This was a very entertaining sitcom the only show i can watch the same episode 10 times straight without getting bored this show had good plot, great storyline,great people who made the characters come to life some times it looked like they were not acting, Why did they cancel the show was it because of low ratings.

not sure because the ratings were very HIGH

Actually the ratings were very low. Not exactly sure what they were but it came on right after Cheers that season and Cheers was one of the lowest rated shows on tv. Taxi had already been cancelled by ABC the year before because of low ratings. Taxi really wasn't a high rated show once it left the post-Three's Company timeslot in 1980.

Actually the ratings were very low. Not exactly sure what they were but it came on right after Cheers that season and Cheers was one of the lowest rated shows on tv. Taxi had already been cancelled by ABC the year before because of low ratings. Taxi really wasn't a high rated show once it left the post-Three's Company timeslot in 1980.


I know Sonny, I was giving a stupid answer to a stupid question:lol: Why is any show cancelled after 5 seasons?-LOL

I know Sonny, I was giving a stupid answer to a stupid question:lol: Why is any show cancelled after 5 seasons?-LOL
Oh. I got you. :lol: Yea if any show is just cancelled, chances are it's the ratings. :lol:

Oh. I got you. :lol: Yea if any show is just cancelled, chances are it's the ratings. :lol:

Now if he had asked what was the ratings after the 5th season, now that would be a lot better than why was it cancelled. :lol:

I hear what you are saying Sol, but I understand the context of the question. Taxi was a great show and was cancelled twice from 2 different networks without a proper finale. The show still holds up strong today.

I hear what you are saying Sol, but I understand the context of the question. Taxi was a great show and was cancelled twice from 2 different networks without a proper finale. The show still holds up strong today.
I never really appreciated the show until it went off the air. I used to watch it after TC but after it moved I barely watched it again. Then when N @ N started airing it, I rediscovered it and loved it. Maybe I was too young to enjoy it back in those days although I do remember when Rev. Jim took his driving test. I actually fell off the couch laughing. lol

I never really appreciated the show until it went off the air. I used to watch it after TC but after it moved I barely watched it again. Then when N @ N started airing it, I rediscovered it and loved it. Maybe I was too young to enjoy it back in those days although I do remember when Rev. Jim took his driving test. I actually fell off the couch laughing. lol


I am with you, I never saw the show on ABC or NBC, but saw reruns in syndication on a local channel and loved it.

Below is the ratings for season 4 which lead to the ABC cancellation

"#53/15.8 rating"

Info from Book, One Season in American Television, 1983, Marc Elliot

Below is the ratings for season 4 which lead to the ABC cancellation

"#53/15.8 rating"

Info from Book, One Season in American Television, 1983, Marc Elliot
Do you have the ratings for season 5? I imagine they were worse.

Below is the ratings for season 4 which lead to the ABC cancellation

"#53/15.8 rating"

Info from Book, One Season in American Television, 1983, Marc Elliot


Can you imagine if a sitcom got a 15.8 rating today??? LOL

Do you have the ratings for season 5? I imagine they were worse.

Just written confirmation that the ratings were worse but not the actual ranking.

Can you imagine if a sitcom got a 15.8 rating today??? LOL


Yeah that would be crazy. LMAO

Yeah that would be crazy. LMAO


I don't even know what the #1 sitcom nowadays get as far as ratings. lol

I don't even know what the #1 sitcom nowadays get as far as ratings. lol
It looks like TBBT had 16 million viewers for the year. Not sure about the demo. lol

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/05/cbs-the-big-bang-theory-atop-2011-2012-ratings/

It looks like TBBT had 16 million viewers for the year. Not sure about the demo. lol

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/05/cbs-the-big-bang-theory-atop-2011-2012-ratings/


That sounds like a cancellation in the '70's lol

That sounds like a cancellation in the '70's lol
That's true. lol

Do you have the ratings for season 5? I imagine they were worse.

According to http://www.poopreading.com/2008/10/is_30_rock_the_new_taxi/, it finished 73rd in the ratings that season barely beating Cheers which finished dead last at 75th.

According to http://www.poopreading.com/2008/10/is_30_rock_the_new_taxi/, it finished 73rd in the ratings that season barely beating Cheers which finished dead last at 75th.


Great link, it's also consistent with the season 4 ratings I posted.

According to http://www.poopreading.com/2008/10/is_30_rock_the_new_taxi/, it finished 73rd in the ratings that season barely beating Cheers which finished dead last at 75th.
Thanks Justin. :cool: I knew that Cheers was the lowest rated show that season but I didn't know what it was rated. You'd never see a show renewed with ratings like that today....but then again NBC has a habit of renewing anything. :lol:

Thanks Justin. :cool: I knew that Cheers was the lowest rated show that season but I didn't know what it was rated. You'd never see a show renewed with ratings like that today....but then again NBC has a habit of renewing anything. :lol:

I think Cheers may be the only show to ever finish first(1990-91 season) and last in the ratings. :lol:

5 season was a good run back then. Look at Giligans Island. 3 seasons and became the most popular sitcom. and why was it cancelled? The new executive's wife for CBS liked Gun Smoke more. I wish they had tried to spin off Taxi.

no, no, no, GI was cancelled because Bill Paley-the network president-wanted GUNSMOKE renewed so that meant CBS had to cancel 2 half hour shows to make room. So GI and another sitcom called RUN BUDDY, RUN got the ax.

I would like to sample this show again if given the chance to


Are you listening Antenna TV???

why don't you just rent shows you want to sample; on DVD if they're not rerun Sol? That's what I do.

why don't you just rent shows you want to sample; on DVD if they're not rerun Sol? That's what I do.


Oh I didn't know I had that option.

you didn't know you can RENT DVDs????:lol: :lol: (I'm not laughing at you; I just find that funny)

you didn't know you can RENT DVDs????:lol: :lol: (I'm not laughing at you; I just find that funny)



Well how do they make money off them if people can rent them?

I don't know; I wonder the same thing.

Because it failed to do what it's predecessors and successors Mary Tyler Moore, Cheers and The Simpsons did, make the show about relateble situations. It relied way too much on Reverend Jim by the end, while Cheers and The Simpsons is crazier by the later seasons, the early seasons gave it a foundation. It was doomed, the show was excellent in it's first season then it faded as it became less about average people with struggling dreams and became about crazy characters.

Think about if it tried to run 7+ seasons, it lacks the material to run even that long, especially without the charles brothers and barry kemp.

The funny thing about Cheers is that there are even several background characters that remind me of the Taxi cast, John Burns specifically.

Such a nice fall back show I wish was on cable

there was a CHEERS episode that was going to be a 6th season episode of TAXI. But when it was cancelled they revised the script and used it for CHEERS.
It was the episode MISS BOSTON BARMAID, the one where Diane's named Miss Boston Barmaid. In TAXI it was Elaine who's named Female Cab Driver Of The Year, or something.