1977 - On Our Own - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OOliver · 03-04-2009, 05:49 PM

Does anyone recall the one-season comedy "On Our Own" which starred Bess Armstrong, Lynnie Greene (who later appeared as 'young Dorothy' in "The Golden Girls" in the late 80s) and Dixie Carter? I think the two girls worked for Carter at a magazine publisher in Manhattan, but I don't recall for sure.

It woud air at 8:30 on Sunday eves, following "All In the Family". It did well in the ratings, but was cancelled anyhow.

Du Mont · 03-06-2009, 06:55 PM

I vaguely remember 'On Our Own' as a show set in Manhattan's advertising world, like 'Bosom Buddies'. It came on after 'Rhoda', which I watched pretty regularly - that was the season she became a costumer.

I looked up my old Nielsen files on it. It did indeed rate pretty good (beating out ABC's 'Six Million Dollar Man' and NBC's 'Wonderful World of Disney', but coming second whenever an NBC 'Big Event' aired).

'On Our Own' rated roughly the same as Rhoda, but CBS probably felt it wasn't building enough at the half-hour and at the end of the season they cancelled it. Rhoda a got 13-episode renewal (for yet another re-tooling), but was cancelled by December 1978.

While 7-10 pm time period remained stable all season long, CBS sure made a lot of changes to the 10-11 pm hour in the 1977-78 season, trying to find something that retained that big 'Alice' audience, and finally, at season-end, giving birth to the long-running 'Dallas' series:

7:00 pm 60 Minutes 24.0HH (6th)
8:00 pm Rhoda 20.1HH (27th)
8:30 pm On Our Own 19.6HH (29th)
9:00 pm All in the Family 24.3HH (4th)
9:30 pm Alice 23.2HH (8th)
10:00 pm Kojak 17.3HH (fall season only, then moved to Saturday and cancelled)
10:00 pm The Carol Burnett Show 17.9HH (winter season only, moved over from Saturday nights, and then moved to Wednesdays 8-9 pm in spring)
10:00 pm Dallas 18.4HH (debut miniseries, spring season only, and came back in the fall on Saturday nights)

Bob's TV Treasures · 03-07-2009, 05:32 PM

There are 3 or 4 episodes of that sitcom in circulation. I think
I have at least 3.
My site is www.bobobrien.tv/videos/

I saw an episode of that taped in NYC back in the 70's. Bess
Armstrong was the only one who came out to greet the audience
after the taping. Everyone else went into hiding.

bencasey · 03-20-2009, 03:31 AM

I have about half of them that I transfered not too long ago from some Beta masters. Okay show.

LETTERL · 07-13-2014, 05:05 PM

I remember "On Our Own". It was my introduction to Dixie Carter and both leads and I thought it was a great show. My Dad would watch football on CBS all afternoon on Sundays, then just leave the TV on CBS all evening. The series also had a catchy theme song.

I believe one factor in the decision not to renew was the fact the show was taped in New York, not California, and was a bit more expensive to produce than its contemporaries, which cut down on profits considering the ratings it was getting at the time.

I remember two episodes in particular -- one that took place in a doughnut shop, with both leads squirting each other with jelly, and one that took place at a nudist colony.

installLSC · 07-14-2014, 12:49 AM

Its cancellation probably came as a surprise to the cast. I read a 1978 TV Guide article about Bess Armstrong, and it stated "On Our Own" would be one of the few new shows guaranteed to be renewed.

03-04-2009, 05:49 PM	#1
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	1977 - On Our Own Does anyone recall the one-season comedy "On Our Own" which starred Bess Armstrong, Lynnie Greene (who later appeared as 'young Dorothy' in "The Golden Girls" in the late 80s) and Dixie Carter? I think the two girls worked for Carter at a magazine publisher in Manhattan, but I don't recall for sure. It woud air at 8:30 on Sunday eves, following "All In the Family". It did well in the ratings, but was cancelled anyhow.

03-06-2009, 06:55 PM	#2
Du Mont Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 331	'On Our Own', a well-rated one season wonder I vaguely remember 'On Our Own' as a show set in Manhattan's advertising world, like 'Bosom Buddies'. It came on after 'Rhoda', which I watched pretty regularly - that was the season she became a costumer. I looked up my old Nielsen files on it. It did indeed rate pretty good (beating out ABC's 'Six Million Dollar Man' and NBC's 'Wonderful World of Disney', but coming second whenever an NBC 'Big Event' aired). 'On Our Own' rated roughly the same as Rhoda, but CBS probably felt it wasn't building enough at the half-hour and at the end of the season they cancelled it. Rhoda a got 13-episode renewal (for yet another re-tooling), but was cancelled by December 1978. While 7-10 pm time period remained stable all season long, CBS sure made a lot of changes to the 10-11 pm hour in the 1977-78 season, trying to find something that retained that big 'Alice' audience, and finally, at season-end, giving birth to the long-running 'Dallas' series: 7:00 pm 60 Minutes 24.0HH (6th) 8:00 pm Rhoda 20.1HH (27th) 8:30 pm On Our Own 19.6HH (29th) 9:00 pm All in the Family 24.3HH (4th) 9:30 pm Alice 23.2HH (8th) 10:00 pm Kojak 17.3HH (fall season only, then moved to Saturday and cancelled) 10:00 pm The Carol Burnett Show 17.9HH (winter season only, moved over from Saturday nights, and then moved to Wednesdays 8-9 pm in spring) 10:00 pm Dallas 18.4HH (debut miniseries, spring season only, and came back in the fall on Saturday nights)

03-07-2009, 05:32 PM	#3
Bob's TV Treasures Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 12, 2004 Location: california Posts: 529	ON OUR OWN There are 3 or 4 episodes of that sitcom in circulation. I think I have at least 3. My site is www.bobobrien.tv/videos/ I saw an episode of that taped in NYC back in the 70's. Bess Armstrong was the only one who came out to greet the audience after the taping. Everyone else went into hiding.

03-20-2009, 03:31 AM	#4
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	I have about half of them that I transfered not too long ago from some Beta masters. Okay show.

07-13-2014, 05:05 PM	#5
LETTERL Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 11, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 83	I remember "On Our Own". It was my introduction to Dixie Carter and both leads and I thought it was a great show. My Dad would watch football on CBS all afternoon on Sundays, then just leave the TV on CBS all evening. The series also had a catchy theme song. I believe one factor in the decision not to renew was the fact the show was taped in New York, not California, and was a bit more expensive to produce than its contemporaries, which cut down on profits considering the ratings it was getting at the time. I remember two episodes in particular -- one that took place in a doughnut shop, with both leads squirting each other with jelly, and one that took place at a nudist colony.

07-14-2014, 12:49 AM	#6
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	Its cancellation probably came as a surprise to the cast. I read a 1978 TV Guide article about Bess Armstrong, and it stated "On Our Own" would be one of the few new shows guaranteed to be renewed.