Ratings were usually sub-par?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

WatcherofOldTV · 10-22-2015, 06:08 AM

I've read that whereas the general public found this show entertaining, the ratings were normally towards the bottom of the barrel for the entire run of the show. And, that it was almost cancelled close to 7 times!!!

How could this be? Such an iconic hit as "The Odd Couple"!!

Also, that Klugman was not the first to be considered for the role. It was Norman Fell!!

howilu · 10-23-2015, 07:44 AM

It's quite ironic that the show wasn't a ratings success when it first aired on ABC but when it entered reruns, the show became increasingly popular. I remember reading that WPIX-TV in New York would air Odd Couple reruns four times a day.

DJM77 · 10-23-2015, 08:34 AM

Garry Marshall said that ABC told him that people weren't watching The Odd Couple because they thought that Oscar and Felix were homosexuals.

treky · 10-26-2015, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

I've read that whereas the general public found this show entertaining, the ratings were normally towards the bottom of the barrel for the entire run of the show. And, that it was almost cancelled close to 7 times!!!

How could this be? Such an iconic hit as "The Odd Couple"!!

Also, that Klugman was not the first to be considered for the role. It was Norman Fell!!

yea, hard to believe isn't it? It was the same with THE BRADY BUNCH.

Babalu · 11-22-2015, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yea, hard to believe isn't it? It was the same with THE BRADY BUNCH.

The Odd Couple was a classic.

The Brady Bunch wasn't.

TVFactFan · 12-19-2015, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

Garry Marshall said that ABC told him that people weren't watching The Odd Couple because they thought that Oscar and Felix were homosexuals.

That's why it was hard for me to watch the few times I did because it was just them and no talk of women or no women around them

LOL

opus · 12-19-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

That's why it was hard for me to watch the few times I did because it was just them and no talk of women or no women around them

They both had ex wives. Early on they were with the Pigeon sisters. Oscar chased any woman possible and at one point had a steady girlfriend. Felix also had a steady girlfriend for a while and always pined for his ex and dated . It's basically impossible to not hear them talk about or see women.

opus · 12-19-2015, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

Garry Marshall said that ABC told him that people weren't watching The Odd Couple because they thought that Oscar and Felix were homosexuals.

Batman and Robin got the same complaints. That's why they added Aunt Harriet for the show.(Although I don't see how that would stop anything

)

treky · 12-20-2015, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

They both had ex wives. Early on they were with the Pigeon sisters. Oscar chased any woman possible and at one point had a steady girlfriend. Felix also had a steady girlfriend for a while and always pined for his ex and dated . It's basically impossible to not hear them talk about or see women.

they did all that so audiences wouldn't think they were a gay couple.

opus · 12-20-2015, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

they did all that so audiences wouldn't think they were a gay couple.

Sneaky. I should have figured there was something "odd" about that "couple".

visaman666 · 12-21-2015, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yea, hard to believe isn't it? It was the same with THE BRADY BUNCH.

The Brady Bunch were homosexuals?

Dianne3 · 05-04-2017, 03:53 PM

I suppose nobody on here knows which season was their highest rated.

I would guess seasons 2 and/or 3.

TVFactFan · 05-04-2017, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianne3

I suppose nobody on here knows which season was their highest rated.

I would guess seasons 2 and/or 3.

It was stated that the show was almost cancelled every season but it did well in summer reruns

jamesanthony · 06-20-2022, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was stated that the show was almost cancelled every season but it did well in summer reruns

The show was supposedly in the 60s in year one, but ABC liked its pedigree and that it drew in more upscale viewers who were more likely to buy the sponsors' products.

In Season 2 it was tied for 37th place:

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/198...v-ratings.html

Season 3, it was 39th:

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/202...s-history.html

Season 4, it was 38th:

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/201...s-history.html

And in the last season when it was moved to Thursdays, it was 76th:

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/202...s-history.html

So the show did have a following on Friday nights (and it aired in daytime on ABC in the 75-76 season).

JR1 · 06-20-2022, 06:24 PM

I was under the impression that the ratings were terrible for the full ABC run, though that's not the case., after seeing the above links I also had found. For three seasons, the numbers were acceptable enough.

10-22-2015, 06:08 AM	#1
WatcherofOldTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2011 Posts: 138	Ratings were usually sub-par?? I've read that whereas the general public found this show entertaining, the ratings were normally towards the bottom of the barrel for the entire run of the show. And, that it was almost cancelled close to 7 times!!! How could this be? Such an iconic hit as "The Odd Couple"!! Also, that Klugman was not the first to be considered for the role. It was Norman Fell!!

10-23-2015, 08:34 AM	#3
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,555	Garry Marshall said that ABC told him that people weren't watching The Odd Couple because they thought that Oscar and Felix were homosexuals.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

10-23-2015, 07:44 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	It's quite ironic that the show wasn't a ratings success when it first aired on ABC but when it entered reruns, the show became increasingly popular. I remember reading that WPIX-TV in New York would air Odd Couple reruns four times a day.

05-04-2017, 03:53 PM	#12
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,056	I suppose nobody on here knows which season was their highest rated. I would guess seasons 2 and/or 3.

06-20-2022, 06:24 PM	#15
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	I was under the impression that the ratings were terrible for the full ABC run, though that's not the case., after seeing the above links I also had found. For three seasons, the numbers were acceptable enough.