ABC considers bringing TGIF block back

[TMC]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/abc-...family-sitcom/

ABC Picks Up Multicamera Family Sitcom
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

ABC has greenlighted another comedy pilot, Other People's Kids. The
project, from ABC Studios and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, was
written by Hunter Covington and centers on a 32-year-old guy with no
responsibilities who suddenly finds himself with an insta-family when
he falls in love with an older woman who has 2 kids, an ex-husband,
and ex-in-laws. Stacy Traub and Peter Traugott are executive
producing. New ABC programming chief Paul Lee has said that he
believes in the multicamera sitcom form (He set out to prove it while
at ABC Family with Melissa & Joey, which has done pretty well for the
cable channel) and that he is mulling a return of ABC's Friday TGIF
sitcom block. He is certainly backing his words up with comedy pilot
orders that have skewed heavily towards multicamera comedies so far
with Other People's Kids, Jack Burditt's The Last Day of Man, Work It
and Smothered, both from Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, and Marisa
Coughlan's Lost and Found. And yet, ABC's flagship comedy series that
have been renewed for next season: Modern Family, The Middle and
Cougar Town, are all single-camera.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...and I'm not sure if ABC is that patient to try again, either in terms of viewer popularity or in terms of financial interests. Besides, Friday night viewers aren't the same as they were a decade ago. The shows would have to be pretty appealing to have "instant success". The problem with most cable network executives, like Paul Lee, is that they believe there's no difference between outlets like "ABC Family" and the "ABC Television Network"- "MELISSA AND JOEY" would NOT have the same popularity it has now, had it started out as an "ABC" series. I wish him the best of luck, but I think the "TGIF" franchise is too late for the "patient" to be revived...

[TVFactFan]

It took about 5 years for the original TGIF to get up and running which was around 1989

[TMC]

The original TGIF worked because it targeted audiences for whom you wouldn't normally think would be out on a Friday night, families/little kids. However, back then (late '80s-early '90s), there most likely weren't as many entertainment options. I do think that there is a severe lack of traditional, "old-fashioned", multi-camera (all of the sitcoms outside of those on CBS seem to be shot with one camera sans a laugh track) sitcoms on TV. The last attempt at TGIF didn't work because it seemed like ABC was either putting in shows that didn't really fit the "TGIF model" (e.g. Less Than Perfect), were on their way out to begin with (e.g. 8 Simple Rules), or weren't very remarkable to begin with.
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[James]

Will it include Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step?

[Buffyboy323]

Originally Posted by James

Will it include Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step?

This is 2011....

[old grouch]

There does need to be more quality family sitcoms on TV. But instead of doing another TGIF block, they need to move it to a night where the whole family is home to watch, perhaps Sunday night.

[factsoflife]

Originally Posted by old grouch

There does need to be more quality family sitcoms on TV. But instead of doing another TGIF block, they need to move it to a night where the whole family is home to watch, perhaps Sunday night.

ABC is NOT and i repeat NOT going to touch their Sunday night line-up. Both "Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition" and "Desperate Housewives" continue to be excellent ratings performers. Neither way is ABC moving either of those out of Sunday nights. "Brothers & Sisters" also continues to perform well; and if it does get renewed would likely not be moved anyplace else.

NOW what i would love to see happen is for "America's Funniest Home Videos" to finally and forever get canceled; and replaced with two strong, traditional sitcoms. EM:HE from 7-8; two new sitcoms from 8-9 leading into DH and B&S would work well with me.

[TVFactFan]

No point in going backward to try and have another TGIF. That time is over and ABC just needs to create something NEW

[yankeesrj12]

Originally Posted by factsoflife

ABC is NOT and i repeat NOT going to touch their Sunday night line-up. Both "Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition" and "Desperate Housewives" continue to be excellent ratings performers. Neither way is ABC moving either of those out of Sunday nights. "Brothers & Sisters" also continues to perform well; and if it does get renewed would likely not be moved anyplace else.

NOW what i would love to see happen is for "America's Funniest Home Videos" to finally and forever get canceled; and replaced with two strong, traditional sitcoms. EM:HE from 7-8; two new sitcoms from 8-9 leading into DH and B&S would work well with me.

No way ABC would ever move AFV. It's a strong 7pm show that usually does around a 2.0 demo rating.

[benjamoon]

Originally Posted by factsoflife

ABC is NOT and i repeat NOT going to touch their Sunday night line-up. Both "Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition" and "Desperate Housewives" continue to be excellent ratings performers. Neither way is ABC moving either of those out of Sunday nights. "Brothers & Sisters" also continues to perform well; and if it does get renewed would likely not be moved anyplace else.

NOW what i would love to see happen is for "America's Funniest Home Videos" to finally and forever get canceled; and replaced with two strong, traditional sitcoms. EM:HE from 7-8; two new sitcoms from 8-9 leading into DH and B&S would work well with me.

Well they're already preempting "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" for six weeks to try "Secret Millionaire" in March so I don't think they're opposed to putting something else in that slot. "Desperate Housewives" is likely not moving but I'd be shocked if they give "Brothers & Sisters" another year at 10pm. It has taken a hit in the ratings and, from what I've heard, creatively as well. If it does get renewed, I see it going to another night or being held for midseason.

[tlc38tlc38]

I think it's time for a revival. "Girl Meets World" needs to move to abc on Friday nights along with 3 other "family friendly" shows.

Do it like the old format and have cast members host the in-between segments. Nostalgia is something people are looking for nowadays and the time is right for a "remake".

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by James

Will it include Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step?

You know...I'm hearing and rearing a lot of buzz that Patrick Duffyis more than on board with and wants to do Step By Step again. So is Suzanne Somers he said. He says its just a matter of everyone's schedules lining up to do it and he's optimistic it will happen. We will see. Also, in recent years Jaleel White has said he may be open to doing Steve Urkel again and has sorta explained how he's come to that place over these last 16 years. Bronson Pinchot has said he's willing to and wants to do Balki again. So, we will see. If they brought all three back I'd absolutely watch all of them again as faithfully as I did when they were originally on. I believe all would do very well. People miss those shows able that's what they're wanting to see.

I completeiy and truly believe multi-cams still have a very real, viable place on TV. I prefer those kind of comedies best. If you have the right producers, directors, writers and behind the scenes crew I honestly still believe you can get a true hit just like those shows were. The ones that have come along have tanked because of concepts, period. It's not the audience isn't there. It's just not appealing to any of this so the fight's lost before the shows even premiered!


As for what Mr. Lee is wanting to do, it's the absolute right idea. However, he can't half ass it this time. He needs shows that "fit" what that block should be and also ones with huge longevity potential. Not just stick whatever in and hoping it sticks. If he put Modern Family and The Middle on Friday and called it TGIF that wouldn't work at all.

What he needs to do first and foremost since ABC is part of Disney is get Girl Meets World on ABC to anchor the new TGIF. I've believed from the beginning it should be on ABC not Disney Channel. This will allow for the full show development it needs. Plus they can do the more serious story lines Disney Channel won't allow. Work out a deal where one channel does 1st time episide airings and the other does encore airings. Start with that and then pick up the Full House reboot. Then after that add in New Family Natters, Step By Step, and Perfect Strangers. I'm certain if he does that he will get ratings possibly 4 times bigger than what Last Man Standing is doing on that night now-great show btw!!

Even if he doesn't do those shows all he needs are shows like those where the cast and Crew give a damn..shows that fit the block, long longevity potential that'll last 5, 6, 7 seasons avd be looked at as fIndy as these shoes have been years after ending. Easier said than done. We will see if Paul is up to the challenge. It can be done but it's gotta be exactly right with no compromises.

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I think it's time for a revival. "Girl Meets World" needs to move to abc on Friday nights along with 3 other "family friendly" shows.

Do it like the old format and have cast members host the in-between segments. Nostalgia is something people are looking for nowadays and the time is right for a "remake".

This poster gets it!! It ansoluteky is time and if he's going to do this he needs to do it now and not wait on it! Good advice in here if you're reading Paul...

[mets82]

I agree about GMW moving to ABC. It needs to grow and have a little more freedom as far as storylines go. But if they want to bring back TGIF, I'M all for it. I just hope people would support it.