Why has "Newhart" traditionally done poorly in off-network syndication - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-22-2019, 02:41 AM

The last that that I recall seeing or hearing about Newhart on TV somewhere was when WGN America was doing their "retro night" block on Sunday nights back roughly 10 years ago. Did Newhart suffer a bit in comparison with The Bob Newhart Show? Were the reruns of Newhart a little too 'fresh' since it was safe to assume that it was still doing well on CBS at that point (around 1986-87, or whenever it first entered off-network syndication)?

On the other hand, if I have my facts straight, Newhart wasn't even picked up in New York City, but it was on in Boston and Hartford. So not getting clearance in the #1 market may have played a role in its syndication run being brief. Maybe the infamous series finale, which made it look like the entire series was dream of Bob Newhart's character from his prior sitcom, in a round about way, hurt its rerun value.

PracTz · 10-22-2019, 12:39 PM

My guess is that one reason why it's sputtered and died so often on the rerun circuit is that the TV audience by and large has the attitude of seeing the show once was QUITE ENOUGH.

treky · 10-23-2019, 02:16 AM

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Originally Posted by TMC

The last that that I recall seeing or hearing about Newhart on TV somewhere was when WGN America was doing their "retro night" block on Sunday nights back roughly 10 years ago. Did Newhart suffered a bit in comparison with The Bob Newhart Show? Were the reruns of Newhart a little too 'fresh' since it was safe to assume that it was still doing well on CBS at that point (around 1986-87, or whenever it first entered off-network syndication)?

On the other hand, if I have my facts straight, Newhart wasn't even picked up in New York City, but it was on in Boston and Hartford. So not getting clearance in the #1 market may have played a role in its syndication run being brief. Maybe the infamous series finale, which made it look like the entire series was dream of Bob Newhart's character from his prior sitcom, in a round about way, hurt its rerun value.

it's on Decades weekdays at 3.

TMC · 02-04-2020, 05:40 AM

I'm guessing that Newhart's rerun value was hurt by its lumpy first season, which was shot on video tape. It's one of those things where it takes a while for a show to become the show that is in its most "recognizable" form. Also, Newhart may have been too much of a low-key, rural (Newhart was when you really think about it, sort of the '80s version of Green Acres), and "offbeat" type of show to appeal to a wide-spread audience. And going back to the series finale, it's one of those things that everybody (even those who never watched much of the show) knows about. So in a weird round about way, as ingenious as it may have been, it's also a case of "we already know how it ends" so there's little investment in rewatching it.

TMC · 07-28-2024, 02:27 AM

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Quick promo for Ch. 2's late night reruns of the sitcom.

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Transferred from VHS Recording of "Smithsonian Treasures" on KTZZ Channel 22 in Seattle. Recording was made in early April 1989

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Commercials that aired during a syndicated episode of Newhart in September 1988. These aired on WWCP Channel 8 out of Pittsburgh, PA.

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Commercial from a 1988 Beta recording of the TV movie Leap of Faith on Minneapolis, Minnesota channel 4 WCCO-TV.

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-Family Feud and The Price Is Right promos
-Newscenter 8 at 11:00 tease with Tim Taylor, Eleanor Hayes, Dick Goddard, and Casey Coleman
-Sally promo
-PM Weekend promo
-USA Today on TV promo
-Newhart promo (syndicated)
-Newscenter 8 at 11:00 opening with Tim Taylor and Eleanor Hayes (Eleanor fills in for Robin Swoboda, this is all I have of this newscast)

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Taken from the end of one more Hi Q episode along with another episode of the original Star Trek series) off WAVE.

1. Ashland
2. Newhart syndicated promo
3. WKYC Hi Q closing segment with Ashland sponsorship bumper
4. L.A. Gear featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabar
5. Sheba
6. The Qeather Team on WAVE 3 News
6. Two For The Money on WAVE 3 promo bumper
7. Another L.A. Gear
8. South Central Bell (A BellSouth Company)
9. Dead Poets Society movie trailer
10. Marathon
11. Pert Plus
12. Water Works at Kings Island
13. RC Cola
14. Taco Bell
15. Honda
16. Pizza Hut
17. (same as #5)
18. (same as #7)
19. Blue Grass Hyundai
20. The National Center For Hospitality Studies at Sullivan College
21. Clarksville Home Mart (Clarksville, IN)
22. 102.3 FM Rock 102
23. Plymouth Voyager
24. Pepsi
25. The Real Yellow Pages from South Central Bell
26. Mazda MPV
27. Another Pizza Hut
28. (same as #7 and #18)
29. USA Today promo
30. Star Trek partial closing credits with The Fighting Seabees voiceover promo
31. Family Feud (syndicated) promo
32. Another Taco Bell
33. Blinds Direct
34. Wave 3 ID with Madison Heritage Days event bumper

10-22-2019, 02:41 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,428	Why has "Newhart" traditionally done poorly in off-network syndication The last that that I recall seeing or hearing about Newhart on TV somewhere was when WGN America was doing their "retro night" block on Sunday nights back roughly 10 years ago. Did Newhart suffer a bit in comparison with The Bob Newhart Show? Were the reruns of Newhart a little too 'fresh' since it was safe to assume that it was still doing well on CBS at that point (around 1986-87, or whenever it first entered off-network syndication)? On the other hand, if I have my facts straight, Newhart wasn't even picked up in New York City, but it was on in Boston and Hartford. So not getting clearance in the #1 market may have played a role in its syndication run being brief. Maybe the infamous series finale, which made it look like the entire series was dream of Bob Newhart's character from his prior sitcom, in a round about way, hurt its rerun value.
	Last edited by TMC; 05-28-2022 at 03:57 AM.

10-22-2019, 12:39 PM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	My guess is that one reason why it's sputtered and died so often on the rerun circuit is that the TV audience by and large has the attitude of seeing the show once was QUITE ENOUGH.

02-04-2020, 05:40 AM	#4
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,428	I'm guessing that Newhart's rerun value was hurt by its lumpy first season, which was shot on video tape. It's one of those things where it takes a while for a show to become the show that is in its most "recognizable" form. Also, Newhart may have been too much of a low-key, rural (Newhart was when you really think about it, sort of the '80s version of Green Acres), and "offbeat" type of show to appeal to a wide-spread audience. And going back to the series finale, it's one of those things that everybody (even those who never watched much of the show) knows about. So in a weird round about way, as ingenious as it may have been, it's also a case of "we already know how it ends" so there's little investment in rewatching it.