the reason why TGIF worked for other shows, but not 8SR - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sean12 · 05-28-2005, 06:15 AM

I hear everyone saying that the reason 8SR failed was because of being put on the new TGIF. I thought TGIF was originally for kids who were too young to go out of Friday nights and instead stayed home and watched TV. Did it not work because 8SR is aimed at an older audience or kids that are 13 just don't stay home on Friday night and have changed their viewing habits since the 90's? Boy, ABC seems really impatient with their TGIF lineup. They were aiming at a smaller audience since Friday traditionally is the worst night of the week rating wise (except the weekend). So why were they dissapointed with what their shows were getting? Is being sent to Friday punishment or something? Why was George Lopez relegated to the Friday purgatory, but then moved to Tuesday were &SR used to be? I saw the ratings for the TGIF shows and I have to say that they aren't too bad. I mean nobody expected 8SR and Complete Savages to make ABC #1 for the evening, but at least in Complete Savages' case, they weren't dropping in viewers each week and were keeping the same amount of viewers. I think what ABC did by pulling the plug on TGIF is something that fox would do by putting raality tv in the place of quality programming. Did Boy Meets World every do better than 8SR in its Friday night spot? Also why did ABC pull the plug on Complete Savages? Their ratings weren't that bad compaired to 8SR were they?

katefandream04 · 05-28-2005, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean12

I hear everyone saying that the reason 8SR failed was because of being put on the new TGIF. I thought TGIF was originally for kids who were too young to go out of Friday nights and instead stayed home and watched TV. Did it not work because 8SR is aimed at an older audience or kids that are 13 just don't stay home on Friday night and have changed their viewing habits since the 90's? Boy, ABC seems really impatient with their TGIF lineup. They were aiming at a smaller audience since Friday traditionally is the worst night of the week rating wise (except the weekend). So why were they dissapointed with what their shows were getting? Is being sent to Friday punishment or something? Why was George Lopez relegated to the Friday purgatory, but then moved to Tuesday were &SR used to be? I saw the ratings for the TGIF shows and I have to say that they aren't too bad. I mean nobody expected 8SR and Complete Savages to make ABC #1 for the evening, but at least in Complete Savages' case, they weren't dropping in viewers each week and were keeping the same amount of viewers. I think what ABC did by pulling the plug on TGIF is something that fox would do by putting raality tv in the place of quality programming. Did Boy Meets World every do better than 8SR in its Friday night spot? Also why did ABC pull the plug on Complete Savages? Their ratings weren't that bad compaired to 8SR were they?

The ratings for Complete Savages were way worse than 8SR.That is why it was pulled. TGIF should have been aimed at an slightly older audience. ABC didn't realize that not everyone watches tv on Fridays,so they really should have kept it where it was.

gwilson · 05-28-2005, 03:02 PM

ABC didn't seem to be adjusting for night or time slot or taking momentum into account (neither did CBS, either. They cancelled Joan of Arcadia when it was running a close 2nd all season in its time slot and pulled away from 3rd place 8SR in the spring). They seemed to just be relying on how many people watched. Whether that is the best thing to do depends on what the competition for the shows are. If it is only everything on tv, then they should adjust for night and time slot. That seems more realistic to me, since the shows that people will stay home to watch when they would have otherwise gone out or done something else are probably few and far between. However, viewing all types of entertainment as being the competition seems to be the prevailing practice. In addition, in ABC's case, as some of the early leaks that 8SR might be cancelled cited the success of Desperate Housewives and Lost, so I think one reason why ABC seemed to be so harsh in its decision making was that it was drunk with the success of a few new shows.

Mr. Television · 05-28-2005, 03:11 PM

Sometimes its hard to recapture success. The glory days of TGIF ended when FM and Step By Step moved to CBS.

David · 06-01-2005, 11:11 AM

TGIF worked so well back then, because 3 out of the 4 shows were FANTASTIC. they were all great, heck they're even all on ABC Family now, but most of the shows on this year's TGIF were average at best, and there was no "spark", compared to that of the 90's TGIF.

gwilson · 06-01-2005, 02:26 PM

Except for Step By Step, I never watched TGIF much, until this year. 8 Simple Rules wasn't as good this season as it was in the first 2, but I still liked it a lot. I also watched Hope and Faith some, though I am still angry about 8 Simple Rules getting about the same ratings and getting cancelled while Hope and Faith was renewed.

spunkygirl · 06-01-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean12

I hear everyone saying that the reason 8SR failed was because of being put on the new TGIF. I thought TGIF was originally for kids who were too young to go out of Friday nights and instead stayed home and watched TV. Did it not work because 8SR is aimed at an older audience or kids that are 13 just don't stay home on Friday night and have changed their viewing habits since the 90's? Boy, ABC seems really impatient with their TGIF lineup. They were aiming at a smaller audience since Friday traditionally is the worst night of the week rating wise (except the weekend). So why were they dissapointed with what their shows were getting? Is being sent to Friday punishment or something? Why was George Lopez relegated to the Friday purgatory, but then moved to Tuesday were &SR used to be? I saw the ratings for the TGIF shows and I have to say that they aren't too bad. I mean nobody expected 8SR and Complete Savages to make ABC #1 for the evening, but at least in Complete Savages' case, they weren't dropping in viewers each week and were keeping the same amount of viewers. I think what ABC did by pulling the plug on TGIF is something that fox would do by putting raality tv in the place of quality programming. Did Boy Meets World every do better than 8SR in its Friday night spot? Also why did ABC pull the plug on Complete Savages? Their ratings weren't that bad compaired to 8SR were they?

Boy Meets World may not have been a ratings Blockbuster, but it still did really good, and eventually became the #1 show among teens on TGIF, until Sabrina the Teenage Witch surpassed it.

I agree though 8SR never fit on Fridays, Complete Savages was perfect for TGIF though

dave insinga · 06-01-2005, 03:45 PM

it doesnt seem like anything works on fri night anymore its become a night for decent shows to go and die i liked both shows (8sr and savages) but this time slot doesnt work anymore,abc is probably to blame the dont get behind any of there shows the way they use to disney screwed this up to.

factsoflife · 06-01-2005, 04:13 PM

there are a lot of issues you brought up...

first: ratings for ALL tv shows were much higher in the 1990's. Currently because of the economy and other issues, the audience is much smaller on television shows nowadays because of the many new cable stations that are taking audiences away from network television.

TGIF was orignally aimed at as a "Family night" for famalies to watch together, but i think ABC seemed to forget that whole idea as the newer shows are aimed at a much older audience.... i also think that when TGIF was reintroduced they didn't play it up enough... the original TGIF had hosts and themes every week. like one week the cast of Family Matters would host, and the theme would be "happiness" but that never happened again when TGIF was reintroduced... no theme song, no TGIF graphics. nothing! and the shows nowadays don't go well together. back in the 80's and 90's TGIF shows seemed to work to similar audiences but not anymore, as different audiences watch Hope and Faith and 8 Simple Rules and the fall 2005 friday night doesn't look any better Supernanny, Hope and Faith and new show Hot Properties all play to different audiences. oh well!!!!

the best TGIF line-up was the 1990's one with Family Matters, Step by step, boy meets world and Sabrina The Teenage Witch.

Mr. Television · 06-01-2005, 04:15 PM

They probably should have ley Miller-Boyett develop some sitcoms. They had so much success in the late 80's early 90's.

Rachel3118 · 07-20-2005, 01:23 PM

I think tgif used to have good shows on it. Some of the shows I still watch now. The shows on now don't seem as intreasting.

05-28-2005, 03:11 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Sometimes its hard to recapture success. The glory days of TGIF ended when FM and Step By Step moved to CBS.
	__________________ Sonny

06-01-2005, 11:11 AM	#5
David mcphee. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 30, 2003 Location: jacksonville, FL. Posts: 28,115	TGIF worked so well back then, because 3 out of the 4 shows were FANTASTIC. they were all great, heck they're even all on ABC Family now, but most of the shows on this year's TGIF were average at best, and there was no "spark", compared to that of the 90's TGIF.
	__________________ v. 39 - katharine and chris elliott, you rock.

06-01-2005, 03:45 PM	#8
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	tgif has become a wake night it doesnt seem like anything works on fri night anymore its become a night for decent shows to go and die i liked both shows (8sr and savages) but this time slot doesnt work anymore,abc is probably to blame the dont get behind any of there shows the way they use to disney screwed this up to.

06-01-2005, 04:13 PM	#9
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	there are a lot of issues you brought up... first: ratings for ALL tv shows were much higher in the 1990's. Currently because of the economy and other issues, the audience is much smaller on television shows nowadays because of the many new cable stations that are taking audiences away from network television. TGIF was orignally aimed at as a "Family night" for famalies to watch together, but i think ABC seemed to forget that whole idea as the newer shows are aimed at a much older audience.... i also think that when TGIF was reintroduced they didn't play it up enough... the original TGIF had hosts and themes every week. like one week the cast of Family Matters would host, and the theme would be "happiness" but that never happened again when TGIF was reintroduced... no theme song, no TGIF graphics. nothing! and the shows nowadays don't go well together. back in the 80's and 90's TGIF shows seemed to work to similar audiences but not anymore, as different audiences watch Hope and Faith and 8 Simple Rules and the fall 2005 friday night doesn't look any better Supernanny, Hope and Faith and new show Hot Properties all play to different audiences. oh well!!!! the best TGIF line-up was the 1990's one with Family Matters, Step by step, boy meets world and Sabrina The Teenage Witch.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

07-20-2005, 01:23 PM	#11
Rachel3118 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 13, 2005 Posts: 1,768	I think tgif used to have good shows on it. Some of the shows I still watch now. The shows on now don't seem as intreasting.
	__________________ Rachel

05-28-2005, 06:15 AM	#1
Sean12 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 26, 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 77	the reason why TGIF worked for other shows, but not 8SR I hear everyone saying that the reason 8SR failed was because of being put on the new TGIF. I thought TGIF was originally for kids who were too young to go out of Friday nights and instead stayed home and watched TV. Did it not work because 8SR is aimed at an older audience or kids that are 13 just don't stay home on Friday night and have changed their viewing habits since the 90's? Boy, ABC seems really impatient with their TGIF lineup. They were aiming at a smaller audience since Friday traditionally is the worst night of the week rating wise (except the weekend). So why were they dissapointed with what their shows were getting? Is being sent to Friday punishment or something? Why was George Lopez relegated to the Friday purgatory, but then moved to Tuesday were &SR used to be? I saw the ratings for the TGIF shows and I have to say that they aren't too bad. I mean nobody expected 8SR and Complete Savages to make ABC #1 for the evening, but at least in Complete Savages' case, they weren't dropping in viewers each week and were keeping the same amount of viewers. I think what ABC did by pulling the plug on TGIF is something that fox would do by putting raality tv in the place of quality programming. Did Boy Meets World every do better than 8SR in its Friday night spot? Also why did ABC pull the plug on Complete Savages? Their ratings weren't that bad compaired to 8SR were they?

05-28-2005, 03:02 PM	#3
gwilson Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 06, 2005 Posts: 47	ABC didn't seem to be adjusting for night or time slot or taking momentum into account (neither did CBS, either. They cancelled Joan of Arcadia when it was running a close 2nd all season in its time slot and pulled away from 3rd place 8SR in the spring). They seemed to just be relying on how many people watched. Whether that is the best thing to do depends on what the competition for the shows are. If it is only everything on tv, then they should adjust for night and time slot. That seems more realistic to me, since the shows that people will stay home to watch when they would have otherwise gone out or done something else are probably few and far between. However, viewing all types of entertainment as being the competition seems to be the prevailing practice. In addition, in ABC's case, as some of the early leaks that 8SR might be cancelled cited the success of Desperate Housewives and Lost, so I think one reason why ABC seemed to be so harsh in its decision making was that it was drunk with the success of a few new shows.

06-01-2005, 02:26 PM	#6
gwilson Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 06, 2005 Posts: 47	Except for Step By Step, I never watched TGIF much, until this year. 8 Simple Rules wasn't as good this season as it was in the first 2, but I still liked it a lot. I also watched Hope and Faith some, though I am still angry about 8 Simple Rules getting about the same ratings and getting cancelled while Hope and Faith was renewed.

06-01-2005, 04:15 PM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	They probably should have ley Miller-Boyett develop some sitcoms. They had so much success in the late 80's early 90's.