Arnie at the Crossroads of TV History - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Duster76 · 04-03-2022, 10:07 PM

For a relatively quiet show the has been largely forgotten about Arnie was involved in a lot of TV history. The show's first season (70-71) was not a success, it barely survived being canceled. But of course this was the year of the rural/less attractive demographics purge so it survived based at least in part to the fact that CBS had to clear out so many other series. The good news for cast, crew and production company was the renewal, the bad news was the time slot 10:30 pm right up against the second half of Monday Night Football. This was the first time CBS had scheduled a sitcom at the late hour of 10:30pm since "Willy" a series that ran a single season 1954-55. One of the stars of Arnie was Roger Bowen who played Arnie's boss, Bowen had gained fame for a film role, he played Henry Blake in the film MASH. Of course since Arnie had been renewed for the 71-72 TV season Bowen would not be considered for the role of Henry Blake in the TV series that was under development. Think of how different both his career and McLean Stevenson's career might have been if Arnie had been canceled after the first season. Stevenson and Bowen are linked another way, Stevenson died February 15, 1996, Bowen died February 16, 1996.

TVFactFan · 04-08-2022, 02:03 AM

Seems like it would had a better time slot since the show was given another chance.

Duster76 · 04-11-2022, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Seems like it would had a better time slot since the show was given another chance.

In 1971-72 the networks lost 3.5 hours of time available for programming due to the prime time access rule. CBS had very few half hour slots available, Friday night at 8 was available but Arnie struggled in the first season so giving it a lead off position wasn't really an option. They could have left the show on Saturday but it had underperformed so that also wasn't an option. They picked Monday hoping that whatever part of the audience that didn't watch football or the Monday night movie would stay to watch the four sitcoms CBS scheduled. Well, Here's Lucy and Doris Day did OK but My Three Sons and Arnie really got creamed. By midseason a slot had opened on Saturday so Arnie was returned there but it didn't help.

TVFactFan · 04-11-2022, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

In 1971-72 the networks lost 3.5 hours of time available for programming due to the prime time access rule. CBS had very few half hour slots available, Friday night at 8 was available but Arnie struggled in the first season so giving it a lead off position wasn't really an option. They could have left the show on Saturday but it had underperformed so that also wasn't an option. They picked Monday hoping that whatever part of the audience that didn't watch football or the Monday night movie would stay to watch the four sitcoms CBS scheduled. Well, Here's Lucy and Doris Day did OK but My Three Sons and Arnie really got creamed. By midseason a slot had opened on Saturday so Arnie was returned there but it didn't help.

Thanks for the info, now I know the story behind seeing Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune between 7pm and 8pm most of my life

04-03-2022, 10:07 PM	#1
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,646	Arnie at the Crossroads of TV History For a relatively quiet show the has been largely forgotten about Arnie was involved in a lot of TV history. The show's first season (70-71) was not a success, it barely survived being canceled. But of course this was the year of the rural/less attractive demographics purge so it survived based at least in part to the fact that CBS had to clear out so many other series. The good news for cast, crew and production company was the renewal, the bad news was the time slot 10:30 pm right up against the second half of Monday Night Football. This was the first time CBS had scheduled a sitcom at the late hour of 10:30pm since "Willy" a series that ran a single season 1954-55. One of the stars of Arnie was Roger Bowen who played Arnie's boss, Bowen had gained fame for a film role, he played Henry Blake in the film MASH. Of course since Arnie had been renewed for the 71-72 TV season Bowen would not be considered for the role of Henry Blake in the TV series that was under development. Think of how different both his career and McLean Stevenson's career might have been if Arnie had been canceled after the first season. Stevenson and Bowen are linked another way, Stevenson died February 15, 1996, Bowen died February 16, 1996.

04-08-2022, 02:03 AM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,046	Seems like it would had a better time slot since the show was given another chance.