The 20 Biggest Mess-Ups/Mistakes in CBS History - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 09-16-2013, 01:55 AM

One of the biggest screw-ups involving CBS that first and foremost comes to my mind is allowing the NFL to leave (after being on CBS for 38 years) for the upstart Fox network in late 1993. This gave Fox a ton and I mean a ton of credibility and severely crippled CBS for the mid-part of the '90s at least. Without the NFL, it became much harder for CBS to promote their shows. More to the point, CBS' affiliates who were wary w/o the NFL for the foreseeable future moved over to Fox beginning in 1994.

MrCleveland · 09-16-2013, 05:26 PM

When Viacom owned CBS.

It may have helped CBS with "Survivor", but when there came a buttload of Reality Shows...it became a hindrance!

Zoneboy · 09-16-2013, 05:52 PM

Getting rid of every show with a tree in it.

Mace Dolex · 09-16-2013, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

When Viacom owned CBS.

I'm not really on the up and up that I wouldn't see how a small entity like Viacom can affect CBS, I just remember seeing the Viacom logos on several sitcoms.

catlover79 · 09-17-2013, 12:57 PM

When Les Moonves took over as president of the network. Among his crimes were cancelling one of my favorite new shows (Christy) and putting his wife on one of those millions of reality shows (Julie Chen - Big Brother) and one of the million pointless talk shows (The Talk).

UMFaninMD · 09-17-2013, 08:05 PM

When they moved Murder She Wrote from its Sunday timeslot where it was doing really well in the ratings to Thursdays up against NBC's Friends. The show's ratings plummeted and eventually it was gone. I think this may have been around the time CBS was tired of being known as "the old people network."

catlover79 · 09-17-2013, 08:10 PM

Angela Lansbury, of course, is still going strong. I bet she could still play the heck out of Jessica Fletcher today.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-17-2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Angela Lansbury, of course, is still going strong. I bet she could still play the heck out of Jessica Fletcher today.

I think a "Murder, She Wrote" reunion movie is something we're all hoping for! It would truly make my day! It would be ideal for Hallmark channel to produce and air.

UMFaninMD · 09-18-2013, 07:44 PM

Murder, She Wrote is still going strong with a series of novels. The writer, Donald Bain, does a great job with Jessica's character and they're a lot of fun to read. But I would love a reunion movie too!

benjamoon · 09-19-2013, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

When Les Moonves took over as president of the network. Among his crimes were cancelling one of my favorite new shows (Christy) and putting his wife on one of those millions of reality shows (Julie Chen - Big Brother) and one of the million pointless talk shows (The Talk).

You can not like Les Moonves, but he has been the best thing to happen to CBS. He joined CBS when it was mired in third place and has taken it to consistent ratings wins in viewers and now the demo as well

treky · 09-19-2013, 01:13 AM

canceling all there rural sitcoms

James · 09-20-2013, 01:17 PM

not canceling "Big Brother"

letting "Two and a Half Men" last as long as it did

foisting "All in the Family" on the American public

canceling "Joan of Arcadia" after just two seasons

treky · 09-20-2013, 02:57 PM

not canceling TWO AND A HALF MEN when Charlie sheen was fired.
canceling C.S.I.: NEW YORK.

catlover79 · 09-23-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I think a "Murder, She Wrote" reunion movie is something we're all hoping for! It would truly make my day! It would be ideal for Hallmark channel to produce and air.

They should do it!! I'd watch!!

EmoJoe · 09-23-2013, 01:31 PM

CBS is my personal least favorite of the big 4 networks, but I can't really think of any big mistakes they've made in recent years. They're a pretty tightly run ship.

The one misstep I can think of is moving 2 Broke Girls to the Monday anchor slot before it was ready, which weakened the entire line-up. But that earned them a stronger Thursday line-up with Big Bang/Two and a Half Men, so...

09-16-2013, 01:55 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,384	The 20 Biggest Mess-Ups/Mistakes in CBS History One of the biggest screw-ups involving CBS that first and foremost comes to my mind is allowing the NFL to leave (after being on CBS for 38 years) for the upstart Fox network in late 1993. This gave Fox a ton and I mean a ton of credibility and severely crippled CBS for the mid-part of the '90s at least. Without the NFL, it became much harder for CBS to promote their shows. More to the point, CBS' affiliates who were wary w/o the NFL for the foreseeable future moved over to Fox beginning in 1994.
	Last edited by TMC; 10-09-2013 at 06:32 PM.

09-16-2013, 05:26 PM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	When Viacom owned CBS. It may have helped CBS with "Survivor", but when there came a buttload of Reality Shows...it became a hindrance!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

09-16-2013, 05:52 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Getting rid of every show with a tree in it.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

09-17-2013, 12:57 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	When Les Moonves took over as president of the network. Among his crimes were cancelling one of my favorite new shows (Christy) and putting his wife on one of those millions of reality shows (Julie Chen - Big Brother) and one of the million pointless talk shows (The Talk).
	__________________ "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

09-19-2013, 01:13 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	canceling all there rural sitcoms
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

09-17-2013, 08:05 PM	#6
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	When they moved Murder She Wrote from its Sunday timeslot where it was doing really well in the ratings to Thursdays up against NBC's Friends. The show's ratings plummeted and eventually it was gone. I think this may have been around the time CBS was tired of being known as "the old people network."

09-17-2013, 08:10 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Angela Lansbury, of course, is still going strong. I bet she could still play the heck out of Jessica Fletcher today.

09-18-2013, 07:44 PM	#9
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Murder, She Wrote is still going strong with a series of novels. The writer, Donald Bain, does a great job with Jessica's character and they're a lot of fun to read. But I would love a reunion movie too!

09-20-2013, 01:17 PM	#12
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	not canceling "Big Brother" letting "Two and a Half Men" last as long as it did foisting "All in the Family" on the American public canceling "Joan of Arcadia" after just two seasons

09-20-2013, 02:57 PM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	not canceling TWO AND A HALF MEN when Charlie sheen was fired. canceling C.S.I.: NEW YORK.

09-23-2013, 01:31 PM	#15
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	CBS is my personal least favorite of the big 4 networks, but I can't really think of any big mistakes they've made in recent years. They're a pretty tightly run ship. The one misstep I can think of is moving 2 Broke Girls to the Monday anchor slot before it was ready, which weakened the entire line-up. But that earned them a stronger Thursday line-up with Big Bang/Two and a Half Men, so...
	__________________ "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