Why does this show get the short end of the stick when it comes to cable TV - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Superswiper · 07-16-2023, 04:34 AM

Many of its fellow TGIF shows still regularly air in reruns on cable TV, such as Family Matters (which is currently airing on three different channels, no less), Full House, Step by Step, Sister, Sister, Boy Meets World and George Lopez.

As far as I know, 2007 was the last time the show was seen on cable TV in the US, and even before then, it had a habit of always showing up on a channel's schedule, only to disappear a month or two later.

Seriously, I think it would be awesome if they added this show to TBS, IFC or Logo, and actually stay on there, especially now that it's no longer on Hulu. The DVDs tend to be pretty costly too.

icecream · 07-16-2023, 10:42 AM

Boy Meets World hasn't aired in a long time either, I miss it.

Superswiper · 07-19-2023, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecream

Boy Meets World hasn't aired in a long time either, I miss it.

I'm not sure why I said Boy Meets World, because I haven't seen that on a while. Either way, it's still been treated a lot better in reruns than Perfect Strangers.

JO Sweet Heart · 08-05-2023, 04:43 PM

Sadly, the brain train can only travel so far where the powers that be are concerned.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

PerfectStranger · 08-24-2023, 11:34 PM

I actually never heard of this show until recently and watched it for the first time and was shocked at how good this show was even though it's only on Amazon Prime. Other shows like All in the Family which I didn't like and the Jeffersons which wasn't bad were always aired all the time. My suspicion is maybe internal politics. I would think it would be on Disney+ and the show has recently been going up in popularity yet it seems to be universally blacklisted.

Alan Brady's Hair · 08-25-2023, 12:05 AM

Could it be that it's known as a TGIF show, but there are no kids in it?

Superswiper · 08-25-2023, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerfectStranger

I actually never heard of this show until recently and watched it for the first time and was shocked at how good this show was even though it's only on Amazon Prime. Other shows like All in the Family which I didn't like and the Jeffersons which wasn't bad were always aired all the time. My suspicion is maybe internal politics. I would think it would be on Disney+ and the show has recently been going up in popularity yet it seems to be universally blacklisted.

It used to be on Hulu as well, but was removed a couple years back. It actually managed to stay on there for quite a while.

It's pretty interesting how shows that are over 30 years old (particular the more elusive ones like this) are still getting new fans. How did you discover this show, by the way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Could it be that it's known as a TGIF show, but there are no kids in it?

Maybe it could have something to do with that. Now that I think about it, the show is pretty unique in that aspect. The vast majority of TGIF shows have kids in them, but Perfect Strangers doesn't.

JO Sweet Heart · 08-25-2023, 09:10 AM

^^^ Why the show did not have any kids during the show on a normal basis my guess would be due to Balki having the mind of a child for the most part. Maybe the writers though that kids being on the show more would only take the focus off of him when him and Larry were the main characters of the show.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

Alan Brady's Hair · 08-25-2023, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JO Sweet Heart

^^^ Why the show did not have any kids during the show on a normal basis my guess would be due to Balki having the mind of a child for the most part.

Yes. I associate Balki with Gilligan sometimes.

Superswiper · 08-27-2023, 11:38 PM

Yeah, true. Also, I don't see where a child could really fit in on the show. The show was all about Larry and Balki. Even all the supporting characters revolved around them. We never see anyone that ties to just Jennifer or Maryanne, for instance.

JO Sweet Heart · 08-28-2023, 10:31 AM

^^^ We do get to meet Jennifer's parents in two episodes, first her dad and later on her mom.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

TMC · 01-01-2024, 06:38 AM

Does it seem like Perfect Strangers doesn't really get much respect these days? It had some of the best slapstick and physical comedy in any network sitcom. But it feels like after it had its final season, it pretty much faded out. Especially when compared to its spin-off show Family Matters. To add insult to injury, Mark Lynn-Baker appeared on the final season of Family Matters but NOT as Larry Appleton.

rusty spike · 01-01-2024, 07:10 AM

Maybe it's how we watch tv now; meaning long binge streaks. There are some shows which I like best in small spurts 1-2 episodes. If I try to watch more, I find irritating inconsistencies which ruin the entertainment.

I think networks believe in binge watching programming. Perhaps this show doesn't test favorable with back to back episodes.

OmegaWolf747 · 02-11-2024, 01:41 PM

This may not be what everyone's looking for, but PS is available on streaming, such as Amazon Prime and YouTube from $1.99/episode or $19.99/season.

Superswiper · 05-17-2024, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaWolf747

This may not be what everyone's looking for, but PS is available on streaming, such as Amazon Prime and YouTube from $1.99/episode or $19.99/season.

Yeah, no thank you. If I'm paying for the show individually, I would rather buy a physical copy of one of the season DVD sets on a sale or something. I wish they would put it on Max with some of the other TGIF shows that are on there.

07-16-2023, 04:34 AM	#1
Superswiper Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 192	Why does this show get the short end of the stick when it comes to cable TV Many of its fellow TGIF shows still regularly air in reruns on cable TV, such as Family Matters (which is currently airing on three different channels, no less), Full House, Step by Step, Sister, Sister, Boy Meets World and George Lopez. As far as I know, 2007 was the last time the show was seen on cable TV in the US, and even before then, it had a habit of always showing up on a channel's schedule, only to disappear a month or two later. Seriously, I think it would be awesome if they added this show to TBS, IFC or Logo, and actually stay on there, especially now that it's no longer on Hulu. The DVDs tend to be pretty costly too.

07-16-2023, 10:42 AM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,615	Boy Meets World hasn't aired in a long time either, I miss it.
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08-05-2023, 04:43 PM	#4
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,834	Sadly, the brain train can only travel so far where the powers that be are concerned. God bless you always!!! Holly
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02-11-2024, 01:41 PM	#14
OmegaWolf747 Lowest ranking pack member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 28	This may not be what everyone's looking for, but PS is available on streaming, such as Amazon Prime and YouTube from $1.99/episode or $19.99/season.
	__________________ "Two chicks in the hand is worth a lot more than three nerds in the john!" - Arthur Fonzarelli

08-24-2023, 11:34 PM	#5
PerfectStranger Member First Time Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2023 Location: USA Posts: 1	I actually never heard of this show until recently and watched it for the first time and was shocked at how good this show was even though it's only on Amazon Prime. Other shows like All in the Family which I didn't like and the Jeffersons which wasn't bad were always aired all the time. My suspicion is maybe internal politics. I would think it would be on Disney+ and the show has recently been going up in popularity yet it seems to be universally blacklisted.

08-25-2023, 12:05 AM	#6
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,822	Could it be that it's known as a TGIF show, but there are no kids in it?

08-25-2023, 09:10 AM	#8
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,834	^^^ Why the show did not have any kids during the show on a normal basis my guess would be due to Balki having the mind of a child for the most part. Maybe the writers though that kids being on the show more would only take the focus off of him when him and Larry were the main characters of the show. God bless you always!!! Holly

08-27-2023, 11:38 PM	#10
Superswiper Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 192	Yeah, true. Also, I don't see where a child could really fit in on the show. The show was all about Larry and Balki. Even all the supporting characters revolved around them. We never see anyone that ties to just Jennifer or Maryanne, for instance.

08-28-2023, 10:31 AM	#11
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,834	^^^ We do get to meet Jennifer's parents in two episodes, first her dad and later on her mom. God bless you always!!! Holly

01-01-2024, 06:38 AM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,545	Does it seem like Perfect Strangers doesn't really get much respect these days? It had some of the best slapstick and physical comedy in any network sitcom. But it feels like after it had its final season, it pretty much faded out. Especially when compared to its spin-off show Family Matters. To add insult to injury, Mark Lynn-Baker appeared on the final season of Family Matters but NOT as Larry Appleton.

01-01-2024, 07:10 AM	#13
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Maybe it's how we watch tv now; meaning long binge streaks. There are some shows which I like best in small spurts 1-2 episodes. If I try to watch more, I find irritating inconsistencies which ruin the entertainment. I think networks believe in binge watching programming. Perhaps this show doesn't test favorable with back to back episodes.