Network TV shows with shortened/abbreviated seasons - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 09-13-2014, 03:42 AM

Which shows on U.S. network/broadcast television have had shortened or abbreviated seasons?

A "full" season usually consists of at least 20 episodes or more (22 is considered the average). A "shortened" season, or an "abbreviated" season usually consists of 19 episodes or less.

For example, most network TV shows that start out as midseason replacements usually have their first seasons be shortened, rarely running for more than 13 or so episodes due to the limited amount of time available before the broadcast TV season ends.

bmasters9 · 09-13-2014, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

Which shows on U.S. network/broadcast television have had shortened or abbreviated seasons?

A "full" season usually consists of at least 20 episodes or more (22 is considered the average). A "shortened" season, or an "abbreviated" season usually consists of 19 episodes or less.

For example, most network TV shows that start out as midseason replacements usually have their first seasons be shortened, rarely running for more than 13 or so episodes due to the limited amount of time available before the broadcast TV season ends.

Barney Miller was a midseason replacement in January of '75 (13 shows), and so was Dynasty in January of '81 (13 as well, including a 3-hr. pilot).

tlc38tlc38 · 09-13-2014, 05:26 AM

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: season 1 (12 episodes)
Mama's Family: season 1 (13 episodes)
Mister Ed: season 6 (13 episodes)

bmasters9 · 09-13-2014, 08:06 AM

Original Dallas in 1978 had its "miniseries" (referred to as season 1 in the DVD release of the first two seasons) to run for only 5 shows.

comedyfreak · 09-13-2014, 08:11 AM

Three's company's 1st season only had 6 episodes.

biffbronson · 09-13-2014, 09:40 AM

Nanny and the Professor (Richard Long/Juliet Mills) -- Mid-season replacement. Season 1: only 15 episodes

Adamantium · 09-13-2014, 03:53 PM

NewsRadio - Season 1 (7 episodes)
Wings - Season 1 (6 episodes - though a 7th was made but aired in season 2)
The Office - Season 1 (6 episodes)
These Friends of Mine / Ellen - Season 1 (13 episodes)
Community - Season 4 (13 episodes)
Community - Season 5 (13 episodes)
Happy Days - Season 1 (16 episodes)

treky · 09-13-2014, 05:24 PM

ALL IN THE FAMILY started as a mid-season replacement in 1971

The 3rd season of DALLAS on TNT has been split into 2 halves-they're currently showing the 2nd half. (and I think it's great that they're doing that-that guarantees that it won't get like the last couple seasons of the original one)

Frenky · 09-13-2014, 06:07 PM

The Simpsons - Season 1
Married with Children - Season 1
21 Jump Street - Season

Practically every show on FOX during 1986-87 TV season since FOX started in April '87.

Grand - Season 1
Wings - Season 1
The Jeffersons - Season 1
Sanford and Son - Season 1

There a lot of shows which had shortened season.

BigManMike · 09-13-2014, 07:23 PM

The Facts of Life- Season 1: 13 episodes
The Facts of Life- Season 2: 16 episodes
Diff'rent Strokes- Season 8: 19 episodes
Two and a Half Men- Season 5: 19 episodes
Two and a Half Men- Season 8: 16 episodes

James28 · 09-13-2014, 07:33 PM

A rare example of midseason shows which managed to fit a full season's worth of episodes in the period between January and May:

Season 1 of 3rd Rock from the Sun had 20 episodes. The episodes ran (almost) uninterrupted on Tuesdays (except for one Sunday airing in April).

Seasons 4 to 8 of 24 had 24 episodes each. There were three special 2-hour airings for each of those seasons (two at the beginning of the season and one at the end).

bmasters9 · 09-14-2014, 04:33 AM

L.A. Law had 20 and 19 episodes in seasons 2 and 3, respectively.

James28 · 09-14-2014, 06:00 AM

All of the five seasons of Moonlighting were abbreviated, and only 66 episodes were produced In total.

Season One had 6 episodes.
Season Two had 18 episodes.
Season Three had 15 episodes.
Season Four had 14 episodes.
Season Five had 13 episodes.

Rules of Engagement on CBS ran for seven seasons (early 2007-2013), but only one of its seasons (its fifth) was a full season. Only 100 episodes of that series were produced.

Season One had 7 episodes.
Seasons Two and Six had 15 episodes each.
Seasons Three, Four and Seven had 13 episodes each.
Season Five had 24 episodes.

bmasters9 · 09-14-2014, 06:58 AM

Hart to Hart had 20 shows in No. 2 (1980-81) because of the 1980 actors' strike.

comedyfreak · 09-14-2014, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

All of the five seasons of Moonlighting were abbreviated, and only 66 episodes were produced In total.

Season One had 6 episodes.
Season Two had 18 episodes.
Season Three had 15 episodes.
Season Four had 14 episodes.
Season Five had 13 episodes.

Rules of Engagement on CBS ran for seven seasons (early 2007-2013), but only one of its seasons (its fifth) was a full season. Only 100 episodes of that series were produced.

Season One had 7 episodes.
Seasons Two and Six had 15 episodes each.
Seasons Three, Four and Seven had 13 episodes each.
Season Five had 24 episodes.

I really liked Rules Of Engagement too bad the Network had no respect for the show it did well in the ratings and was still cancelled.

09-13-2014, 03:42 AM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,981	Network TV shows with shortened/abbreviated seasons Which shows on U.S. network/broadcast television have had shortened or abbreviated seasons? A "full" season usually consists of at least 20 episodes or more (22 is considered the average). A "shortened" season, or an "abbreviated" season usually consists of 19 episodes or less. For example, most network TV shows that start out as midseason replacements usually have their first seasons be shortened, rarely running for more than 13 or so episodes due to the limited amount of time available before the broadcast TV season ends.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

09-13-2014, 05:26 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	Buffy the Vampire Slayer: season 1 (12 episodes) Mama's Family: season 1 (13 episodes) Mister Ed: season 6 (13 episodes)
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09-13-2014, 08:11 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Three's company's 1st season only had 6 episodes.
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09-13-2014, 09:40 AM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,502	Nanny and the Professor (Richard Long/Juliet Mills) -- Mid-season replacement. Season 1: only 15 episodes
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09-13-2014, 05:24 PM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	ALL IN THE FAMILY started as a mid-season replacement in 1971 The 3rd season of DALLAS on TNT has been split into 2 halves-they're currently showing the 2nd half. (and I think it's great that they're doing that-that guarantees that it won't get like the last couple seasons of the original one)
	__________________ 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."

09-13-2014, 08:06 AM	#4
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	Original Dallas in 1978 had its "miniseries" (referred to as season 1 in the DVD release of the first two seasons) to run for only 5 shows.

09-13-2014, 03:53 PM	#7
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,830	NewsRadio - Season 1 (7 episodes) Wings - Season 1 (6 episodes - though a 7th was made but aired in season 2) The Office - Season 1 (6 episodes) These Friends of Mine / Ellen - Season 1 (13 episodes) Community - Season 4 (13 episodes) Community - Season 5 (13 episodes) Happy Days - Season 1 (16 episodes)

09-13-2014, 06:07 PM	#9
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	The Simpsons - Season 1 Married with Children - Season 1 21 Jump Street - Season Practically every show on FOX during 1986-87 TV season since FOX started in April '87. Grand - Season 1 Wings - Season 1 The Jeffersons - Season 1 Sanford and Son - Season 1 There a lot of shows which had shortened season.

09-13-2014, 07:23 PM	#10
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	The Facts of Life- Season 1: 13 episodes The Facts of Life- Season 2: 16 episodes Diff'rent Strokes- Season 8: 19 episodes Two and a Half Men- Season 5: 19 episodes Two and a Half Men- Season 8: 16 episodes

09-13-2014, 07:33 PM	#11
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,981	A rare example of midseason shows which managed to fit a full season's worth of episodes in the period between January and May: Season 1 of 3rd Rock from the Sun had 20 episodes. The episodes ran (almost) uninterrupted on Tuesdays (except for one Sunday airing in April). Seasons 4 to 8 of 24 had 24 episodes each. There were three special 2-hour airings for each of those seasons (two at the beginning of the season and one at the end).

09-14-2014, 04:33 AM	#12
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	L.A. Law had 20 and 19 episodes in seasons 2 and 3, respectively.

09-14-2014, 06:00 AM	#13
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,981	All of the five seasons of Moonlighting were abbreviated, and only 66 episodes were produced In total. Season One had 6 episodes. Season Two had 18 episodes. Season Three had 15 episodes. Season Four had 14 episodes. Season Five had 13 episodes. Rules of Engagement on CBS ran for seven seasons (early 2007-2013), but only one of its seasons (its fifth) was a full season. Only 100 episodes of that series were produced. Season One had 7 episodes. Seasons Two and Six had 15 episodes each. Seasons Three, Four and Seven had 13 episodes each. Season Five had 24 episodes.

09-14-2014, 06:58 AM	#14
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	Hart to Hart had 20 shows in No. 2 (1980-81) because of the 1980 actors' strike.