TV didn't attract enough viewers, but that's bull because it was the fans of classic TV that made some of these networks great in the first place.

(1) The Disney Channel had an overnight block showing old Disney movies and TV shows like Spin & Marty. That had to go.

(2) SoapNet made its name showing classic soaps like Ryan's Hope, Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Hotel, Another World, etc. It became successful doing so but then dropped everything except Ryan's Hope to become a recycler of current weekday soaps and recent dramas like One Tree Hill and The O.C.

(3) TV Land used to show a lot more classic TV shows, but not much is left except Norman Lear shows and huge blocks of westerns. I think the only show left with any B&W episodes is The Andy Griffith Show and that has been relegated to weekend afternoons.

(4) The former Sci Fi Channel used to show more classic shows like Dark Shadows, Time Tunnel, etc. I think only The Twilight Zone is left.

Apologists for these networks can claim that classic programming wasn't popular, but I think what really happened is...some young executive came in and wanted to make their own name and brand on everything, and did away with most of the classic programming. It was all about the egos of young executives who didn't care about classic TV; all they cared about was making a name for themselves.

Thank goodness for MeTV, RetroTV, THIS, and AntennaTV. I hope these networks do not get infiltrated by "brilliant" young executives who feel the need to change everything...
That makes absolutely no sense at all. No huge business like Disney or NBC or MTV Networks is going to yield the power to make schedules to "young executives." That's preposterous and absurd.

The facts are clear. These are businesses that must make money to survive. Classic TV shows do not bring in higher ratings than the reality shows and the more recent shows. They don't. They just don't. It's a fact. I hate it just as much as everyone else here does, but it's a proven fact. It sucks, but it's true. I don't like it, but that's just the way it is.

Another World on SOAPnet was, at some times, pulling in a rating of 0. There might have been Nielsen boxes plugged into the show, but not enough to register a blip on the radar.

I guess we're dinosaurs, just like the shows we like.

I think what makes most of us mad is that these channels were created for a specific reason so classic tv had to be popular at one time for these channels to even exist. Then they just shoot all their old viewers to the curve.

I don't think the Nielsen ratings are even close to being accurate anymore,especially when it comes to classic tv shows.Classic tv shows are just as popular and in demand now as they always have been.I want to know WHO they are picking nowadays as Nielsen families.---And why are they still the only company for ratings.Nielsen was fine when American tv only had the 3 major networks,but since thats not the case anymore,I think it is rediculous to still rely on only one company for ratings.---Afterall who is rating Nielsen,as far as how accurate they are etc. etc.?As far as I know no one is.Basically the Nielsen ratings have become a joke.

I agree that the Nielsen ratings are outdated and a joke, etc, but the networks and advertisers are still hung up on them, so it really doesn't matter what we think.

I agree ^^^,and that is one of a few reasons most tv stations have become un-viewable.--I'll bet stations like Antenna-tv and Me-tv are pulling in so many more viewers(and steady viewers) than most other stations ,only the Nielsen ratings probably don't reflect that.

I'll add ,one of the major reasons why classic ,or in other words the good tv shows have been taken off the air is because of all the commercials tv stations are allowed to air nowadays.A 26 minute episode of lets say "The Rifleman"(one example of many) is alot harder to for these commercial filled stations to air than lets say a 20 minute show like '2 and 1/2 men'.Heck, how can they fit 12+ minutes of ads in a half hour timeslot--if a show runs 26 minutes un-cut.--We need something like the UKs BBC channels here or a commercial free channel that airs classic tv shows,because American tv has become a cesspool for the most part.