USA Network - When It Began Vs. Now

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by AKA

I think USA is one network that has changed for the better. Yes, the cartoons, game shows and short-lived sitcoms are gone, but in their place is higher-brow programming than what they used to show. I'd take Monk and Psych over reruns of Press Your Luck or Double Trouble any day of the week.

I beg to differ there. I loved those two shows. LOL.

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

You BET I remember Night Flight. It was one of the most original, offbeat, eclectic and consistently entertaining shows I've ever seen. It was a great mix of concert footage, videos, old public service announcements, animation, and cult films, plus the wonderful voice of Pat Prescott presiding over it all.

I also miss Commander USA and Up All Night. Those were truly the days, my friend.

I so remember Night Flight


I would so love to see reruns of that.

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I used to love USA's Night Flight in the early '80s -- an eclectic mixture of music videos, concerts and obscure short films and cartoons.

Later, I used to watch their music news show -- Radio 1990.

In 1983, they aired a prime-time KISS special with an interview with the band when their popularity was at an all-time low. What other cable network would do such a thing...?

Radio 1990 I havent thought of that show in ages. It was hosted by a British chick named Lisa something. They used to show new videos before MTV got them.

[jimpickens]

Night Flight was the only show that played videos from the Mentors and other bands that MTV wouldn't touch.

[browneyes106]

I miss how USA was in the 90's. They aired a lot of great sitcoms that had long run and short runs. I remember they aired Just Ten of Us reruns for awhile. I also miss USA Up All Night. Sure the horror movies they showed were edited but it was fun to watch them especially when they horror movie series reruns. Right now USA during the day is pretty boring because they show too SVU or NCIS reruns.

I also miss the USA original movies.

[TMC]

USA during the 1980s showed a lot of major sports events (they were originally, an offshoot of the Madison Square Garden Network) like the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, boxing (with their long running Tuesday Night Fights series), National Basketball Association, college football and basketball, to go along with their mainstays for over 20 years: the Masters, US Open tennis tournament, and Westminster Dog Show (if want to consider that a sport).

[TMC]

The USA Network was once the biggest player in basic cable. Shows like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice and White Collar were massive successes and solidified their "Characters Welcome" approach. Things changed with the ambitious Mr. Robot, here's why.

[Hawkee]

When USA Network debuted it was a channel that had something and everything for everyone and was such an amazing channel that with it's format could've been a contender to CBS and other networks. I do remember USA's game show block well because when I would be getting ready for school my mother and I would watch Name That Tune and Press Your Luck on there and USA was where I first discovered Press Your Luck and I believe the block was called USA's Lucky Day because it had a contest every day. I also remember my mom and I waking up at 6AM to see Sailor Moon on USA too as well. But I think once they dropped the game show reruns and cartoons USA started focusing on sitcoms and movies and dramas and this was the start of the current image for USA. But when they had original series like Silk Stalkings La Femme Nikita and The Big Easy that made USA the king. But once Monk made it's debut it saved USA and granted them ratings and the same thing with Psyche. But I think what caused USA big ratings also was because they added stuff like WWE Monday Night Raw and got into sports too. But I think USA should try a variety format to improve itself in the future
Bestie

[Jamey Greek]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I used to love USA's Night Flight in the early '80s -- an eclectic mixture of music videos, concerts and obscure short films and cartoons.

Later, I used to watch their music news show -- Radio 1990.

In 1983, they aired a prime-time KISS special with an interview with the band when their popularity was at an all-time low. What other cable network would do such a thing...?

MTV showed Kiss without their makeup around that same time.

[Jamey Greek]

As would I

[Jamey Greek]

Oh yes!

Their game shows were the bomb! I grew up watching them and they fueled my interest in game shows! Before Lucky Day they did a PYL telephone game which paved the way for Lucky Day USA. As well as Wink Martindale's interactive games.

[Coffeecup]

I never saw one program on USA network in their day, but now due to reruns on other stations, I saw MONK on Metv and now Outer Limits and Ray Bradbury theater, on FETV but sadly OT and RB series don't have much punch. Both are slow moving.

[TMC]

Here's a past thread that I created about the USA Network:

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

How did USA Network go from 14 years as the #1 cable entertainment network to becoming what the New York Times called "zombie TV"?

In this video, we explore the fascinating rise and strategic retreat of USA Network — from its origins in 1977 as the Madison Square Garden Sports Network, through its golden "Characters Welcome" era with shows like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, and Suits, to its current status as America's default comfort TV channel running endless Law & Order: SVU and NCIS reruns.

But here's the twist: that transformation wasn't a failure. It was a calculated pivot that tapped into deep psychological needs — and the science behind why we crave familiar, predictable content is genuinely fascinating.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 1:17 - The Origins of USA Network (1977-2002)
• 4:39 - The Golden Age: Characters Welcome Era
• 7:56 - Why USA Abandoned Original Programming
• 11:29 - The Psychology of Comfort TV
• 15:27 - The NCIS Symbiosis Story
• 18:13 - Current State: Versant and the Future
• 21:17 - The Bigger Picture: Cable vs. Streaming
• 23:23 - Conclusion

📺 SHOWS MENTIONED:
Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, White Collar, Suits, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Chicago P.D., Mr. Robot, The Sinner, WWE Monday Night Raw