The Rise & Fall of Must See TV, TGIF, & SNICK - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-09-2012, 03:31 AM

During the '90s, these were to me at least, the three biggest end of the weekday prime time TV blocks, Must See TV on NBC on Thursdays, TGIF on ABC on Fridays, and SNICK on Nickelodeon on Saturday. I was kind of inspired by the recent book by Warren Littlefield (NBC's entertainment president during the glory days of Must See TV). I wish that somebody there would write books regarding TGIF (and its failed relaunch from 2003-05) and SNICK (and really, Nickelodeon's downfall as of late in general).

ajgenard · 06-09-2012, 09:02 AM

Totally agree. In the 90s it seemed like the TV world revolved around these few blocks. They actually became "events" that you'd schedule into your life. I've been meaning to check out Warren Littlefield's book. It definitely seems like an interesting read. Any book covering TGIF or SNICK would be great as well. I'd really like to get my hands on a book detailing the changes television as a whole has gone through over the past 20-30 years, mostly for the worse. Having an all-inclusive volume with some specifics on the big increase in commercial time, decline of family-oriented programming, skyrocketing costs in television, etc. would be really handy. Anybody know of a book like that?

Regulus · 06-09-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgenard

Totally agree. In the 90s it seemed like the TV world revolved around these few blocks. They actually became "events" that you'd schedule into your life. I've been meaning to check out Warren Littlefield's book. It definitely seems like an interesting read. Any book covering TGIF or SNICK would be great as well. I'd really like to get my hands on a book detailing the changes television as a whole has gone through over the past 20-30 years, mostly for the worse. Having an all-inclusive volume with some specifics on the big increase in commercial time, decline of family-oriented programming, skyrocketing costs in television, etc. would be really handy. Anybody know of a book like that?

I haven't heard of a Book with those in it, but I read an article put out by an Economist saying that the next major Economic "Meltdown" will involve the Television Industry.

yankeesrj12 · 06-09-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

I haven't heard of a Book with those in it, but I read an article put out by an Economist saying that the next major Economic "Meltdown" will involve the Television Industry.

Kind of like how the movie industry was supposed to die soon? I don't really buy either argument...at least not in the next 50 years.

mets82 · 06-09-2012, 10:24 PM

Even though its not a primetime block, what about TNBC on Saturday mornings? It used to be on NBC with Saved by the Bell, California Dreams, [NBA Inside Stuff, Hang Time, City Guys etc. Then what did they do? They put on some Discovery crap.

Technically, Must See TV is still around even though its not the glory days of Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier etc. I dont watch Must See TV and I really dont miss it.

TGIF, I miss. Boy Meets World, Family Matters, Step by Step. Now it wouldnt shock me if they just air reruns on Fridays because that and Saturday nights are dead nights as far as tv goes.

I dont remember SNICK but I do remember prime time on Nick at Nite which was great. I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke Show, Happy Days etc.

Sadly, all three of these primetime blocks as well as TNBC are gone.

Buffyboy323 · 06-10-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgenard

In the 90s it seemed like the TV world revolved around these few blocks. They actually became "events" that you'd schedule into your life.

EXACTLY. And this made television mean so much more. It wasn't just a simple click away, and you can watch an enitre series in a few days. You spent YEARS with these shows and characters, and they meant something to you. You grew up with them. There is no appointment TV anymore. And really, it sucks.

tlc38tlc38 · 06-14-2012, 08:21 PM

An event it was. Every Friday night I HAD to watch TGIF! I bought (and still have) an Urkel doll and was him for Halloween one year and I had a big crush on Topanga. Step By Step and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper were also favorites. I liked Sabrina and Clueless but once Family Matters and Step By Step left and went over to CBS, TGIF started to quickly die.

Anyone else remember Teen Angel, Odd Man Out, and You Wish on TGIF? They didn't last long but they were kinda cute. I wish Odd Man Out lasted longer than it did.

kattviews · 06-14-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffyboy323

There is no appointment TV anymore. And really, it sucks.

Thanks to reality TV!

There is too much reality tv.

I'm getting tired of them.

DSfan · 06-14-2012, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

An event it was. Every Friday night I HAD to watch TGIF! I bought (and still have) an Urkel doll and was him for Halloween one year and I had a big crush on Topanga. Step By Step and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper were also favorites. I liked Sabrina and Clueless but once Family Matters and Step By Step left and went over to CBS, TGIF started to quickly die.

Anyone else remember Teen Angel, Odd Man Out, and You Wish on TGIF? They didn't last long but they were kinda cute. I wish Odd Man Out lasted longer than it did.

I remember I liked Odd Man Out but also weren't there a lot of characters? I remember watching it infreqeuntly and being really confused about who was who haha

Mr. Television · 06-15-2012, 12:12 AM

After Family Matters & Step by Step left, I was done with TGIF.

hawkeye123 · 06-15-2012, 01:59 AM

I loved TGIF friday was by far my fav day of the week.I couldn't wait to get off school and go home and watch full house,family matters,step by step,boy meets world,perfect strangers,mr.belvedare,just the ten of us.I could go on and on.There we're so many great shows involved in tgif.Through out the years.I would love to read a book like that to.To be honest i don't have any idea what happened to it.I just know in my later teen years i watched very little tv and when i came back to it.It was gone.But it really was great tv.The charecthors we're awesome and you watched them for so long.You cared about them like they we're friends.

hawkeye123 · 06-15-2012, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

I loved TGIF friday was by far my fav day of the week.I couldn't wait to get off school and go home and watch full house,family matters,step by step,boy meets world,perfect strangers,mr.belvedare,just the ten of us.I could go on and on.There we're so many great shows involved in tgif.Through out the years.I would love to read a book like that to.To be honest i don't have any idea what happened to it.I just know in my later teen years i watched very little tv and when i came back to it.It was gone.But it really was great tv.The charecthors we're awesome and you watched them for so long.You cared about them like they we're friends.

I looked on wikipedia, and it looks like they kind of ruined it. For themselves by getting rid of all there shows.full house,step by step, and family matters .All went to cbs.But yeah i stopped watching in 97.When the only good shows left, we're boy meets world and sabrina the teenage witch.

EmoJoe · 06-15-2012, 02:40 AM

In terms of quality, NBC's Thursday night line-up now > NBC's Thursday night line up in the 90s.

As for TGIF, the kid/family orientated shows simply moved to cable (Disney and Nick). Shows like Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place wouldn't have been out of place Friday nights on ABC in the '90s.

hawkeye123 · 06-15-2012, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmoJoe

In terms of quality, NBC's Thursday night line-up now > NBC's Thursday night line up in the 90s.

As for TGIF, the kid/family orientated shows simply moved to cable (Disney and Nick). Shows like Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place wouldn't have been out of place Friday nights on ABC in the '90s.

My fav was and is TGIF and always will be.There are a lot of funny shows now days.But too me personally they could never touch what tgif did

The difference between tgif and shows now days.They don't really have any moral value or teaching of good lessons.

Mr. Television · 06-15-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmoJoe

In terms of quality, NBC's Thursday night line-up now > NBC's Thursday night line up in the 90s.

As for TGIF, the kid/family orientated shows simply moved to cable (Disney and Nick). Shows like Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place wouldn't have been out of place Friday nights on ABC in the '90s.

The only show on NBC's lineup in the 90's that I liked was Seinfeld and I didn't watch it all the time because it was only a half-hour out of the whole night. NBC's lineup in the 80's was better....Cosby, Family Ties, Cheers and Night Court.

Good Luck Charlie is a very good show. It's the only Disney show I watch. You're right. It would have fit in with the rest of the TGIF lineup.

06-09-2012, 03:31 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,347	The Rise & Fall of Must See TV, TGIF, & SNICK During the '90s, these were to me at least, the three biggest end of the weekday prime time TV blocks, Must See TV on NBC on Thursdays, TGIF on ABC on Fridays, and SNICK on Nickelodeon on Saturday. I was kind of inspired by the recent book by Warren Littlefield (NBC's entertainment president during the glory days of Must See TV). I wish that somebody there would write books regarding TGIF (and its failed relaunch from 2003-05) and SNICK (and really, Nickelodeon's downfall as of late in general).

06-09-2012, 10:24 PM	#5
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Even though its not a primetime block, what about TNBC on Saturday mornings? It used to be on NBC with Saved by the Bell, California Dreams, [NBA Inside Stuff, Hang Time, City Guys etc. Then what did they do? They put on some Discovery crap. Technically, Must See TV is still around even though its not the glory days of Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier etc. I dont watch Must See TV and I really dont miss it. TGIF, I miss. Boy Meets World, Family Matters, Step by Step. Now it wouldnt shock me if they just air reruns on Fridays because that and Saturday nights are dead nights as far as tv goes. I dont remember SNICK but I do remember prime time on Nick at Nite which was great. I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke Show, Happy Days etc. Sadly, all three of these primetime blocks as well as TNBC are gone.
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06-15-2012, 12:12 AM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	After Family Matters & Step by Step left, I was done with TGIF.
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06-15-2012, 01:59 AM	#11
hawkeye123 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Posts: 1,390	I loved TGIF friday was by far my fav day of the week.I couldn't wait to get off school and go home and watch full house,family matters,step by step,boy meets world,perfect strangers,mr.belvedare,just the ten of us.I could go on and on.There we're so many great shows involved in tgif.Through out the years.I would love to read a book like that to.To be honest i don't have any idea what happened to it.I just know in my later teen years i watched very little tv and when i came back to it.It was gone.But it really was great tv.The charecthors we're awesome and you watched them for so long.You cared about them like they we're friends.
	__________________ You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and, loved more than you know.

06-15-2012, 02:40 AM	#13
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	In terms of quality, NBC's Thursday night line-up now > NBC's Thursday night line up in the 90s. As for TGIF, the kid/family orientated shows simply moved to cable (Disney and Nick). Shows like Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place wouldn't have been out of place Friday nights on ABC in the '90s.
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06-09-2012, 09:02 AM	#2
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	Totally agree. In the 90s it seemed like the TV world revolved around these few blocks. They actually became "events" that you'd schedule into your life. I've been meaning to check out Warren Littlefield's book. It definitely seems like an interesting read. Any book covering TGIF or SNICK would be great as well. I'd really like to get my hands on a book detailing the changes television as a whole has gone through over the past 20-30 years, mostly for the worse. Having an all-inclusive volume with some specifics on the big increase in commercial time, decline of family-oriented programming, skyrocketing costs in television, etc. would be really handy. Anybody know of a book like that?

06-14-2012, 08:21 PM	#7
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,258	An event it was. Every Friday night I HAD to watch TGIF! I bought (and still have) an Urkel doll and was him for Halloween one year and I had a big crush on Topanga. Step By Step and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper were also favorites. I liked Sabrina and Clueless but once Family Matters and Step By Step left and went over to CBS, TGIF started to quickly die. Anyone else remember Teen Angel, Odd Man Out, and You Wish on TGIF? They didn't last long but they were kinda cute. I wish Odd Man Out lasted longer than it did.