A classic post from the Man of Barnes collection, the Nick at Nite Report Card 2001 Version had some real gems in it. Well it is now 2002 and the question will now be asked:

Has Nick at Nite changed? Have they gotten better in quality this season? Or have they lowered their standards. In this, the Nick at Nite Report Card 2002, we'll try and find some answers for this Viacom/Paramount Property. And make therapists available if necessary. Begin:

The Nick At Nite 2002 Report Card

Let's do Spectrum Analysis.

Now what I'm going to do is quote relevant excerpts from my 2001 report and then put blue type around my new comments for this year 2002. So it'll look like I'm talking to myself. Don't let it throw you.

Who among you can remember this classic gem from the 2001 report? It made for a most thrilling prelude to a document, that I say, was most revealing to my person:

Now with Nick at Nite needing an evaluation by Homo Sapiens that are Humans in order to determine whether to watch em, I'll first say that I could do as others have and call Nick at Nite:

The Cheers Network

All Cheers All the Time.

Amen.

And Being as I'm not much of a Cheers fan I could say some bad words.

But then again Cheers, much like recent UNC Tarheels basketball, is overrated. I consider Cheers a story type show where you either watch daily or you're lost.
I don't think the comedy is that good and on my Remembrance Meter:

I remember 1 Show from Cheers:

The Kevin McHale show. Why? Because Bird, McHale, and Parish were Championship Players at the time for Celtics. Nuf said.

Well now for 2002 we can probably call this "The Cosby And Cheers Network" for they have been airing numerous episodes in Prime Time slots 9:00 PM EST (Cosby) and 10:00 PM EST (Cheers) with the lightweight Coach getting the 11:00 PM hour before getting back into Midnight airings for Cosby and 1:00 AM EST airings for Cheers. And THEN Nick at Nite STARTS! For this Man of Barnes w/2:00 AM EST All In The Family, 3:00 AM EST Three's Company, 3:30 AM EST Brady Bunch, 4:00 AM EST Happy Days, 4:30 AM EST Charles In Charge, and 5:00 AM EST Family Ties. This has been their most recent December schedule on MONDAY-FRIDAY according to PAVANBADAL DATA. On WEEKENDS the schedule gets WORSE as Cosby and Cheers still gets the 10:00 PM-1:00 AM EST slots. Coach gets shut out! And it reverts to Night Owl Times for AITF, Three's, etc. The DECEMBER SPECIALS are a little better. A LITTLE better. I have commented on them on another board, but for now let me say that for MONTHS with few changes Cosby and Cheers have been given priority service with no end in sight.

I am one to be logical. Because the RATINGS for N@N have been their highest ever, especially in that sacred demographic the 18-40 Crowd. Ratings are what drives the business. I am one to be all square in my dealings with Nick. Because I did like their October schedule for AITF (11:00 PM EST slot). And I am one to be reasonable. Because every fan should see their favorite shows. Mine in this order are: Brady Bunch, AITF (mostly), Three's (somewhat) Family Ties (somewhat), Coach, Happy Days, Charles In Charge (a little; maybe the odd ep now and again). And of course the shows that bring up the rear:

The Cosby Show and Cheers. Why is that? In Cosby's case I used to watch the earlier originals for the first couple of seasons. Cheers of course is unwatchable because I'm not a fan. Fine. But could it be the schedule is too OVERSATURATED with CHEERS if not COSBY? Its been this way for Months!

Oh BTW The Cosby Show will have ANOTHER Marathon over the Christmas Holidays with the channel being tied up the whole time (those Darn late night repeats! Filler)
Check a good schedule for details. Seek out PAVANBADAL DATA. For it is Righteous. Amen.

Here's another gem from last year:

The reason its such a good mark for "pushing" by Slick Nick is because, as another poster said, Viacom Math:

Cheers, Family Ties, and Brady Bunch:

Owned by Viacom/Paramount

Or some crap like that.

(Whether Cheers is really owned by Paramount or not is beside the point; it just seems that way. I know Brady Bunch is. Ties is not germane to this analysis as its now petered out on Nick)

Naturally the dioxyribonucleicacid (DNA) of the N@N schedule is gonna be of course Cheers (paid 75 Million $)

And now Cosby (very popular; Cosby is WHITE HOT! I can even remember a World Series game being preempted for Cosby when NBC had it (86 I think).

Double Takes 2001:

So then it can be understood to some degree that Cheers, Ties, et al are shown regular like. But I will ask a ? under the Anoiting:

Why the Repeats of DoubleTakes? Is N@N losing payroll? Stupidity? What? as my teacher Tucker Twisdale would say.

Double Takes 2002:

I commend N@N for losing the Double Takes in the late night hour (3:00 AM EST)

I have mixed feelings about Double Takes anyhow. On 1 Hand you see more show. But OTOH you tie up the channel. IMO I believe the Repeats of Double Takes is a $ Saver and Lazy Daisy Programming. But then again you get to see more show and sometimes you miss a showing? Well through RERUN (no not the fat guy on "What's Happening?") you'll get to see the show if not early then late! And I personally have NEVER missed a Brady Grid; early or late decision. And w/VCR well....

We learn from the ratings and my opinion that Double Takes are GOOD when used properly to air a quality show, but they're BAD when used for REPEAT EPISODES or when they're OVERDONE. And everybody says Amen. Amen.

However the haberdashery of Good Feelings turns Negative w/Bad Vibes. Vibrations.

For the complaint about only airing 6 shows has been addressed. Now there are 9. Is this enough? I think they get a B - here.

Here's another one for Nick Fans:

Now I will give Praise for the decision to show 1 Brady Bunch show a night; However and Ever, Why should the 3rd Shift see Brady Grid? Is it a Brady Thing? FILLER! This probably should be Nickelodian as should Kids Say; it would be better.

Time for Archie Bunker and I say. Is it really gonna be gone in a month? Unfounded

Although I've been wondering about the presence of that Eminence Cosby and how it'll affect Scheduling.

He hasn't affected the AITF slot. IMO, I believe the show should get AT MOST the 11:00 PM slot. Nick has treated it well. And I mentioned Cosby earlier. Carroll O'Connor was a great man and I hope AITF stays longer. Maybe on TV Land again if not Nick.

Oh well. I do declare! I'd be surprised if Rosanne made Nick's Lineup (Family Show Yeah Right!) but then again Carolina's 0-3 in Basketball (as alluded to at the start of posting) w/a potential of losing to SUNY-BINGHAMTON (are they even Div I) was most surprising that. So one never knows. I digress.

UNC TARHEELS have played MUCH BETTER this 2002 season! And Rosanne's on the way.

Personally I'll give Slick Nick a C- for now w/a Potential for Up or Down Play Later as far as Grading. This concludes 2001 Analysis Spectrum.

The C- grade was a reaction of analysing the schedule and show quality for FALL 2001. Look back through the archives of the Web for more info on N@N. This site's a right good starting place.

Around January 2002, I said this line:

But with New Data that is Revelation Knowledge to All Peoples. It seems Nick at Nite will show starting Jan 1 2002 according to Pavanbadal data (he that hath an ear let him hear): Diff'rent Strokes!

Hai Glory!!!

Set Me Free!

Yeah!!!

N@N got a B- at the start of 2002.

So at the apex of its zenith as a Viacom Property in DEC 2001, Nick at Nite had acquired a coveted B - grade from Jeff Barnes for adding this GEM of a show. They just missed DISTINCTION because of scheduling issues and show selection for FALL 2001, but Quality was there! Unfortunately, what goes up must certainly come down.

Message 2 in threadFrom: Jeff Barnes
Subject: Re: Nick at Nite Report Card
View this article only Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Date: 2002-01-13 03:56:01 PST

Nick at Nite has made a blunder which will actually lower the grading in Spectrum Analysis. Amen.

Diff'rent Strokes is OFF THE AIR after only 1 week!...of airing. Seems that Cosby Mania is taking over w/according to Pavanbadal data:

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

Getting an Hour of Prime SITCOM Time.

KSTDT is Not repeat Not a Sitcom.

Slick Nick's motto "All Sitcoms All the Time" is Mule Feathers!

Now its called 'Modern TV Classics' on N@N

Cosby's getting a Push, w/KSTDT "filling" for Cosby Show till March be a come a calling. Cosby Show's OK on my Respect Meter, but it doesn't get the Buzz that Family Ties gives me; yea and Da Strokes, much less the Brady Grid which is Righteous to the Marrow that is Bones (till the Vincrisine & Cyclosphorine Chemo of Bad Show Selections Kick in, hence weakening my "marrow" of N@N watching). And I say again Righteous!

In fact it seems "staged" and "formal" in places and IMO doesn't portray the Black experience properly like say Good Times or Jeffersons. The Huxtables seem too Whitebread at times. And I still can't figure it: What does "Jamming on the 1" mean?

Still VERY WHITE HOT! A Holiday Marathon is coming soon. I kid you not. Check the schedule.

Be that as it may I will now lower the Nick at Nite grade w/these shows filling:
Cheers: too widely syndicated and in fact dry. Spent 75 Million $ for rights. Should have..I don't know...kept Strokes, Wonder Years, Happy Days; that sort of thing.

Cheers is still holding Prime Time. This winter of 2002 in December Coach acquired the 11:00 PM slot MON-FRI. However, Cheers is still very prominent in Nick at Nite's scheme. What will 2003 hold? We'll find out.

Ties: ALREADY FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE (sans Stivic) the Meatheads have banished it to 1 AM slot. Family Ties is clem with a 5:00 AM Early Bird Slot. Its ratings haven't been good

Brady: Graveyard. Phaseout? Maybe but maybe not. Whatever; I've taped EVERY Show and Digested it into my Cerebrum & Cerebellum, even unto Medulla & Oblongota. When my heart stops (if Jesus tarries) my brain will still process the Brady Mantra...quick who Exterminated & Delivered? Lennie Bremen.

Hear THE MAN OF BARNES: Put it on NICKELODIAN! Enough of this 3:30 AM carp. Lead in or fill a NICKELODIAN slot. Kids Say is fine right at 5:30 AM but Brady?

AITF: I watch it regularly when I get the chance (before Nick grabs it and puts it in a vault. I don't have TV Land, so that's not an option but that's where it belongs. Anyway this show is respectable (up to the last season) and gets the coveted A+ rating

You gotta fight for the right to Party:

And THREE'S has it going on till 2007 per N@N contract. they'll be a while. At the 2 AM slot? Why? hate success? hate winning? This is a popular show.

Holding the 3:00 AM slot and it IS a popular show to Retro Man. But not in high doses. So maybe this is the slot for it. Ditto for Coach and its time slots.

KSTDT is decent for kids but I daresay Daft and Dafter to be replacing Strokes with. Put IT on NICKELODIAN. Or the current time 5:30 AM EST is fine (lead in its called in the TV Biz). Don't use it as filler for N@N (another TV Biz term). Lead in or put it on NICKELODIAN. No more mixing the kiddie programming w/the adult programming. And TNN better start barning tobacco; they're airing it 4 Times A Day!

Facts Of Life. Is it still on Hallmark? Seems clem to me. Just saw the Hallmark schedule on the Usenet. Oh how I love the Usenet. For it is for all Nations, Tongues, and Kindreds. And Go-o-o lee. Gomer Pyle's coming soon. But Facts? Oh well.

Fear Not. For Word Says: This too shall pass. And so I hope will this Spectrum Analysis. The lowered grade: D-
Amen and (Hopefully) The End of Analysis Spectrum.

Prior to Fall 2001, when Cheers took over N@N was an A to a solid B network. Then we see that in Fall 2001, N@N's grade was an average C to C- but the grade went up to a B- in Jan 2002 when Diff'rent Strokes came on. However w/Kids Say taking DS out it fell to a D-. And now the 2002 grade for Nick at Nite is a C. I grade every few months and then total it up for a yearly grade. So if N@N wants to do better in 2003, now is the time. Amen. And THIS concludes Analysis Spectrum. Did you enjoy it? Let's give Jesus a Handclap. For Christmas is coming and the Goose is getting fat. But let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus.

I'd give N@N a B- myself. They could use a few more shows.

I give them a C-. Extra credit though for bringing Happy Days & Brady Bunch.

I give it a C. The only thing holding up that grade is All in the Family.

I would probably give them a C+. Even though the quality of the shows in many people's view have slipped as of late I still think there the best channel out there. I'm actually really excited about the new shows coming, especially Roseanne. If Alf ever makes the network, and Family Ties gets a better timeslot i'd give them an A+, but for now there grade is a C+. There's definitely alot of room for improvement.

I give Nick at Nite a D-, the only thing preventing me from assigning an "f" is because they retain "All in the Family" and "Three's Company," plus they re-added "Happy Days" and "Brady Bunch."

Overall, Nick at Nite does not work well with others, is lazy at times, does not put forth it's best effort, and can stand for great improvement in presenting all facets of itself.

Grade D-


*Nick please have parent, Cosby, sign this and return to the proper place, Cheers.*

I give N@N a C, the only show I watch on it is Cheers. I really wish they would air some more 80s and early 90s sitcoms. Roseanne is a pretty good show but it's better on TBS.

I give it a C-. The only things they have that I'm really interested in are Three's Company and All in the Family. I usually watch Happy Days on TV Land. It's not because they're moving into another time frame, but it's because they skipped a lot of shows from the early and mid 80s. N@N used to show shows that weren't as common anymore on syndication. I wish they had picked up some of the Revenge of the 80s shows such as 227, Silver Spoons, and ALF and picked up Cheers, The Cosby Show, Coach, and Roseanne at a later time.

I give it a B... I'm not really picky about TV...and all the shows they air, I can sit through without goind completely bonkuhs. Actually, I watched the following shows on N@N last nite/this morning:

Cheers (Carla buys a house built over some haunted prison. In the end, she spends a whole night in the house.)
The Cosby Show (Vannessa stayed out too late with a boy, so she gets in trouble. Clair and Cliff talk to the boy, and it's REALLY funny)
All in the Family (Like usual, it's about something petty and stupid. But, it was a fight between Gloria and Michael. Gloria is mad because she's not as smart as Michael. The end. A whole 30 minutes about Gloria whining wasn't TOO bad)
Three's Company (Eleanor returns and Jack thinks the girls will want her for good. But, the girls end up throwing him a party for his passing on some cooking test)
Happy Days (Fonzie helps the police and stops a big rumble)
FAMILY TIES!!!!!:happyface (While hosting the college radio station, a man who is popular in the blues music calls in and Alex gets to interview him. then, the next episode they aired Alex feels left out when Andy begins spending less time with him and more time with Nicks streetwise nephew Rocco. But, after spending a week without his brother, Andy stays home and spends time with Alex.

I watched those...I watched a lot of them, just waiting for Family Ties to come on. I was really happy that they aired 2 episodes this morning.

I Give Nick-at-Nite a C-. They still maintain a variety of classic sitcoms, but fail to air them earlier in the evening. Nick-at-Nite has been behind in it's work, they have flunked most of the early '80s so they could skip over to the late '80s, causing them to air 'Modern Classics'. They never go the extra mile, they seem to forget everything they know about Classic TV.

I Give them Extra Credit For Bringing Back The Brady Bunch and Happy Days back to their line-up. They may be a slow-learner but if they continue to listen to their viewers and have an open-mind on other sitcoms, they might be able to graduate at the height of their class.

First of all this is an excellent grading system!!


I would give N@N a C right now,however with the rumored shows to air in 2003 and beyond such as Roseanne (a very stupid show), Fresh Prince of Bel Air (in 2004) Full House then the grade for me anyway goes to an F. Here are my descriptions of each show currently on N@N.

The Cosby Show- I loved the show when it originaly aired and then I was excited to see it come on N@N. Now it is being aired to death and has become very boring,it is also on other networks. The Cosby show has a few good episodes. My grade for the show is a C+. mY GRADE FOR n@n airing it is an F,if it only aired for 1 hour it would go back to a C+.

Cheers- I never got into this show. I thought it was dumb,but it was a popular show so I give them credit for that. Cheers fits more for a later time slot on N@N say maybe the current AITF slot.
It is airing way to much on N@N and being that I'm not a cheers fan I'm starting to get sick of the treatment it getting. Show grade D. N@N grade F. Its airing way to much.

Coach- Is enjoyable to watch some of the time,after all its a sitcom about my favorite sport football! I nevr thought that N@N would bring to there network. I thought it was better for TBS. Could have an earlier timeslot. Show grade B-. n@n grade B.

All in the Family- Other than Three's Company it is the best show on the current line-up. Archie and Mikes verbal disputes were classic! The show really droped off when Stephanie was on. I love every episode. They had a very good cast. The Jeffersons were an added boost to certin episodes. Show Grade A. N@N grade A.

Three's Company- The best show on the line-up. It is one of the most popular shows in syndication and N@N continues to burry it. All cast members were excellent even the newcommers such as Cindy and Terri and Mr. Furley. Three's Company is a show I can watch over and over again without getting tired of it! I would except the time slot its on only if it airs twice a night. Although I wish it was on earlier. I wished N@N would stop skipping episodes of Three's Company. Show Grade A+. N@N grade F.

Brady Bunch- I loved watching this show when it was first on N@N. It probably belongs on TVland only. There are other shows that deserve to be on that haven't been on either network yet. There are some good episodes of the show.Show Grade C+. N@N grade C-.

Happy Days- pretty much same as the Brady's. I love the cast of the show. Had some great episodes. Show grade B+. N@N grade B-.

Family Ties- Never really got into this show. There are a few good episodes. Bad timeslot from N@N. I don't believe it was on that long and they already moved it to a bad slot. Show Grade C+. N@N grade D-.

Charles in Charge- Might be better suited for Nickelodeon or TBS. This show can be enjoyable at times. Show grade C. N@N grade A-.

This is a brief desription of my opinion on each show on the current line-up. Here are a couple of other things I have an opinion on.

N@N double takes- I enjoy the double takes because you get to see more of your favorite show. I think it could work for the current line-up. I would be fine with one episode of each show because then you have a variety. N@N DT grade B+.

Do you agree or disagree with me on these grades and discriptions?