but have been a big hit in syndication? The only ones I can think of are THE BRADY BUNCH and THE ODD COUPLE. In fact THE ODD COUPLE was nearly cancelled by ABC at the end of each season of its 5-season run.

Taxi. The critics and the Accademy loved it, but the ratings were poor because Judd Hirch and the Alex character was so horrible. Taxi would later become a ratings grabber on N@N in 1995.

One show that comes to mind is Leave it to Beaver. It didn't have high ratings throughout its six year run but became a cult classic in syndication.

Another show, though not a sitcom that became mega popular in reruns was Star Trek.

The Middle could not have been considered a hit, but performed well enough to be renewed for 9 seasons.

King of Queens.

WKRP in Cincinnati

In a way Gilligan Island.It did fairly well,but had they known what a big hit it would be in reruns they would have kept the show going for ten years or so.

WKRP in Cincinnati

that's not what I heard; I heard it WAS a hit but CBS moved it around so much it's last 2 seasons and the ratings dwindled.

A more recent example I think would be Parks and Recreation which was always on the bubble until it’s final two seasons. It was a cult show and the critics loved it and had a loyal fan base (me included) but every May for those six years it was like hoping Parks made the final cut for another season.

If this show was on FOX or CBS it would have been aborted the first season. Why I always have a soft spot for NBC, this network usually gives shows a chance to grow before killing it outright, mainly because the network has had longer lean years than say CBS and had no choice.

I love Taxi. One of the best shows of all time and had some of the best performers in the show. Tony Danza included. Even Andy Kaufman was good in Taxi and I detested his other stuff.

What was wrong with Judd Hirsch? Alex was the central character and the heart of the show. He basically played the straight man to the other characters. Dear John was also a good show for its time.

Seinfeld is one.

Seinfeld is one.Seinfeld wasn't a hit its first few seasons and was almost cancelled, but that immediately changed when Seinfeld replaced Cheers as NBC's Thursday night anchor fall 1993. Once that happened Seinfeld finished no lower than #3 for seasons 5-9, with two 2nd place finishes and two 1st place finishes.

that's not what I heard; I heard it WAS a hit but CBS moved it around so much it's last 2 seasons and the ratings dwindled.

Actually, I think you're quite correct.

Sisters. It was never what you would call a massive hit. It was popular with certain demographics but was never a top 10 show. It was sort of just a moderate success that did well enough to get renewed each season.

I love Taxi. One of the best shows of all time and had some of the best performers in the show. Tony Danza included. Even Andy Kaufman was good in Taxi and I detested his other stuff.

What was wrong with Judd Hirsch? Alex was the central character and the heart of the show. He basically played the straight man to the other characters. Dear John was also a good show for its time.

I liked Taxi too, but Judd Hirsch was an albatross. Every character he played was exactly the same. The guy who helped everybody out. It's the reason Taxi and Dear John died. It really got bad in Taxi's season 3 when Alex turned Louie full fledged good guy. Garbage. Judd Hirsch sucks donkey balls!!

Judd Hirsch was good on Dear John. What makes me not stand that show is Kirk, Dear John would be a lot better without him.

Seinfeld is one.

Absolutely not true. Seinfeld was THE biggest sitcom of the 1990s next to The Simpsons and a major cultural phenomenon when it aired.

http://www.endedtvseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/endedtvseries013-434364_Cast-of-Seinfeld000.jpg

Seinfeld was so huge that all the major magazines gave it a huge send off, and the finale was the most talked about on national radio.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/75/2e/d1/752ed1b904fa1af903edc555b5a0f98c.jpg

I think the most famous show that didn't become a hit until after it ran was Star Trek.

Also, The Honeymooners.

I think the most famous show that didn't become a hit until after it ran was Star Trek.

Also, The Honeymooners.

Some “Star Trek” fans claim the series was more popular than its ratings suggested, due to its appeal among a younger, more educated demographic that the networks would not cater to in a big way until the early 1970s.

Taxi. The critics and the Accademy loved it, but the ratings were poor because Judd Hirch and the Alex character was so horrible. Taxi would later become a ratings grabber on N@N in 1995.

Actually, “Taxi” got great ratings in at least its first two seasons. I’m not sure what went wrong after that. Was it moved to a bad time slot?

Seinfeld is one.

Seinfeld was not a big hit for it's first several seasons; finishing outside the top 30 shows on TV in 1989, 1990 and 1991. In the 1992-1993 season it finished at #25 for the season. In the 1993-1994 season it became a bona-fide success finishing as the #3 rated series on TV and the second-highest rated sitcom (after Home Improvement). It would finish #1 or #2 for the remainder of it's run, and was among the most acclaimed, popular shows on TV.

In syndication it found a second life and has remained among the most popular shows on TV.

A more recent example I think would be Parks and Recreation which was always on the bubble until it’s final two seasons. It was a cult show and the critics loved it and had a loyal fan base (me included) but every May for those six years it was like hoping Parks made the final cut for another season.

If this show was on FOX or CBS it would have been aborted the first season. Why I always have a soft spot for NBC, this network usually gives shows a chance to grow before killing it outright, mainly because the network has had longer lean years than say CBS and had no choice.

I enjoyed it as well for the most of its run until the characters got annoying. After a certain point, I couldn't stand Aziz Ansari.

I believe NBC is more generous to shows with SNL alums. The show was on Thursday night, with 30 Rock. And it was similar to The Office, another NBC show on the same night, where Rashida Jones also moved from The Office, to Parks and Rec.

It would just be so out of place had it been on CBS. Fox/ABC maybe in between (I could see it paired after Modern Family), but it was best situated on NBC with shows where it was similar. Megan Mullally (from Will & Grace) had a character on Parks and Rec.

The Jetsons. When I watched it on Saturday mornings, I had no idea itwas originally a prime-time series.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jetsons

Mr. Belvedere.

Judd Hirsch was good on Dear John. What makes me not stand that show is Kirk, Dear John would be a lot better without him.

I thought Kirk was by far and away the best character on Dear John. And Jerre Burns is twice the actor that Judd Hirch is. Imagine Hirch in the roles Burns played in Breaking Bad or Angie Tribecca? Give me a break.

George Lopez
30 Rock

I remember the former surprising the industry writers when it landed in the Top 25 in syndication.

30 Rock

30 Rock was never a hit in syndication either, it quickly disappeared.