Why the Heck Was 'The Addams Family' Canceled??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-13-2011, 12:39 AM

I read on IMDB that the show got 23.9 million viewers back in the day. If that is the case, what caused the show to be yanked?

90sfan · 03-22-2011, 01:11 AM

No idea

old grouch · 03-22-2011, 02:41 PM

I'm just guessing, but maybe it had to do with the expense of switching over from black and white to color.

boechsner · 03-22-2011, 06:08 PM

In my opinion, I think cancelling The Munsters and The Addams Family when they did was a good thing. I could not imagine either show in Color. The Black and White enhanced the ghoulish feel of each series.

catlover79 · 03-22-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boechsner

The Black and White enhanced the ghoulish feel of each series.

I agree 100%!!

Duster76 · 03-27-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I read on IMDB that the show got 23.9 million viewers back in the day. If that is the case, what caused the show to be yanked?

I'm not sure your information is accurate. The highest rated show of 1964-65 and 1965-66 (Bonanza) didn't draw 23.9 million viewers a week. Addams Family finished 23rd in the ratings in it's first season and then dropped out of the top 30 in its' second season. In 1964-65 the show averaged 12.5 million. Addam's Family audience dropped off in the second year so there might have been a feeling that the show had run its' course.

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-17-2011, 03:05 AM

...its competition on CBS: "HOGAN'S HEROES", which became the #1 show at 8:30pm(et) on Fridays in its first season, also knocking off NBC's "CONVOY" at the start of the season, and its highly touted "SAMMY DAVIS JR. SHOW" in mid-season. And people who owned color TV sets [about half of all U.S. homes owned one, at the time] tended to tune into Bob Crane & his prisoner-of-war platoon more than the Addams clan. ABC decided it wasn't worth it to order a third season- even if the show was "converted" to full color. They decided to program a 90 minute "action/adventure" block in the fall of '66 to compete with CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST" and "HOGAN" (and NBC's "TARZAN" and "THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E."): "THE GREEN HORNET" at 7:30 {replacing "THE FLINTSTONES"} and "THE TIME TUNNEL" at 8 {in place of an unsuccessful sitcom adaptation of the "TAMMY" movies, a weak lead-in to "ADDAMS"}. But the series entered local syndication that fall, and gained new generations of viewers....leading to a Saturday morning cartoon series, a TV movie reunion of the original cast, two theatrical films in the '90s, and the current Broadway musical!

21 Chester Place · 08-01-2011, 01:05 PM

It's a shame that we only got 2 seasons, but then again it kind of makes the show all that more special. If it had been on for years and years, its possible the content might have gotten repetitive. So in a way it might have been good that we only got 2 years, 64 episodes (although I would have liked at least 1 more season). But I agree with you guys, would not have wanted it in color though if thats what the case would have been, if it aired for a 3rd season. The black and white format also made the show seem even older than it was, in my opinion. Which "enhanced the ghoulish feel" as said.

02-13-2011, 12:39 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: 63,107	Why the Heck Was 'The Addams Family' Canceled??? I read on IMDB that the show got 23.9 million viewers back in the day. If that is the case, what caused the show to be yanked?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-17-2011, 03:05 AM	#7
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	There was one other factor... ...its competition on CBS: "HOGAN'S HEROES", which became the #1 show at 8:30pm(et) on Fridays in its first season, also knocking off NBC's "CONVOY" at the start of the season, and its highly touted "SAMMY DAVIS JR. SHOW" in mid-season. And people who owned color TV sets [about half of all U.S. homes owned one, at the time] tended to tune into Bob Crane & his prisoner-of-war platoon more than the Addams clan. ABC decided it wasn't worth it to order a third season- even if the show was "converted" to full color. They decided to program a 90 minute "action/adventure" block in the fall of '66 to compete with CBS' "THE WILD WILD WEST" and "HOGAN" (and NBC's "TARZAN" and "THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E."): "THE GREEN HORNET" at 7:30 {replacing "THE FLINTSTONES"} and "THE TIME TUNNEL" at 8 {in place of an unsuccessful sitcom adaptation of the "TAMMY" movies, a weak lead-in to "ADDAMS"}. But the series entered local syndication that fall, and gained new generations of viewers....leading to a Saturday morning cartoon series, a TV movie reunion of the original cast, two theatrical films in the '90s, and the current Broadway musical!

08-01-2011, 01:05 PM	#8
21 Chester Place It's so nice and gloomy Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 01, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 127	It's a shame that we only got 2 seasons, but then again it kind of makes the show all that more special. If it had been on for years and years, its possible the content might have gotten repetitive. So in a way it might have been good that we only got 2 years, 64 episodes (although I would have liked at least 1 more season). But I agree with you guys, would not have wanted it in color though if thats what the case would have been, if it aired for a 3rd season. The black and white format also made the show seem even older than it was, in my opinion. Which "enhanced the ghoulish feel" as said.
	__________________ 21 Chester Place www.21chesterplace.com The mystery behind "The Real Addams Family House"

03-22-2011, 01:11 AM	#2
90sfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 21, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 109	No idea

03-22-2011, 02:41 PM	#3
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I'm just guessing, but maybe it had to do with the expense of switching over from black and white to color.

03-22-2011, 06:08 PM	#4
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	In my opinion, I think cancelling The Munsters and The Addams Family when they did was a good thing. I could not imagine either show in Color. The Black and White enhanced the ghoulish feel of each series.