The 1980-1983 era was a bad time for sitcoms - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

badbrainsfan · 07-28-2005, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

Webster was a little popular but Gimmie a Break and Bosom Buddies were never popular

That is until Tom Hanks was popular. And Family Ties wasn't all that popular when Hanks was on there.

Dean Winchester · 07-28-2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

Webster was a little popular but Gimmie a Break and Bosom Buddies were never popular

Gimme A Break was NEVER popular? then why when Nell Carter died in 2003, pretty much every headline on the obituaries said "Gimme A Break star Nell Carter passes away"?

It was never in a Cosby Show/Cheers/Family Ties level of popularity, but to say the show was a flop is just your dislike for the show coming out. It wouldn't have lasted six seasons if it was a ratings disaster. Plus, if you notice, it makes a LOT of "I hope this comes out soon on DVD" lists, if it was so unpopular and obscure, it wouldn't.

Dean Winchester · 07-28-2005, 10:25 PM

actually, Too Close For Comfort was a sitcom hit in 80-83 that premiered in the era. However, the third seasons ratings were so bad (it was #7 in the 1981-1982 season) that it was cancelled and went syndication

TVFactFan · 07-28-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

Gimme A Break was NEVER popular? then why when Nell Carter died in 2003, pretty much every headline on the obituaries said "Gimme A Break star Nell Carter passes away"?

It was never in a Cosby Show/Cheers/Family Ties level of popularity, but to say the show was a flop is just your dislike for the show coming out. It wouldn't have lasted six seasons if it was a ratings disaster. Plus, if you notice, it makes a LOT of "I hope this comes out soon on DVD" lists, if it was so unpopular and obscure, it wouldn't.

I liked Gimmie a Break but it wasn't a HIT for NBC,

Dean Winchester · 07-28-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

I liked Gimmie a Break but it wasn't a HIT for NBC,

well, it wasn't a hit, but I think it was moderately popular. Kinda like how King Of Queens has been a longrunning show on CBS and has been a reasonable success but has never been the smash hit that Raymond or CSI has been. GAB had a nice run in the 80's though it wasn't one of their bigger hits.

badbrainsfan · 07-28-2005, 11:13 PM

Gimme a Break was never in Night Court's level of popularity as well. Like ABC's Coach, Gimme A Break is an extremely underrated show & that's why it's not currently airing, but it will never be forgotten. It has launches careers unlike Coach, and it is a lot easier to find information for this show.

JT · 07-28-2005, 11:15 PM

I think that 1980-1983 was a good time for sitcoms, in terms of quality, but a bad time in terms of ratings.

Dean Winchester · 07-28-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbrainsfan

Gimme a Break was never in Night Court's level of popularity as well. Like Coach, Gimme A Break is an extremely underrated show & that's why it's not currently airing, but it will never be forgotten. It has launches careers unlike Coach.

actually Coach airs really late at night/early in the morning on USA

db108108 · 07-30-2005, 12:02 AM

Wasn't Kate & Allie the only sitcom in the top 10 during one of those seasons? I guess that's still better than now as there were no sitcoms in the top 10 last season at all. As bad as it is, it could get even worse next season unless some sitcoms manage to break out. That 70s Show and Will & Grace are over for sure next season, and these could very well be over too.

Very likely: Less Than Perfect, Girlfriends, What I Like About You, King of The Hill, Bernie Mack, Malcolm In The Middle

Somewhat likely: King of Queens, One On One (because of age), and Still Standing, Yes, Dear, Hope & Faith, Arrested Development, Scrubs & Joey due to continued poor ratings.

Let's hope for a good season this year....

Brieannas21 · 07-30-2005, 12:42 AM

Like someone said back in the 80's Drama's were the big thing. Shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat even Little house on the Prairie were the big ticket in the 80's. Also Movie of the Week they were a hit, Around 88 89 is when things started to pick up especially with ABC's TGIF. I think Family Ties was a hit back then also and the second season of The Facts of Life, But I don't know if they made the top ten.

Opal · 07-30-2005, 12:44 AM

Quality is a matter of opinion, but in terms of ratings (which is what makes money), yes -- the early ‘80s (generally 1981-1984) was a bad time for sitcoms. During the 1983-1984 season, the only sitcom in the top 10 was Kate & Allie (coming in at #8). Many journalists during the era called this time "the death of the sitcom". With glitzy soaps like Dallas and Dynasty ruling the nights, the sitcom seemed an old and tired format.

The Cosby Show, which debuted in the fall of 1984, is credited as saving the genre. The next year The Golden Girls debuted, being a big success in the ratings, and proving that the sitcom was back! Family Ties saw new life after Michael J. Fox’s success in Back to the Future -- the ratings immediately shot up after 1985.

And to settle the little debate above…. Gimme A Break and Bosom Buddies never placed in the top 30. The highest Webster placed was #26 (during the first and second seasons).

badbrainsfan · 07-30-2005, 12:56 AM

The early-80s maybe bad for sitcoms, but it definitely wasn't bad for 60 minute shows like "Vega$" & "The Love Boat". But in my opinion, the late-70s & early-80s had the best actors/actresses (some famous, some not) like Henry Winkler, Sherman Helmsley, Neil Carter, Michael J. Fox, Jason & Justine Bateman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Wendie Jo Sperber, Rad Daly, and Tricia Cast. Almost every cast member from "The Cosby Show" (except for Cosby & Rashad) were not seen on TV in the late-70s & early-80s. Now that my friends was cool.

TVFactFan · 07-30-2005, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Like someone said back in the 80's Drama's were the big thing. Shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat even Little house on the Prairie were the big ticket in the 80's. Also Movie of the Week they were a hit, Around 88 89 is when things started to pick up especially with ABC's TGIF. I think Family Ties was a hit back then also and the second season of The Facts of Life, But I don't know if they made the top ten.

Kate and Allie started in March of 1984 so I wouldn't say that show falls into the 80-83 era.

Dean Winchester · 07-30-2005, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Like someone said back in the 80's Drama's were the big thing. Shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat even Little house on the Prairie were the big ticket in the 80's. Also Movie of the Week they were a hit, Around 88 89 is when things started to pick up especially with ABC's TGIF. I think Family Ties was a hit back then also and the second season of The Facts of Life, But I don't know if they made the top ten.

sitcoms were definately back before 88-89, I think the moment Cosby premiered on NBC in 84 was when the sitcom was reborn. By the 1985-1986 tv season, sitcoms were beginning to knock the prime time soaps off their lofts, as TCS, Family Ties, Cheers, The Golden Girls and Who's The Boss were all in the top 10 in the 85-86 season and by the next season, Growing Pains, Night Court and Moonlighting (which could be classified about the way Desperate Housewives is) joined all those shows in the top 10.

JT · 07-30-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

sitcoms were definately back before 88-89, I think the moment Cosby premiered on NBC in 84 was when the sitcom was reborn. By the 1985-1986 tv season, sitcoms were beginning to knock the prime time soaps off their lofts, as TCS, Family Ties, Cheers, The Golden Girls and Who's The Boss were all in the top 10 in the 85-86 season and by the next season, Growing Pains, Night Court and Moonlighting (which could be classified about the way Desperate Housewives is) joined all those shows in the top 10.

Personally, I don't think that sitcoms knocked off the primetime soaps. Of the main four shows of the 80s era (Dallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, Falcon Crest), the only "Knots" and "DYN" were ever scheduled against big hit sitcoms. They were both against Cheers and Night Court (KL in 1986-1987, and DYN in 1988-1989), but for the following season, CBS moved KL back to its slot against Hill Street Blues/L.A. Law, where it continued to beat its competition. DYN was cancelled in 1989.

Most (if not all) shows that went against "D" and "FC" lasted no longer than 2 seasons...

07-28-2005, 11:15 PM	#22
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	I think that 1980-1983 was a good time for sitcoms, in terms of quality, but a bad time in terms of ratings.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

07-28-2005, 10:25 PM	#18
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	actually, Too Close For Comfort was a sitcom hit in 80-83 that premiered in the era. However, the third seasons ratings were so bad (it was #7 in the 1981-1982 season) that it was cancelled and went syndication

07-28-2005, 11:13 PM	#21
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	Gimme a Break was never in Night Court's level of popularity as well. Like ABC's Coach, Gimme A Break is an extremely underrated show & that's why it's not currently airing, but it will never be forgotten. It has launches careers unlike Coach, and it is a lot easier to find information for this show.

07-30-2005, 12:02 AM	#24
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	Wasn't Kate & Allie the only sitcom in the top 10 during one of those seasons? I guess that's still better than now as there were no sitcoms in the top 10 last season at all. As bad as it is, it could get even worse next season unless some sitcoms manage to break out. That 70s Show and Will & Grace are over for sure next season, and these could very well be over too. Very likely: Less Than Perfect, Girlfriends, What I Like About You, King of The Hill, Bernie Mack, Malcolm In The Middle Somewhat likely: King of Queens, One On One (because of age), and Still Standing, Yes, Dear, Hope & Faith, Arrested Development, Scrubs & Joey due to continued poor ratings. Let's hope for a good season this year....

07-30-2005, 12:42 AM	#25
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	Like someone said back in the 80's Drama's were the big thing. Shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat even Little house on the Prairie were the big ticket in the 80's. Also Movie of the Week they were a hit, Around 88 89 is when things started to pick up especially with ABC's TGIF. I think Family Ties was a hit back then also and the second season of The Facts of Life, But I don't know if they made the top ten.

07-30-2005, 12:44 AM	#26
Opal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2004 Posts: 365	Quality is a matter of opinion, but in terms of ratings (which is what makes money), yes -- the early ‘80s (generally 1981-1984) was a bad time for sitcoms. During the 1983-1984 season, the only sitcom in the top 10 was Kate & Allie (coming in at #8). Many journalists during the era called this time "the death of the sitcom". With glitzy soaps like Dallas and Dynasty ruling the nights, the sitcom seemed an old and tired format. The Cosby Show, which debuted in the fall of 1984, is credited as saving the genre. The next year The Golden Girls debuted, being a big success in the ratings, and proving that the sitcom was back! Family Ties saw new life after Michael J. Fox’s success in Back to the Future -- the ratings immediately shot up after 1985. And to settle the little debate above…. Gimme A Break and Bosom Buddies never placed in the top 30. The highest Webster placed was #26 (during the first and second seasons).
	Last edited by Opal; 07-30-2005 at 01:03 AM.

07-30-2005, 12:56 AM	#27
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	The early-80s maybe bad for sitcoms, but it definitely wasn't bad for 60 minute shows like "Vega$" & "The Love Boat". But in my opinion, the late-70s & early-80s had the best actors/actresses (some famous, some not) like Henry Winkler, Sherman Helmsley, Neil Carter, Michael J. Fox, Jason & Justine Bateman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Wendie Jo Sperber, Rad Daly, and Tricia Cast. Almost every cast member from "The Cosby Show" (except for Cosby & Rashad) were not seen on TV in the late-70s & early-80s. Now that my friends was cool.