Why Did 'Hello Larry' Fail? Was It Really That Bad??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-26-2011, 09:36 PM

Just curious what people think of this show? Was it watchable? Funny? Enjoyable? Why was it canceled?

Dr. Thong · 05-27-2011, 08:31 AM

I remember it as a good show back in the day. Haven't seen it since its original run, though, so I can't tell you if its aged well.

robyrob · 05-27-2011, 11:34 AM

i loved the show, although it was VERY corny and stupid; whether it holds up today or not is pretty subjective - I can watch it today and still get a laugh out of it.

it is not as bad as its reputation would suggest; at the time it was basically the go-to punchline for every comic and host on TV, you couldn't go a day without someone making fun of MacLean Stevenson or the show in general.

TV_on_the_Porch · 05-27-2011, 05:08 PM

It got really bad press, relentless really, especially in the first weeks and months. For those who weren't around at the time, it became the poster child for bad sitcoms immediately. Very shortly after its debut McLean Stevenson refused to promote it, its reputation was so toxic. The renewal of the show for the 1979-80 season seemed more an act of defiance than anything else. NBC chief Fred Silverman was undaunted, apparently believing the show was a good time slot companion for Diff'rent Strokes, NBC's only other sitcom at the time, hit or otherwise. Hello Larry's Wednesday night ratings were not terrible, but numbers dropped off significantly at 9:30 from 9PM and in fact it did decline in the ratings over the course of the second season.

catlover79 · 05-27-2011, 05:32 PM

I've never seen it - but if I ever got the chance to, I'd watch the reruns.

Retro4Life · 05-27-2011, 09:40 PM

It was definitely not as bad as it's press made it out to be.

I think the title made it kind of a target. Looking back, it is a pretty silly title. But otherwise, it was a fairly standard 'befuddled dad trying to raise two daughters" type of show, not much different than ODAAT, except a lot less adult in nature. I thought the acting was fine, I had a crush on Kim Richards and I always liked Stevenson. It was basically light family fare, with just a little sauce thrown in, and I think if not for the jokes and the time slot it may have lasted four or five years.

Guy Incognito · 05-28-2011, 07:03 PM

I think the continued success of M*A*S*H had a lot to do with Hello, Larry's lousy reputation, believe it or not. McLean Stevenson took a great deal of flak for leaving the award-winning, socially-relevant series and subsequently starring in lightweight, critically-lambasted fare (especially since his old series went on to survive and thrive without him). I think the show might have had a fighting chance with a different lead, but it seems like McLean's very presence doomed the production from the start.

As for the quality of the show itself, it was no more (or less) offensive or formulaic than any of the other early '80s sitcoms which followed in its wake. Maybe it was just a year or two ahead of its time...

TVFactFan · 05-28-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Just curious what people think of this show? Was it watchable? Funny? Enjoyable? Why was it canceled?

In all honesty I only watched the episodes with the Diffrent Strokes cast so I haven' had a chance to reallly evaluate the show. It did last longer than

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TVFactFan · 05-28-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never seen it - but if I ever got the chance to, I'd watch the reruns.

You never seen the Diffrent Strokes/Hello Larry crossover?

70s show watcher · 05-31-2011, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

It was definitely not as bad as it's press made it out to be.

I think the title made it kind of a target. Looking back, it is a pretty silly title. But otherwise, it was a fairly standard 'befuddled dad trying to raise two daughters" type of show, not much different than ODAAT, except a lot less adult in nature. I thought the acting was fine, I had a crush on Kim Richards and I always liked Stevenson. It was basically light family fare, with just a little sauce thrown in, and I think if not for the jokes and the time slot it may have lasted four or five years.

i agree it was no emmy winner but for what it was it was very good and btw i had a big crush on kim too

retrotvfanatic · 05-15-2012, 02:10 PM

I like Hello, Larry. Ive always found it watchable, even today. I have most of the series on tape and I still watch it. I dont think it was the best show ever, but it defiantly doesnt deserve to be called the worst. Its better than most of the crap on tv these days.

TVFactFan · 05-15-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrotvfanatic

I like Hello, Larry. Ive always found it watchable, even today. I have most of the series on tape and I still watch it. I dont think it was the best show ever, but it defiantly doesnt deserve to be called the worst. Its better than most of the crap on tv these days.

Definitely more watchable than the 1st season of the Facts of Life

retrotvfanatic · 05-15-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Definitely more watchable than the 1st season of the Facts of Life

Agreed!

rcbrad · 05-15-2012, 08:29 PM

Hello Larry was ok not really that great or bad. I preferred his first sitcom, The Mclean Stevenson show much more. I wish I could find all of the eps of TMSS. I only have the pilot and there is 2/3rd's of another episode on youtube.

I would not mind seeing the eps of Hello Larry either.

TVFactFan · 05-15-2012, 08:42 PM

I would buy the show if it was released on DVD because of the connection to Diffrent Strokes

05-26-2011, 09:36 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	Why Did 'Hello Larry' Fail? Was It Really That Bad??? Just curious what people think of this show? Was it watchable? Funny? Enjoyable? Why was it canceled?
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05-27-2011, 08:31 AM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I remember it as a good show back in the day. Haven't seen it since its original run, though, so I can't tell you if its aged well.
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05-27-2011, 11:34 AM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,211	i loved the show, although it was VERY corny and stupid; whether it holds up today or not is pretty subjective - I can watch it today and still get a laugh out of it. it is not as bad as its reputation would suggest; at the time it was basically the go-to punchline for every comic and host on TV, you couldn't go a day without someone making fun of MacLean Stevenson or the show in general.
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05-27-2011, 05:32 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I've never seen it - but if I ever got the chance to, I'd watch the reruns.
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05-27-2011, 09:40 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	It was definitely not as bad as it's press made it out to be. I think the title made it kind of a target. Looking back, it is a pretty silly title. But otherwise, it was a fairly standard 'befuddled dad trying to raise two daughters" type of show, not much different than ODAAT, except a lot less adult in nature. I thought the acting was fine, I had a crush on Kim Richards and I always liked Stevenson. It was basically light family fare, with just a little sauce thrown in, and I think if not for the jokes and the time slot it may have lasted four or five years.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-27-2011, 05:08 PM	#4
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	It got really bad press, relentless really, especially in the first weeks and months. For those who weren't around at the time, it became the poster child for bad sitcoms immediately. Very shortly after its debut McLean Stevenson refused to promote it, its reputation was so toxic. The renewal of the show for the 1979-80 season seemed more an act of defiance than anything else. NBC chief Fred Silverman was undaunted, apparently believing the show was a good time slot companion for Diff'rent Strokes, NBC's only other sitcom at the time, hit or otherwise. Hello Larry's Wednesday night ratings were not terrible, but numbers dropped off significantly at 9:30 from 9PM and in fact it did decline in the ratings over the course of the second season.

05-28-2011, 07:03 PM	#7
Guy Incognito International Man of Misery Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2011 Location: The Solar System Posts: 83	I think the continued success of MASH* had a lot to do with Hello, Larry's lousy reputation, believe it or not. McLean Stevenson took a great deal of flak for leaving the award-winning, socially-relevant series and subsequently starring in lightweight, critically-lambasted fare (especially since his old series went on to survive and thrive without him). I think the show might have had a fighting chance with a different lead, but it seems like McLean's very presence doomed the production from the start. As for the quality of the show itself, it was no more (or less) offensive or formulaic than any of the other early '80s sitcoms which followed in its wake. Maybe it was just a year or two ahead of its time...

05-15-2012, 02:10 PM	#11
retrotvfanatic Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 19	I like Hello, Larry. Ive always found it watchable, even today. I have most of the series on tape and I still watch it. I dont think it was the best show ever, but it defiantly doesnt deserve to be called the worst. Its better than most of the crap on tv these days.

05-15-2012, 08:29 PM	#14
rcbrad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Posts: 479	Hello Larry was ok not really that great or bad. I preferred his first sitcom, The Mclean Stevenson show much more. I wish I could find all of the eps of TMSS. I only have the pilot and there is 2/3rd's of another episode on youtube. I would not mind seeing the eps of Hello Larry either.

05-15-2012, 08:42 PM	#15
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,125	I would buy the show if it was released on DVD because of the connection to Diffrent Strokes