Has The Bill Cosby Show ever been Syndicated - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 05-30-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

I recently improved my 52 episode set of The Bill Cosby Show. I obtained an uncut copy of The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore episode. I now have all the episodes uncut. I also upgraded The Deluge parts 1 and 2, quality is much better now. The only episode I still would like to upgrade is Viva Ortega.

Did this show have 2 seasons? Just trying to figure out what eps they you improved and was wondering was those sane eps coming out on DVD in June

TV Knowledge Fan · 05-30-2006, 05:30 PM

....NBC did have an "iron-clad" contract with Cosby for two seasons of his sitcom. However, Procter & Gamble, which controlled the 8:30pm(et) Sunday night time slot it appeared in, COULD have stepped in and insisted it be renewed for another season...remember, Bill was also appearing in some of the sponsor's Crest toothpaste commercials at the time. The fact that P&G allowed the show to burn off its repeats on Tuesday nights in the summer of 1971, while preferring to show repeats of the final episodes of "THE RED SKELTON SHOW" instead, leads me to believe THEY really weren't interested in continuing the show, either. Instead, they gambled {no pun intended} on "THE JIMMY STEWART SHOW", hoping his comedy/drama would draw a "wider" audience than Cosby's did. It didn't- and P&G abandoned that show (and the time period) at the end of the 1971-'72 season.

caladon · 07-13-2006, 07:42 PM

During the 70's, The Bill Cosby Show ran for years in syndication in the Los Angeles area. I remember watching it on KCOP channel 13.

Crazy Dan · 12-20-2006, 12:41 PM

WCAU 10 in Philadelphia was airing the show Sunday mornings around 5am or so in the mid 80s.

TVFactFan · 12-20-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dan

WCAU 10 in Philadelphia was airing the show Sunday mornings around 5am or so in the mid 80s.

I was Too young and that was Too early-lol

treky · 12-21-2006, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dan

WCAU 10 in Philadelphia was airing the show Sunday mornings around 5am or so in the mid 80s.

I remember when they were doing that; I remember once I was flipping through the channels late at night and I ran into it. It was just starting and the opening scene showed him walking into his nephews b'day party, carrying some ice cream. All the kids were yelling and I first thought it was a commercial for Jello pudding!!

(he had a series of JELLO PUDDING commercials running at the time)

TVFactFan · 12-21-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I remember when they were doing that; I remember once I was flipping through the channels late at night and I ran into it. It was just starting and the opening scene showed him walking into his nephews b'day party, carrying some ice cream. All the kids were yelling and I first thought it was a commercial for Jello pudding!!

(he had a series of JELLO PUDDING commercials running at the time)

That was still a ODD TIME to air the show. How many people are really watching TV at time of morning

jamesanthony · 05-05-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

....NBC did have an "iron-clad" contract with Cosby for two seasons of his sitcom. However, Procter & Gamble, which controlled the 8:30pm(et) Sunday night time slot it appeared in, COULD have stepped in and insisted it be renewed for another season...remember, Bill was also appearing in some of the sponsor's Crest toothpaste commercials at the time. The fact that P&G allowed the show to burn off its repeats on Tuesday nights in the summer of 1971, while preferring to show repeats of the final episodes of "THE RED SKELTON SHOW" instead, leads me to believe THEY really weren't interested in continuing the show, either. Instead, they gambled {no pun intended} on "THE JIMMY STEWART SHOW", hoping his comedy/drama would draw a "wider" audience than Cosby's did. It didn't- and P&G abandoned that show (and the time period) at the end of the 1971-'72 season.

On the DVD Cosby says that the network people wanted a laugh track and when he wouldn't cease control to them they let the show run the contracted 2 seasons then let it die. Seems like perhaps Cosby wanted to retain creative control and the network wouldn't let him. Interestingly this seems to have been the first time that any network series had that much creative control by an African American.

MIKEPR · 12-19-2019, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

WBBM-TV Chicago aired The Bill Cosby Show reruns during the mid 70's thru early 80's. Episodes were complete including the closing credits. I have VHS tapes of these, glad to know the DVD's are coming out in summer. This was a great show.

I've always wonder why they aired them and not the other stations since WBBM is the CBS station.

Because of that I believe it was aired early in the mornings or late at night.

Perhaps if the others did they would have been on better times of the day.

Hazel Anyday · 12-19-2019, 09:03 PM

I remember watching this show when it was first on and I also remember it being in re-runs, for at least a year, anyway, after the series was cancelled. It was not a great show, not even really funny. I think it deserved the axe that it got.

MIKEPR · 12-19-2019, 09:25 PM

Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's deserving of cancelation.

1960'sTVfan · 12-19-2019, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKEPR

I've always wonder why they aired them and not the other stations since WBBM is the CBS logo.

Because of that I believe it was aired early in the mornings or late at night.

Perhaps if the others did they would have been on better times of the day.

The Bill Cosby Show originally ran on NBC, WBBM is the CBS affiliate from Chicago. Somehow, somewhere along the way WBBM must have acquired prints of the episodes after NBC cancelled the series. WBBM ran the episodes during the overnight and also sometimes on weekend afternoons.

It's a good show, I like it, well written stories but it's not your usual laugh out loud type of sitcom, the comedy is more subtle and draws from the situations presented in the episodes. Can't really compare it to I Spy because I Spy isn't a sitcom, but I like it better than The Cosby Show which came along later in the 1980's.

1960'sTVfan · 12-19-2019, 10:53 PM

Another cool two season sitcom from the early 1970's is Arnie with Herschel Bernardi. I'd like to see this series be released on DVD but have no idea regarding the status of the episodes. If masters still exist they're probably sitting in a vault somewhere decaying and collecting dust.

Hazel Anyday · 12-19-2019, 11:27 PM

Yes, that's right, if I don't like it it does deserve the ax. The show passed with a push is the nicest thing you can say. Glad when it was cancelled, it should have been gone after the first year.

As for Arnie, now that WAS a good show that I deem worthy of at least a 5 year run. It was shown, most recently on the old original cable Fox channel, the precursor to the FX channel of today. Probably this was back in the early 90's. I'm currently watching those DVD's and they look very nice. No not remastered beauties, but certainly more than watchable. Just saw the Christmas episode where Arnie wanted to give cookies to the office folk like he did when he was on the loading dock. This was frowned upon by his fat secretary. Then the fun began.

treky · 12-20-2019, 03:06 AM

WPIX in New York used to rerun it in the 70s.

05-30-2006, 05:30 PM	#17
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	yes, "Lee G'..... ....NBC did have an "iron-clad" contract with Cosby for two seasons of his sitcom. However, Procter & Gamble, which controlled the 8:30pm(et) Sunday night time slot it appeared in, COULD have stepped in and insisted it be renewed for another season...remember, Bill was also appearing in some of the sponsor's Crest toothpaste commercials at the time. The fact that P&G allowed the show to burn off its repeats on Tuesday nights in the summer of 1971, while preferring to show repeats of the final episodes of "THE RED SKELTON SHOW" instead, leads me to believe THEY really weren't interested in continuing the show, either. Instead, they gambled {no pun intended} on "THE JIMMY STEWART SHOW", hoping his comedy/drama would draw a "wider" audience than Cosby's did. It didn't- and P&G abandoned that show (and the time period) at the end of the 1971-'72 season.

12-19-2019, 09:03 PM	#25
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Give it The Ax The Ax The Ax The Ax I remember watching this show when it was first on and I also remember it being in re-runs, for at least a year, anyway, after the series was cancelled. It was not a great show, not even really funny. I think it deserved the axe that it got.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

12-19-2019, 11:27 PM	#29
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Any More Judgement needed pronounced? No problem. Yes, that's right, if I don't like it it does deserve the ax. The show passed with a push is the nicest thing you can say. Glad when it was cancelled, it should have been gone after the first year. As for Arnie, now that WAS a good show that I deem worthy of at least a 5 year run. It was shown, most recently on the old original cable Fox channel, the precursor to the FX channel of today. Probably this was back in the early 90's. I'm currently watching those DVD's and they look very nice. No not remastered beauties, but certainly more than watchable. Just saw the Christmas episode where Arnie wanted to give cookies to the office folk like he did when he was on the loading dock. This was frowned upon by his fat secretary. Then the fun began.

07-13-2006, 07:42 PM	#18
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	During the 70's, The Bill Cosby Show ran for years in syndication in the Los Angeles area. I remember watching it on KCOP channel 13.

12-20-2006, 12:41 PM	#19
Crazy Dan Rocker Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 35	WCAU 10 in Philadelphia was airing the show Sunday mornings around 5am or so in the mid 80s.

12-19-2019, 09:25 PM	#26
MIKEPR Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 29, 2019 Posts: 368	Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's deserving of cancelation.

12-19-2019, 10:53 PM	#28
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,056	Another cool two season sitcom from the early 1970's is Arnie with Herschel Bernardi. I'd like to see this series be released on DVD but have no idea regarding the status of the episodes. If masters still exist they're probably sitting in a vault somewhere decaying and collecting dust.

12-20-2019, 03:06 AM	#30
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	WPIX in New York used to rerun it in the 70s.