I wonder what happened.. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

magellan333 · 12-04-2005, 03:26 PM

When I was in Jr. High, I watched this show every day after school and new episodes on the weeknight it aired (Thursday?). I really liked it. The show was not written for teens or children, so I thought I would enjoy seeing the reruns when they began to come back on. I don't know what happened, but the show has no appeal to me anymore. I don't laugh much and find it to be boring. I have known this to happen with kids shows as I grow up, but never a sitcom like this. Anybody else ever experience anything like this?

nitcrt1 · 12-04-2005, 04:12 PM

Boy that's too bad. I watched the show when I was younger too. As I got older, I understood more of the jokes and laugh that much harder everytime I watch the show...no matter how many times I've seen an episode. Maybe, you feel the way you do because comedy is much different than it was back when "Night Court" aired. I think there's more freedom in what you can say and do now on TV than back in "Night Court's" time. Back in the eighties the FCC was a bit tougher. Words or situations that happen on shows today really were not allowed back in the eighties. That open window of freedom really only happened for "Night Court" I would say in about year seven. (The early nineties.) I think that if "Night Court" aired today, with the freedoms that are present, it would definitely be a different show. The now cancelled "Arrested Development" reminds me a lot of "Night Court." "Arreseted Development" was a bit rauncy, off-the-wall, a misfit and very funny. Yet, FOX just gave up on it. It's funny. "Night Court" took a couple of seasons before it hit its mark. Even though it was slow going, Brandon Tartikoff still believed in it. Today, I don't think it would have made it past the second season...maybe not even the first. Networks just aren't patient anymore. They want instant hits. (Well, except in the case of "Joey." This I feel is the most poorly written show out there now. Yet, NBC still has it on.)

McFly121 · 12-04-2005, 07:59 PM

I've yet to experience this with an "adult" show that I watched as a kid. Pro wrestling, Punky Brewster, Land of the Lost, things aimed at a teen or tween audience, I can no longer sit through. But sitcoms with adult issues I still enjoy today, cuz as Nitcr1 said, jokes you didn't understand back then make you laugh now. And even eps where I haven't memorized all the lines, I'll hear a joke and bust up. So it's still appealing.

But I can see where Magellan is coming from. Some shows people can "think" they like because they're going on memories of it as a kid. However, Night Court still makes me laugh.

nitcrt1 · 12-04-2005, 09:03 PM

Oh I completely agree. When you're going on memories of something as a kid, you're perception of it is completely different. "Night Court" was a comedy that was more slapstick than sophistcated. Most comedy today is sophticated. I would have to say that "Night Court" is an acquired taste. It most certainly was not like most shows. I can take a shot in the dark and guess that the slapstick aspect probably was the appeal for someone younger. As one gets older, that stuff may seem silly and not humorous or realistic. For me, personally, the show's pretty damn funny and I love it for what it is.

hazlenut · 12-05-2005, 12:27 AM

Well I was a child during the 80's and I remember always watching tv, I loved so many shows at that time, but I watch them now and either love it or hate. I remember watching Night Court and The Golden Girls when I was younger and thinking back I must of liked the slapstick parts but as an adult I get the adult jokes and find both shows hysterical. Now on the opposite end, I used to love show Perfect Strangers but now find it kind of hard to sit through because I find it to be kind of "corny" for lack of a better word.

magellan333 · 12-06-2005, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitcrt1

Oh I completely agree. When you're going on memories of something as a kid, you're perception of it is completely different. "Night Court" was a comedy that was more slapstick than sophistcated. Most comedy today is sophticated. I would have to say that "Night Court" is an acquired taste. It most certainly was not like most shows. I can take a shot in the dark and guess that the slapstick aspect probably was the appeal for someone younger. As one gets older, that stuff may seem silly and not humorous or realistic. For me, personally, the show's pretty damn funny and I love it for what it is.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head in regards to my liking of the show. I am going to watch a few more episodes and see if maybe it will grow on me. I have wanted to see Perfect Strangers again for years, but it too may not be the show I remember it being.

HaskellGirl · 12-06-2005, 10:58 AM

Did you just start watching it again now? Keep in mind, its getting to be the later seasons, so some of the best seasons already aired...but anyway, I find the show more appealing now because I understand the humor more, and also more of the dramatic moments more. When I started watching the show again, I thought "yeah, this was a good show...its nice to see it again!". But it took me a while of watching it to really fall in love with the characters again. I think that made all the difference in the world.

ekkostar · 12-06-2005, 11:20 AM

Night Court is another reason I wish I could go back to the 1980s.
I'd like to go back to 1984 and experience it from the beginning, see the show's rise in popularity, ect.

There were so many good things in the 80s and I feel bad that I only got to live through the second half of the decade.

McFly121 · 12-08-2005, 02:34 AM

Hazelnut, Perfect Strangers, good example. That was a Friday night staple for me as a kid. Balki and all his quirks. I watched a couple eps a few years ago and was stone-faced.

Yeah, Magellan you need to watch maybe the next cycle, when they're into the 85-89 eps, during the show's stronger period.

True about the dramatic elements. Like Dan's Operation was boring as a kid because it had a lot of deep stuff in it. Now I admire it for John and Harry's performances, plus how Dan illustrates what being alone is like. Or Christine's recent break-up with Tony. At 14 I was eh. Now at 30 and having gone through relationships I can really see what her character dealt with.

12-04-2005, 03:26 PM	#1
magellan333 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 822	I wonder what happened.. When I was in Jr. High, I watched this show every day after school and new episodes on the weeknight it aired (Thursday?). I really liked it. The show was not written for teens or children, so I thought I would enjoy seeing the reruns when they began to come back on. I don't know what happened, but the show has no appeal to me anymore. I don't laugh much and find it to be boring. I have known this to happen with kids shows as I grow up, but never a sitcom like this. Anybody else ever experience anything like this?

12-04-2005, 07:59 PM	#3
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	I've yet to experience this with an "adult" show that I watched as a kid. Pro wrestling, Punky Brewster, Land of the Lost, things aimed at a teen or tween audience, I can no longer sit through. But sitcoms with adult issues I still enjoy today, cuz as Nitcr1 said, jokes you didn't understand back then make you laugh now. And even eps where I haven't memorized all the lines, I'll hear a joke and bust up. So it's still appealing. But I can see where Magellan is coming from. Some shows people can "think" they like because they're going on memories of it as a kid. However, Night Court still makes me laugh.
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12-05-2005, 12:27 AM	#5
hazlenut Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 24, 2001 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 147	Well I was a child during the 80's and I remember always watching tv, I loved so many shows at that time, but I watch them now and either love it or hate. I remember watching Night Court and The Golden Girls when I was younger and thinking back I must of liked the slapstick parts but as an adult I get the adult jokes and find both shows hysterical. Now on the opposite end, I used to love show Perfect Strangers but now find it kind of hard to sit through because I find it to be kind of "corny" for lack of a better word.
	__________________ Murphy's Law of Work: - You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard. - Never delay the ending of a meeting or the beginning of a cocktail hour. - If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done. - When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried. - No one gets sick on Wednesdays.

12-06-2005, 11:20 AM	#8
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Night Court is another reason I wish I could go back to the 1980s. I'd like to go back to 1984 and experience it from the beginning, see the show's rise in popularity, ect. There were so many good things in the 80s and I feel bad that I only got to live through the second half of the decade.
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

12-04-2005, 04:12 PM	#2
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	Boy that's too bad. I watched the show when I was younger too. As I got older, I understood more of the jokes and laugh that much harder everytime I watch the show...no matter how many times I've seen an episode. Maybe, you feel the way you do because comedy is much different than it was back when "Night Court" aired. I think there's more freedom in what you can say and do now on TV than back in "Night Court's" time. Back in the eighties the FCC was a bit tougher. Words or situations that happen on shows today really were not allowed back in the eighties. That open window of freedom really only happened for "Night Court" I would say in about year seven. (The early nineties.) I think that if "Night Court" aired today, with the freedoms that are present, it would definitely be a different show. The now cancelled "Arrested Development" reminds me a lot of "Night Court." "Arreseted Development" was a bit rauncy, off-the-wall, a misfit and very funny. Yet, FOX just gave up on it. It's funny. "Night Court" took a couple of seasons before it hit its mark. Even though it was slow going, Brandon Tartikoff still believed in it. Today, I don't think it would have made it past the second season...maybe not even the first. Networks just aren't patient anymore. They want instant hits. (Well, except in the case of "Joey." This I feel is the most poorly written show out there now. Yet, NBC still has it on.)

12-04-2005, 09:03 PM	#4
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	Oh I completely agree. When you're going on memories of something as a kid, you're perception of it is completely different. "Night Court" was a comedy that was more slapstick than sophistcated. Most comedy today is sophticated. I would have to say that "Night Court" is an acquired taste. It most certainly was not like most shows. I can take a shot in the dark and guess that the slapstick aspect probably was the appeal for someone younger. As one gets older, that stuff may seem silly and not humorous or realistic. For me, personally, the show's pretty damn funny and I love it for what it is.

12-06-2005, 10:58 AM	#7
HaskellGirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Posts: 590	Did you just start watching it again now? Keep in mind, its getting to be the later seasons, so some of the best seasons already aired...but anyway, I find the show more appealing now because I understand the humor more, and also more of the dramatic moments more. When I started watching the show again, I thought "yeah, this was a good show...its nice to see it again!". But it took me a while of watching it to really fall in love with the characters again. I think that made all the difference in the world.

12-08-2005, 02:34 AM	#9
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Hazelnut, Perfect Strangers, good example. That was a Friday night staple for me as a kid. Balki and all his quirks. I watched a couple eps a few years ago and was stone-faced. Yeah, Magellan you need to watch maybe the next cycle, when they're into the 85-89 eps, during the show's stronger period. True about the dramatic elements. Like Dan's Operation was boring as a kid because it had a lot of deep stuff in it. Now I admire it for John and Harry's performances, plus how Dan illustrates what being alone is like. Or Christine's recent break-up with Tony. At 14 I was eh. Now at 30 and having gone through relationships I can really see what her character dealt with.