Shows that weren't given enough time

[TVLANDfans@egroups.com]

TVLAND's behind the scenes look at the Dick Van Dyke Show reminded us that DVD was origanally cancelled after the first season.

Many great shows didn't start out as hits. Two more great examples are All In The Family and Seinfeld. Here are two shows that I think the networks should have stuck with a little longer.

From last year, NBC's Stark Raving Mad. Anyone who loved The Odd Couple would have loved this show.

From a few years ago, Fox's Flying Blind. This show starred Tea Leone. I reminded me of something that might have come from Woody Allen.

So many shows are cancelled today after 5-6 episodes air. Why don't network programming people take a lesson from television history and give shows a little time to develop an audience?


Jim Gill
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[This message has been edited by TVLANDfans@egroups.com (edited 09-23-2000).]

[The T]

I agree. But it was not ABC that decided to take off seinfeld, it was Jerry Seinfeld himself. he felt that the show was at it's height and he didn't want the show to go down after that as a flop and him get a bad reputation. I personally think the show could have at least gone for the longest running sitcom which is what 12 years (Happy Days)? I thin seinfeld ran for 10 right? It could have easily I beleive gone 5 more. and then some even. Other shows that weren't given chances are:

Teen Angel (Marsha on the brady bunch was also on it)
You wish
Two of a Kind
And there was this show on Tuesday nights like a year ago about this old guy that owned a book store or something and this other guy always annoyed him. Do you remember that? Does anyone? That was funny.



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See ya~The T
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Butler-Your Coat?

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[TVLANDfans@egroups.com]

I was talking about Seinfeld at the beginning of its run, not the end.

My point was that Seinfeld was not immediately a top rated show. It began on NBC opposite Home Improvement when Home Improvement was at its peak. I don't mean to suggest that NBC contemplated cancelling Seinfeld at the beginning of its run. However, it was not an immediate hit.

BTW, I think the show about the bookstore owner that you're thinking of was George & Leo with Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsh.

Bob Newhart's television history further illustrates my point. His first two very successful series The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart both had minor re-toolings (cast/character changes) at the beginning of their runs. Maybe if Newhart's other series Bob and George & Leo hadn't been cancelled during their first season, they would have found an audience.

Jim Gill

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[The T]

Sorry my mistake!

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See ya~The T
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally!

Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally.

Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz.

Fonz: everybody rally!
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[LaverneShirley]

Happy Days only ran for, like, 10 1/2-11 years, not 12... Anyway, you're right with shows like You Wish and Teen Angel and Two of a Kind not getting a chance.. But personally, I don't think it would have helped Two of a Kind. The Olsen twins were cutes as kids but now they're teenagers and still doing kid shows and movies... I mean, personally, Passport to Paris was the stupidest, dumbest movie I have ever seen. And the Two of a Kind reruns on Fox Family are starting to make me sick. They air the show like, 4 times a day. I mean, they show the entire run of the show in 5 or 6 days! Once a day is enough...

And personally, I love the Odd Couple... okay, I've only seen one episode, but I loved it! I loved it a lot!! And with Stark Raving Mad... God knows how many times I tried to watch it. I hated it.

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"Well, Laverne is sort of childish"

"Childish? Childish? COming from a grown woman who throws tea parties for her stuffed cat!"

"Well at least I don't sew L's on everything I wear!"

"Well that would be pretty stupid considering your name's Shirley!"

[Marvin85]

Here is my 2 cents worth...

THE CHARMINGS- Not emmy worthy material (It was produced by the same team that produced The NANNY, after all) but it was very funny and a good way to kill 30 mins.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF- A comedy serial from the creator of SOAP starring Patty Duke as the first woman President. The show had great writing but because at that time, It wasn't acceptable to show a President with flaws and a family that was less than perfect, the show was yanked.

GOLDEN PALACE- The GOLDEN GIRLS spinoff had trouble at first finding it's nich without Bea Arthur but halfway through the first season, It seemed more cohesive, certainly more entertaining than the last season of the GG had been!!

I'm sure I could think of more but i have to go to work.

[silentbri]

I agree with "The Charmings" needing to have had a little more time... but it also needed new writers. When watching that show, you cold tell that *one* of the writers was writing for the premise "Prince Charming and Snow White, magicaly transported to modern day America), and all the other writers where writing a standard sit com. If they had concentrated more on the original premise, that show could have been great!

However, my favorite show that didn't get the proper chance was "Home Boys in Outer Space". If it had been a little less "wacky", it would have been excellent! We here in America need a good sci-fi comedy. One that's actually sci-fi, not just a science fiction element thrown in to a regular sit com (Mork & Mindy, Alf, 3rd Rock From The Sun).

[Marvin85]

I never could get into HOMEBOYS. I guess it was because I was thinking it was rip off of the Brit-com, RED DWARF but with a black cast. Since then I keep hearing that it has a cult following so If the possiblity came around I would watch it again and give it another try.

BTW, I told you I would think of more and I have...

TABITHA- The BEWITCHED spin off with Lisa Hartman.

THE POWERS THAT BE- the Norman Lear comedy with William Forthsyth (sp) as a naive senator and his crazy family.

[The T]

I totally agree LS. Two of a kind was just dumb. The Olsen twins were cute in like full house but now that they are older they try to be really cool and crap like that and they date and stuff and it's a joke cause they're only like 5 feet tall! IT's actually kinda funny how much they air a show that only had like 10 episodes! And now they still want to be really "in" and popular and have everyone still love them and it's just a joke. I think we are like minded on the subject. And yes the show needed more time but it wouldn't have taken off that great anyway. I mean come on! it started out in the friday night line-up! It didn't have a chance! Speaking of which, don't you thin "sabrina the teenage witch" has aired long enough?!?! I mean come on! How long can sabrina be a teenager! she's like 25 now! a 25 year old teenager! I don't think so! And I heard somewhere she has a contract for *4 more years*!!!!!!! Can you beleive that?!?!?!? The show aint that great!
Anyway. Let me know what you think.

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See ya~The T
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally!

Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally.

Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz.

Fonz: everybody rally!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[Jacki]

Odd Man Out - I mean, they have it 13 episodes! It was so funny!!!

Two of a Kind - it got annoying, but really should have been given more time

Space Cases - My all time favorite Nick show. They have to 2 seasons, 26 episodes, but a 7 season plan had been made in order for us to see the resolution of the series. It had an awful ending.

[Perderabo]

You all are raising valid points in this thread. But how can you tell if a series should have more time? Do you guys think that any series should always have, say, two years or so? Or is there any such thing as a series so bad that it should be immediately canned? I guess you can argue that some series should not have ever got on the air. But once a series is filmed, why not show a few episodes and see what happens?

I think some shows need to go immediately.

One example is "Rango". How many of you remember that? I didn't think so. On the other hand, every series always finds a few fans who love it. I'm still mad at NBC for cancelling "Occaisonal Bride".

So the networks have a tough job. Any decision thay make will irritate someone.

[The T]

Yes but a sitcom should usually have at least 1 season...(Note: bit enphasis on USUALLY) some of them that really reak though are ok to ditch after a few eps.

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See ya~The T
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally!

Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally.

Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz.

Fonz: everybody rally!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[Brett Ferino]

"The Mike O'Malley Show" was not given a lot time. It only had like 2 episodes. There was this one sitcom called "Mr. Roades", which only had like 10 eps. I dont know why FFC is airing TOAK.

[netsetter]

I'd have to say Freeks and Geeks. It is really a good show and I can still see the few episodes on Fox Family. I know that they canceled it because people were not watching it but it was definitely in the category of "Best Show That No One Watches". The network should have given it a little more time and maybe a good time slot to attract and warm up viewers. Thoughts?

[The T]

I saw a commercial for freaks and geeks and it looks like the stupidest show on the history of tv on the planet! No offense but it looks so retarted! Looks like a "Nerd" show.

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See ya~The T
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally!

Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally.

Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz.

Fonz: everybody rally!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~