USA Network

[Madness]

Does anyone remember the years USA aired Major Dad at 8am or so. And is it currently airing anywhere at the present time? Thanks a lot.

[Brett Ferino]

IT AIRED FROM 94-99 AND 2000. I THINK.

[Madness]

Thanks Brett

[Princess_Blair_11]

DOES IT AIR ON ANY TV STATION ANYMORE

[Madness]

Not that I know of.

[IWasThere]

Maybe a bit of explanation of the economics of TV might help you understand this crazy business a bit (FYI, if you haven't seen my other posts, I was on the crew of "Major Dad"):

"Major Dad" was a show that kind of got caught "in between" two eras in TV after-network syndication. A few years earlier, and it would have lived a long life in the early-evening timeslots on your local non-network shows before ever making it to cable channels like USA, but by the time our show ended its short, happy run on CBS, Universal was in a bind re. syndication: The kinds of "happy" family shows that used to be in those timeslots were being overwhelmed by the "tabloid" shows in pre-primetime, by the Jerry Springer-type mob-riot shows in late afternoons, and the only sitcoms happening in syndication were in the late-night hours opposite Tonight/Letterman/Etc. and those tended to be the "edgier" shows like "Cheers" and the like. "Major Dad" just was deemed too "soft" to survive in those late spots and quite literally had nowhere to go.

When they shopped it in syndication, the story I heard was that the offers were lower than they wanted to accept financially, but happily for us all, that wasn't the end. Paramount had a similar problem with "Wings"--and in case you did't know, USA Network was owned 50/50 by Paramount and Universal, so they got together and put "Major Dad" and "Wings" together as a sitcom hour block on USA and, in effect, sold the show "to themselves" at the lower price they'd been offered by non-owned local stations--the difference being, of course, that their USA division could make the money on the commercials during the shows.

And THAT is why we wound up on USA. By the way--there was a serious plan for us to come back for another CBS season when we got cancelled--the ratings were middling-good enough possibly but the problem was one of production expense. The producers and the network had decided on a brilliant idea for the show if it came back: Our team of regulars would get a new assignment: They would become the new White House Marine Detail in the then-new Clinton administration! With Mackey's well-known politics not in keeping with the Clintons, everyone thought the potential for fun AND controversy would boost the show, but there was a problem: Money for SETS.

We'd already completely redone the set once in three years when making the move from our fictional versions of Pendleton to Quantico, and the cost of building the White House sets PLUS a new home for the family was estimated at several thousand dollars. Universal wanted CBS to pay for it. CBS wanted Universal to pay for it, and everyone went round and round....and the show, alas, ended.

I'll always wonder what might have happened if we'd done that season--can you imagine Mackey's "slow burn" looks at some of the antics that then took place in the White House? Who knew? It would have been a "Major" hit indeed!

Such is life in TV. And now you know the "rest of the story."
Semper Fi!

[greenlaser5555]

Major Dad aired on USA from the Fall of 1993 through the summer of 1999.

[SimpsonsFan]

and now it's on Turner South at 6/6:30am

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by IWasThere

Maybe a bit of explanation of the economics of TV might help you understand this crazy business a bit (FYI, if you haven't seen my other posts, I was on the crew of "Major Dad"):

"Major Dad" was a show that kind of got caught "in between" two eras in TV after-network syndication. A few years earlier, and it would have lived a long life in the early-evening timeslots on your local non-network shows before ever making it to cable channels like USA, but by the time our show ended its short, happy run on CBS, Universal was in a bind re. syndication: The kinds of "happy" family shows that used to be in those timeslots were being overwhelmed by the "tabloid" shows in pre-primetime, by the Jerry Springer-type mob-riot shows in late afternoons, and the only sitcoms happening in syndication were in the late-night hours opposite Tonight/Letterman/Etc. and those tended to be the "edgier" shows like "Cheers" and the like. "Major Dad" just was deemed too "soft" to survive in those late spots and quite literally had nowhere to go.

When they shopped it in syndication, the story I heard was that the offers were lower than they wanted to accept financially, but happily for us all, that wasn't the end. Paramount had a similar problem with "Wings"--and in case you did't know, USA Network was owned 50/50 by Paramount and Universal, so they got together and put "Major Dad" and "Wings" together as a sitcom hour block on USA and, in effect, sold the show "to themselves" at the lower price they'd been offered by non-owned local stations--the difference being, of course, that their USA division could make the money on the commercials during the shows.

And THAT is why we wound up on USA. By the way--there was a serious plan for us to come back for another CBS season when we got cancelled--the ratings were middling-good enough possibly but the problem was one of production expense. The producers and the network had decided on a brilliant idea for the show if it came back: Our team of regulars would get a new assignment: They would become the new White House Marine Detail in the then-new Clinton administration! With Mackey's well-known politics not in keeping with the Clintons, everyone thought the potential for fun AND controversy would boost the show, but there was a problem: Money for SETS.

We'd already completely redone the set once in three years when making the move from our fictional versions of Pendleton to Quantico, and the cost of building the White House sets PLUS a new home for the family was estimated at several thousand dollars. Universal wanted CBS to pay for it. CBS wanted Universal to pay for it, and everyone went round and round....and the show, alas, ended.

I'll always wonder what might have happened if we'd done that season--can you imagine Mackey's "slow burn" looks at some of the antics that then took place in the White House? Who knew? It would have been a "Major" hit indeed!

Such is life in TV. And now you know the "rest of the story."
Semper Fi!

I think that would have been a great change in plot. Its to bad that never happened.

[badbrainsfan]

What you said on the the other thread was a bunch of BS. You wouldn't know if they were going to move to D.C.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by badbrainsfan

What you said on the the other thread was a bunch of BS. You wouldn't know if they were going to move to D.C.

In the final episode Mac was transfered to the white house . The White House is in Washington D.C. This is getting rediculous.

[badbrainsfan]

Originally Posted by DallasCowboysFanatic

In the final episode Mac was transfered to the white house . The White House is in Washington D.C. This is getting rediculous.

Your are now part of my hit list below:
DallasCowboysFanatic

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by badbrainsfan

Your are now part of my hit list below:
DallasCowboysFanatic

I feel special.

[badbrainsfan]

Originally Posted by DallasCowboysFanatic

I feel special.

Yes you are Mr. Anti-Universal Sitcom Man, or Mr. Carsey "Freaking" Werner Sitcom Lover.

[badbrainsfan]

Originally Posted by DallasCowboysFanatic

In the final episode Mac was transfered to the white house . The White House is in Washington D.C. This is getting rediculous.

He mentioned that they were going to move to Washington D.C. in the episode "Face the Music ... and Dance" parts 1 & 2, which was the last episode of season 1 in May 1990. Let me refresh your memory "pal", Major Dad started in 1989, not 1988. The show was cancelled in 1993, not 1990. And last but not least, "Oops, a Daisy" was the (unintentional) final episode that aired on 04/16/93, not "Face the Music ... and Dance, pt. 2" which aired on 05/21/90.

So now you remember?