Does Anybody Miss Those "On A Special Episode Of..." Sitcoms of the 70's & 80's? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-24-2010, 07:45 PM

I use to love those episodes growing up. There just aren't sitcoms like that anymore. The two parters that glued viewers to their sets. The sitcoms that dealt with sensitive subject matter. Anybody agree? Disagree?

Retro4Life · 05-24-2010, 08:15 PM

Yeah, I do.

I know it's popular to make fun of them, but I miss the days when sitcoms at least tried to do something serious. The overwhelming tone of almost every sitcom these days is irony and snark; the "Lettermanization" of network television.

I like snark in its place, but for real viewer investment, you need to inject some heart into a show. And nobody these days is doing it.

steevo · 05-24-2010, 09:24 PM

I liked watching them, as long as the producers remembered that they are sitcoms and didn't do it too often.

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 09:37 PM

YES!!!

DSfan · 05-26-2010, 12:24 AM

Diff'rent Strokes is a great example of that with the molester, hitchiking, and bank robbery episodes coming to mind.

James · 05-27-2010, 12:47 AM

No.

comedyfreak · 05-27-2010, 04:05 AM

I enjoyed them it was interesting how they dealt with problems. My favorite was All In The Family Edith's 50th Birthday when she was attacked, it was one of the best two parter of the series.

Heidi Dawn · 05-27-2010, 07:59 PM

The 'special' episodes were handled much better back in that era. 'Diff'rent Strokes', 'The Facts Of Life', and 'Gimme A Break' had some excellent special episodes.

DSfan · 05-28-2010, 03:57 PM

http://www.youtube.com/user/MisterSitcom

Guys, if you go there you can find many of the controversial Diff'rent Strokes episodes - click on miscellaneous (bulimia, bicycle man, and sam's kidnapping are all there!)

RIP Gary Coleman

Very sad news today

Vito · 06-10-2010, 08:22 PM

I hope I don't sound like an old grump, but I've always disliked sitcom episodes that deal with serious or sensitive subjects. I watch sitcoms because I want...comedy. If I'm in the mood for drama on TV (hardly ever, actually), I'll watch a TV drama. I definitely wouldn't be interested in finding out that Gilligan is super-skinny because he has an eating disorder, or that Mr. Howell sleeps with Teddy because he has mental health problems, and so on....

factsoflife · 06-10-2010, 08:56 PM

Yes, i loved those episodes. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and always loved when a sitcom would get serious. Soem of my favorite serious sitcom episodes included "Blossom", "Home Improvement", "The Facts Of Life" and "Full House". those were great and i miss sitcoms like these ones.

05-24-2010, 07:45 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Does Anybody Miss Those "On A Special Episode Of..." Sitcoms of the 70's & 80's? I use to love those episodes growing up. There just aren't sitcoms like that anymore. The two parters that glued viewers to their sets. The sitcoms that dealt with sensitive subject matter. Anybody agree? Disagree?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

05-24-2010, 08:15 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Yeah, I do. I know it's popular to make fun of them, but I miss the days when sitcoms at least tried to do something serious. The overwhelming tone of almost every sitcom these days is irony and snark; the "Lettermanization" of network television. I like snark in its place, but for real viewer investment, you need to inject some heart into a show. And nobody these days is doing it.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-24-2010, 09:24 PM	#3
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,476	I liked watching them, as long as the producers remembered that they are sitcoms and didn't do it too often.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

05-24-2010, 09:37 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	YES!!!
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05-27-2010, 04:05 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I enjoyed them it was interesting how they dealt with problems. My favorite was All In The Family Edith's 50th Birthday when she was attacked, it was one of the best two parter of the series.
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05-26-2010, 12:24 AM	#5
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	Diff'rent Strokes is a great example of that with the molester, hitchiking, and bank robbery episodes coming to mind.

05-27-2010, 12:47 AM	#6
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	No.

05-27-2010, 07:59 PM	#8
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	The 'special' episodes were handled much better back in that era. 'Diff'rent Strokes', 'The Facts Of Life', and 'Gimme A Break' had some excellent special episodes.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

05-28-2010, 03:57 PM	#9
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	http://www.youtube.com/user/MisterSitcom Guys, if you go there you can find many of the controversial Diff'rent Strokes episodes - click on miscellaneous (bulimia, bicycle man, and sam's kidnapping are all there!) RIP Gary Coleman Very sad news today

06-10-2010, 08:22 PM	#10
Vito Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: California Posts: 635	I hope I don't sound like an old grump, but I've always disliked sitcom episodes that deal with serious or sensitive subjects. I watch sitcoms because I want...comedy. If I'm in the mood for drama on TV (hardly ever, actually), I'll watch a TV drama. I definitely wouldn't be interested in finding out that Gilligan is super-skinny because he has an eating disorder, or that Mr. Howell sleeps with Teddy because he has mental health problems, and so on....

06-10-2010, 08:56 PM	#11
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	Yes, i loved those episodes. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and always loved when a sitcom would get serious. Soem of my favorite serious sitcom episodes included "Blossom", "Home Improvement", "The Facts Of Life" and "Full House". those were great and i miss sitcoms like these ones.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.