Does anyone remember Co-Ed Fever?

[Regulus]

Co-Ed Fever was supposed to be CBS's Answer to the Movie National Lampoon's Animal House The First Episode aired immediately after the 1980 Super Bowl, then the entire series was cancelled.

[James28]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Co-Ed Fever was supposed to be CBS's Answer to the Movie National Lampoon's Animal House The First Episode aired immediately after the 1980 Super Bowl, then the entire series was cancelled.

The only episode actually aired in early 1979 following an airing of the film Rocky, and that year's Super Bowl was aired on NBC.

[Regulus]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

The only episode actually aired in early 1979 following an airing of the film Rocky, and that year's Super Bowl was aired on NBC.

My Bad. I thought it aired after the Super Bowl, but I was wrong. I knew only one episode aired, then Poof!

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...because of the popularity of "National Lampoon's Animal House" in theaters during the summer of 1978, all three commercial television networks {yes, hard to believe there were only three back then, eh, kids?} decided to schedule sitcom versions of similar "frat house" antics during the 1978-'79 season- only ABC got "the real deal" when it presented a TV adaptation, featuring several cast members from the original movie, as "DELTA HOUSE" in early 1979 [that lasted 13 weeks]. NBC presented an even shorter-lived comedy, "BROTHERS AND SISTERS", during that same period (ask anyone about it today, and they'd probably say, "Oh yeah, it's that show with Sally Field and Calista Flockhart, isn't it?").

CBS, who was desparate for anything to be an "instant hit" during the 1978-'79 season (virtually all of their new fall series were duds, except "WKRP IN CINCINNATI"), decided they'd schedule their own "frat house" comedy, too. So they ordered six episodes of "CO-ED FEVER", and planned to schedule it on Monday nights at 8pm(et), beginning in February 1979. However, in order to take advantage of a "decent sampling" of the show during a "guaranteed" ratings event, they decided the first episode would appear as a "sneak preview" after a special CBS Sunday movie presentation of 1976's "Rocky" on February 4, 1979. That lasted from 8-10:30pm(et), and "CO-ED FEVER" immediately followed it. The network gave ample promo time during the movie to let viewers know "CO-ED FEVER" would be seen right after the film.

So what happened? Overnight ratings revealed that 52% of all viewers surveyed watched "Rocky"...but only 36% bothered to stay tuned for "CO-ED FEVER". That threw the network into a panic: why did so many viewers tune out when it came time to see the show? Was the series NOT the "attraction" for teens as it was supposed to be? What chance would it have if it were scheduled opposite NBC's "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE" on Mondays? Why did we buy this stupid show, anyway????

To make a long story short, CBS backed out of its deal to air the remaining five episodes, 'shelving' "CO-ED FEVER" for good {although all six episodes were seen in British Columbia a short time later}, and ended up airing two terrible comedies, "BILLY" {a horribly updated American adaptation of the 1963 film "Billy Liar", starring Steve Guttenberg} and "FLATBUSH" {the less said about that one, the better} from 8-9pm(et) on Mondays, replaced three weeks later by "THE WHITE SHADOW", which managed to do [and was] a lot better....

YouTube has the first five minutes of the "premiere" broadcast of "CO-ED FEVER", if anyone wants to see it.....

[bencasey]

I have the only US aired episode. Only thing of note in it is Heather Thomas.

[bencasey]

A better thread would be "does anybody have the remaining episodes which apparently only aired in British Columbia". I believe they made 6 with only 1 airing on CBS. 1979 people had VCRs for a couple of years already so someone could have recorded it.

[mets82]

This sounds similiar to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The movie did great but when they tried it as a tv show it bombed. Sometimes its just different. Some characters in movies you dont mind seeing...in the movie. But you put those characters in a tv show and even though they might not be the sameones from the movie, and its not good. To me, some characters in movies are better off because put them in a tv setting and I think they become over exposed.

[Yong Fang]

It seems to me that another network besides CBS did a similar show about a fraternity, on the heels of "Animal House", but I forgot it's name, but there was another show. it flopped too, but lasted a few episodes. Coed Fever has a distinction with shows like the earlier Turn-On as a show cancelled after the very first show.

Co-ed Fever sounds like a porn film. Of course, people did not think so, but I think a lot of people saw the title as corny, while others just refused to watch it. A lot of people refused to watch it. That's why it was cancelled the first episode.

CBS was getting kicked by ABC in the late 1970's, then NBC in the early
1980's.

[Regulus]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

It seems to me that another network besides CBS did a similar show about a fraternity, on the heels of "Animal House", but I forgot it's name, but there was another show. it flopped too, but lasted a few episodes. Coed Fever has a distinction with shows like the earlier Turn-On as a show cancelled after the very first show.

Co-ed Fever sounds like a porn film. Of course, people did not think so, but I think a lot of people saw the title as corny, while others just refused to watch it. A lot of people refused to watch it. That's why it was cancelled the first episode.

CBS was getting kicked by ABC in the late 1970's, then NBC in the early
1980's.

That would be Delta House on ABC, mentioned in one of the posts above.

[TV_on_the_Porch]

Delta House was the bona fide adaptation of the movie Animal House, featuring a number of the same actors in their movie roles (except John Belushi of course).

Yong Fang might be referring to yet another network besides CBS, namely NBC, which pledged Brothers and Sisters to its Friday night lineup for 2½ months beginning in January '79. It might have been the best of the three, but that's not saying too much.

[KurtfromPitts]

I saw that show, Don't remember much though.

[80s Dude]

It also featured Alex McKinnen who was in Little Darlings and Pretty in Pink. The set of the house was also used on the first season of the Facts of Life,

[RetroGuy2000]

The theme song was horrific.

[cnnbcbs]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The theme song was horrific.

The theme is what did that show in. The show could've been half decent but thst theme was like nails on a chalkboard. CLICK!