Season 5 ends this Thursday but MeTV isn’t going to show season 6 Friday, they’re starting over with season 1. I wish they’d show season 6-8 instead since I haven’t seen these in years. I know they’re not anywhere near as good as the first 5 seasons with Barney but I still want to see them.

Agreed. MeTV has aired season 1-5 episodes so many times I have all the lines memorized. Even the most devoted TAGS fan must be getting sick of seeing the same episodes over and over again.

Think of seasons 6,7,8 in the same manner as the first five seasons and it becomes clear what the problem is, this block represents 90 episodes and when the episodes are bad, they tend to be very bad. Running those episodes in order as they do with seasons 1-5 means that for 7 and half weeks straight the programmer would be alienating a big share of the audience which might lead to some of them changing their viewing habits. What I have suggested in the past is a different approach to seasons 6-8, a best of the rest approach. Instead of showing them in order cull out the best episodes and just show those. I think out of the final 90 you can get about 24 or so episodes that fit the general ambience of the first five seasons. There are 5 Barney episodes and several good Howard episodes which can form a good foundation for a best of the rest season. Before creating this season maybe running one or two episodes a week in the 8:30 slot might warm the audience up without overwhelming them.

Duster76, that sounds like a viable idea to me. Wish the programmers would think of it.

Think of seasons 6,7,8 in the same manner as the first five seasons and it becomes clear what the problem is, this block represents 90 episodes and when the episodes are bad, they tend to be very bad. Running those episodes in order as they do with seasons 1-5 means that for 7 and half weeks straight the programmer would be alienating a big share of the audience which might lead to some of them changing their viewing habits. What I have suggested in the past is a different approach to seasons 6-8, a best of the rest approach. Instead of showing them in order cull out the best episodes and just show those. I think out of the final 90 you can get about 24 or so episodes that fit the general ambience of the first five seasons. There are 5 Barney episodes and several good Howard episodes which can form a good foundation for a best of the rest season. Before creating this season maybe running one or two episodes a week in the 8:30 slot might warm the audience up without overwhelming them.

Yes, get rid of the stupid episode where the horse that had to retire wouldn't eat for Opie. Or Opie breaks the prize rose. Or the baby that doesn't like Aunt Bee. Or the horrible gypsy episode, plus that awful final episode leading into Mayberry RFD.

(By the way, it's probably hard to agree on bad episodes--I hated that stupid grocery store robbery episode that Barney was in, but I'm probably in the minority).

After a really funny b/w Ernest T. episode they could throw in the color Ernest T. from season 6. Or after a funny b/w Goober (like the one with Miss Lydia) throw in a color Goober.

Also for color episodes they could steer clear of new characters from the color years, Howard Sprague (yes there are good ones with him but what would fit with the b/w episodes?), Emmett Clark, Sam Jones, and Warren (maybe they could do one Warren--follow a funny Helen b/w episode (like Three Wishes for Opie) with the one where Warren is sleepwalking and is amorous with Helen).

The other thing they could do is color episodes on Sunday night. Or run them in the summer when there are no ratings books.

I'm amazed at the preponderance of posters who view classic tv on commercial TV. Seems horse & buggy. Scenes cut out, can't watch where left off, can't choose episode. Little better if DVR'd I suppose. When TAGS left APV I started buying to own (stream) starting with season 2. Been an absolutely wonderful experience starting watching episodes again in total control.

I hated that stupid grocery store robbery episode that Barney was in.
In my top 5 all-time TAGS episodes.

All 8 seasons should air on MeTV. TV Land always did that.