Why do some old shows hold up well and others don't? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 07-16-2023, 07:40 PM

There are some shows like say, I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show that are always in rotation but some other shows from those eras are just painfully dated. Was the writing better or did they have some magic combination?

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 07-16-2023, 09:43 PM

I feel it comes down to great chemistry between the cast and great writing. While the cast of "I Love Lucy" had their quarrels behind the scenes, the on screen chemistry was amazing. Writing wise, look at Leave it to Beaver and Dennis the Menance. Leave it to Beaver still holds up because it had depth to it, you felt like not only the characters learned a lesson by the end of the episode, but yourself as well. Dennis doesn't hold up because it's too one note and lacks the warmness found in LITB.

dee2364 · 07-17-2023, 08:08 PM

The shows that hold up well are the ones that deal with timeless people and situations that we can all relate to or have seen in our personal lives. For example, there are so many situations I've seen or come across in real life that were straight out of comedy shows. The whole Pink Sauce thing was something completely out of I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners!

The shows that don't hold up are the ones that try to be so hip, unique or different that ironically, they become a product of their time.

just1paul · 07-19-2023, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusinforabrusin2.5

I feel it comes down to great chemistry between the cast and great writing. While the cast of "I Love Lucy" had their quarrels behind the scenes, the on screen chemistry was amazing. Writing wise, look at Leave it to Beaver and Dennis the Menance. Leave it to Beaver still holds up because it had depth to it, you felt like not only the characters learned a lesson by the end of the episode, but yourself as well. Dennis doesn't hold up because it's too one note and lacks the warmness found in LITB.

I think Dennis the Menace was warmer with Joseph Kearns as George Wilson. He had a genuine affection for the little pest, something that disappeared when Gale Gordon replaced him as his brother John Wilson. Sylvia Field as Margaret was motherly whereas Sara Seeger as Eloise was not.

Yong Fang · 07-19-2023, 02:26 AM

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...ht=Family+ties

This was is an interesting and still ongoing thread here.

Popular shows with no cultural impact.

The 80’s series Family Ties is mentioned here a lot. Many have stated that the series is very dated (the premise of the series is two parents from the 1960’s with 1980’s children.) The show was a huge hit when it was on, but now it is basically forgotten.

One could say that it might be that a show is “dated”, but people still watch All in the Family” even though that was about issues of the early 1970’s. Leave it to Beaver was about life in 1950’s suburban America. Isn’t that dated?

Charles Knox · 07-19-2023, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...ht=Family+ties

This was is an interesting and still ongoing thread here.

Popular shows with no cultural impact.

The 80’s series Family Ties is mentioned here a lot. Many have stated that the series is very dated (the premise of the series is two parents from the 1960’s with 1980’s children.) The show was a huge hit when it was on, but now it is basically forgotten.

One could say that it might be that a show is “dated”, but people still watch All in the Family” even though that was about issues of the early 1970’s. Leave it to Beaver was about life in 1950’s suburban America. Isn’t that dated?

All Family Ties had going for it, was Michael J Fox. If the role of Alex Keaton was played by Eric Stoltz, it would probably be a forgotten sitcom today.

Dianne3 · 07-19-2023, 04:07 PM

I currently Family Ties regularly.

It was and still is one of my favourite TV shows.

Coffeecup · 07-19-2023, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Knox

All Family Ties had going for it, was Michael J Fox. If the role of Alex Keaton was played by Eric Stoltz, it would probably be a forgotten sitcom today.

As for Eric playing the part, you really don't know. He might have done well with the show.

Charles Knox · 07-19-2023, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

As for Eric playing the part, you really don't know. He might have done well with the show.

Just making a joke about the role switch between the two in Back To The Future.

icecream · 07-20-2023, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...ht=Family+ties

This was is an interesting and still ongoing thread here.

Popular shows with no cultural impact.

The 80’s series Family Ties is mentioned here a lot. Many have stated that the series is very dated (the premise of the series is two parents from the 1960’s with 1980’s children.) The show was a huge hit when it was on, but now it is basically forgotten.

One could say that it might be that a show is “dated”, but people still watch All in the Family” even though that was about issues of the early 1970’s. Leave it to Beaver was about life in 1950’s suburban America. Isn’t that dated?

Leave it to Beaver never mentions topical issues or when it takes place like Family Ties and All in the Family did.

07-16-2023, 07:40 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,459	Why do some old shows hold up well and others don't? There are some shows like say, I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show that are always in rotation but some other shows from those eras are just painfully dated. Was the writing better or did they have some magic combination?

07-16-2023, 09:43 PM	#2
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	I feel it comes down to great chemistry between the cast and great writing. While the cast of "I Love Lucy" had their quarrels behind the scenes, the on screen chemistry was amazing. Writing wise, look at Leave it to Beaver and Dennis the Menance. Leave it to Beaver still holds up because it had depth to it, you felt like not only the characters learned a lesson by the end of the episode, but yourself as well. Dennis doesn't hold up because it's too one note and lacks the warmness found in LITB.

07-17-2023, 08:08 PM	#3
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	The shows that hold up well are the ones that deal with timeless people and situations that we can all relate to or have seen in our personal lives. For example, there are so many situations I've seen or come across in real life that were straight out of comedy shows. The whole Pink Sauce thing was something completely out of I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners! The shows that don't hold up are the ones that try to be so hip, unique or different that ironically, they become a product of their time.

07-19-2023, 02:26 AM	#5
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...ht=Family+ties This was is an interesting and still ongoing thread here. Popular shows with no cultural impact. The 80’s series Family Ties is mentioned here a lot. Many have stated that the series is very dated (the premise of the series is two parents from the 1960’s with 1980’s children.) The show was a huge hit when it was on, but now it is basically forgotten. One could say that it might be that a show is “dated”, but people still watch All in the Family” even though that was about issues of the early 1970’s. Leave it to Beaver was about life in 1950’s suburban America. Isn’t that dated?

07-19-2023, 04:07 PM	#7
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	I currently Family Ties regularly. It was and still is one of my favourite TV shows.