Once Great Cable Channels That Have Gone Downhill - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-05-2009, 05:03 AM

*AMC post 2001, when they started becoming more of a "general movies" channel (hell, they once played "Catwoman" for Christ's sake) instead of a classic film channel. It was also around this period, that they became an advertiser-supported network (which as result, meant that the movies had to be edited for objectionable content).

*BET some time after Viacom took over

*Cartoon Network whenever they started showing live-action stuff

*Disney Channel post 2002, when they stopped being a general audience channel (hence, the elimination of "Vault Disney") in favor of tween fare (which also came at the expense of animation)

*ESPN sometime after Disney took over

*ESPN Classic post 2004, when it became awfully apparent that they weren't trying anymore

*G4 shortly after Neal Tiles became the president of the network

*MTV post 1997

*Nickelodeon post 1999

*TV Land whenever they started showing current reality shows (e.g. "Extreme Makeover") and movies (when the channel should be devoted to classic TV programming)

*VH1 post 2001 (when they started relying too much on pop culture nostalgia like "Best Week Ever" and the "I Love the..." series and crummy reality shows)

ekkostar · 02-05-2009, 08:53 AM

Disney Channel and Nickelodeon aren't bad, just because you grew up and are no longer their demographic does not mean they now suck. Stop wearing the nostalgia goggles.

browneyes106 · 02-05-2009, 10:20 AM

The Disney Channel original movies used to be really good. Another cable channel that has gone downhill is CMT which is owned my MTV.

Penny Lane · 02-05-2009, 10:57 AM

TVLand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

brownie87 · 02-05-2009, 11:05 AM

TV Land, because it went from showing great classic TV shows to showing nothing but crappy reality shows, movies, "Scrubs", '90s shows and the only "classic" shows they show are shows from the '50s. GET A CLUE, TV LAND!!!!!

brownie87 · 02-05-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

*AMC post 2001, when they started becoming more of a "general movies" channel (hell, they once played "Catwoman" for Christ's sake) instead of a classic film channel. It was also around this period, that they became an advertiser-supported network (which as result, meant that the movies had to be edited for objectionable content).

*BET some time after Viacom took over

*Cartoon Network whenever they started showing live-action stuff

*Disney Channel post 2002, when they stopped being a general audience channel (hence, the elimination of "Vault Disney") in favor of tween fare (which also came at the expense of animation)

*ESPN sometime after Disney took over

*ESPN Classic post 2004, when it became awfully apparent that they weren't trying anymore

*G4 shortly after Neal Tiles became the president of the network

*MTV post 1997

*Nickelodeon post 1999

*TV Land whenever they started showing current reality shows (e.g. "Extreme Makeover") and movies (when the channel should be devoted to classic TV programming)

*VH1 post 2001 (when they started relying too much on pop culture nostalgia like "Best Week Ever" and the "I Love the..." series and crummy reality shows)

Yeah...MTV circa-1997 with the arrival of TRL!!! More like "T and A"RL thanks to Britney Spears and The Spice Girls!!! Actually, MTV started sucking hardcore around 1992 with the arrival of "The Real World". Now, all MTV seems to show are either tweeniebopper videos, or pointless reality shows. I even miss "Celebrity Deathmatch". Then VH1 started with all the stupid reality TV crap and eventually got worse than MTV with shows like "The Surreal Life", "Flava/Rock of Love", "Celebrity Rehab", "Celebrity Fit Club", "My Fair Brady", "Scott Baio: 46 and Pregnant (and P-Whipped)", "Tool Academy", la-la, all these dumba$$ reality programs. Then all these crappy pop culture-obsessed shows like "Best Week Ever", "The Fabulous Life", "Celebrity Eye Candy", "All-Access"...OYE!!! Now, VH1 Classic is starting to fall into the same trap, showing nothing but movies, Metal-oriented crap, "Rock Star" infommercials...ARGH!!! What can't they just show music videos and music-related shows anymore???

MickeyMac · 02-05-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie87

TV Land, because it went from showing great classic TV shows to showing nothing but crappy reality shows, movies, "Scrubs", '90s shows and the only "classic" shows they show are shows from the '50s. GET A CLUE, TV LAND!!!!!

I couldnt have said it better myself.

I would also include American Movie Classics. They have abandoned their classic format as well and the furthest they go back with their movies is the 1980's.

TMC · 02-06-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I couldnt have said it better myself.

I would also include American Movie Classics. They have abandoned their classic format as well and the furthest they go back with their movies is the 1980's.

I've already mentioned AMC at the top of my first post.

MrCleveland · 02-06-2009, 10:31 AM

The Family Channel When it became Fox Family.

Toon Disney When it eliminated all the 80's cartoons.

Boomerang When it played 90's cartoons.

What SHOULD happen...

The Disney Channel should make a Classic Channel like Boomerang.

Boomerang should keep their old shows and CN should make a Cartoon Cartoons Channel.

TV Land should make a Retro Station.

VH1 and MTV should make a video station.

Nickelodeon should get on the ball and launch NickRewind.

TV ****ed with our shows...they should NEVER **** with our stations!

Doodyville10019 · 02-06-2009, 12:37 PM

I agree - MTV should just go back to being a strictly music video channel - PERIOD (or at least revamp TRL). Same with VH1. They should have a separate channel dedicated to just their reality shows (like Fox Reality).

catlover79 · 02-06-2009, 12:43 PM

I agree with all of them. BOOOOO!!!

MickeyMac · 02-06-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I've already mentioned AMC at the top of my first post.

Must have missed it, sorry

MickeyMac · 02-06-2009, 01:08 PM

*BET some time after Viacom took over

I have to admit I have never been a fan of this channel. My buddy says BET stands for "you bet your ass I aint watching this". I'm inclined to agree with him.

dawsongirl · 02-06-2009, 05:38 PM

I nominate all of them.

megamanj2004 · 02-07-2009, 12:19 PM

In one way or another, cable channels are eventually gonna sell out and down Crapper Avenue.

But here's some others in my list you could mention:

GSN (formerly known as Game Show Network) - When they started picking up all those Million Dollar Game Shows, starting w/ Millionaire in 2002. But that's step one of its evolution into the Crapper Zone.

It got really worse in March 2004 w/:
- The brand name change from Game Show Network to GSN
- Overplaying their promos into Annoyance-ville, especially during the closing credits, and speaking of them....
- They crunched the closing credits to the point where you can't see them anymore and it got even worser there in Summer 2005 when they would only play 30 seconds of the closing credits (in Crunched Mode) and cut to the next show without them even getting a chance to finish.
- They brought in those horrific Reality Shows and Poker Shows that had no business on the network. Luckily, they ditched the reality shows after awhile, but those lame Poker Shows are still there! BOOOOO!

At least once Rich Cronin left GSN in 2007, some of GSN became a part of the old Game Show Network again...but still:
- There are annoying credit crunches
- And them overkilling people's ears and eyes with their promos
- And they still sometimes speed-up the shows on Alvin Speed.
- And too many acquisitions of Modern Game Shows, instead of classics.

02-05-2009, 05:03 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,548	Once Great Cable Channels That Have Gone Downhill *AMC post 2001, when they started becoming more of a "general movies" channel (hell, they once played "Catwoman" for Christ's sake) instead of a classic film channel. It was also around this period, that they became an advertiser-supported network (which as result, meant that the movies had to be edited for objectionable content). *BET some time after Viacom took over *Cartoon Network whenever they started showing live-action stuff *Disney Channel post 2002, when they stopped being a general audience channel (hence, the elimination of "Vault Disney") in favor of tween fare (which also came at the expense of animation) *ESPN sometime after Disney took over *ESPN Classic post 2004, when it became awfully apparent that they weren't trying anymore G4 shortly after Neal Tiles became the president of the network MTV post 1997 *Nickelodeon post 1999 *TV Land whenever they started showing current reality shows (e.g. "Extreme Makeover") and movies (when the channel should be devoted to classic TV programming) *VH1 post 2001 (when they started relying too much on pop culture nostalgia like "Best Week Ever" and the "I Love the..." series and crummy reality shows)

02-05-2009, 08:53 AM	#2
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Disney Channel and Nickelodeon aren't bad, just because you grew up and are no longer their demographic does not mean they now suck. Stop wearing the nostalgia goggles.
	__________________ "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...

02-05-2009, 10:57 AM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	TVLand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

02-06-2009, 10:31 AM	#9
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,229	The Family Channel When it became Fox Family. Toon Disney When it eliminated all the 80's cartoons. Boomerang When it played 90's cartoons. What SHOULD happen... The Disney Channel should make a Classic Channel like Boomerang. Boomerang should keep their old shows and CN should make a Cartoon Cartoons Channel. TV Land should make a Retro Station. VH1 and MTV should make a video station. Nickelodeon should get on the ball and launch NickRewind. TV **ed with our shows...they should NEVER ** with our stations!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

02-06-2009, 12:37 PM	#10
Doodyville10019 Meet my new friend Sparkie! Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 08, 2008 Location: Competition Square, located in Doodyville Park Posts: 877	I agree - MTV should just go back to being a strictly music video channel - PERIOD (or at least revamp TRL). Same with VH1. They should have a separate channel dedicated to just their reality shows (like Fox Reality).
	__________________ Hi! Hey! Hello again, here we go again!

02-05-2009, 10:20 AM	#3
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	The Disney Channel original movies used to be really good. Another cable channel that has gone downhill is CMT which is owned my MTV.

02-05-2009, 11:05 AM	#5
brownie87 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 250	TV Land, because it went from showing great classic TV shows to showing nothing but crappy reality shows, movies, "Scrubs", '90s shows and the only "classic" shows they show are shows from the '50s. GET A CLUE, TV LAND!!!!!

02-06-2009, 12:43 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I agree with all of them. BOOOOO!!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-06-2009, 01:08 PM	#13
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	*BET some time after Viacom took over I have to admit I have never been a fan of this channel. My buddy says BET stands for "you bet your ass I aint watching this". I'm inclined to agree with him.

02-06-2009, 05:38 PM	#14
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,134	I nominate all of them.

02-07-2009, 12:19 PM	#15
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,359	In one way or another, cable channels are eventually gonna sell out and down Crapper Avenue. But here's some others in my list you could mention: GSN (formerly known as Game Show Network) - When they started picking up all those Million Dollar Game Shows, starting w/ Millionaire in 2002. But that's step one of its evolution into the Crapper Zone. It got really worse in March 2004 w/: - The brand name change from Game Show Network to GSN - Overplaying their promos into Annoyance-ville, especially during the closing credits, and speaking of them.... - They crunched the closing credits to the point where you can't see them anymore and it got even worser there in Summer 2005 when they would only play 30 seconds of the closing credits (in Crunched Mode) and cut to the next show without them even getting a chance to finish. - They brought in those horrific Reality Shows and Poker Shows that had no business on the network. Luckily, they ditched the reality shows after awhile, but those lame Poker Shows are still there! BOOOOO! At least once Rich Cronin left GSN in 2007, some of GSN became a part of the old Game Show Network again...but still: - There are annoying credit crunches - And them overkilling people's ears and eyes with their promos - And they still sometimes speed-up the shows on Alvin Speed. - And too many acquisitions of Modern Game Shows, instead of classics.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!