The fact is, sponsors don't like to buy advertising space around really good shows because the show distracts people from the messages of the commercials. Advertisers want shows that are good enough for people to be drawn to, but which are forgettable, so they will have the audience's attention when the commercial is shown.

I'm not sure there's any way to change TV stations' reluctance to show FOL.

Originally posted by jenerrande
The fact is, sponsors don't like to buy advertising space around really good shows because the show distracts people from the messages of the commercials. Advertisers want shows that are good enough for people to be drawn to, but which are forgettable, so they will have the audience's attention when the commercial is shown.

I'm not sure there's any way to change TV stations' reluctance to show FOL.

I'm not quite sure where you got that idea. My advertising experience (6+ years) is that you DO want advertising during "really good shows," because the audience is there, which gains more exposure to the product. Why would a company want to waste thousands of dollars on a commercial that no one will see.

Also, what does this have to do with FOL? I don't follow your reasoning. :confused:

This doesn't make any sense and is not logical. If you followed this train of thought you would come to the conclusion that few people would want to advertise during popular shows and #1 ratings shows. This is totally untrue.

I wouldn't be surprised if people were fighting over advertising during ER, Everybody Loves Raymond, CSI and Friends. The type of show dictates the commercials. You won't see a beer commercial during an episode of The Facts of Life and you won't see a Tampax commercial during an episode of WWF Wrestling. Every commercial is targeted for a distinct demographic group and the advertisers use the shows and advertise during the shows that target that demographic group.

As for attention, I pay more attention to commercials during my favorite shows any ways

LOL I get attached to the FOL commercials...well, I mean the commercials that always played during FOL. I even memorized some of the commercials that FOL comes on right after. It's easier to stop when I'm fast forwarding a tape through the commercials. In fact, I got so attached to the Rocher commercial that, when my sister's friend brought some of those things over, I took one to eat and one to keep...for FOL memories...ok, I sound really weird. :D At least, I'm relating it to FOl.

Originally posted by jenerrande
The fact is, sponsors don't like to buy advertising space around really good shows because the show distracts people from the messages of the commercials. Advertisers want shows that are good enough for people to be drawn to, but which are forgettable, so they will have the audience's attention when the commercial is shown.

I'm not sure there's any way to change TV stations' reluctance to show FOL.

Ok then why is The Division still on???????And ER?????Those are two really good shows and they distract me from the commercials.
I even yell at the commercials to hurry up and get off my tv when those shows are on.:confused: :crazy:

That is completely inane. And to be precise, what makes The Facts of Life a "really good show"? Just because most of the people here are obsessed with it? All that counts are the Nielsen ratings and in the 9 years that The Facts of Life was on the air, it only finished in the annual top 30 in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986. The highest it has ever finished was number 24 in 1982. If that was the case with advertisers, then shows like Seinfeld, Friends and The Cosby Show wouldn't be on as much as they are. This whole thread is pointless, besides talking about how the whole ratings system works. This should be closed.

Originally posted by Slippery Dan
That is completely inane. And to be precise, what makes The Facts of Life a "really good show"? Just because most of the people here are obsessed with it? All that counts are the Nielsen ratings and in the 9 years that The Facts of Life was on the air, it only finished in the annual top 30 in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986. The highest it has ever finished was number 24 in 1982. If that was the case with advertisers, then shows like Seinfeld, Friends and The Cosby Show wouldn't be on as much as they are. This whole thread is pointless, besides talking about how the whole ratings system works. This should be closed.

Well, nine years is longer than Mary Tyler Moore or All In The Family. The show was recognized for being a strong influence, especially in young women of the time. The show catapulted Nancy McKeon's career (which has hardly slowed since the show ended). In a time when sex and drugs were still "taboo," the show tackled teenage pregnancy and marijuana early in its life. The warmth felt by many people when they hear the theme song is much more important than what the ratings were 20 years ago. The show has a strong following, both here and everywhere in "TVLand, USA." Despite the fact the show is no longer on the air, it obviously had enough demand for it to be brought to USA Network and Nick at Nite.

And, just FYI, shows like Friends, Seinfeld and Cheers did not have strong following at the introduction of the series. It took time for the shows to grow. In today's market, if a series does not instantly "hit," it's put out to pasture. There have been some quality shows produced in each decade (Freaks and Geeks, Love and War and Style and Substance, to name a few) that were acknowledged for their quality, but never given the chance to find an audience.

So, before you throw out that this thread should be closed, consider that this show is THE number one show on this site. There are countless fans out there who not only appreciate the messages the show brings, but find the quality in the series. I would rather watch TFOL than some violent drama that leaves me feeling uncertain about the world. Regardless of how it was ranked in the 1980s, many people here enjoy it.

Originally posted by jayman75


Well, nine years is longer than Mary Tyler Moore or All In The Family. The show was recognized for being a strong influence, especially in young women of the time. The show catapulted Nancy McKeon's career (which has hardly slowed since the show ended). In a time when sex and drugs were still "taboo," the show tackled teenage pregnancy and marijuana early in its life. The warmth felt by many people when they hear the theme song is much more important than what the ratings were 20 years ago. The show has a strong following, both here and everywhere in "TVLand, USA." Despite the fact the show is no longer on the air, it obviously had enough demand for it to be brought to USA Network and Nick at Nite.

And, just FYI, shows like Friends, Seinfeld and Cheers did not have strong following at the introduction of the series. It took time for the shows to grow. In today's market, if a series does not instantly "hit," it's put out to pasture. There have been some quality shows produced in each decade (Freaks and Geeks, Love and War and Style and Substance, to name a few) that were acknowledged for their quality, but never given the chance to find an audience.

So, before you throw out that this thread should be closed, consider that this show is THE number one show on this site. There are countless fans out there who not only appreciate the messages the show brings, but find the quality in the series. I would rather watch TFOL than some violent drama that leaves me feeling uncertain about the world. Regardless of how it was ranked in the 1980s, many people here enjoy it.

All in The Family ran for Nine Years.Go to Tvland and look at the AITF section.

Your theory confuses me. You want to have popular shows on because the watchers are glued to the screen watchg for the show to return. So think before you theory.:p

Originally posted by BlairandJo


All in The Family ran for Nine Years.Go to Tvland and look at the AITF section.

From what I could recall when I posted (I was at work), TFOL E! True Hollywood Story said it ran longer than MTM, AITF and some other show that I couldn't remember.

Regardless, I tried to make a point.

Did you think yet? If not, I hoped you didn't theory.:p

Originally posted by jayman75


From what I could recall when I posted (I was at work), TFOL E! True Hollywood Story said it ran longer than MTM, AITF and some other show that I couldn't remember.


AitF ran for eight years, nine seasons. I think it had 208 or 209 episodes, somewhere around that...but four episodes arean't shown in syndication ("the best of aitf') so I guess it evens out.

Though I love "The Facts of Life", the time it runs doesn't have anything to do with anything LOL. "Married...With Children" lasted eleven seasons, LOL, not even 50 posts on that board.

I think that idea that the poster posted seems ridiculous.

I was just thinking...

Does anyone here get the Nickelodeon magazine? I saw it advertised on TV the other day, and it made me wonder....

Is there a way to contact N@N in it? I mean, I know the magazine is for kids primarily, but I wonder if there is some way of contacting the company...

Anyone know about this at all?

That is not true. When Seinfeld was still on the air, many advetisers were paying millions for that 30 second space and couldn't get to it fast enough. I mean if you air a bad show, then the most sensible thing for the audience to do is to flip the channel, not watch the commercials. That adds to the hell. :crazy:

Originally posted by jenerrande
The fact is, sponsors don't like to buy advertising space around really good shows because the show distracts people from the messages of the commercials. Advertisers want shows that are good enough for people to be drawn to, but which are forgettable, so they will have the audience's attention when the commercial is shown.

I'm not sure there's any way to change TV stations' reluctance to show FOL.

They also want the people to WATCH the show EVERYDAY, so they can get good ratings and make money.