Shows That Changed from Their Title - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 06-07-2009, 10:10 AM

This is a thread about shows where they evolve (or devolve) away from their original title. They keep the title, but it doesn't seem to make sense why they kept the title. For example...

Chico and the Man - In it's fourth season, Chico was gone (Freddie Prinze died). And even though Ed once or twice referred to his replacement Raul as "Chico", that seemed to only be so they wouldn't have to change the title. The last season was more like "The Man".

Boy Meets World - By the end of the show, Cory was a man (or a man-child by the way he acted, lol). One could argue that he was still young enough to be considered a boy, but it's just that when the show started he was 12 (I believe) and the last couple seasons he was in college. So whole different show, really.

Welcome Back, Kotter - In the final season, Kotter was only in about 6 or 7 episodes. It's hardly Welcome Back, Kotter and more like Where Are You, Kotter?

S Club 7 - In the final season, Paul left the group making it six members. Yet, it was still S Club 7.

8 Simple Rules - After Paul died, there didn't seem to be any "simple rules" about anything. At that point, it had nothing to do with the book it was based on.

Jude The Obscure · 06-07-2009, 11:22 AM

Well My Three Sons is a misnomer as Steve Douglas ended up with 4 sons total (adopting Ernie--yea, Mike got married and left, but that is beside the point), plus ended up with a stepdaughter in the last couple of seasons.

Retro4Life · 06-07-2009, 12:07 PM

Another example is the British Sci Fi show, "Blakes7". There never really WERE "7" people in that group; you had to count the computers to make "7".

And after Season Two, Blake left the series, yet it was still called "Blakes7" right up until the end!

TripperFan · 06-07-2009, 12:22 PM

The obvious one to me was the sitcom "Valerie" with Valerie Harper. 'Course once she got canned they could hardly call the show her name anymore so they ended up with The Hogan Family.

Mr. Television · 06-07-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

The obvious one to me was the sitcom "Valerie" with Valerie Harper. 'Course once she got canned they could hardly call the show her name anymore so they ended up with The Hogan Family.

I remember they actually called the show Valerie's Family for one year before they changed it to The Hogan's.

TripperFan · 06-07-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

I remember they actually called the show Valerie's Family for one year before they changed it to The Hogan's.

THAT was it! Thanks Sonny - I didn't think it looked right just as "Valerie"!!

Thx Bud!

Mr. Television · 06-07-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

THAT was it! Thanks Sonny - I didn't think it looked right just as "Valerie"!!

Thx Bud!

You're welcome.

Actually the series came on the air as Valerie. Then when Valerie Harper was fired, they changed the name to Valeries Family. I remember on the theme song it said Valerie's Family: The Hogans. Then finally it became The Hogan Family. All of that because they lost the star.

factsoflife · 06-07-2009, 02:09 PM

Well, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch was one that didn't make sense by the last two seasons---i mean by the time the show ended Sabrina had graduated college and wasn't a teenager anymore so to call the show "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" made little sense. espeically since the actress playing her was well into her early 30's by the end of the series.

another one i think of is Empty Nest--- the title is supposed be about a guy whose family is gone and yet both daughters lived in the house with him, so how was his house an empty nest?

browneyes106 · 06-07-2009, 04:17 PM

During the first season of 8 Simple Rules most of my friends and I were huge fans of the show. Often we used to discuss how the show would keep the title after a few years. We thought maybe there would be a focus on Rory after the girls got out of high school. But after John Ritter's death the show changed a lot and Cate wasn't extremely strict with the kids.

dakert · 06-07-2009, 09:57 PM

Adam--I remember when Freddie Prinze died

and I wondered how they could keep going on with the show. The powers that be came up with the thought that since Chico means "boy" in spanish

they could use almost anyone to replace Freddie

comedyfreak · 06-07-2009, 11:32 PM

The show Making A Living came out in 1980 and lasted one season. The show came back in syndication from 85-89 as It's A Living.

After Sanford and Son ended, the show changed to The Sanford Arms and had a new family living in the Sanford house. The show still had Aunt Esther, Bubba, and the original theme.

In 1980 Redd Foxx was back as Fred Sanford, the show was called Sanford and was without Lamont.

andress_jade · 06-07-2009, 11:47 PM

I have a couple of examples.

Family Matters-During the first season of the show it focus on the Winslow family and what they went through and how they dealt with it. After season two it became the Urkel Show and mainly focused on Steve Urkel. It definitely should have stayed the way it was in the first season or changed the name to the Urkel Show.

7th Heaven-During the early seasons the show focused on the 7 Camden family members. The parents and the kids. In later years the mother got pregnant and had twins and yet they kept the name 7th Heaven. They should have changed the name or not had the mom get pregnant and have twins. There were no longer just 7 people in the house anymore, there was now 9. 9th Heaven would have sounded stupid but it wasn't 7th Heaven anymore either.

Happy Days-This show should have been changed to The Fonzie show after Richie left. After he left, it only focused on him. Happy Days just didn't fit anymore, the name made no sense after that.

megamanj2004 · 06-08-2009, 12:16 AM

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Around 1988 (S6), this show's title changed at least twice. 1st it was called simply "The Chipmunks" and by 1990 (S8), it was renamed: "The Chipmunks Go to the Movies," where every episode was a spoof of past movies.

The Real Ghostbusters (The 1980s Cartoon Series) - During 1988 (I think), the show was re-christened as "Slimer: And the Real Ghostbusters"

Good Times - When John Amos left, the show became The J.J. Show or "All About J.J." b/c most of the later episodes, espeically the ones minus John Amos became more focused on J.J.

All in the Family - When Gloria and Meathead left, it became more of the Archie and Edith show (w/ out Gloria and Meathead, instead of All in the Family), which ironically is what the 1st season of "Archie Bunker's Place" was somewhat. But when Jean Stapleton left "Archie Bunker's Place," it became more like "Just Archie Bunker."

Jude The Obscure · 06-08-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

The show Making A Living came out in 1980 and lasted one season. The show came back in syndication from 85-89 as It's A Living.

Actually--it started as It's a Living. When ABC brought it back for a second season, they retitled it, Making a Living. When the now canceled series was revived, it was under the It's a Living moniker and all the Making a Living episodes were retitled in syndicated reruns.

Schmoopie · 06-08-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andress_jade

7th Heaven-During the early seasons the show focused on the 7 Camden family members. The parents and the kids.

That's interesting. I didn't realize that "7th Heaven" was called that because of the 7 family members!

06-07-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,820	Shows That Changed from Their Title This is a thread about shows where they evolve (or devolve) away from their original title. They keep the title, but it doesn't seem to make sense why they kept the title. For example... Chico and the Man - In it's fourth season, Chico was gone (Freddie Prinze died). And even though Ed once or twice referred to his replacement Raul as "Chico", that seemed to only be so they wouldn't have to change the title. The last season was more like "The Man". Boy Meets World - By the end of the show, Cory was a man (or a man-child by the way he acted, lol). One could argue that he was still young enough to be considered a boy, but it's just that when the show started he was 12 (I believe) and the last couple seasons he was in college. So whole different show, really. Welcome Back, Kotter - In the final season, Kotter was only in about 6 or 7 episodes. It's hardly Welcome Back, Kotter and more like Where Are You, Kotter? S Club 7 - In the final season, Paul left the group making it six members. Yet, it was still S Club 7. 8 Simple Rules - After Paul died, there didn't seem to be any "simple rules" about anything. At that point, it had nothing to do with the book it was based on.

06-07-2009, 12:22 PM	#4
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,087	The obvious one to me was the sitcom "Valerie" with Valerie Harper. 'Course once she got canned they could hardly call the show her name anymore so they ended up with The Hogan Family.
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06-07-2009, 02:09 PM	#8
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	Well, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch was one that didn't make sense by the last two seasons---i mean by the time the show ended Sabrina had graduated college and wasn't a teenager anymore so to call the show "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" made little sense. espeically since the actress playing her was well into her early 30's by the end of the series. another one i think of is Empty Nest--- the title is supposed be about a guy whose family is gone and yet both daughters lived in the house with him, so how was his house an empty nest?
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06-07-2009, 11:32 PM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	The show Making A Living came out in 1980 and lasted one season. The show came back in syndication from 85-89 as It's A Living. After Sanford and Son ended, the show changed to The Sanford Arms and had a new family living in the Sanford house. The show still had Aunt Esther, Bubba, and the original theme. In 1980 Redd Foxx was back as Fred Sanford, the show was called Sanford and was without Lamont.
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06-07-2009, 11:47 PM	#12
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	I have a couple of examples. Family Matters-During the first season of the show it focus on the Winslow family and what they went through and how they dealt with it. After season two it became the Urkel Show and mainly focused on Steve Urkel. It definitely should have stayed the way it was in the first season or changed the name to the Urkel Show. 7th Heaven-During the early seasons the show focused on the 7 Camden family members. The parents and the kids. In later years the mother got pregnant and had twins and yet they kept the name 7th Heaven. They should have changed the name or not had the mom get pregnant and have twins. There were no longer just 7 people in the house anymore, there was now 9. 9th Heaven would have sounded stupid but it wasn't 7th Heaven anymore either. Happy Days-This show should have been changed to The Fonzie show after Richie left. After he left, it only focused on him. Happy Days just didn't fit anymore, the name made no sense after that.
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06-07-2009, 11:22 AM	#2
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Well My Three Sons is a misnomer as Steve Douglas ended up with 4 sons total (adopting Ernie--yea, Mike got married and left, but that is beside the point), plus ended up with a stepdaughter in the last couple of seasons.

06-07-2009, 12:07 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Another example is the British Sci Fi show, "Blakes7". There never really WERE "7" people in that group; you had to count the computers to make "7". And after Season Two, Blake left the series, yet it was still called "Blakes7" right up until the end!

06-07-2009, 04:17 PM	#9
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	During the first season of 8 Simple Rules most of my friends and I were huge fans of the show. Often we used to discuss how the show would keep the title after a few years. We thought maybe there would be a focus on Rory after the girls got out of high school. But after John Ritter's death the show changed a lot and Cate wasn't extremely strict with the kids.

06-07-2009, 09:57 PM	#10
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Adam--I remember when Freddie Prinze died and I wondered how they could keep going on with the show. The powers that be came up with the thought that since Chico means "boy" in spanish they could use almost anyone to replace Freddie

06-08-2009, 12:16 AM	#13
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,357	Alvin and the Chipmunks - Around 1988 (S6), this show's title changed at least twice. 1st it was called simply "The Chipmunks" and by 1990 (S8), it was renamed: "The Chipmunks Go to the Movies," where every episode was a spoof of past movies. The Real Ghostbusters (The 1980s Cartoon Series) - During 1988 (I think), the show was re-christened as "Slimer: And the Real Ghostbusters" Good Times - When John Amos left, the show became The J.J. Show or "All About J.J." b/c most of the later episodes, espeically the ones minus John Amos became more focused on J.J. All in the Family - When Gloria and Meathead left, it became more of the Archie and Edith show (w/ out Gloria and Meathead, instead of All in the Family), which ironically is what the 1st season of "Archie Bunker's Place" was somewhat. But when Jean Stapleton left "Archie Bunker's Place," it became more like "Just Archie Bunker."
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