Could a show like 'Boy Meets World' work today? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 08-09-2014, 03:16 AM

Girl Meets World obviously with-standing. My point is, I wonder if in general, otherwise "sincere", "slice-of-life", and/or coming-of-age youth-oriented sitcoms like Boy Meets World could be successful today? It seems like more than often, if you want to make a sitcom about kids (it's not just Disney Channel, but also the stuff that Nickelodeon puts like like Dan Schneider's shows for instance) it has to be very gimmicky or overtly wacky (e.g. very slapstick-focused w/ a lot of manic, hyperactive acting).

Good Luck Charlie was the most recent "kidcom" that I can immediately think of that had a mostly grounded or down-to-earth premise (instead of something that boarders on what I would consider "wishful fulfillment"). The Goldbergs (even though it owes more to The Wonder Years than multi-camera, TGIF era shows like Boy Meets World) is arguably the closest current/recent network show that I can think of.

Despite all of this, I would be hard-pressed if ABC under its current management, will ever give us a proper or traditional, two hour, family-oriented Friday night block under the TGIF brand anytime soon. It's as if they want to say that they don't need something like that anymore since they already have the Disney Channel and to a certain extent ABC Family for stuff like that.

Another problem is that both Disney Channel and Nickelodeon seem intent on primarily making shows for young girls. I can't think of any live-action Disney Channel (Disney XD doesn't count) show in the past five or so years outside of The Suite Life..., which had a male lead.

king of comedy · 08-09-2014, 07:22 AM

Boy meets World would be better off on the Disney Channel.

tlc38tlc38 · 08-09-2014, 09:59 AM

I don't think we'll ever see a family/kidcom show on a major network again. I would love to see another TGIF type program block but I just don't see it ever happening.

king of comedy · 08-10-2014, 06:42 AM

Times have changed and the closest would be on ABC on Wensday night.

Spark Of Spirit · 08-11-2014, 01:11 PM

Unfortunately, no. Wholesome programming has long since been banished from the four major networks.

Darmund · 08-16-2014, 01:42 AM

What is so bad about there being few shows that have male leads? I think it's a nice change of pace considering that was the status quo for the past 60+ years of tv.

As for Boy Meets World, let's be honest it has aged pretty badly as has most of the multi camera sitcoms from that time period. The acting by the kids ranges from passable to horrible and every episode comes across as "A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE OF..." feel to them.

Watching gthe Wonder Years I don't get that feeling.

king of comedy · 08-16-2014, 07:14 AM

I loved The Wonder Years. This one will stand the test of time.

king of comedy · 08-16-2014, 07:42 AM

I mean The Wonder Years will stand the test of time.

vampirevsrobot · 08-24-2014, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I don't think we'll ever see a family/kidcom show on a major network again. I would love to see another TGIF type program block but I just don't see it ever happening.

I don't think so either, because at some point in the 1990's the moronic single tv executive, fresh from college thought that family comedies and kid coms were the same all along.

In the process, they blew away four decades of "family viewing".

And so all the dumb programming executives ideas from the late 90's washed away all the family sitcoms and sent them (along with the rest of America) straight to cable, but just for the kids.

They never were able to differentiate between the two.

... and because of that, this washed away all the family sitcom's from network TV all together.

Now the sought after 18-49 (family) demographic or 12-24 (family) or 18-34 (family) is lost to some strange parallel TV universe where cheap so-called 'reality' shows and multiple middle aged actors can resurrect their fledgling careers in crime drama spin off's.

So yeah, that's what happened...

Blackout · 09-16-2014, 09:00 PM

i fail to see how Girl Meets World would do any worse than some of these piece of **** shows coming out in 2014 like "Blackish"

i give that show 2 episodes before Fox cancels it.

king of comedy · 09-16-2014, 09:47 PM

Blackish will be on ABC.

TMC · 01-22-2015, 03:55 AM

I think that BMW has arguably held up better than most other TGIF shows (e.g. the Miller-Boyett shows and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) or other "kidcoms" of its era (e.g. Saved by the Bell) because 1) A lot of the issues that were discussed are still prevalent today 2) It was much more nuanced and grounded than other shows of 3) It didn't for the most part, handle issues in a prototypical "kidcom"/"family sitcom" way (i.e. too on the nose or sounding too much like a PSA/after school special)

08-09-2014, 03:16 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,442	Could a show like 'Boy Meets World' work today? Girl Meets World obviously with-standing. My point is, I wonder if in general, otherwise "sincere", "slice-of-life", and/or coming-of-age youth-oriented sitcoms like Boy Meets World could be successful today? It seems like more than often, if you want to make a sitcom about kids (it's not just Disney Channel, but also the stuff that Nickelodeon puts like like Dan Schneider's shows for instance) it has to be very gimmicky or overtly wacky (e.g. very slapstick-focused w/ a lot of manic, hyperactive acting). Good Luck Charlie was the most recent "kidcom" that I can immediately think of that had a mostly grounded or down-to-earth premise (instead of something that boarders on what I would consider "wishful fulfillment"). The Goldbergs (even though it owes more to The Wonder Years than multi-camera, TGIF era shows like Boy Meets World) is arguably the closest current/recent network show that I can think of. Despite all of this, I would be hard-pressed if ABC under its current management, will ever give us a proper or traditional, two hour, family-oriented Friday night block under the TGIF brand anytime soon. It's as if they want to say that they don't need something like that anymore since they already have the Disney Channel and to a certain extent ABC Family for stuff like that. Another problem is that both Disney Channel and Nickelodeon seem intent on primarily making shows for young girls. I can't think of any live-action Disney Channel (Disney XD doesn't count) show in the past five or so years outside of The Suite Life..., which had a male lead.

08-09-2014, 09:59 AM	#3
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,258	I don't think we'll ever see a family/kidcom show on a major network again. I would love to see another TGIF type program block but I just don't see it ever happening.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

08-11-2014, 01:11 PM	#5
Spark Of Spirit Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 20, 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 563	Unfortunately, no. Wholesome programming has long since been banished from the four major networks.
	__________________ “A thing may be too sad to be believed or too wicked to be believed or too good to be believed; but it cannot be too absurd to be believed in this planet of frogs and elephants, of crocodiles and cuttle-fish.” ― G.K. Chesterton

09-16-2014, 09:00 PM	#10
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,236	i fail to see how Girl Meets World would do any worse than some of these piece of **** shows coming out in 2014 like "Blackish" i give that show 2 episodes before Fox cancels it.
	__________________ MOHRIOR

08-09-2014, 07:22 AM	#2
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Boy meets World would be better off on the Disney Channel.

08-10-2014, 06:42 AM	#4
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Times have changed and the closest would be on ABC on Wensday night.

08-16-2014, 01:42 AM	#6
Darmund Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2014 Posts: 11	What is so bad about there being few shows that have male leads? I think it's a nice change of pace considering that was the status quo for the past 60+ years of tv. As for Boy Meets World, let's be honest it has aged pretty badly as has most of the multi camera sitcoms from that time period. The acting by the kids ranges from passable to horrible and every episode comes across as "A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE OF..." feel to them. Watching gthe Wonder Years I don't get that feeling.

08-16-2014, 07:14 AM	#7
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I loved The Wonder Years. This one will stand the test of time.

08-16-2014, 07:42 AM	#8
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I mean The Wonder Years will stand the test of time.

09-16-2014, 09:47 PM	#11
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Blackish will be on ABC.

01-22-2015, 03:55 AM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,442	I think that BMW has arguably held up better than most other TGIF shows (e.g. the Miller-Boyett shows and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) or other "kidcoms" of its era (e.g. Saved by the Bell) because 1) A lot of the issues that were discussed are still prevalent today 2) It was much more nuanced and grounded than other shows of 3) It didn't for the most part, handle issues in a prototypical "kidcom"/"family sitcom" way (i.e. too on the nose or sounding too much like a PSA/after school special)