How do shows like this stay on this long? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BuddyHinton · 08-26-2008, 10:24 PM

This show is obviously generic and just not very good especially in light of TRUE classic television. Years from now this show will be completely forgotten. Is it just a matter of there being "nothing else better to watch", so shows of this caliber are able to hang around?

Skywalker · 08-26-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyHinton

This show is obviously generic and just not very good especially in light of TRUE classic television. Years from now this show will be completely forgotten. Is it just a matter of there being "nothing else better to watch", so shows of this caliber are able to hang around?

Are you kidding? That 70's Show rocks!

It's one of my all time favorite shows. If it wasn't that good, I doubt it would have lasted 8 seasons. I think this show will be around for a long time in syndication. I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't always the best written show, and it will probably never be as popular as Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but to me it was a very funny show with great characters and that's really all that matters, IMO.

BuddyHinton · 08-27-2008, 12:13 AM

I am glad that you enjoy it, and I respect that but just to see a show this sort-of-meh lasting countless seasons is just surprising to me; 2 or 3 maybe but when I see season 8 "coming soon" I'm like -- It lasted THAT LONG??? I had the same reaction to Full House..

Sophia's Wrinkles · 08-27-2008, 01:04 AM

Have you watched the show? People get attached to characters and there were some great ones on there. And trying to compare television shows is a waste of time. I can enjoy the classics and I can enjoy the current.

70s show watcher · 08-27-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Are you kidding? That 70's Show rocks!

It's one of my all time favorite shows. If it wasn't that good, I doubt it would have lasted 8 seasons. I think this show will be around for a long time in syndication. I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't always the best written show, and it will probably never be as popular as Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but to me it was a very funny show with great characters and that's really all that matters, IMO.

i agree with you almost word for word i love lucy and the classics too but that 70s show is great

Schmoopie · 08-27-2008, 01:26 AM

I'm not a fan of "That 70's Show" but I think the appeal has to do with the nostalgia "effect". People love stuff about the 70's (and 60's and 80's) and a show that was made in the 2000's that is about the 70's (and pretty true to life from what I've seen) is very cool!

Andrea

BuddyHinton · 08-27-2008, 08:17 AM

I too LOOOOOVE the 70's. My problem with this show is that the creators didn't even come close to nailing the "feel" of the 70's with this show, that's probably the biggest problem with it. The characters and actors (the kids) just do not look or feel like anything "legit" from the 70's, I lived it, it's obvious (to me) these kids didn't. The show has a VERY "filmed a few years ago" feel to it. It's just too "stagey" and "polished" to be the actual 70's, I just don't buy it, and it's hard for me to believe people watched a show like this for so long.

Wreckless · 08-27-2008, 02:10 PM

I have to disagree with you totally. That '70s Show is one of the best, most funniest and creative shows ever. They stuck with everything that has to do with the '70s, the a tracks, the clothing, the colors, everything. The cast was great, the writing was great, which made the humour on the show excellent. People look at the 8th season and think it's a bad show when they're totally wrong, it's BETTER then Seinfeild, yeah I said it. The 8th season wasn't even that bad, the first 7 seasons were so great and the loss of Eric, one of the main characters made the 8th season less as good.

BuddyHinton · 08-28-2008, 01:48 AM

Wreckless8228836:
Date of Birth:
August 22, 1988
Age:
20

You know as much about the geniune 70's as I do about the 50's. You had to have been there.. OR you need to look at GENIUNE 70's shows like Rockford Files or Starsky and Hutch; it was a seedy decade not filled with pearly whites and polished new clothes for every day of the year.

Wreckless · 08-30-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyHinton

Wreckless8228836:
Date of Birth:
August 22, 1988
Age:
20

You know as much about the geniune 70's as I do about the 50's. You had to have been there.. OR you need to look at GENIUNE 70's shows like Rockford Files or Starsky and Hutch; it was a seedy decade not filled with pearly whites and polished new clothes for every day of the year.

You think just because I'm not a '70s baby, that my parents or people I know haven't lived and experienced the '70s? 70s Show is a great show and hilarious, point blank period.

Mr. Television · 08-30-2008, 08:50 PM

I grew up in the 70's and I agree it didn't always feel like it was from that decade. It doesn't matter. The characters and their relationship to each other made the show a classic. People watch sitcoms because they care about the people on it. I heard people say HD didn't represent the 50's very well especially after the first 2 seasons but it last 11 seasons because they were people we all wanted to spend time with. Sitcoms sure aren't what they used to be but TSS was a nice way to spend a half hour. I was always entertained when I watched it.

Wreckless · 08-30-2008, 09:05 PM

I totally agree ^. I remember somebody on Youtube got mad cause their was a 1960s song on HD, when it was standing for the late '50s/early '60s, so technically the song fits in that timeslot. And I agree, you watch to care and follow the characters and how they progress and just the feelings you connect with, when watching whatever shows you watch.

Wreckless · 08-30-2008, 09:07 PM

TWY, another fav. show of mine besides T7S, was taken during the '60s and it told most events and used songs from that genre but I bet some looney tune can find a way around it, saying "oh they didn't accurately perceive these years."

Point is, nothing is perfect and you watch sitcoms for the reasons listed above, like there's no crying over spilled milk, there's no complaining over sitcoms which are ficticious anyway.

Furienna · 08-31-2008, 01:02 AM

I'm born in 1984, so I haven't experienced the 70s. But don't you think the people, who made "That 70s show", were old enough to remember that decade? And even if the actors playing the kids sure weren't old enough to remember that decade (they were all born in the later half of the 70s, the same time as the show takes place, except for Mila Kunis, who was born in 1983), the actors playing the grown-ups were. I have to admit though, that even though there was some 70s feelings to the early seasons, they had less and less of it for every year.

DSfan · 08-31-2008, 12:58 PM

I love this show, except for the last season which was terrible. It is very funny and I wouldn't pick it over Seinfeld for example but it is a show that I enjoy watching when it comes on. It doesn't need to be a replica of the 70s really, as long as the show is interesting and funny, which it was, that's all that matters.

You could find ways of saying practically every tv show is not real in some sense. I find that a lot of older shows were all very corny, this show is not so maybe this show is more realistic than some shows actually produced in the 70s.

08-26-2008, 10:24 PM	#1
BuddyHinton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 441	How do shows like this stay on this long? This show is obviously generic and just not very good especially in light of TRUE classic television. Years from now this show will be completely forgotten. Is it just a matter of there being "nothing else better to watch", so shows of this caliber are able to hang around?

08-27-2008, 01:26 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I'm not a fan of "That 70's Show" but I think the appeal has to do with the nostalgia "effect". People love stuff about the 70's (and 60's and 80's) and a show that was made in the 2000's that is about the 70's (and pretty true to life from what I've seen) is very cool! Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-28-2008, 01:48 AM	#9
BuddyHinton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 441	Wreckless8228836: Date of Birth: August 22, 1988 Age: 20 You know as much about the geniune 70's as I do about the 50's. You had to have been there.. OR you need to look at GENIUNE 70's shows like Rockford Files or Starsky and Hutch; it was a seedy decade not filled with pearly whites and polished new clothes for every day of the year.
	Last edited by BuddyHinton; 08-28-2008 at 03:03 PM.

08-30-2008, 08:50 PM	#11
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	I grew up in the 70's and I agree it didn't always feel like it was from that decade. It doesn't matter. The characters and their relationship to each other made the show a classic. People watch sitcoms because they care about the people on it. I heard people say HD didn't represent the 50's very well especially after the first 2 seasons but it last 11 seasons because they were people we all wanted to spend time with. Sitcoms sure aren't what they used to be but TSS was a nice way to spend a half hour. I was always entertained when I watched it.
	__________________ Sonny

08-27-2008, 12:13 AM	#3
BuddyHinton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 441	I am glad that you enjoy it, and I respect that but just to see a show this sort-of-meh lasting countless seasons is just surprising to me; 2 or 3 maybe but when I see season 8 "coming soon" I'm like -- It lasted THAT LONG??? I had the same reaction to Full House..

08-27-2008, 01:04 AM	#4
Sophia's Wrinkles Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2002 Posts: 460	Have you watched the show? People get attached to characters and there were some great ones on there. And trying to compare television shows is a waste of time. I can enjoy the classics and I can enjoy the current.

08-27-2008, 08:17 AM	#7
BuddyHinton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: CA Posts: 441	I too LOOOOOVE the 70's. My problem with this show is that the creators didn't even come close to nailing the "feel" of the 70's with this show, that's probably the biggest problem with it. The characters and actors (the kids) just do not look or feel like anything "legit" from the 70's, I lived it, it's obvious (to me) these kids didn't. The show has a VERY "filmed a few years ago" feel to it. It's just too "stagey" and "polished" to be the actual 70's, I just don't buy it, and it's hard for me to believe people watched a show like this for so long.

08-27-2008, 02:10 PM	#8
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	I have to disagree with you totally. That '70s Show is one of the best, most funniest and creative shows ever. They stuck with everything that has to do with the '70s, the a tracks, the clothing, the colors, everything. The cast was great, the writing was great, which made the humour on the show excellent. People look at the 8th season and think it's a bad show when they're totally wrong, it's BETTER then Seinfeild, yeah I said it. The 8th season wasn't even that bad, the first 7 seasons were so great and the loss of Eric, one of the main characters made the 8th season less as good.

08-30-2008, 09:05 PM	#12
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	I totally agree ^. I remember somebody on Youtube got mad cause their was a 1960s song on HD, when it was standing for the late '50s/early '60s, so technically the song fits in that timeslot. And I agree, you watch to care and follow the characters and how they progress and just the feelings you connect with, when watching whatever shows you watch.

08-30-2008, 09:07 PM	#13
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	TWY, another fav. show of mine besides T7S, was taken during the '60s and it told most events and used songs from that genre but I bet some looney tune can find a way around it, saying "oh they didn't accurately perceive these years." Point is, nothing is perfect and you watch sitcoms for the reasons listed above, like there's no crying over spilled milk, there's no complaining over sitcoms which are ficticious anyway.

08-31-2008, 01:02 AM	#14
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	I'm born in 1984, so I haven't experienced the 70s. But don't you think the people, who made "That 70s show", were old enough to remember that decade? And even if the actors playing the kids sure weren't old enough to remember that decade (they were all born in the later half of the 70s, the same time as the show takes place, except for Mila Kunis, who was born in 1983), the actors playing the grown-ups were. I have to admit though, that even though there was some 70s feelings to the early seasons, they had less and less of it for every year.

08-31-2008, 12:58 PM	#15
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I love this show, except for the last season which was terrible. It is very funny and I wouldn't pick it over Seinfeld for example but it is a show that I enjoy watching when it comes on. It doesn't need to be a replica of the 70s really, as long as the show is interesting and funny, which it was, that's all that matters. You could find ways of saying practically every tv show is not real in some sense. I find that a lot of older shows were all very corny, this show is not so maybe this show is more realistic than some shows actually produced in the 70s.