Sitcoms that did good in their original run, but bad in syndication? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Impressions · 11-14-2004, 10:40 AM

What were some sitcoms that were successful in their original run, but when they were re-ran in syndication their ratings sloped?

barwars · 11-14-2004, 11:15 AM

Most dramas

Impressions · 11-14-2004, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
Most dramas

What about sitcoms?

Adamantium · 11-14-2004, 02:00 PM

Well, I've heard "Murphy Brown". I guess we'll find out when it comes to N@N.

It seems like "Maude." I mean, it had a successful run, yet it's hardly ever in reruns anymore.

Dean Winchester · 11-14-2004, 02:25 PM

"bad" is objective. A lot of shows have done good in their own right in syndication, but yet weren't massively successful like M*A*S*H, Seinfeld, or The Andy Griffith Show.

People say Murphy Brown was a flop in syndication, but yet I can remember it's reruns lasting about 8 years here (1992 to 2000 or 2001).

James · 11-14-2004, 09:20 PM

I'd have to say The Wonder Years. Down here in SW Ohio it was gone from syndication in September 1995, when Dayton's Fox affiliate WRGT 45 put Tempest in its place. I remember that this happened just after WRGT started another cycle of the episodes, and the last one that aired was the tenth episode, "Steady As She Goes". Fortunately Tempest was gone the next year. Unfortunately WRGT did not put TWY back on its schedule, and still has not done so.

I have heard that TWY was still running in syndication in southern Wisconsin from a friend that used to live there (Madison or Rockford markets) back in August 1997.

snl75 · 11-14-2004, 11:48 PM

this is strange but cosby didnt do all that well in reruns when it hit the rerun market in 1988 but it seemes to have made a small comeback in recent years and for the person who said andy griffth wasant a sucess when it aired in the 60s it actually made the top 10 or 15 every season it was on and when it ended in 68. it was number 1.

jamesanthony · 11-15-2004, 12:17 AM

I agree about Murphy Brown and Maude. Murphy really died out in reruns shortly after it ended its prime time run, which is odd because it ran 10 years in primetime. I think the politics depicted in it have made it dated. That might be the same problem with Maude.

What about Evening Shade and Blossom? I haven't heard of either of those shows drawing much attention. Also Dear John and Major Dad seem to have been almost completely forgotten.

As for the comment about dramas it is only relatively recently that hourlong dramas have not really drawn all that much attention in local area syndication. I remember all kinds of dramas from Hill St Blues to Matlock airing at all hours of the day up to the mid90s. Now dramas are more likely to be reran on cable. I think one of the issues with dramas in local reruns is that a lot of them have continuing storylines that if you saw them in primetime aren't as suspenseful to see in reruns. Most sitcoms have continuing storylines now as well, but I think that the humor component makes the individual episodes stand alone better. Plus local programmers find it easier to schedule 1/2 hr series.

slackermonkey · 11-15-2004, 12:24 AM

I remember "Dear John!" I haven't heard about that show in years.

Dean Winchester · 11-15-2004, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
What about Evening Shade and Blossom? I haven't heard of either of those shows drawing much attention. Also Dear John and Major Dad seem to have been almost completely forgotten.

Evening Shade and Major Dad went exclusively to cable (Family Channel and USA) respectively when the time came for syndication. So those shows bypassed the locals

tvfan0101 · 11-15-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
Evening Shade and Major Dad went exclusively to cable (Family Channel and USA) respectively when the time came for syndication. So those shows bypassed the locals

Indeed. I used to watch Major Dad on USA whenever I had a chance. Which was not often.

Dean Winchester · 11-15-2004, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Riff
"Murphy Brown" is the most notorious example. It was a disaster the second it entered syndication -- and this was when it was still a major hit in first-run on CBS.

Murphy Brown lasted around 8 years in syndication here. Granted, it's no Seinfeld, but I don't see how it was a flop in any shape or form. 8 years is a lot longer than a lot of shows in syndication.

Dean Winchester · 11-15-2004, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Riff
Now, how on earth "Will & Grace" isn't sloping is what I want to know. It's a bunch of pop culture references masquerading as jokes!

isn't that the case with a lot of the animation shows (not a slam to them, I love pop culture references)? I don't think a Simpsons or Family Guy episode has been made without at least 10 of them in one show.

Plus, why are you so negative to the shows you dislike, because 1. you dislike a show and 2. it doesn't score American Idol-sized ratings doesn't mean 3. the show is garbage. There's a lot of great shows that didn't win over middle America.

snl75 · 11-15-2004, 12:48 PM

i like will and grace .and like you said buffy slayer 79 there are alot of shows that you or i dont like that still do well in reruns if people dont like a show they dont have to watch it i myself dont like home improvement or the drew carey show but i just turn the channel when they come on

spunkygirl · 11-15-2004, 02:53 PM

I read Mad About You hasn't done that well on Lifetime.

11-14-2004, 10:40 AM	#1
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	Sitcoms that did good in their original run, but bad in syndication? What were some sitcoms that were successful in their original run, but when they were re-ran in syndication their ratings sloped?
	Last edited by Impressions; 11-14-2004 at 11:27 AM.

11-15-2004, 12:24 AM	#9
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	I remember "Dear John!" I haven't heard about that show in years.
	__________________ ...Derek TV on DVD Checklist: 05/09 - Scrubs: The Complete Third Season 05/30 - Joey: The Complete First Season 06/13 - Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season 06/13 - Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season 06/20 - Justice League: Season 2 07/25 - Animaniacs: Volume 1 10/?? - Scrubs: The Complete Fourth Season 12/06 - Animaniacs: Volume 2

11-14-2004, 11:15 AM	#2
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Most dramas

11-14-2004, 02:00 PM	#4
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,826	Well, I've heard "Murphy Brown". I guess we'll find out when it comes to N@N. It seems like "Maude." I mean, it had a successful run, yet it's hardly ever in reruns anymore.

11-14-2004, 02:25 PM	#5
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	"bad" is objective. A lot of shows have done good in their own right in syndication, but yet weren't massively successful like MAS*H, Seinfeld, or The Andy Griffith Show. People say Murphy Brown was a flop in syndication, but yet I can remember it's reruns lasting about 8 years here (1992 to 2000 or 2001).

11-14-2004, 09:20 PM	#6
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I'd have to say The Wonder Years. Down here in SW Ohio it was gone from syndication in September 1995, when Dayton's Fox affiliate WRGT 45 put Tempest in its place. I remember that this happened just after WRGT started another cycle of the episodes, and the last one that aired was the tenth episode, "Steady As She Goes". Fortunately Tempest was gone the next year. Unfortunately WRGT did not put TWY back on its schedule, and still has not done so. I have heard that TWY was still running in syndication in southern Wisconsin from a friend that used to live there (Madison or Rockford markets) back in August 1997.

11-14-2004, 11:48 PM	#7
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	this is strange but cosby didnt do all that well in reruns when it hit the rerun market in 1988 but it seemes to have made a small comeback in recent years and for the person who said andy griffth wasant a sucess when it aired in the 60s it actually made the top 10 or 15 every season it was on and when it ended in 68. it was number 1.

11-15-2004, 12:17 AM	#8
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I agree about Murphy Brown and Maude. Murphy really died out in reruns shortly after it ended its prime time run, which is odd because it ran 10 years in primetime. I think the politics depicted in it have made it dated. That might be the same problem with Maude. What about Evening Shade and Blossom? I haven't heard of either of those shows drawing much attention. Also Dear John and Major Dad seem to have been almost completely forgotten. As for the comment about dramas it is only relatively recently that hourlong dramas have not really drawn all that much attention in local area syndication. I remember all kinds of dramas from Hill St Blues to Matlock airing at all hours of the day up to the mid90s. Now dramas are more likely to be reran on cable. I think one of the issues with dramas in local reruns is that a lot of them have continuing storylines that if you saw them in primetime aren't as suspenseful to see in reruns. Most sitcoms have continuing storylines now as well, but I think that the humor component makes the individual episodes stand alone better. Plus local programmers find it easier to schedule 1/2 hr series.

11-15-2004, 12:48 PM	#14
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	i like will and grace .and like you said buffy slayer 79 there are alot of shows that you or i dont like that still do well in reruns if people dont like a show they dont have to watch it i myself dont like home improvement or the drew carey show but i just turn the channel when they come on

11-15-2004, 02:53 PM	#15
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I read Mad About You hasn't done that well on Lifetime.