Silver Spoons Boned the Fish When...

[TMC]

http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?311

Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987. The series was produced by Embassy Television for the first four seasons, until Columbia Pictures Television took production of the series with the move to syndication.

[TMC]

The show arguably went downhill after Derek (Jason Bateman) was gone from the show. Ricky needed a foil in the same way that for example Richie needed one with Fonzie on Happy Days or Wally needed with Eddie Haskell on Leave It To Beaver. In other words, Derek was the antithesis of Ricky and usually would do the wrong thing, but every now and then he would do the right thing. Ricky was more book-smart than Derek, but Derek was more street-smart than Ricky.

[KentB3]

I voted for taking the arcade games and train out of the house. This more than likely was due to the fact that Ricky Schroder had grown up and this made the house and show look more child-like, but this was like taking the heart out of Silver Spoons.

Actually, I think the real factor that "boned the fish" wasn't even listed in this poll; moving the show to Sunday at 7pm, opposite 60 Minutes. Nearly every show that airs against 60 Minutes gets trounced in the ratings, even some very good shows such as Life Goes On, which very likely would have had a much longer run in another time slot. That show was planned to get cancelled at the end of the 1991-92 season, and was only renewed for its fourth season unexpectedly and at the last minute!

Oddly enough, most of the shows that have aired in the Sunday 7-8pm timeslot opposite 60 Minutes are kid-themed (such as Silver Spoons and Punky Brewster) and/or family dramas (such as Our House and Life Goes On); both types of show which draw a much younger demographic than 60 Minutes (which skews much older in its audience), and sadly network programmers often don't take that into consideration.

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by TMC

The show arguably went downhill after Derek (Jason Bateman) was gone from the show. Ricky needed a foil in the same way that for example Richie needed one with Fonzie on Happy Days or Wally needed with Eddie Haskell on Leave It To Beaver. In other words, Derek was the antithesis of Ricky and usually would do the wrong thing, but every now and then he would do the right thing. Ricky was more book-smart than Derek, but Derek was more street-smart than Ricky.

That is a good point. Personally, I think Alfonso was a very good character on the show, though he didn't seem to have the same comic relief that Derek had, and was more like a "best pal" than a foil to Ricky.

It was rumored that Ricky Schroder or his Mom (depending on what version of this rumor you heard or believe) wanted him off the show since he was drawing a bigger fanbase and getting more fan mail, though Schroder and the show's producers denied this; the producers wanted to try Bateman on a show of his own (It's Your Move) since they thought he was really talented as an actor.

This is not uncommon when a TV series has a breakout star. For example, on Alice, all three of the core cast members in Mel's Diner (Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, and Beth Howland; especially Lavin) wanted Polly Holiday off the show since her character Flo drew the fans like a storm!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by KentB3

I voted for taking the arcade games and train out of the house. This more than likely was due to the fact that Ricky Schroder had grown up and this made the house and show look more child-like, but this was like taking the heart out of Silver Spoons.

Actually, I think the real factor that "boned the fish" wasn't even listed in this poll; moving the show to Sunday at 7pm, opposite 60 Minutes. Nearly every show that airs against 60 Minutes gets trounced in the ratings, even some very good shows such as Life Goes On, which very likely would have had a much longer run in another time slot. That show was planned to get cancelled at the end of the 1991-92 season, and was only renewed for its fourth season unexpectedly and at the last minute!

Oddly enough, most of the shows that have aired in the Sunday 7-8pm timeslot opposite 60 Minutes are kid-themed (such as Silver Spoons and Punky Brewster) and/or family dramas (such as Our House and Life Goes On); both types of show which draw a much younger demographic than 60 Minutes (which skews much older in its audience), and sadly network programmers often don't take that into consideration.

NBC having first-run shows in the Sunday 7 PM timeslot seem to be troublesome (at least if you lived on the East Coast) considering that at the time, they broadcast afternoon American Football Conference, National Football League games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punky_Brewster#Synopsis

Beginning in 1984, NBC aired the sitcom on Sundays. Because the show had many young viewers and was scheduled after football games (which tended to run long), six fifteen-minute episodes were produced. This was done rather than joining a full-length episode in progress, so as not to disappoint children watching the program.[5]

[AntennaTV2020]

This show jumped the shark when Derek (Jason Bateman) was written off the show. Jason Bateman was the only thing worth watching on this crappy show.

[Svenfan1234]

I can't wait till it comes to Antenna in 2018! Logo butchered it too much, similar to how they hacked up the One Day at a Time episodes.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by AntennaTV2020

This show jumped the shark when Derek (Jason Bateman) was written off the show. Jason Bateman was the only thing worth watching on this crappy show.

No he wasn't the only thing but he sure was a breakout star. He left for his own show which unfortunately was canceled far too soon.

[Wildchats]

The show deserved one more season. It should have ended in 1988. Both this and Gimme A Break were cancelled in 1987 and didn't have proper send offs.

[Sonny Carson]

Originally Posted by TMC

The show arguably went downhill after Derek (Jason Bateman) was gone from the show. Ricky needed a foil in the same way that for example Richie needed one with Fonzie on Happy Days or Wally needed with Eddie Haskell on Leave It To Beaver. In other words, Derek was the antithesis of Ricky and usually would do the wrong thing, but every now and then he would do the right thing. Ricky was more book-smart than Derek, but Derek was more street-smart than Ricky.

Yep Bateman leaving was pretty much the end. But I think the show really went completely downhill when Corky Piegon as Freddy was taken off the show. Ricky Schroeder was reportedly dissatisfied with Bateman getting acclaim for playing Derek. People had also really liked Piegon as Freddie. Schroeder may have had him taken off too.

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by Sonny Carson

Yep Bateman leaving was pretty much the end. But I think the show really went completely downhill when Corky Piegon as Freddy was taken off the show. Ricky Schroeder was reportedly dissatisfied with Bateman getting acclaim for playing Derek. People had also really liked Piegon as Freddie. Schroeder may have had him taken off too.

Everything I have heard about that was this was just a rumor, and was even denied by then-president on NBC Brandon Tartikoff. Tartikoff said that he thought Jason Bateman was really talented, so this was one of the reasons he got his own show (the short-lived It's Your Moved). Also, Ricky Schroder does not seem to be the type of actor who gets slighted when someone else on their show becomes the breakout star. Some believe this may have been his mother's doing instead of Ricky himself, but I doubt that as well, and tend to go with Tartikoff's explanation.

[icecream]

I have only seen the later episodes in the weekday run since I got Antenna TV back two weeks ago. I have liked the show a lot more than The Hogan Family, which had Jason Bateman the whole run. I would say he is really overrated, Silver Spoons went on fine without him. Jason's sister Justine is a lot more appealing on her show Family Ties.

[stevea]

I think the early characters like J. T., Freddy, and especially Derek added a lot to the show.

But I don't think this show had a real jump the shark moment.

[Torgo]

Watched the show during its original run, when Bateman left I lost interest, I've tried watching it again more recently and just could not get into it.

[Svenfan1234]

Originally Posted by Torgo

Watched the show during its original run, when Bateman left I lost interest, I've tried watching it again more recently and just could not get into it.

I like Silver Spoons, mostly Seasons 2-5 are the best. Season 1 has its moments but for the most part, I like the later seasons better! Except when they got rid of the train.