TMC
08-09-2014, 03:16 AM
Girl Meets World obviously with-standing. My point is, I wonder if in general, otherwise "sincere", "slice-of-life", and/or coming-of-age youth-oriented sitcoms like Boy Meets World could be successful today? It seems like more than often, if you want to make a sitcom about kids (it's not just Disney Channel, but also the stuff that Nickelodeon puts like like Dan Schneider's shows for instance) it has to be very gimmicky or overtly wacky (e.g. very slapstick-focused w/ a lot of manic, hyperactive acting).
Good Luck Charlie was the most recent "kidcom" that I can immediately think of that had a mostly grounded or down-to-earth premise (instead of something that boarders on what I would consider "wishful fulfillment"). The Goldbergs (even though it owes more to The Wonder Years than multi-camera, TGIF era shows like Boy Meets World) is arguably the closest current/recent network show that I can think of.
Despite all of this, I would be hard-pressed if ABC under its current management, will ever give us a proper or traditional, two hour, family-oriented Friday night block under the TGIF brand anytime soon. It's as if they want to say that they don't need something like that anymore since they already have the Disney Channel and to a certain extent ABC Family for stuff like that.
Another problem is that both Disney Channel and Nickelodeon seem intent on primarily making shows for young girls. I can't think of any live-action Disney Channel (Disney XD doesn't count) show in the past five or so years outside of The Suite Life..., which had a male lead.
Good Luck Charlie was the most recent "kidcom" that I can immediately think of that had a mostly grounded or down-to-earth premise (instead of something that boarders on what I would consider "wishful fulfillment"). The Goldbergs (even though it owes more to The Wonder Years than multi-camera, TGIF era shows like Boy Meets World) is arguably the closest current/recent network show that I can think of.
Despite all of this, I would be hard-pressed if ABC under its current management, will ever give us a proper or traditional, two hour, family-oriented Friday night block under the TGIF brand anytime soon. It's as if they want to say that they don't need something like that anymore since they already have the Disney Channel and to a certain extent ABC Family for stuff like that.
Another problem is that both Disney Channel and Nickelodeon seem intent on primarily making shows for young girls. I can't think of any live-action Disney Channel (Disney XD doesn't count) show in the past five or so years outside of The Suite Life..., which had a male lead.