The Reasons Why ABC Got Rid of TGIF - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-11-2001, 09:36 PM

-A theory that family centric sitcoms that peaked in the 1980s was getting a bit stale. In the process, there came somewhat of a sense that more and more adult oriented sitcoms focused on the work place and tight groups of friends.

-ABC was getting defeated by NBC by a fairly major margin on a frequent basis. Not to mention that shows that were in the TGIF block at times floundered around the 80s range in the ratings.

-ABC was unable to really help build an audience for the fresher shows. The shows along the way, suffered through some weak advertising and poor time and/or inconsistent slots. The other shows were starting to age and on certain occasions, moving to other networks who took more chances and offered more money. A certain degree of freshness seemed to be lost as newer shows at to follow a particular bule-print that was created by the more established shows on TGIF.

-Since ABC is owned by Disney, they basically wanted to showcase a stronger emphasis on that particular entity. So to make up for this, "The Wonderful World of Disney" was ultimately viewed as a easier to promote and the main viewing option for the entire family on ABC.

-The original format of TGIF was gradually being lost. The block started to get away from its initial purpose when it based the programming. It also lost a bit of its edge and/or personality soon after doing away with the interaction/hosting concepts.

factsoflife · 04-25-2001, 03:28 PM

I think what ended up happening was that when Shows like, Full House, Family Matters and Step by Step were retired, abc had a hard time coming up with shows that were hits, as the shows that they tried, Teen Angle, You Wish, brothers keeper The hugleys, odd man out, and Two of a kind were all bombs and so Sabrina the teenage witch was basically their whold friday lineup! so ABC made the right choice by canning TGIF!

callmetootie · 04-25-2001, 03:33 PM

I think that it was a good thing that they canned TGIF, because it just had some god-awful shows on. Sabrina was a total waste of time, the show got old by it's 2nd season. Boy Meets World ran for way too long, I hated it from the beginning, and my thought for it may never change. The Hughleys was a cute show, but the idea of trying to make a new Jeffersons or 227 makes me want to puke. Step By Step..loved it, but it was a waste when they moved it to CBS. Two Of A Kind is another show that will put me on the spot of puke rotten stuff. It comes down to one thing: " TV TODAY STINKS!".

------------------
Andrew Carden

TMC · 05-08-2001, 10:58 PM

The problem that ABC seemed to have in the later years with TGIF is that frankly, they were way too impatient when it came to most of the new shows. Not to mention that they were giving very little chance of survival from the start since they were often dumped in the 9:30 time slot. In fact TGIF all around, suffered in the most part, due to a relatively weak advertising campaign on the part of ABC. It was almost as if everybody was going through the motions and simply trying to quickly grap a hold have whatever was being fairly "buzzed" about at the exact moment of time.

TMC · 05-08-2001, 11:30 PM

ABC really ought to seriously reconsider their stands on what should and should not air on Friday nights. I hate to sound corny, but in the past, TGIF in a way, made the aspect of Fridays (an other-wise, very low key time for TV) ehanced because it was all out of fun (well most of the time). It managed to carry a certain appeal with the way that it fashioned itself that managed to lure you in. Now that time as past, all of ABC's new more adult oriented sitcoms are off of the Friday night schedule as ABC has shamelessly resorted to recycling (e.g. plugging in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Who's Line is it Anyway?)

EKWROCKS · 07-11-2001, 03:48 AM

oh gosh i remember being little in and actually coming in from playing with my friends to watch TGIF!! I love the old TGIF when FOL 227 the golden girls Just the 10 of us and all the other great shows were one!! but i agree shows aren't as good as they used to be and the concept of TGIF is all in the past!! TV times sure have changed, and not for the better in my opinion!! email me if u disagree!!

Madness · 07-11-2001, 11:41 AM

Facts of Life, 227 and the Golden Girls were on NBC Saturday nights. But I agree they were great shows. They don't make them good anymore!

Davester713 · 07-11-2001, 04:28 PM

well, Two of A Kind and Brother's Keeper got the highest ratings of the TGIF shows that year. Boy Meets world beat Two of A Kind quite often in the ratings, but Brother's Keep was the top rated show that year. The shows usually were in the 60's in the ratings. I agree that ABC was tired of being 3rd in the ratings.

02-11-2001, 09:36 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,506	The Reasons Why ABC Got Rid of TGIF -A theory that family centric sitcoms that peaked in the 1980s was getting a bit stale. In the process, there came somewhat of a sense that more and more adult oriented sitcoms focused on the work place and tight groups of friends. -ABC was getting defeated by NBC by a fairly major margin on a frequent basis. Not to mention that shows that were in the TGIF block at times floundered around the 80s range in the ratings. -ABC was unable to really help build an audience for the fresher shows. The shows along the way, suffered through some weak advertising and poor time and/or inconsistent slots. The other shows were starting to age and on certain occasions, moving to other networks who took more chances and offered more money. A certain degree of freshness seemed to be lost as newer shows at to follow a particular bule-print that was created by the more established shows on TGIF. -Since ABC is owned by Disney, they basically wanted to showcase a stronger emphasis on that particular entity. So to make up for this, "The Wonderful World of Disney" was ultimately viewed as a easier to promote and the main viewing option for the entire family on ABC. -The original format of TGIF was gradually being lost. The block started to get away from its initial purpose when it based the programming. It also lost a bit of its edge and/or personality soon after doing away with the interaction/hosting concepts.

04-25-2001, 03:28 PM	#2
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	I think what ended up happening was that when Shows like, Full House, Family Matters and Step by Step were retired, abc had a hard time coming up with shows that were hits, as the shows that they tried, Teen Angle, You Wish, brothers keeper The hugleys, odd man out, and Two of a kind were all bombs and so Sabrina the teenage witch was basically their whold friday lineup! so ABC made the right choice by canning TGIF!

04-25-2001, 03:33 PM	#3
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	I think that it was a good thing that they canned TGIF, because it just had some god-awful shows on. Sabrina was a total waste of time, the show got old by it's 2nd season. Boy Meets World ran for way too long, I hated it from the beginning, and my thought for it may never change. The Hughleys was a cute show, but the idea of trying to make a new Jeffersons or 227 makes me want to puke. Step By Step..loved it, but it was a waste when they moved it to CBS. Two Of A Kind is another show that will put me on the spot of puke rotten stuff. It comes down to one thing: " TV TODAY STINKS!". ------------------ Andrew Carden

05-08-2001, 10:58 PM	#4
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,506	The problem that ABC seemed to have in the later years with TGIF is that frankly, they were way too impatient when it came to most of the new shows. Not to mention that they were giving very little chance of survival from the start since they were often dumped in the 9:30 time slot. In fact TGIF all around, suffered in the most part, due to a relatively weak advertising campaign on the part of ABC. It was almost as if everybody was going through the motions and simply trying to quickly grap a hold have whatever was being fairly "buzzed" about at the exact moment of time.

05-08-2001, 11:30 PM	#5
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,506	ABC really ought to seriously reconsider their stands on what should and should not air on Friday nights. I hate to sound corny, but in the past, TGIF in a way, made the aspect of Fridays (an other-wise, very low key time for TV) ehanced because it was all out of fun (well most of the time). It managed to carry a certain appeal with the way that it fashioned itself that managed to lure you in. Now that time as past, all of ABC's new more adult oriented sitcoms are off of the Friday night schedule as ABC has shamelessly resorted to recycling (e.g. plugging in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Who's Line is it Anyway?)

07-11-2001, 03:48 AM	#6
EKWROCKS Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts: 49	oh gosh i remember being little in and actually coming in from playing with my friends to watch TGIF!! I love the old TGIF when FOL 227 the golden girls Just the 10 of us and all the other great shows were one!! but i agree shows aren't as good as they used to be and the concept of TGIF is all in the past!! TV times sure have changed, and not for the better in my opinion!! email me if u disagree!!

07-11-2001, 11:41 AM	#7
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Facts of Life, 227 and the Golden Girls were on NBC Saturday nights. But I agree they were great shows. They don't make them good anymore!

07-11-2001, 04:28 PM	#8
Davester713 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 25, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 138	well, Two of A Kind and Brother's Keeper got the highest ratings of the TGIF shows that year. Boy Meets world beat Two of A Kind quite often in the ratings, but Brother's Keep was the top rated show that year. The shows usually were in the 60's in the ratings. I agree that ABC was tired of being 3rd in the ratings.