Was 'WKRP in Cincinnati' The LAST of The Great Sitcoms 1970's Golden Age??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-03-2010, 09:55 AM

http://www.cosmoetica.com/B874-DES691.htm

According to this article it was, after 'WKRP' debuted in 1978, a whole lot of sitcoms came and went, none of which had strong characters or ensembles. It was the end of an era...Agree? Disagree?

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 03:27 PM

That and Taxi - both debuted in 1978.

MickeyMac · 09-03-2010, 04:36 PM

WKRP IN Cincinnati was the last great sitcom period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Retro4Life · 09-03-2010, 05:55 PM

Yep, Taxi and WKRP were the end of that era. And, I'd argue, the best comedy era, period.

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 08:31 PM

The 70s were by far the best decade as far as sitcoms go, in my opinion.

Retro4Life · 09-03-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The 70s were by far the best decade as far as sitcoms go, in my opinion.

Excelsior!

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

http://www.cosmoetica.com/B874-DES691.htm

According to this article it was, after 'WKRP' debuted in 1978, a whole lot of sitcoms came and went, none of which had strong characters or ensembles. It was the end of an era...Agree? Disagree?

Well, Cheers was a great ensemble comedy in the 80s, along the same lines of those classic 70s sitcoms. Plus Newhart, Golden Girls and Night Court - I think those are the only ones that come close.

Mr. Television · 09-03-2010, 09:02 PM

IMO the great sitcom era ended in 1992 when WTB, GP, GG, Cosby and Night Court ended. Two years later the Friends era became and it spelled the death of the sitcom with all those Friends imitations. There were plenty of great sitcoms in the 80's so I don't agree with that article although I do think the 70's were the best decade for sitcoms. I can't think of one that I didn't like.

MickeyMac · 09-04-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The 70s were by far the best decade as far as sitcoms go, in my opinion.

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. The 60's were the best decade for sitcoms in my book (and for TV shows in general except for the rural shows). After that the 50's.

The 70's is too hit or miss for my tastes.

Marvo301 · 09-04-2010, 02:18 PM

After WKRP and Taxi sitcoms definitely took a drop in both quality and quantity and in fact there was a lot of talk about sitcoms being a dying art form. That was until the Cosby Show came along and revitalized the sitcom genre and ushered in the era of the Family Sitcom. (Family Ties, Growing Pains, Gimme A Break, Full House etc.)

Retro4Life · 09-04-2010, 02:57 PM

Interesting question: Can anyone think of a sitcom that premiered between 1979 and 1981 ( 1982 being the year that Cosby and Family Ties premiered) that lasted more than three seasons and/or will be considered a "classic" show? I'm having trouble myself. "Gimme a Break" was in that period, and I guess it might qualify though it wasn't one of my favorites.

I guess the overall point is that there are few if any shows that fall into this category from that era and it's interesting that there's that three year period where sitcoms kind of fell into a black hole until NBC rescued them with Family Ties and Cosby. Part of it was obviously due to the appeal of the show and part of it was probably just because people were ready to get into sitcoms again.

catlover79 · 09-04-2010, 09:54 PM

For that, we can all be grateful to the late, great Brandon Tartikoff.

To answer your question, the only one I can think of is Facts of Life. While it may not be a critical darling, it lasted 9 years and is still loved by very loyal fans.

Mr. Television · 09-04-2010, 10:09 PM

Benson came on in 1979 and that lasted 7 years. Too Close for Comfort came on in 1980 and lasted until Ted Knight's death in 1986 although it went over to first run syndication.

There were some short lived shows that aired during those years that I liked like Bosom Buddies and Best of the West. A lot of the hits of the 70's were still popular in the early 80's and it wasn't until 1983 that people started to think the sitcom might be dead. A year later The Cosby Show came on and sitcoms were popular again.

anglemark10 · 09-04-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Interesting question: Can anyone think of a sitcom that premiered between 1979 and 1981 ( 1982 being the year that Cosby and Family Ties premiered) that lasted more than three seasons and/or will be considered a "classic" show?

Archie Bunker's Place technically fits that description (debuted in 1979 and lasted four seasons).

TMC · 09-26-2024, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

IMO the great sitcom era ended in 1992 when WTB, GP, GG, Cosby and Night Court ended. Two years later the Friends era became and it spelled the death of the sitcom with all those Friends imitations. There were plenty of great sitcoms in the 80's so I don't agree with that article although I do think the 70's were the best decade for sitcoms. I can't think of one that I didn't like.

This reminds me of something that I posted a long time ago:
How Friends ruined sitcoms in the '90s

And I posted this way back in 2004, when the series finale was airing:
The fallacies: 6 ways "Friends" hurt the sitcom

09-03-2010, 09:55 AM	#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	Was 'WKRP in Cincinnati' The LAST of The Great Sitcoms 1970's Golden Age??? http://www.cosmoetica.com/B874-DES691.htm According to this article it was, after 'WKRP' debuted in 1978, a whole lot of sitcoms came and went, none of which had strong characters or ensembles. It was the end of an era...Agree? Disagree? Attached Images
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09-03-2010, 03:27 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	That and Taxi - both debuted in 1978.
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09-03-2010, 05:55 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	Yep, Taxi and WKRP were the end of that era. And, I'd argue, the best comedy era, period.
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09-03-2010, 09:02 PM	#8
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	IMO the great sitcom era ended in 1992 when WTB, GP, GG, Cosby and Night Court ended. Two years later the Friends era became and it spelled the death of the sitcom with all those Friends imitations. There were plenty of great sitcoms in the 80's so I don't agree with that article although I do think the 70's were the best decade for sitcoms. I can't think of one that I didn't like.
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09-04-2010, 02:18 PM	#10
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	After WKRP and Taxi sitcoms definitely took a drop in both quality and quantity and in fact there was a lot of talk about sitcoms being a dying art form. That was until the Cosby Show came along and revitalized the sitcom genre and ushered in the era of the Family Sitcom. (Family Ties, Growing Pains, Gimme A Break, Full House etc.)
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09-03-2010, 04:36 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	WKRP IN Cincinnati was the last great sitcom period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

09-03-2010, 08:31 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	The 70s were by far the best decade as far as sitcoms go, in my opinion.

09-04-2010, 02:57 PM	#11
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	Interesting question: Can anyone think of a sitcom that premiered between 1979 and 1981 ( 1982 being the year that Cosby and Family Ties premiered) that lasted more than three seasons and/or will be considered a "classic" show? I'm having trouble myself. "Gimme a Break" was in that period, and I guess it might qualify though it wasn't one of my favorites. I guess the overall point is that there are few if any shows that fall into this category from that era and it's interesting that there's that three year period where sitcoms kind of fell into a black hole until NBC rescued them with Family Ties and Cosby. Part of it was obviously due to the appeal of the show and part of it was probably just because people were ready to get into sitcoms again.

09-04-2010, 09:54 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	For that, we can all be grateful to the late, great Brandon Tartikoff. To answer your question, the only one I can think of is Facts of Life. While it may not be a critical darling, it lasted 9 years and is still loved by very loyal fans.

09-04-2010, 10:09 PM	#13
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Benson came on in 1979 and that lasted 7 years. Too Close for Comfort came on in 1980 and lasted until Ted Knight's death in 1986 although it went over to first run syndication. There were some short lived shows that aired during those years that I liked like Bosom Buddies and Best of the West. A lot of the hits of the 70's were still popular in the early 80's and it wasn't until 1983 that people started to think the sitcom might be dead. A year later The Cosby Show came on and sitcoms were popular again.