What Happened to Television - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

The Flying Dutchmans · 04-23-2012, 11:58 AM

I remember growing up in the 70s and 80s that there were so many great shows to watch, so many shows that were well made. Now I see many shows being made today and they just don't entertain me like the older ones did. What happened? Do these writers and producers and networks even care anymore? Are these people so focused on making a name for themselves that they don't even focus on quality of story? And then when they put on a good show, they take it off the air after the 1st season many times.

But there were some shows made after Y2K that I really liked. I remember "What about Brian" with Barry Watson–Matt from 7th Heaven. I was really getting into that show and after only 2 seasons. Slash. It was gone. I have been on allot of discussion boards about that one, and many people can't understand why it was canceled. "Kyle XY" On ABC Family. I was getting into that show and like What about Brian, they cut it, but after 3 seasons. "Whose Line is it Anyway" That show was hilarious, but again, didn't last long. I guess the Networks don't care what the viewer wants anymore, and all we have now, is DVD.

Regulus · 04-23-2012, 01:59 PM

The One-Percenters who own Hollywood don't want to spend money for quality programming. But they are now beginning to reap what they have sowed. According to an article in the New York Times TV Viewing has DECLINED across ALL the Networks, both Broadcast and Pay-TV. People are pursuing their entertainment needs from other sources, such as DVDs, and are leaving the Networks behind!

EmoJoe · 04-23-2012, 04:26 PM

There is still plenty of fantastic television being made. I don't know why people on this board act like it's a thing of the past. There's more options now so there's more **** being made but if you dig there's plenty of great stuff.

Regulus · 04-23-2012, 04:47 PM

Yes, there are some decent programs out there, unfortunately there is FAR more s

t out there than there is decent programming. Then there is the matter of Commercials. Today there can be more than 20 minutes of commercials for each hour of programming. Some people turn to DVRs and other recording devices so they can record what is being watched, then fast-forward through all the commercials. As for those who are paying to have these advertisements aired, yes, I know you exist, you do not have to remind me 12 times each hour!

: Others turn to "Other Choices" such as on-line sources and/or rentals such as Netflix so they can avoid the ads, or wait until the program comes out on DVD. (Which is what I do, waiting for the show to come out on DVD, then when it hits the bargain bins, I snatch it up!

)

I am an older viewer, I was born in 1959, and grew up well into TV's "Golden Age". Yet I have talked to A LOT of younger viewers who share the same opinion as I do, opting to view older shows instead of the newer ones. And many older viewers are getting tired of paying for stale, commercial-infested programming, and are pondering "Cutting the Cord" when their "Commitment" to a Provider expires.

EmoJoe · 04-23-2012, 07:30 PM

I don't know who these younger people you're talking to are because, as a young adult I'm one of the few people I know who even recognizes that TV existed before the 90s.

I agree with you about commercials, it's ridiculous how many commercials there are now and how much they've shortened run times. At least we have networks like HBO and Showtime fighting this and removing most commercials from the equation. I also agree that the **** outweighs the good stuff, but since there's so many options, there's still a lot of good stuff to be found.

USATVFAN · 04-23-2012, 07:46 PM

There are some Good TV shows on Today, They may not compare to what was on 20-40 Years ago but there is some Good Shows on now. We live in a different time.

The only Comedy shows I watch are 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Two and a half Mens, Modern Family. But I wait and watch them on Hulu except Modern Family which I watch every Wednesday, I was just thinking about the other day about all the TV shows that ended between 2003-2007.

P.S: TV Shows always decline around springtime every year.

TVFactFan · 04-23-2012, 08:39 PM

Yeah TV is not the same as it was 20 years ago but that's to be expected. TV was not the same in the 70's as it was in the 50's and 60's. TV was not the same as it was in the 90's as it was in the 70's and 80's.

So now we just have to accept the fact that TV is not the same as it was in the 80's and 90's. And it will change again in 20 years.

Regulus · 04-23-2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

And it will change again in 20 years.

If the whole system doesn't COLLAPSE.

My friends, the Pay-TV Industry cannot continue going down it's currant path. A House divided against itself cannot stand. Prices do nothing but climb, and the quality of what's being shown does nothing but decline. People are already pursuing "Other Sources" to obtain their entertainment. This is ALWAYS what happens whenever an Industry puts itself in this situation. People either look for that product from somewhere else, or replace that product with a substitute.

TVFactFan · 04-23-2012, 10:08 PM

Live Network TV is going to deal with challenges anyway because of so many options of entertainment people have now that they didn't have 20 years ago

hulu.com
Iphone
On Demand
DVR

EmoJoe · 04-23-2012, 10:27 PM

TV will always be around, it will probably just be presented to us in a different way. But television shows themselves are never going to fade. People love them.

The Flying Dutchmans · 04-24-2012, 09:13 PM

I was watching an episode of Star Trek TNG and they had brought back these 3 people that were in cryogenic state from the 20th century and one of them asked Data what happened to Television. Data said. "That didn't last much past the mid 21st century" And it may turn out that he was right.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2012, 09:15 PM

I want to know what happened to TV commercials. Most commercials now are about cancer and diabetes.

Nothing FUN like the old days

Regulus · 04-24-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Dutchmans

I was watching an episode of Star Trek TNG and they had brought back these 3 people that were in cryogenic state from the 20th century and one of them asked Data what happened to Television. Data said. "That didn't last much past the mid 21st century" And it may turn out that he was right.

There's an episode of Buck Rogers that has the late Gary Coleman (Who played a Characture who was born in the 20th Century and placed himself in Suspended Animation and like Buck was awakened in the 25th century) lament that one of the things he missed from the 20th Century was Saturday Morning Cartoons!

mets82 · 04-24-2012, 10:11 PM

I was thinking the samething too about quality tv shows. To be honest, I dont watch a lot of first run programming. I watch the late night tv(Letterman, Kimmel, Handler etc.) and I watch all the classic stuff but I dont watch a lot of primetime programming. I dont watch Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, American Idol, Smash, Park and Rec., Community etc.

I really just watch some of ABC's lineup. CougarTown, Subergatory, Modern Family, Dont Trust the B in Apt. 23 and Desperate Housewives. Thats really it. I watched some of Up All Night and I watch The Simpsons but thats all.
Shows like Lost or 24, when they were on, never really appealed to me. I tried watching American Idol for a couple of seasons but I just couldnt get into it.

gidgetgrape · 04-26-2012, 09:43 PM

Growing up I always thought of TV as a friend. There were certain shows (Family Ties, Little House on the Prairie, The Facts of Life, etc.,.) that made me feel like I was a part of "the family." There have always been garbage shows, but now it's like there is more garbage on the street than there are sanitation workers to take it away.

I know some people feel like for something to be "real" that it has to be negative (which usually falls into cheap and trashy), but at the end of the day, I want to be entertained in a wholesome way. I don't mean wholesome in a "Gee, shucks" sort of way. I mean wholesome in that my intelligence isn't insulted and I'm not assaulted by salty language and violence.

I'm tired of being shocked and beaten down by the ordinary. I know that all of us can't be housewives like Donna Reed or doctors like Cliff Huxtable, but give me that dream and that hope for 30 minutes.

04-23-2012, 11:58 AM	#1
The Flying Dutchmans Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 30, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,017	What Happened to Television I remember growing up in the 70s and 80s that there were so many great shows to watch, so many shows that were well made. Now I see many shows being made today and they just don't entertain me like the older ones did. What happened? Do these writers and producers and networks even care anymore? Are these people so focused on making a name for themselves that they don't even focus on quality of story? And then when they put on a good show, they take it off the air after the 1st season many times. But there were some shows made after Y2K that I really liked. I remember "What about Brian" with Barry Watson–Matt from 7th Heaven. I was really getting into that show and after only 2 seasons. Slash. It was gone. I have been on allot of discussion boards about that one, and many people can't understand why it was canceled. "Kyle XY" On ABC Family. I was getting into that show and like What about Brian, they cut it, but after 3 seasons. "Whose Line is it Anyway" That show was hilarious, but again, didn't last long. I guess the Networks don't care what the viewer wants anymore, and all we have now, is DVD.
	__________________ A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the mast, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief." The Flying Dutchman Last edited by The Flying Dutchmans; 04-23-2012 at 12:15 PM.

04-23-2012, 01:59 PM	#2
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	The One-Percenters who own Hollywood don't want to spend money for quality programming. But they are now beginning to reap what they have sowed. According to an article in the New York Times TV Viewing has DECLINED across ALL the Networks, both Broadcast and Pay-TV. People are pursuing their entertainment needs from other sources, such as DVDs, and are leaving the Networks behind!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood* Last edited by Regulus; 04-25-2012 at 09:48 AM.

04-23-2012, 04:26 PM	#3
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	There is still plenty of fantastic television being made. I don't know why people on this board act like it's a thing of the past. There's more options now so there's more **** being made but if you dig there's plenty of great stuff.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

04-23-2012, 04:47 PM	#4
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Yes, there are some decent programs out there, unfortunately there is FAR more st out there than there is decent programming. Then there is the matter of Commercials. Today there can be more than 20 minutes of commercials for each hour of programming. Some people turn to DVRs and other recording devices so they can record what is being watched, then fast-forward through all the commercials. As for those who are paying to have these advertisements aired, yes, I know you exist, you do not have to remind me 12 times each hour! : Others turn to "Other Choices" such as on-line sources and/or rentals such as Netflix so they can avoid the ads, or wait until the program comes out on DVD. (Which is what I do, waiting for the show to come out on DVD, then when it hits the bargain bins, I snatch it up! ) I am an older viewer, I was born in 1959, and grew up well into TV's "Golden Age". Yet I have talked to A LOT of younger viewers who share the same opinion as I do, opting to view older shows instead of the newer ones. And many older viewers are getting tired of paying for stale, commercial-infested programming, and are pondering "Cutting the Cord" when their "Commitment" to a Provider expires.

04-23-2012, 07:46 PM	#6
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	There are some Good TV shows on Today, They may not compare to what was on 20-40 Years ago but there is some Good Shows on now. We live in a different time. The only Comedy shows I watch are 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Two and a half Mens, Modern Family. But I wait and watch them on Hulu except Modern Family which I watch every Wednesday, I was just thinking about the other day about all the TV shows that ended between 2003-2007. P.S: TV Shows always decline around springtime every year.
	__________________ Love watching 1960's-1990's TV Classics! 1970-2004: The best Years of Televsion

04-23-2012, 07:30 PM	#5
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	I don't know who these younger people you're talking to are because, as a young adult I'm one of the few people I know who even recognizes that TV existed before the 90s. I agree with you about commercials, it's ridiculous how many commercials there are now and how much they've shortened run times. At least we have networks like HBO and Showtime fighting this and removing most commercials from the equation. I also agree that the **** outweighs the good stuff, but since there's so many options, there's still a lot of good stuff to be found.

04-23-2012, 08:39 PM	#7
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,101	Yeah TV is not the same as it was 20 years ago but that's to be expected. TV was not the same in the 70's as it was in the 50's and 60's. TV was not the same as it was in the 90's as it was in the 70's and 80's. So now we just have to accept the fact that TV is not the same as it was in the 80's and 90's. And it will change again in 20 years.

04-23-2012, 10:08 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,101	Live Network TV is going to deal with challenges anyway because of so many options of entertainment people have now that they didn't have 20 years ago hulu.com Iphone On Demand DVR

04-23-2012, 10:27 PM	#10
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	TV will always be around, it will probably just be presented to us in a different way. But television shows themselves are never going to fade. People love them.

04-24-2012, 09:13 PM	#11
The Flying Dutchmans Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 30, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,017	I was watching an episode of Star Trek TNG and they had brought back these 3 people that were in cryogenic state from the 20th century and one of them asked Data what happened to Television. Data said. "That didn't last much past the mid 21st century" And it may turn out that he was right.

04-24-2012, 09:15 PM	#12
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,101	I want to know what happened to TV commercials. Most commercials now are about cancer and diabetes. Nothing FUN like the old days

04-24-2012, 10:11 PM	#14
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	I was thinking the samething too about quality tv shows. To be honest, I dont watch a lot of first run programming. I watch the late night tv(Letterman, Kimmel, Handler etc.) and I watch all the classic stuff but I dont watch a lot of primetime programming. I dont watch Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, American Idol, Smash, Park and Rec., Community etc. I really just watch some of ABC's lineup. CougarTown, Subergatory, Modern Family, Dont Trust the B in Apt. 23 and Desperate Housewives. Thats really it. I watched some of Up All Night and I watch The Simpsons but thats all. Shows like Lost or 24, when they were on, never really appealed to me. I tried watching American Idol for a couple of seasons but I just couldnt get into it.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

04-26-2012, 09:43 PM	#15
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,505	Growing up I always thought of TV as a friend. There were certain shows (Family Ties, Little House on the Prairie, The Facts of Life, etc.,.) that made me feel like I was a part of "the family." There have always been garbage shows, but now it's like there is more garbage on the street than there are sanitation workers to take it away. I know some people feel like for something to be "real" that it has to be negative (which usually falls into cheap and trashy), but at the end of the day, I want to be entertained in a wholesome way. I don't mean wholesome in a "Gee, shucks" sort of way. I mean wholesome in that my intelligence isn't insulted and I'm not assaulted by salty language and violence. I'm tired of being shocked and beaten down by the ordinary. I know that all of us can't be housewives like Donna Reed or doctors like Cliff Huxtable, but give me that dream and that hope for 30 minutes.