I haven't seen this show in a while, but I am pretty sure it was not a sitcom. At the very most it was a dramedy. Also, wasn't EIE an hour long?

It was an hour long but like The Love Boat it had a laugh track, so it was set up to look like a sitcom.

Yeah I always considered the show a "comedy/drama" and never thought of it as a real sitcom.

I agree... I never considered it a sitcom either.

Although it has a laugh track and some moments of light comedy, I would put it in the family drama category along with 'The Waltons' and 'Little House on the Prairie'.

Yeah I always considered the show a "comedy/drama" and never thought of it as a real sitcom.

:yeahthat

I learned something new today because I thought it was a 30 min show-lol

It's one of my favorite shows. I'd definitely say. overall, it was a dramedy. On some eps it was more comedic on others more serious/dramatic. On many, an even balance.

(The early eps were wonderful - esp. the one where Tom first meets Abby and of the course the VERY first shows with Diana Hyland before she passed)

It was an hour long but like The Love Boat it had a laugh track, so it was set up to look like a sitcom.
Yeah, it seems the laugh track is the only thing that throws everybody off as to what catagory this show falls. Its actually considered a comedy/drama.

Although the show would have done just fine w/o the laugh track, the track never seemed cloying to me; I barely noticed it.

It was a fine show; nicely nuanced. Never pat and predictable. You never knew quite what the new ep would be: serious? funny? light-hearted? bittersweet? (God, I wish they would put it on DVD!)

Although the show would have done just fine w/o the laugh track, the track never seemed cloying to me; I barely noticed it.

It was a fine show; nicely nuanced. Never pat and predictable. You never knew quite what the new ep would be: serious? funny? light-hearted? bittersweet? (God, I wish they would put it on DVD!)
I think (or atleast hope) efforts are still being made to get it released.

I HATED the laugh tracks on "The Love Boat" and "Eight is Enough". They were so fake....worse than the 1960s shows.

I've watched a few episodes of this show and can't believe they added a laugh track. :lol: What were they thinking? The strange thing about EIE is sometimes when I expect to hear the laugh track, I don't and when I don't expect it, I do. At least the laugh track is only used sporadically, similar to the last few seasons of M*A*S*H, so it's not annoying.

Yes, the Love Boat is another good example. Where is the audience in those outdoor scenes?

The same with MASH.

When I was young, I just thought the laughter was coming from people at home watching the show on TV. I guess I thought the noise they made went through the television.:lol:

When I was young, I just thought the laughter was coming from people at home watching the show on TV. I guess I thought the noise they made went through the television.:lol:
That's the way I always think of it. lol

Although it has a laugh track and some moments of light comedy, I would put it in the family drama category along with 'The Waltons' and 'Little House on the Prairie'.

Same here. Can't they re-categorize it? It definitely belongs in same category as "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie".

Same here. Can't they re-categorize it? It definitely belongs in same category as "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie".


I think so too! ;)

I'd never seen an episode of EIE before I bought season 1 way-back-when. I was expecting a "Brady Bunchesque" type sitcom because according to this site, EIE is a sitcom. I was sort of disappointed in the show. I still have the season 1 set but I haven't bought anymore seasons.

I'd never seen an episode of EIE before I bought season 1 way-back-when. I was expecting a "Brady Bunchesque" type sitcom because according to this site, EIE is a sitcom. I was sort of disappointed in the show. I still have the season 1 set but I haven't bought anymore seasons.


I would purchase season 2 if I were you. I think it's the best season. In season 1, the producers were still trying to get a feel for the show and the chemistry of the cast. Then Diana Hyland died and they sort of muddled along the rest of the season (which was only a few more episodes). Eight is Enough really hit their stride in season 2 and had a lot of heartfelt moments. I would buy it. But if you don't like season 2, I would stop there because you most likely won't like the rest of the seasons.

I'd never seen an episode of EIE before I bought season 1 way-back-when. I was expecting a "Brady Bunchesque" type sitcom because according to this site, EIE is a sitcom. I was sort of disappointed in the show. I still have the season 1 set but I haven't bought anymore seasons.


As far as a show based on a large family. It wasn't nearly as good as the Brady Bunch in the way of a comedy, and it wasn't nearly as good as the Waltons in the way of a drama.

But it was OK! It's watchable. Nothing really that memorable about it. At the time I was a teenager and if I was home or not on the phone with my friends I'd watch it, but I didn't drop everything I was doing to watch it when it was on!

Lots of girls crushed on Tommy/ Willie Aames, I never did. But the older son David/ Grant Goodeve was hot I thought! ;)

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQS4-BORCFQVEIGS2p0AkdeZGcZ3dQcWZE9aHrjGsDnb9EWPOGR

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3ZEpA0g1AC-BxIiCEHzpx9xXlfMyfPCLc57s3y5Ct3Em7dDFhSg

I'd never seen an episode of EIE before I bought season 1 way-back-when. I was expecting a "Brady Bunchesque" type sitcom because according to this site, EIE is a sitcom. I was sort of disappointed in the show. I still have the season 1 set but I haven't bought anymore seasons.

I love the show to pieces. But if you're looking for a 100% comedy EIE isn't it. It can run the gamut from 100% drama to maybe 50% comedy. My recommendation: see if your public library has it and borrow some seasons to see if you want more. But for me it's definitely in my top 10 favorite shows OF ALL TIME.

Eight Is Enough has been moved to the 1970s Dramas/Dramedies section. I will leave a redirect in the 1970s Sitcoms section so people can still find it from there.

Eight Is Enough has been moved to the 1970s Dramas/Dramedies section. I will leave a redirect in the 1970s Sitcoms section so people can still find it from there.

As someone who LOVES this show and has seen every ep, I’d have to say that while it is a bit of a hybrid, it’s definitely more of a drama than comedy. And when it is comedic, the humor is very low-key, despite the msnufactured laugh tracks. As someone who has watched the series closely, it MUCH more dramatic and comedic. IMO what EIE REALLY is is endearing and poignant.

If I could only take 5 TV shows to a desert island, this would DEFINITELY be one of them. And of course you know what my 2nd choice would be.;)