Is "Community" Going to Be Another "Moonlighting"? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 05-22-2012, 04:35 AM

Think about it:

You take a star whose career has been in the doldrums and this show revives it (Chevy Chase, Cybill Shepherd).

Said show becomes a critical and commercial hit.

Both shows are considered innovative for their time (Moonlighting for breaking the fourth wall, its elaborate fantasy episodes and becoming the first successful "dramedy", Community for its webisodes)

The creator/executive producer of said show ends up enbroiled in a feud with said star (Dan Harmon, Glen Gordon Caron).

Said creator/EP leaves said show after its third season.

Writers and other behind the scenes staff start leaving in droves.

The timeslots change throughout the chaos.

Moonlighting was finally given the ax after 4 seasons and 67 episodes. Community has already surpassed this with 71 episodes in the can so far, and a 13 episode pickup for its 4th season.

robyrob · 05-22-2012, 08:13 AM

i think Community stands out for more than just its webisodes - they have done a lot of very creative and innovative episodes that experiment with different ways of storytelling, and using a variety of media and borrowing from different genres.

catlover79 · 05-22-2012, 12:15 PM

I'll take your word for it - I've never actually seen the show.

yankeesrj12 · 05-22-2012, 04:32 PM

I don't think I'd consider Community a "commercial hit" with only 3 million viewers.

robyrob · 05-23-2012, 12:11 AM

i think Community will always be a niche show with a small but dedicated following - it is really too complex and requires too much background knowledge for anyone new to the show to just jump in and get into it, so I don't see their numbers growing.

catlover79 · 05-23-2012, 12:21 AM

It will be interesting to see what happens after their 13 episode renewal cycle is through.

Mr. Television · 05-23-2012, 12:32 AM

Community sure isn't going to grow on a Friday night.

Moonlighting just lost it's focus. It was a great show up until the time David and Maddie got together. After that Cybill missed half the next season because she was pregnant and Bruce was growing tired of the role and wanted to go into movies. After Die Hard became a big hit, the writing was on the wall. ABC tried it's best to kill the series which they did. The final episaode aired on a Sunday night in May 1989 opposite the final episode of Family Ties and it was soundly beaten that night. I watched Ties live and recorded Moonlighting and watched it later in the week. A sad ending to a once great show.

catlover79 · 05-23-2012, 07:04 PM

Really went out with a whimper, huh? I never got to see Moonlighting when it was originally on - I wasn't allowed to watch it. I think that was mainly because it was on past my bedtime and for adult content - except probably a lot of it would've gone over my head at that young an age.

The DVDs are at my library - I'll have to check them out one of these days.

factsoflife · 05-23-2012, 07:37 PM

Moonlighting was a much bigger hit. It was a top 20 show for most of it's run and earned record Emmy nominations.

Community while beloved by a cult group of loyal fans has been nowhere near a hit and hasn't reached the unanimous acclaim that Moonlighting got in it's heyday.

Mr. Television · 05-23-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Really went out with a whimper, huh? I never got to see Moonlighting when it was originally on - I wasn't allowed to watch it. I think that was mainly because it was on past my bedtime and for adult content - except probably a lot of it would've gone over my head at that young an age.

The DVDs are at my library - I'll have to check them out one of these days.

If you like screwball comedies, you'll enjoy Moonlighting. With the exception of maybe John McClane in Die Hard, I think this was Bruce's best role.

catlover79 · 05-23-2012, 08:14 PM

Cool - and he got an Emmy for the show, too.

EmoJoe · 05-24-2012, 02:39 AM

I think it's harder to define what a "hit" is now. Obviously Community is something of a hit to be around for four seasons. It's profitable in some way, otherwise it'd have been cancelled. It's not a smash, but saying it's "nowhere near a hit" isn't quite right either in my opinion. Networks don't renew shows year after year for charity.

People tend to use the top 20 barometer for defining hit shows and I think that's irrelevant these days with so many channels. Shows like The Office and Glee have never been in the top 20, does that mean they aren't hits?

catlover79 · 05-24-2012, 04:54 PM

^

05-22-2012, 04:35 AM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Is "Community" Going to Be Another "Moonlighting"? Think about it: You take a star whose career has been in the doldrums and this show revives it (Chevy Chase, Cybill Shepherd). Said show becomes a critical and commercial hit. Both shows are considered innovative for their time (Moonlighting for breaking the fourth wall, its elaborate fantasy episodes and becoming the first successful "dramedy", Community for its webisodes) The creator/executive producer of said show ends up enbroiled in a feud with said star (Dan Harmon, Glen Gordon Caron). Said creator/EP leaves said show after its third season. Writers and other behind the scenes staff start leaving in droves. The timeslots change throughout the chaos. Moonlighting was finally given the ax after 4 seasons and 67 episodes. Community has already surpassed this with 71 episodes in the can so far, and a 13 episode pickup for its 4th season. Attached Images
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-22-2012, 08:13 AM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,188	i think Community stands out for more than just its webisodes - they have done a lot of very creative and innovative episodes that experiment with different ways of storytelling, and using a variety of media and borrowing from different genres.
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05-23-2012, 12:32 AM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Community sure isn't going to grow on a Friday night. Moonlighting just lost it's focus. It was a great show up until the time David and Maddie got together. After that Cybill missed half the next season because she was pregnant and Bruce was growing tired of the role and wanted to go into movies. After Die Hard became a big hit, the writing was on the wall. ABC tried it's best to kill the series which they did. The final episaode aired on a Sunday night in May 1989 opposite the final episode of Family Ties and it was soundly beaten that night. I watched Ties live and recorded Moonlighting and watched it later in the week. A sad ending to a once great show.
	__________________ Sonny

05-23-2012, 07:37 PM	#9
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	Moonlighting was a much bigger hit. It was a top 20 show for most of it's run and earned record Emmy nominations. Community while beloved by a cult group of loyal fans has been nowhere near a hit and hasn't reached the unanimous acclaim that Moonlighting got in it's heyday.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

05-24-2012, 02:39 AM	#12
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	I think it's harder to define what a "hit" is now. Obviously Community is something of a hit to be around for four seasons. It's profitable in some way, otherwise it'd have been cancelled. It's not a smash, but saying it's "nowhere near a hit" isn't quite right either in my opinion. Networks don't renew shows year after year for charity. People tend to use the top 20 barometer for defining hit shows and I think that's irrelevant these days with so many channels. Shows like The Office and Glee have never been in the top 20, does that mean they aren't hits?
	__________________ "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

05-22-2012, 12:15 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I'll take your word for it - I've never actually seen the show.

05-22-2012, 04:32 PM	#4
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	I don't think I'd consider Community a "commercial hit" with only 3 million viewers.

05-23-2012, 12:11 AM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,188	i think Community will always be a niche show with a small but dedicated following - it is really too complex and requires too much background knowledge for anyone new to the show to just jump in and get into it, so I don't see their numbers growing.

05-23-2012, 12:21 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	It will be interesting to see what happens after their 13 episode renewal cycle is through.

05-23-2012, 07:04 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Really went out with a whimper, huh? I never got to see Moonlighting when it was originally on - I wasn't allowed to watch it. I think that was mainly because it was on past my bedtime and for adult content - except probably a lot of it would've gone over my head at that young an age. The DVDs are at my library - I'll have to check them out one of these days.

05-23-2012, 08:14 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Cool - and he got an Emmy for the show, too.

05-24-2012, 04:54 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^