The 1980-1983 era was a bad time for sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

badbrainsfan · 07-27-2005, 10:34 PM

I hear a lot of people are assuming that the 1980-1983 era was a bad time for sitcoms.

Is it true?

Dean Winchester · 07-27-2005, 10:46 PM

I don't really think so, it's just regarded as a bad time because prime-time soaps ruled the era and the ABC shows from the late 70's were starting to go down and yet Bill Cosby hadn't premiered yet so sitcoms were in a decline during those years compared to the Happy Days/Laverne And Shirley domination.

But still, give me a handful of shows from this period over any current sitcom.

Mikado · 07-27-2005, 10:55 PM

yes it was, but, today is MUCH worse....the ONLY current sitcom i watch is Corner Gas, and i used to be a sitcom junkie

badbrainsfan · 07-27-2005, 11:03 PM

Well I think it was a great era for sitcom. Because almost every cast member from The Cosby Show has not been seen on-screen around 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983. That was great. Well at least the 1980-1983 era had sitcom stars like Sherman Helmsley, Michael J. Fox, Jason & Justine Bateman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks, and Wendie Jo Sperber. However, they were cool. And The Fonz, he was the best.

Dean Winchester · 07-27-2005, 11:06 PM

I think so too, there were a LOT of shows I loved that were on in those years.

benjamoon · 07-28-2005, 12:30 AM

I think the thing about those years is that shows were either past their peak ("Happy Days," "Three's Company," "Laverne & Shirley," "The Jeffersons," etc. or not quite to the point where they became huge successes ("Family Ties," "Cheers," "Newhart," etc)

I wouldn't say things are as bad as they are now for sitcoms cuz there were more than there are currently but it wasn't as big as the late 70s or mid 80s

barwars · 07-28-2005, 10:01 AM

From 66-69, the sitcom was at its worst. Following that is the current batch. I still like quite a few current sitcoms, most notably - Arrested Development.

TVFactFan · 07-28-2005, 03:22 PM

It was a bad time for NEW SITCOMS, that's what the problem was. There wasn;t any new sitcoms that were hits in the years of 1980, 1981, 1982.

barwars · 07-28-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

It was a bad time for NEW SITCOMS, that's what the problem was. There wasn;t any new sitcoms that were hits in the years of 1980, 1981, 1982.

Well, they didn't become hits until later.... but Cheers, Family Ties and Newhart all debuted in 1982.

TVFactFan · 07-28-2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barwars

Well, they didn't become hits until later.... but Cheers, Family Ties and Newhart all debuted in 1982.

Exactly, no new sitcom that premiered between 1980-83 was a Hit after that first season. Oh yes there was, the sitcom FLO in 1980

badbrainsfan · 07-28-2005, 04:32 PM

What about Bosom Buddies, Gimme A Break, or Webster?

TVFactFan · 07-28-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbrainsfan

What about Bosom Buddies, Gimme A Break, or Webster?

Webster-NO
Gimmie A Break-NO
Bosom Buddies-HELL NO-lol

TJL · 07-28-2005, 06:29 PM

"Mr. Smith."

'nuff said.

badbrainsfan · 07-28-2005, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

Webster-NO
Gimmie A Break-NO
Bosom Buddies-HELL NO-lol

In case you haven't notice that Gimme A Break! & Webster aired for six seasons, at least those shows lasted longer than WKRP In Cinncinati & Square Pegs. And Bosom Buddies was to air until 1983. But flopped after season 2 in 1982.

TVFactFan · 07-28-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbrainsfan

In case you haven't notice that Gimme A Break! & Webster aired for six seasons, at least those shows lasted longer than WKRP In Cinncinati & Square Pegs. And Bosom Buddies was to air until 1983.

Webster was a little popular but Gimmie a Break and Bosom Buddies were never popular

07-27-2005, 10:34 PM	#1
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	The 1980-1983 era was a bad time for sitcoms I hear a lot of people are assuming that the 1980-1983 era was a bad time for sitcoms. Is it true?
	Last edited by badbrainsfan; 07-28-2005 at 06:22 AM.

07-28-2005, 12:30 AM	#6
benjamoon Bewitched Senior Member Join Date: Jun 15, 2000 Location: New York Posts: 1,450	I think the thing about those years is that shows were either past their peak ("Happy Days," "Three's Company," "Laverne & Shirley," "The Jeffersons," etc. or not quite to the point where they became huge successes ("Family Ties," "Cheers," "Newhart," etc) I wouldn't say things are as bad as they are now for sitcoms cuz there were more than there are currently but it wasn't as big as the late 70s or mid 80s
	__________________ My Blog: http://benjamonsterstv.blogspot.com/ My Site: peaktvdatabase.weebly.com My favorite TV shows: Bewitched, I Love Lucy, American Dreams, Mary Tyler Moore, The Office, Happy Days, The West Wing, Modern Family, Friday Night Lights, Friends, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood

07-28-2005, 06:29 PM	#13
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	"Mr. Smith." 'nuff said.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

07-27-2005, 10:46 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I don't really think so, it's just regarded as a bad time because prime-time soaps ruled the era and the ABC shows from the late 70's were starting to go down and yet Bill Cosby hadn't premiered yet so sitcoms were in a decline during those years compared to the Happy Days/Laverne And Shirley domination. But still, give me a handful of shows from this period over any current sitcom.

07-27-2005, 10:55 PM	#3
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,880	yes it was, but, today is MUCH worse....the ONLY current sitcom i watch is Corner Gas, and i used to be a sitcom junkie

07-27-2005, 11:03 PM	#4
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	Well I think it was a great era for sitcom. Because almost every cast member from The Cosby Show has not been seen on-screen around 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983. That was great. Well at least the 1980-1983 era had sitcom stars like Sherman Helmsley, Michael J. Fox, Jason & Justine Bateman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks, and Wendie Jo Sperber. However, they were cool. And The Fonz, he was the best.

07-27-2005, 11:06 PM	#5
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I think so too, there were a LOT of shows I loved that were on in those years.

07-28-2005, 10:01 AM	#7
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	From 66-69, the sitcom was at its worst. Following that is the current batch. I still like quite a few current sitcoms, most notably - Arrested Development.

07-28-2005, 03:22 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	It was a bad time for NEW SITCOMS, that's what the problem was. There wasn;t any new sitcoms that were hits in the years of 1980, 1981, 1982.

07-28-2005, 04:32 PM	#11
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	What about Bosom Buddies, Gimme A Break, or Webster?