View Full Version : Why does it seem like "Dream On" doesn't exist anymore


TMC
10-06-2021, 06:06 AM
I mean, it (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031134907/http://www.jumptheshark.com/d/dreamon.htm) ran (https://www.vulture.com/article/best-hbo-shows-ever-ranked.html) for six seasons (https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/dream-on/) and had over 120 episodes. Plus, it was where Friends creators (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/15366921-slate-writer-rewatches-friends-and-realizes-20-years-too-late-that-it-sucks) Marta Kaufman and David Crane cut their teeth. It even got a "bowdlerized" run on Fox as well as Comedy Central at the height of its initial popularity. Dream On also according to one article (https://eric-alt.medium.com/hbo-predicted-meme-culture-in-1990-83db29eb5230), predicted "meme culture".

But the series isn't on any streaming services (such as HBO Max (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/why-doesnt-hbo-max-have-dream-on-or-first-and-ten.1038140/)), presumably because in no small part, due to rights/licensing issues (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/8xkdma/anyone_know_why_the_old_hbo_sitcom_dream_on_isnt/) that will likely never be resolved. Plus, HBO and by extension, WarnerMedia doesn't own the show, NBC Universal does. And only (https://www.cbr.com/hbo-max-missing-shows/) the first two (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/nl4ol3/dream_on_a_classic_hbo_series_from_the_past/) seasons have been officially released on DVD.

PrincessesFan1991
01-21-2022, 09:55 AM
My theory is that not many people remember it? I only heard of it like a few weeks ago, it is streaming on illegal websites but I don't think many people recall seeing it?? -Tahlia!!

TMC
01-23-2022, 10:31 PM
My theory is that not many people remember it? I only heard of it like a few weeks ago, it is streaming on illegal websites but I don't think many people recall seeing it?? -Tahlia!!

Well, that's pretty much the entire point of the initial question. Why don't many people appear to remember it in the very first place?

TMC
11-09-2023, 04:26 AM
My theory is that not many people remember it? I only heard of it like a few weeks ago, it is streaming on illegal websites but I don't think many people recall seeing it?? -Tahlia!!

As others have pointed out (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/17qcov8/comment/k8cydu6/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), Dream On is essentially screwed forever because the show contains a lot of clips from old shows from the 1950s/60s.

icecream
11-09-2023, 12:09 PM
I looked up Dream On, the star is Brian Benben. While Dream On lasted a lot longer than his CBS show, his show there did terrible and was pulled after just four episodes. The Brian Benben Show was Everybody Loves Raymond's first leadout after being promoted to the Mondays at 9:00 anchor. Becker which replaced it did a lot better.

TMC
12-28-2025, 06:35 PM
My theory is that not many people remember it? I only heard of it like a few weeks ago, it is streaming on illegal websites but I don't think many people recall seeing it?? -Tahlia!!

Maybe another problem with Dream On is that it was a show while it was daring at the time, a sitcom featuring nudity and swearing, comes off as tame now. Basically, once you took away the topless women and swearing, it really wasn't much different then other sitcoms at the time.