Obscure Sitcoms That Ran Forever - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 08-31-2019, 08:26 PM

Technically, if something "ran forever," it really couldn't have been all that "obscure". So another way to look at it is a show that could be easily labeled as a "Long-Running Inexplicable Hit"? They're basically one of those things you see advertised during commercial breaks but you don't know anybody watching it or talking about it, yet it somehow seems to drag on for a few seasons.

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 09-01-2019, 11:25 PM

Ozzie and Harriet ran for 14 seasons and is all but forgotten by most.

Despite being relatively popular during their heyday, both "That Girl" and "Love, American Style" are forgotten gems from TV's First Golden Age.

bgva · 09-02-2019, 04:14 PM

I don't think I knew anyone who either watched or even talked about Rules of Engagement, but it ran for seven seasons.

Heenan Fan · 09-02-2019, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgva

I don't think I knew anyone who either watched or even talked about Rules of Engagement, but it ran for seven seasons.

Good example. That show had a lot of good talent, yet I can honestly say that I never watched a single episode.

icecream · 09-02-2019, 08:46 PM

I don't know what the full schedule will be, but Rules of Engagement expired from my CW affiliate at the end of August, have a feeling it did mediocre in syndication. I never watched it and doubt I ever do with no talent hack David Spade being one of the stars.

stevea · 09-02-2019, 09:54 PM

"The Middle." It had moderate success in the ratings, yet enough to go 9 seasons. It didn't do well in local syndication (as "Rules" didn't).

icecream · 09-03-2019, 01:49 AM

At least The Middle does great on Freeform, I am glad it is still their ace.

Schmoopie · 09-03-2019, 02:37 AM

I loved "The Middle" too and I was upset when it ended.

stevea · 09-03-2019, 01:54 PM

Me too! It would have been interesting to follow Sue and Axl into whatever they ended up doing.

Merry24 · 09-03-2019, 02:09 PM

I would of love to see the Sue Heck spin-off!

I think the middle does well in syndication. As Freeform has proven that.Sadly, Hallmark Channel has other plans than Sitcoms. (Viacom doesn’t know what to do they say they are going to change but always goes back to Binge watching FRIENDS on nick@niTe & Binge Marathons Of Raymond & 2 and a Half Men & King Of Queens On TVLAND).

It would be kinda cool if the middle came back for Christmas Special. Example to A Very Brady Christmas. lol!!!

icecream · 09-03-2019, 02:43 PM

Hallmark isn't owned by Viacom, their channels are separate. Sadly all the main Hallmark channel cares about is their lousy movies that generally have the same mediocre acting and cringeworthy plots no matter who is in them. Meanwhile great classic sitcoms like Frasier, I Love Lucy, Cheers, and the best modern sitcom of the last decade The Middle are buried in the middle of the night or early morning, or in Lucy's case taken off for The Middle. There should be room for all of those shows to have decent timeslots. The one sitcom that gets semi decent treatment on Hallmark is easily my least favorite, The Golden Girls.

Impressions · 09-03-2019, 07:37 PM

These shows all ran 6+ season, they don't seem to be popular in syndication, or you don't really see them in syndication (maybe just OTA channels):

The Real McCoys
Alice
One Day at a Time (the original)
Step by Step
Home Improvement
According to Jim

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 09-03-2019, 10:15 PM

I would also add "The Danny Thomas Show" and "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" to the list.

Both shows were hits during their heyday in the late 50s, but have been forgotten by many due to not being in syndication

stevea · 09-03-2019, 10:33 PM

Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show ran for 11 seasons, and was a huge hit for CBS (it moved to CBS from ABC in 1957 after 4 seasons). It ended in 1964 only because Danny T. and Marjorie Lord were tired of it.

icecream · 09-03-2019, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Impressions

These shows all ran 6+ season, they don't seem to be popular in syndication, or you don't really see them in syndication (maybe just OTA channels):

Alice
One Day at a Time (the original)
Home Improvement
According to Jim

Home Improvement is doing great in syndication. LAFF airs it in primetime every night from 9-11, and weekdays from 11AM-1PM. Plus it airs on UP and CMT. According to Jim started airing this year also on LAFF. It airs 4 hours a day in good slots from 6-9PM and the 11PM hour. Jim also airs weekends on LAFF from 11PM-1AM. Alice airs in primetime on Antenna TV in the 8PM hour weeknights, has also appeared on other networks like LOGO. The original One Day at a Time aired on Antenna TV a few years ago but didn't last long, their contract only allowed for a limited amount of airings.

08-31-2019, 08:26 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	Obscure Sitcoms That Ran Forever Technically, if something "ran forever," it really couldn't have been all that "obscure". So another way to look at it is a show that could be easily labeled as a "Long-Running Inexplicable Hit"? They're basically one of those things you see advertised during commercial breaks but you don't know anybody watching it or talking about it, yet it somehow seems to drag on for a few seasons.

09-02-2019, 08:46 PM	#5
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,789	I don't know what the full schedule will be, but Rules of Engagement expired from my CW affiliate at the end of August, have a feeling it did mediocre in syndication. I never watched it and doubt I ever do with no talent hack David Spade being one of the stars.
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09-03-2019, 02:37 AM	#8
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I loved "The Middle" too and I was upset when it ended.
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09-01-2019, 11:25 PM	#2
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	Ozzie and Harriet ran for 14 seasons and is all but forgotten by most. Despite being relatively popular during their heyday, both "That Girl" and "Love, American Style" are forgotten gems from TV's First Golden Age.

09-02-2019, 04:14 PM	#3
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	I don't think I knew anyone who either watched or even talked about Rules of Engagement, but it ran for seven seasons.

09-02-2019, 09:54 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,726	"The Middle." It had moderate success in the ratings, yet enough to go 9 seasons. It didn't do well in local syndication (as "Rules" didn't).

09-03-2019, 01:49 AM	#7
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,789	At least The Middle does great on Freeform, I am glad it is still their ace.

09-03-2019, 01:54 PM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,726	Me too! It would have been interesting to follow Sue and Axl into whatever they ended up doing.

09-03-2019, 02:09 PM	#10
Merry24 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 10, 2017 Location: beach Posts: 2,042	I would of love to see the Sue Heck spin-off! I think the middle does well in syndication. As Freeform has proven that.Sadly, Hallmark Channel has other plans than Sitcoms. (Viacom doesn’t know what to do they say they are going to change but always goes back to Binge watching FRIENDS on nick@niTe & Binge Marathons Of Raymond & 2 and a Half Men & King Of Queens On TVLAND). It would be kinda cool if the middle came back for Christmas Special. Example to A Very Brady Christmas. lol!!!

09-03-2019, 02:43 PM	#11
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,789	Hallmark isn't owned by Viacom, their channels are separate. Sadly all the main Hallmark channel cares about is their lousy movies that generally have the same mediocre acting and cringeworthy plots no matter who is in them. Meanwhile great classic sitcoms like Frasier, I Love Lucy, Cheers, and the best modern sitcom of the last decade The Middle are buried in the middle of the night or early morning, or in Lucy's case taken off for The Middle. There should be room for all of those shows to have decent timeslots. The one sitcom that gets semi decent treatment on Hallmark is easily my least favorite, The Golden Girls.

09-03-2019, 07:37 PM	#12
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	These shows all ran 6+ season, they don't seem to be popular in syndication, or you don't really see them in syndication (maybe just OTA channels): The Real McCoys Alice One Day at a Time (the original) Step by Step Home Improvement According to Jim

09-03-2019, 10:15 PM	#13
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	I would also add "The Danny Thomas Show" and "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" to the list. Both shows were hits during their heyday in the late 50s, but have been forgotten by many due to not being in syndication

09-03-2019, 10:33 PM	#14
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,726	Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show ran for 11 seasons, and was a huge hit for CBS (it moved to CBS from ABC in 1957 after 4 seasons). It ended in 1964 only because Danny T. and Marjorie Lord were tired of it.