Did anyone else like season 8? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

70s show watcher · 03-17-2022, 02:01 AM

I just also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more ndout that I likeseason 8 a lot more than season 6 and esp season 7 wich I consider the worst season of the series and while season 8 may not have been as good as the first 4 or 5 seasons at least the new writers and producers tried to get the show out of the rut that it had fallen into I for one liked that they had Arnold/gary acting more mature and not just saying watcutalking about every show my fave eps that season were speak no evil so you want to be a rock star and the next to last ep the photo club I also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more often that season and that he even had a few story lines 2 drawbacks that I did not like how ever were very litte of dana/Kimberly who I wish had been used more and the final ep the front page wich tried to be one of the shows trademark very special eps but imho failed because it ended up being too silly I e gary/Arnold falling into a laundry hamper and the playing of the mission impossible theme song but overall I liked season 8 did anyone else?

RetroGuy2000 · 03-17-2022, 02:03 AM

Season 8 was my least favorite.

Mace Dolex · 03-19-2022, 03:07 AM

It was ok I'm just mad it never had a proper series finale.

PracTz · 03-20-2022, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Season 8 was my least favorite.

I'd long since bailed on it by then. However, I guess the performers', writers' and crews' family may have liked Season 8 because it kept a steady income coming in. If they hadn't been connected and dependent on the show, they may have felt the same way virtually everyone else did about the last few years of the show.

EccentricGenius · 03-26-2022, 06:48 PM

Hell to the no! "Strokes'" eighth--and, sadly, final--season is undoubtedly a mixed bag, from the change in networks (ABC picked up "Strokes" in the autumn of '85 after NBC dropped it from its primetime schedule the previous spring) to the recasting of Maggie (the late Mary Ann Mobley replaced the late Dixie Carter, who portrayed the role for the two previous seasons) to the updating of the classic theme song (the vocals had an eighties, synth-pop feel to them) to the increased--and completely unnecessary--emphasis on Sam, as well as his relationship with his stepbrother Arnold (Todd Bridges was largely absent in his longtime role as Willis throughout much, if not all, of season eight, thus finally allowing Gary Coleman to become a mentor to Danny Cooksey).

The double-length, hour-long--re-edited into a two-part episode for syndication, but restored to its original length on the season eight DVD box set, released by Shout! Factory--season eight premiere, "Sam's Missing," was a complete disappointment. And Dana Plato sadly reappears for only one episode ("Bulimia") that season, which unfortunately marked her final appearance on "Strokes." Not to mention the fact that ABC pulled the plug on "Strokes" in the spring of '86 without a proper series finale (but that's another story for another time). The only bright spot about "Strokes'" lackluster eighth, and final, season was the guest appearances from future Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, basketball hall-of-famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, and a then-unknown, up-and-coming actress by the name of Robin Givens.

And that's my two cents about "Strokes'" eighth season! Enjoy your evening, as well as your weekend, folks!

EccentricGenius · 03-26-2022, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Season 8 was my least favorite.

I couldn't agree with you more, RetroGuy2000.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-30-2022, 10:40 AM

I don't like season 8 but if we compare the 7th and the 8th season, I'd say the last is better; while season 7 is so Sam-centric and the other characters were left out for the most part, season 8 has a couple of episodes revolving around Mr. Drummond, Willis, Kimberly and Maggie

Fallon97 · 04-05-2022, 10:22 PM

I like Season 8.

TVSCREEN2015 · 07-10-2022, 01:34 AM

Both Seasons 7 and 8 were terrible. Hell, Season 6 had a lot of bad episodes too. Just another show that ran too long and overstayed it's welcome.

EccentricGenius · 11-09-2022, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVSCREEN2015

Both Seasons 7 and 8 were terrible. Hell, Season 6 had a lot of bad episodes too. Just another show that ran too long and overstayed it's welcome.

I enthusiastically concur, TVSCREEN2015. Season six (1983-84) was definitely the "jump the shark" moment for Strokes...once Maggie and Sam both entered the picture, it was all downhill from there--Dana was unceremoniously terminated by producers at season's end due to her pregnancy, Gary underwent a second kidney transplant operation, and Todd began experiencing troubles with local police as well as with his own family at home. The only bright spots about that otherwise lackluster season were guest appearances from Mr. T, David Hasselhoff, Milton Berle, and, of course, Janet Jackson.

Edward216 · 11-15-2022, 02:28 PM

Not especially no.

Ed.

stevea · 11-15-2022, 08:43 PM

There were a couple of good episodes (and the kidnapping episodes aren't the ones) but mostly the season was a dud.

Mary Ann Mobley was not a good casting decision, but I don't know who could have filled the bill.

Will Dockery · 09-01-2023, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

I just also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more ndout that I likeseason 8 a lot more than season 6 and esp season 7 wich I consider the worst season of the series and while season 8 may not have been as good as the first 4 or 5 seasons at least the new writers and producers tried to get the show out of the rut that it had fallen into I for one liked that they had Arnold/gary acting more mature and not just saying watcutalking about every show my fave eps that season were speak no evil so you want to be a rock star and the next to last ep the photo club I also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more often that season and that he even had a few story lines 2 drawbacks that I did not like how ever were very litte of dana/Kimberly who I wish had been used more and the final ep the front page wich tried to be one of the shows trademark very special eps but imho failed because it ended up being too silly I e gary/Arnold falling into a laundry hamper and the playing of the mission impossible theme song but overall I liked season 8 did anyone else?

I've been reading dismal things about Season 8 but you're making it sound a little better.

New writers sound good, maybe some fresh ideas, and I like the idea of a more mature Arnold.

I know I seem to be in the minority but I'll miss Dixie Carter.

03-17-2022, 02:01 AM	#1
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,548	Did anyone else like season 8? I just also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more ndout that I likeseason 8 a lot more than season 6 and esp season 7 wich I consider the worst season of the series and while season 8 may not have been as good as the first 4 or 5 seasons at least the new writers and producers tried to get the show out of the rut that it had fallen into I for one liked that they had Arnold/gary acting more mature and not just saying watcutalking about every show my fave eps that season were speak no evil so you want to be a rock star and the next to last ep the photo club I also liked that you saw todd/willis a little more often that season and that he even had a few story lines 2 drawbacks that I did not like how ever were very litte of dana/Kimberly who I wish had been used more and the final ep the front page wich tried to be one of the shows trademark very special eps but imho failed because it ended up being too silly I e gary/Arnold falling into a laundry hamper and the playing of the mission impossible theme song but overall I liked season 8 did anyone else?

03-17-2022, 02:03 AM	#2
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Season 8 was my least favorite.
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03-26-2022, 06:48 PM	#5
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	Hell to the no! "Strokes'" eighth--and, sadly, final--season is undoubtedly a mixed bag, from the change in networks (ABC picked up "Strokes" in the autumn of '85 after NBC dropped it from its primetime schedule the previous spring) to the recasting of Maggie (the late Mary Ann Mobley replaced the late Dixie Carter, who portrayed the role for the two previous seasons) to the updating of the classic theme song (the vocals had an eighties, synth-pop feel to them) to the increased--and completely unnecessary--emphasis on Sam, as well as his relationship with his stepbrother Arnold (Todd Bridges was largely absent in his longtime role as Willis throughout much, if not all, of season eight, thus finally allowing Gary Coleman to become a mentor to Danny Cooksey). The double-length, hour-long--re-edited into a two-part episode for syndication, but restored to its original length on the season eight DVD box set, released by Shout! Factory--season eight premiere, "Sam's Missing," was a complete disappointment. And Dana Plato sadly reappears for only one episode ("Bulimia") that season, which unfortunately marked her final appearance on "Strokes." Not to mention the fact that ABC pulled the plug on "Strokes" in the spring of '86 without a proper series finale (but that's another story for another time). The only bright spot about "Strokes'" lackluster eighth, and final, season was the guest appearances from future Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, basketball hall-of-famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, and a then-unknown, up-and-coming actress by the name of Robin Givens. And that's my two cents about "Strokes'" eighth season! Enjoy your evening, as well as your weekend, folks!
	Last edited by EccentricGenius; 03-28-2022 at 02:13 PM.

03-30-2022, 10:40 AM	#7
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	I don't like season 8 but if we compare the 7th and the 8th season, I'd say the last is better; while season 7 is so Sam-centric and the other characters were left out for the most part, season 8 has a couple of episodes revolving around Mr. Drummond, Willis, Kimberly and Maggie
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07-10-2022, 01:34 AM	#9
TVSCREEN2015 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 27, 2015 Posts: 136	Both Seasons 7 and 8 were terrible. Hell, Season 6 had a lot of bad episodes too. Just another show that ran too long and overstayed it's welcome.
	Last edited by TVSCREEN2015; 08-14-2022 at 04:13 PM.

03-19-2022, 03:07 AM	#3
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,660	It was ok I'm just mad it never had a proper series finale.

04-05-2022, 10:22 PM	#8
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,268	I like Season 8.

11-15-2022, 02:28 PM	#11
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,625	Not especially no. Ed.

11-15-2022, 08:43 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,205	There were a couple of good episodes (and the kidnapping episodes aren't the ones) but mostly the season was a dud. Mary Ann Mobley was not a good casting decision, but I don't know who could have filled the bill.