http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeaderThanDisco

The polar opposite of Vindicated by History (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VindicatedByHistory), and a variant on Seinfeld Is Unfunny (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny). This is something — an individual character, an individual song or book or game, an entire genre — that was very, very popular in its day. But at some point, it somehow just got too popular. It was talked about on every radio station, on every TV network, on every chat room (not that they'd been invented then...). It was overexposed until people got bored with it (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WolverinePublicity), and it got so much publicity and so many bad knockoff (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FollowTheLeader)s that there was plenty of time to notice each and every flaw and dissect them under a microscope. Soon, small problems were regarded as unavoidable flaws. The final tell-tale sign is when ridicule, or even hate, comes not just for the thing itself (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Hatedom), but for its fans. They become the subject of nasty, highly-specific stereotypes, and gushing about how you like it online is considered trolling.

Ten years later, almost nobody will admit that they ever liked it, and the only mention in the media will be cheap jokes about the fad (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnyoneRememberPogs). It may get revived decades later as kitsch, but it's unlikely to be popular on its own merits again. In fiction (and Real Life), a Disco Dan (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DiscoDan) is a rare admirer who refuses to accept the judgment of history and passionately holds on to the belief that the dead thing is still as big as it always was — usually with comical results.

Of course, twenty years later, the situation may change again (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PopularityPolynomial).

Sometimes caused by people saying that It's Popular, Now It Sucks (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ItsPopularNowItSucks) too much, but not always: at its height, these people are typically not very vocal. It's particularly common with things that never had a cult following to begin with — they went from nowhere to everything, and then back to nowhere, very suddenly. This is essentially Hype Backlash (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HypeBacklash) after something faded from popularity with the haters still remaining.

Another cause of this trope, other than simple overexposure, is a franchise doing something that is widely rejected by the established fandom (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheyChangedItNowItSucks) and fails to allow it to pick up a new audience. Falling victim to The Chris Carter Effect (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheChrisCarterEffect) or a Kudzu Plot (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KudzuPlot) is one of the easiest ways for this to happen, as fans' memories of earlier seasons, films or books are tainted by the realization that the plot that they had spent years following is going nowhere, is being made up on the fly with little forethought, and isn't likely to be resolved. Consequently, the now-former fans tell newbies not to bother. Ending a series on a base-breaking note is another way to do this. In a nutshell, the series enters a Dork Age that it not only never gets out of, but which rubs off on when it was still good. Long Runners (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LongRunners) may be troubled by changing times (and thus (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JumpingTheShark), changing tastes (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PeripheryHatedom)), which can lead entire genres to being not even the shadow of that they were before (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeadHorseGenre).

Compare Jumping the Shark, Periphery Hatedom, Dead Horse Genre, Fallen Creator, and Hatedom. Contrast Vindicated by History and Nostalgia Filter. If a single work is perceived as rendering something Deader than Disco, it's a Creator Killer, Franchise Killer or Genre Killer. Compare and contrast Unintentional Period Piece, when a work can be precisely dated to a specific era, but it may (or may not) have remained popular up to the present day.

the thing that springs to mind immediately is the variety shows of the 70's, and to a lesser extent talk shows of the 80's/90's, where for each there was a time period where it seemed like EVERYONE that was a recognizable name had their own variety show or talk show, and that trend died out for each eventually.

in terms of specific shows, the only one that i remember being openly mocked and hated and anyone that admitted to watching it was marked for life and made fun of was - "Hello Larry", except of course that it was never really popular and was a laughing stock before the first episode aired (yet somehow had good enough ratings to get a second season)

I haven't seen Hello Larry but liked its crossover episodes with Different Strokes.

the thing that springs to mind immediately is the variety shows of the 70's, and to a lesser extent talk shows of the 80's/90's, where for each there was a time period where it seemed like EVERYONE that was a recognizable name had their own variety show or talk show, and that trend died out for each eventually.

in terms of specific shows, the only one that i remember being openly mocked and hated and anyone that admitted to watching it was marked for life and made fun of was - "Hello Larry", except of course that it was never really popular and was a laughing stock before the first episode aired (yet somehow had good enough ratings to get a second season)

A "deader than disco" type of show to me, is simply something that was quite popular and/or acclaimed during its initial run, but in the years and decades since that time, is seen as sort of an embarrassing joke (in the sense that you're quite ashamed to admit to actually liking or enjoying it) or horribly dated. I guess, Hogan's Heroes can fit into this category since ten years ago, TV Guide named it as one of the 50 worst TV shows ever made.

I think that soap operas may fall into this category. They were clearly very popular in the 50's through the 80's, but starting in the 90's they've been quickly fading out of popularity. As we all know now, the genre is on it's last legs with many of the most legendary one's being cancelled for cheaper to produce series.

I don't really know anybody that still watches soaps anymore. Once upon a time they had very strong, rabid fan bases, but those seem to have vanished. I recall in the early 90's, teenagers used to watch them, and people thought that the teen audience would save the soaps, but nowadays I don't think most young people watch soaps. It's so sad but I don't think history will look too fondly on this once great genre that I love.

Music shows like Solid Gold American Bandstand and The Midnight Special were all the rage in the 70s and 80s but by the 90s they have gone the way of the 8 track. Creature features use to be every non network station would air Godzilla movies and other monster and sci fi movies now all you get is the lame stuff Sci Fy churns out.

Speaking of American Bandstand, teen dance shows - Dancin' USA, Dance Party USA, Club MTV, and The Grind were extremely popular in the late 80's and early 90's but it seemed after grunge and alternative music took over, watching good-looking people bop around on a TV set wasn't so hip anymore. Soul Train ended several years later too despite focusing more on hip-hop. Now if people are going to dance on a TV set, they have to be somewhat famous, judged on and voted off by the public.

I feel like a lot of MTV reality shows are going to/already fit this description. I'd say Laguna Beach already does, and Jersey Shore is on its way.

I hope the reality genre goes into this soon. lol

I feel like a lot of MTV reality shows are going to/already fit this description. I'd say Laguna Beach already does, and Jersey Shore is on its way.

MTV as a whole fits this trope. MTV had always been I think, the main hub of whatever was hip, cutting edge or in vogue at the time. MTV could make or break you as an artist during its peak. It's now a days, pretty much become the channel for exploitative, trashy, low-rent reality shows. MTV pretty much treats or looks down upon its young audience as non-intelligent these days.

Speaking of American Bandstand, teen dance shows - Dancin' USA, Dance Party USA, Club MTV, and The Grind were extremely popular in the late 80's and early 90's but it seemed after grunge and alternative music took over, watching good-looking people bop around on a TV set wasn't so hip anymore. Soul Train ended several years later too despite focusing more on hip-hop. Now if people are going to dance on a TV set, they have to be somewhat famous, judged on and voted off by the public.

What did something like Soul Train in perhaps was the emergence of Black Entertainment Television and Yo! MTV Raps by the late '80s. By this point, Soul Train really no longer had a monopoly on the black youth. I also think that Soul Train arguably, failed to evolve or really adapt to the times, especially after Don Cornelius stopped hosting in '93. It really became one of those shows that you you were surprised that was still on the air.

The Variety Show genre would fit well in in this category. In 1970, it was like the passenger pigeon, there were a lot of varirty shows out there, but when "Pink Lady and Jeff" came...the variety show genre died and basically became extinct. Now the variety show genre is limited to SNL, though there were some exceptions like "Chappelle's Show"...I wish this genre would return.

Perhaps they might even consider a crack or two at reviving westerns and sci-fi

The Variety Show genre would fit well in in this category. In 1970, it was like the passenger pigeon, there were a lot of varirty shows out there, but when "Pink Lady and Jeff" came...the variety show genre died and basically became extinct. Now the variety show genre is limited to SNL, though there were some exceptions like "Chappelle's Show"...I wish this genre would return.

If anything killed the variety show if you ask me, it's cable television. Why sit around and wait for say a comedian, musician or whatever during a single show when there's already a devoted, 24/7 channel to fulfill that particular niche.

I don't know if this category would really work- is disco really dead?;) :lol:
Oh well- I still like listening to it- along with a lot of other styles of music.

http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000012/flat/235222842?p=1

1. The 15-minute music series (seen in Australia and US during the 1950s)

2. The 15-minute soap opera (last seen in the 1960s)

3. Non-Sci-fi anthology series

4. There was a format of Australian TV series during the 1950s/1960s in which a regular cast would mime other people's records. The first batch of these shows died out around 1959 (because seeing actual singers sing their songs is so much better) but there was a brief revival in the 1960s.

5. *Live* television drama of any sort (last seen in the 1960s).

6. The "teenage studio dance" format popular in the 1950s in the US. In these shows, records would be played which were danced to by teenagers. Occasionally, a guest singer would appear to lip-sync their latest song. Virtually all of these series aired "locally" on a single station, and are long-lost. The format also appeared in Australia during the 1950s/1960s.

7. The musical interlude. Back in the 1950s/1960s ABC in Australia showed overseas series which ran 25-minutes. Since ABC does not show commercials, they showed 5-minute music series to fill-in the gap in the schedule, each of these series featuring a different vocalist.

8. Television newsreel. Yes, they still have newscasts, but some of the earliest newscasts (such as those on the BBC during the late-1940s/early-1950s) were presented in the same style as a theatrical newsreel. When was the last time a newscast was presented in a newsreel-type manner?

9. "Listeners Theatre" - See 1950s series "Monodrama Theater".

10. "Vaudeo" - Late-1940s/early-1950s US series that were vaudeville-style variety series. Quite watchable actually.

11. The "disc jockey show". This one cannot come back at all. It existed briefly in Australia in the 1950s, and was a type of show where records would be played, with the visual consisting of the record going around. VERY BASIC TELEVISION, and probably still better than MTV.

12. Minstrel TV series. THIS ONE SHOULD NEVER COME BACK. Existed in the UK, US and Australia and possibly other countries. YUCK.

13. Those shows where one or more hosts would present old "Looney Tunes", "Terrytoons", "Three Stooges", "Make and Myer", etc....and between the shorts, the host(s) would engage in amusing hyjinks, and often there was a studio audience with which the host(s) would interact.

TV shows that made a big pop culture splash but are now disproportionately forgotten (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741028)

Even though I like these shows, I would say they've pretty much been forgotten by everyone with the exception of a few freaks...like us here at Sitcoms Online:

Archie Bunker's Place
Benson
Dave's World
Jake and the Fatman
Just Shoot Me!
My Two Dads
Perfect Strangers
Silver Spoons
Kate & Allie
Hearts Afire
Ally McBeal
Desperate Housewives
Father Dowling Mysteries
Silk Stalkings
The Torkelsons
Grace Under Fire
The Golden Palace
Chico and the Man
It's a Living
Major Dad
Suddenly Susan

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo!
Extreme Couponing

TV shows that made a big pop culture splash but are now disproportionately forgotten (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741028)

Love that thread. Someone mentioned one of my faves. Twin Peaks. Which, is getting revived in 2016.

And, I cannot wait for it!

Glee. Glee fits this bill. Once its off the air, I doubt anybody will remember GLEE.

Glee. Glee fits this bill. Once its off the air, I doubt anybody will remember GLEE.
Remember it? I want to try and forget it as soon as possible.

Even though I like these shows, I would say they've pretty much been forgotten by everyone with the exception of a few freaks...like us here at Sitcoms Online:

Archie Bunker's Place
Benson
Dave's World
Jake and the Fatman
Just Shoot Me!
My Two Dads
Perfect Strangers
Silver Spoons
Kate & Allie
Hearts Afire
Ally McBeal
Desperate Housewives
Father Dowling Mysteries
Silk Stalkings
The Torkelsons
Grace Under Fire
The Golden Palace
Chico and the Man
It's a Living
Major Dad
Suddenly Susan
Desperate Housewives is an interesting choice, it ended not so long ago and was really huge in its peak, but it does seem very much like a product of its time already.

no one talks about the Drew Carey Show anymore

no one talks about the Drew Carey Show anymore

Ten Years After The Finale, What Is The Legacy Of ‘The Drew Carey Show’? (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=328290)

What with so many TV shows based on comics (Gotham, The Flash, Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.), nobody seems to talk about Smallville.

NYPD Blue is a member of this group for sure. Once considered the most groundbreaking show of its day, now it never gets discussed at all by anybody.


I would also mention LA Law, Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey and to a lesser extent, ER. All were shows that broke new ground at the time; but are hardly ever discussed as important anymore.

Love that thread. Someone mentioned one of my faves. Twin Peaks. Which, is getting revived in 2016.

And, I cannot wait for it!

Longest running yet most forgotten (or forgettable) TV Show? (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=684231)

Shows that were really great in their time but are all but forgotten now (http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/iowa/ajax.html?t=9277581#page:showThread,9277581)

Shows that are overtly political, that have preachy "very special episodes", or that focus on will they/won't they.

Along those lines, you can argue that All in the Family was a groundbreaking series that did not age well. The jokes and then-controversial subject matter seem pretty tame to watch these days. Unless you're over 50, you don't understand how AITF pushed the envelope of what subjects could be discussed on prime time television.

http://nostalgiarush.blogspot.com/2014/11/former-hit-tv-shows-that-get-no-respect.html

There are some TV series which were very popular and even respected when they were on, which have kind of faded from pop culture over the years. Oh sure the fans who loved the series still do, but getting new fans to appreciate that series is a real challenge. There are lots of reasons for this. Maybe the series will do things that date themselves, and make the episodes a lot less relatable years later. Maybe the series was so grounded in its time period that the only people who appreciate it are those who lived in that period. Some series do not have this problem, like The Dick Van Dyke Show. That show is just as relatable as now as it was when it was first on, because the stories were general tales that anyone who has a family or who works with nutty co-workers can relate to. How about The Golden Girls, why is that re-run constantly? Because the series was about growing older and who can’t relate to that?

But some series, for various reasons, aren’t so lucky. Here are five:

Murphy Brown

Probably the best example. This show was a major it when hit was on, but now you hardly ever see it in re-runs. True a cable channel has been re-running them this year which helps. There is only one DVD volume out, the interest was so low that no other season from the series has been released! Of course the show tried very hard to pretend that it was set in the real world with references to then recent political events and current news makers that no one would get these days. Unless you’re a history buff or something. It’s a shame to because the series was well written and funny (except the last two years but I digress). Speaking of TV series which can’t get a complete DVD release, where the hell is Who’s The Boss, Benson, or Perfect Strangers?

Batman

There was a time when people heard Batman, they thought Adam West. In the 60’s the campy Batman was a monster hit. That changed in 1989 when Michael Keaton was featured in a much darker “Batman”. Years later Chris Nolan’s Batman Begins and Dark Knight pushed that Adam West image even further out of public conscience. You can still find re-runs I think and the series is out on DVD. But it’s safe to say people don’t respect it the same. I think most people who grew up with the darker version look back at this show and think it’s lame. The humor, the over the top acting, the corny stories. Yeah it is a bit dated but it was a lot of fun. It’s important to remember that if it hadn’t been for this series, whether you want to believe it or not, there would never have been any movies.

A Different World

Granted it’s probably an overstatement to say that this show was a big hit. The story centered around Hillman College and tackled all sorts of issues facing black people and others of the day. But if you watch this show, the episodes seem so dated. For instance, I was watching a re-run centered around Thanksgiving and part of the plot involved a protest for Haitian rights. Who remembers when that was a problem? Sure some of the things this show discussed still is a problem, but because they tackled such topical issues lots of people coming to this show just aren’t going to relate to it.

You Can’t Do That on Television

This was a monster his in TV programming when I was a kid. This Canadian show put Nickelodeon on the map and gave them their green slime trademark. But over the years, the green slime stayed but the show has faded away. I loved this show, but I understand why people looking at it today may frown. Including the Nostalgia Critic. With stuff like Ren & Stimpy and South Park (among others), is this show edgy or just silly? This show had a special place in the 80’s and I just think it’s kind of stuck there. They’ve tried a DVD release but it still hasn’t happened. I admit even when I watch it today, that I get it. At the time it was different and cool, we just didn’t have shows like it anywhere. Today, yeah it’s a dime dozen and it doesn’t surprise me that the only people who like it are people my age who saw it and cherished when it was originally on.

The Wonder Years

What the heck happened to this show? I’ve seen it in re-runs here and there but it never lasts. You would think a show about the past would never get dated. And yet you never see it or hear about it. But I think the problem is that when this show was on, people watching it literally remembered those days. Today, not so much. Happy Days has lasted because the characters transcend the time period. With this show, it’s all about the time period. And the show felt unique with it’s format of not using a studio audience. These days it’s odd for a sitcom to use a studio audience (that makes me sad). It is on DVD so I guess that’s something though it took forever to finally get it out.

I remember all of these shows and I am sure many of you do too. It just surprises me how these hit shows didn’t stand the test of time as well as other shows did.

Definitely Valerie / The Hogan Family. You rarely see it in syndication despite being on for 6 seasons.

I would have never heard of it if not for YouTube...