Crazy Question, But is The Mary Tyler Moore Show REALLY a TV Classic??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-02-2011, 08:50 PM

Someone brought this up to me and I wanted to pose it as a legit question. Can it really be considered an all time great sitcom when nobody shows it in reruns. I mean the Brady Bunch, The Honeymooners, Gilligan's Island and I love Lucy are shown repeatedly in syndication years and years after they went off the air. TMTMS however, has not done so...

Retro4Life · 04-03-2011, 12:27 PM

It was on NAN for a long time in the 90s if I recall.

Besides, I don't think the amount of time a show gets featured in syndicated reruns is any indication of quality. You don't really see Bob Newhart on that much either but it's obviously a classic.

As to why it's not, who knows? Probably some legal/financial rigamarole. None of that detracts from the high quality of the acting and writing.

biffbronson · 04-04-2011, 07:00 PM

One of the things to consider is the spinoff success: Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant. There aren't really very many series that can claim even 2 successful spinoffs, let alone 3...! That speaks to the powerhouse of a series that it was.

Goldilocks · 04-04-2011, 07:40 PM

The MTM Show definitely IS a classic! The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was never in sydication either, but it's a classic, as well.

I think what makes a TV show a "classic" is it's ingenuity, popularity (not necesarily ratings), the impact on it's viewing audience and the writing.

OH Nuts! · 04-04-2011, 09:13 PM

HELL YEAH (at least to me anyways) - an amazing show then and an amazing show now (they were showing reruns for a while right after it left the air - I remember it airing late at night in the early mid 80s)

LittleRickyII · 04-05-2011, 06:52 PM

The definition of classic: an artistic production considered a standard; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank; serving as a standard, model, or guide; of enduring interest, quality, or style.

"Classic" and popularity are two different things. Shows like Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch and Ozzie and Harriet are (or were) popular, but they have never epitomized quality in any sense. At best, those shows were kitsch. Now, they're just old. Some may still be popular, but being popular does not make them classics. The Jersey Shore is popular, but . . . . you know. No one can objectively look at The Mary Tyler Moore Show and deny that it was a show of the highest quality, a standard bearer with timeless and enduring quality. Thus, it's clearly a classic.

Mr. Television · 04-05-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

HELL YEAH (at least to me anyways) - an amazing show then and an amazing show now (they were showing reruns for a while right after it left the air - I remember it airing late at night in the early mid 80s)

One of my locals used to air it every Saturday night at 7 in the early 80's. It was just like the old days.

MTM is and always will be a classic. The end. lol

old grouch · 04-06-2011, 11:05 AM

If MTM isn't a classic, then I don't know what is.

OH Nuts! · 04-09-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

If MTM isn't a classic, then I don't know what is.

Amen to that! You are so totally singing to the choir on that one. I could watch this show every day to the day I die AND NEVER tire of it.

04-02-2011, 08:50 PM	#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	Crazy Question, But is The Mary Tyler Moore Show REALLY a TV Classic??? Someone brought this up to me and I wanted to pose it as a legit question. Can it really be considered an all time great sitcom when nobody shows it in reruns. I mean the Brady Bunch, The Honeymooners, Gilligan's Island and I love Lucy are shown repeatedly in syndication years and years after they went off the air. TMTMS however, has not done so...
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04-03-2011, 12:27 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	It was on NAN for a long time in the 90s if I recall. Besides, I don't think the amount of time a show gets featured in syndicated reruns is any indication of quality. You don't really see Bob Newhart on that much either but it's obviously a classic. As to why it's not, who knows? Probably some legal/financial rigamarole. None of that detracts from the high quality of the acting and writing.
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04-04-2011, 07:00 PM	#3
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,490	One of the things to consider is the spinoff success: Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant. There aren't really very many series that can claim even 2 successful spinoffs, let alone 3...! That speaks to the powerhouse of a series that it was.
	__________________ In memory of lovely Erin Moran 1960-2017 ~ Missing you "For you are beautiful ~ And I have loved you dearly ~ More dearly than the spoken word can tell..." "What's the word?" (Paul Martin) ~~ "I don't want money for nothing." (Timmy Martin) -- Lassie ROCKS! WORD UP "It's just a dugout that my dad built... In case the reds* decide to push the button down..."*

04-04-2011, 07:40 PM	#4
Goldilocks Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 08, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 693	The MTM Show definitely IS a classic! The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was never in sydication either, but it's a classic, as well. I think what makes a TV show a "classic" is it's ingenuity, popularity (not necesarily ratings), the impact on it's viewing audience and the writing.

04-04-2011, 09:13 PM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	HELL YEAH (at least to me anyways) - an amazing show then and an amazing show now (they were showing reruns for a while right after it left the air - I remember it airing late at night in the early mid 80s)

04-05-2011, 06:52 PM	#6
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	The definition of classic: an artistic production considered a standard; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank; serving as a standard, model, or guide; of enduring interest, quality, or style. "Classic" and popularity are two different things. Shows like Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch and Ozzie and Harriet are (or were) popular, but they have never epitomized quality in any sense. At best, those shows were kitsch. Now, they're just old. Some may still be popular, but being popular does not make them classics. The Jersey Shore is popular, but . . . . you know. No one can objectively look at The Mary Tyler Moore Show and deny that it was a show of the highest quality, a standard bearer with timeless and enduring quality. Thus, it's clearly a classic.

04-06-2011, 11:05 AM	#8
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	If MTM isn't a classic, then I don't know what is.