Classic shows that wouldn't make it if they aired today - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FanofRetroTV · 05-19-2009, 02:40 PM

Hi, I think this is an interesting question: what classic shows would not be given the chance to become a classic in today's tv? With the fast turn around of shows today, once you get use to one it gets caned. Some pretty good shows only last four to six years today. But that's off topic. I'm asking for shows of yesteryear that hit it big, but today would not be able to last today.

I'll start:

Cheers; it's first year finished next to last in the ratings. If it wasn't for the move to after the Cosby Show, Cheers might not have been a hit.

MASH; it took nearly three years for fans to find and love this show.

the Mary Tyler Moore show; I believe the piolt still holds the record for lowest test score. It would probably not get picked up today

The Dick Van Dyke show; CBS cancaled it after one year, cigerattes saved it

I love all these shows but I don't think they would be on if they tryed them today. Anyone have other shows that would not air today.

tvparadise · 05-19-2009, 03:24 PM

Seinfeld- very low ratings first couple of years, if it came out today (like Cheers) a network would ax it because it wasn't an immediate success.

Leave it to Beaver/The Brady Bunch- while not complete disasters in the ratings, they were never the hits during their original runs that they have been in syndication.

Chocoholic · 05-19-2009, 03:27 PM

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

FanofRetroTV · 05-19-2009, 03:36 PM

If you think that way, even All in the Family would not air today

browneyes106 · 05-19-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

I agree with you on that.

MickeyMac · 05-19-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

I couldnt agree more. Times have changes

Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

tv star collector · 05-19-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I couldnt agree more. Times have changes

Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

Not to mention Amos 'n' Andy.

Jude The Obscure · 05-19-2009, 09:23 PM

I Love Lucy! When was the last time a woman was allowed to be zany and the husband, the straight man? Maybe the Nanny comes close......but this concept would not fly today.

Retro4Life · 05-19-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I couldnt agree more. Times have changes

Also now way would All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons would have a chance today. America has become way too politically correct for those kind of shows.

Totally, totally correct, and utterly depressing as well. I don't see much hope of ever returning to television that wasn't afraid to take chances, that was written by true craftsmen who's inspiration is LIFE not OTHER television shows.

Everything is geared so cynically to certain demographics and the studios are so cautious with their time and money they end up making only mildly entertaining shows (at best). I'm glad I found a site like this that caters to my need for nostalgia and my appreciation of classic shows.

I don't want to "live in the past" but when the present is so tepid and shallow, what other choice is there?

dawsongirl · 05-19-2009, 10:23 PM

Anything with any taste? lol Or anything where the wife was stupid and the husband was smart. Or the wife was a fat, slovenly woman married to a skinny hottie guy. Not sure if there were any shows like that, but they wouldn't succeed today for sure.

Tubehead · 05-19-2009, 11:32 PM

the hooney mooners
i love lucy
thehulk
fAMILY TIES
SANFORD AND SON
Perfect strangers
mamm's family
wleocme back,kottoer
the brandy bunch
the munsters
my favorite martian
i dream of jennie
bewithced

once i think might make it are today:
family ties
i love lucy
sanford and son
Perfect strangers
mamma's family

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-20-2009, 03:40 PM

Maude

Jude The Obscure · 05-20-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Anything with any taste? lol Or anything where the wife was stupid and the husband was smart. Or the wife was a fat, slovenly woman married to a skinny hottie guy. Not sure if there were any shows like that, but they wouldn't succeed today for sure.

the closest that concept came to being was What About Joan?--where Joan Cusack was involved with Kyle Chandler. Joan wasn't fat but she also wasn't a knockout type like Patricia Heaton, Leah Remini or Jami Gertz.

dawsongirl · 05-21-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

the closest that concept came to being was What About Joan?--where Joan Cusack was involved with Kyle Chandler. Joan wasn't fat but she also wasn't a knockout type like Patricia Heaton, Leah Remini or Jami Gertz.

Apparently then that concept would never work no matter when it aired!

TMC · 05-21-2009, 03:49 PM

I strongly believe that something like I Dream of Jeannie wouldn't fly today primarily because the entire concept of a beautiful woman like Barbara Eden being subservient to a man would immediately be deemed as sexiest.

05-19-2009, 02:40 PM	#1
FanofRetroTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 292	Classic shows that wouldn't make it if they aired today Hi, I think this is an interesting question: what classic shows would not be given the chance to become a classic in today's tv? With the fast turn around of shows today, once you get use to one it gets caned. Some pretty good shows only last four to six years today. But that's off topic. I'm asking for shows of yesteryear that hit it big, but today would not be able to last today. I'll start: Cheers; it's first year finished next to last in the ratings. If it wasn't for the move to after the Cosby Show, Cheers might not have been a hit. MASH; it took nearly three years for fans to find and love this show. the Mary Tyler Moore show; I believe the piolt still holds the record for lowest test score. It would probably not get picked up today The Dick Van Dyke show; CBS cancaled it after one year, cigerattes saved it I love all these shows but I don't think they would be on if they tryed them today. Anyone have other shows that would not air today.

05-20-2009, 03:40 PM	#12
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Maude
	__________________ Who Dat

05-19-2009, 03:24 PM	#2
tvparadise Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 299	Seinfeld- very low ratings first couple of years, if it came out today (like Cheers) a network would ax it because it wasn't an immediate success. Leave it to Beaver/The Brady Bunch- while not complete disasters in the ratings, they were never the hits during their original runs that they have been in syndication.

05-19-2009, 03:27 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I don't think any of the wholesome, functional family sitcoms would last long today.

05-19-2009, 03:36 PM	#4
FanofRetroTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 292	If you think that way, even All in the Family would not air today

05-19-2009, 09:23 PM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I Love Lucy! When was the last time a woman was allowed to be zany and the husband, the straight man? Maybe the Nanny comes close......but this concept would not fly today.

05-19-2009, 10:23 PM	#10
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	Anything with any taste? lol Or anything where the wife was stupid and the husband was smart. Or the wife was a fat, slovenly woman married to a skinny hottie guy. Not sure if there were any shows like that, but they wouldn't succeed today for sure.

05-19-2009, 11:32 PM	#11
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	the hooney mooners i love lucy thehulk fAMILY TIES SANFORD AND SON Perfect strangers mamm's family wleocme back,kottoer the brandy bunch the munsters my favorite martian i dream of jennie bewithced once i think might make it are today: family ties i love lucy sanford and son Perfect strangers mamma's family

05-21-2009, 03:49 PM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,028	I strongly believe that something like I Dream of Jeannie wouldn't fly today primarily because the entire concept of a beautiful woman like Barbara Eden being subservient to a man would immediately be deemed as sexiest.