USA Network - When It Began Vs. Now - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jasonbigley · 01-15-2011, 12:26 PM

How do you think USA Network has changed over the years?

I remember as a little tyke, they had all the game shows. They even had the cartoons. They had the short lived sitcoms weekday mornings. They even used to air the Problem Child movies. But now, all it seems like they air is Law and Order and that NCIS.

SpenceOlchin · 01-15-2011, 01:04 PM

USA shows a lot more contemporary shows and movies than they did in the past, but their format does work really well for them. I believe they're always in the top 5 cable networks for the week. I mostly only check it out for WWE Monday Night RAW. I remember the promotions for originals like Le Femme Nikita, but never watched it. I do remember watching the Problem Child Movies, but unfortunately I don't see them on anymore.

I loved some of the old promotions they used to have:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzCdsmXQUIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0wI9zx0EHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L_woT3j0WE

icecream · 01-15-2011, 01:07 PM

USA is my favorite network for original series. I love White Collar, Psych, and Covert Affairs. I'll also be trying out Fairly Legal next week.

AKA · 01-15-2011, 01:48 PM

I think USA is one network that has changed for the better. Yes, the cartoons, game shows and short-lived sitcoms are gone, but in their place is higher-brow programming than what they used to show. I'd take Monk and Psych over reruns of Press Your Luck or Double Trouble any day of the week.

USA Network also used to show edited softcore porn movies (not kidding). Now they're getting first-run basic cable rights to thinks like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I say good on them! They're a much better network than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

Mr. Television · 01-15-2011, 03:47 PM

I love their original programs but I wish they would have kept the old programs that they had too. And yes I did used to watch USA Up All Night . lol

MickeyMac · 01-15-2011, 06:46 PM

Its been so long since I've seen the USA Network I couldnt say.

SpenceOlchin · 01-15-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I love their original programs but I wish they would have kept the old programs that they had too. And yes I did used to watch USA Up All Night . lol

Oh yes, Up All Night, how could anyone forget that? Thank god for Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hyhYiAzpv0

I believe Rhonda Shear now sells products on HSN.

tvfreak1987 · 01-15-2011, 08:36 PM

While I do miss the USA of the 90's, what USA is doing today works really well for them as they are one of the most watched cable networks. IMO it's kind of a toss-up. But I'll admit I watched it a lot more back then then I do now. Outside of White Collar and maybe Psych, all I really watch on USA these days are Wings reruns, which pretty much airs whenever the hell they feel like it.

jimpickens · 01-15-2011, 09:11 PM

I miss Night Fight Commander USA the weekend creature features and obscure exploitation movies they use to show allot better than the constant barrage of Law and Order and NCIS that you get seven days a week.

Rezny@gmail.com · 01-15-2011, 09:39 PM

I miss the days when USA used to air in the late 1980's,CBS/NBC's 1962-1965 Universal TV drama series "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour".

clj2 · 01-15-2011, 10:07 PM

USA has the best original series on cable. I would never want them to go back in time.

TKMetal · 01-16-2011, 03:04 AM

Of course I prefer the old pre-2000's USA for the variety but there is no denying the success of the current format of almost nothing but NCIS and Law and Order reruns. People love to watch the same thing over and over and over everyday.

70s show watcher · 01-16-2011, 03:45 AM

i miss the old days when they had reruns of shows like the gong show and make me laugh but unlike some cable networks the changing with the times seemes to work for them one old show that i did enjoy was night flight anyone else here remember it?

Retro4Life · 01-16-2011, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i miss the old days when they had reruns of shows like the gong show and make me laugh but unlike some cable networks the changing with the times seemes to work for them one old show that i did enjoy was night flight anyone else here remember it?

You BET I remember Night Flight. It was one of the most original, offbeat, eclectic and consistently entertaining shows I've ever seen. It was a great mix of concert footage, videos, old public service announcements, animation, and cult films, plus the wonderful voice of Pat Prescott presiding over it all.

I also miss Commander USA and Up All Night. Those were truly the days, my friend.

Dr. Thong · 01-16-2011, 11:06 AM

I used to love USA's Night Flight in the early '80s -- an eclectic mixture of music videos, concerts and obscure short films and cartoons.

Later, I used to watch their music news show -- Radio 1990.

In 1983, they aired a prime-time KISS special with an interview with the band when their popularity was at an all-time low. What other cable network would do such a thing...?

01-15-2011, 12:26 PM	#1
jasonbigley Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2008 Location: California Posts: 501	USA Network - When It Began Vs. Now How do you think USA Network has changed over the years? I remember as a little tyke, they had all the game shows. They even had the cartoons. They had the short lived sitcoms weekday mornings. They even used to air the Problem Child movies. But now, all it seems like they air is Law and Order and that NCIS.

01-15-2011, 01:07 PM	#3
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,606	USA is my favorite network for original series. I love White Collar, Psych, and Covert Affairs. I'll also be trying out Fairly Legal next week.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

01-15-2011, 03:47 PM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I love their original programs but I wish they would have kept the old programs that they had too. And yes I did used to watch USA Up All Night . lol
	__________________ Sonny

01-15-2011, 10:07 PM	#11
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	USA has the best original series on cable. I would never want them to go back in time.
	__________________ -Chris

01-16-2011, 11:06 AM	#15
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	I used to love USA's Night Flight in the early '80s -- an eclectic mixture of music videos, concerts and obscure short films and cartoons. Later, I used to watch their music news show -- Radio 1990. In 1983, they aired a prime-time KISS special with an interview with the band when their popularity was at an all-time low. What other cable network would do such a thing...?
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

01-15-2011, 01:04 PM	#2
SpenceOlchin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 562	USA shows a lot more contemporary shows and movies than they did in the past, but their format does work really well for them. I believe they're always in the top 5 cable networks for the week. I mostly only check it out for WWE Monday Night RAW. I remember the promotions for originals like Le Femme Nikita, but never watched it. I do remember watching the Problem Child Movies, but unfortunately I don't see them on anymore. I loved some of the old promotions they used to have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzCdsmXQUIA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0wI9zx0EHE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L_woT3j0WE

01-15-2011, 01:48 PM	#4
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	I think USA is one network that has changed for the better. Yes, the cartoons, game shows and short-lived sitcoms are gone, but in their place is higher-brow programming than what they used to show. I'd take Monk and Psych over reruns of Press Your Luck or Double Trouble any day of the week. USA Network also used to show edited softcore porn movies (not kidding). Now they're getting first-run basic cable rights to thinks like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I say good on them! They're a much better network than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

01-15-2011, 06:46 PM	#6
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Its been so long since I've seen the USA Network I couldnt say.

01-15-2011, 08:36 PM	#8
tvfreak1987 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 10, 2009 Location: Jackson, MI Posts: 580	While I do miss the USA of the 90's, what USA is doing today works really well for them as they are one of the most watched cable networks. IMO it's kind of a toss-up. But I'll admit I watched it a lot more back then then I do now. Outside of White Collar and maybe Psych, all I really watch on USA these days are Wings reruns, which pretty much airs whenever the hell they feel like it.

01-15-2011, 09:11 PM	#9
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	I miss Night Fight Commander USA the weekend creature features and obscure exploitation movies they use to show allot better than the constant barrage of Law and Order and NCIS that you get seven days a week.

01-15-2011, 09:39 PM	#10
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	I miss the days when USA used to air in the late 1980's,CBS/NBC's 1962-1965 Universal TV drama series "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour".

01-16-2011, 03:04 AM	#12
TKMetal Millennial Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 12, 2006 Posts: 280	Of course I prefer the old pre-2000's USA for the variety but there is no denying the success of the current format of almost nothing but NCIS and Law and Order reruns. People love to watch the same thing over and over and over everyday.

01-16-2011, 03:45 AM	#13
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,548	i miss the old days when they had reruns of shows like the gong show and make me laugh but unlike some cable networks the changing with the times seemes to work for them one old show that i did enjoy was night flight anyone else here remember it?