Earliest Orginal Series on Cable Channels? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 11-20-2014, 01:04 AM

I am wondering what some of the earliest original series on US cable channels (basic or premium) were.

For example, HBO had a series titled First and Ten that ran from 1984 to 1990. after that, they had The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).

Mace Dolex · 11-20-2014, 01:15 AM

Off the top of my head

Fraggle Rock on HBO
Dream On on HBO
Not Necessarily The News on HBO

Vahan · 11-20-2014, 01:39 AM

The Showtime episodes of The Paper Chase (1983-1986)?

installLSC · 11-20-2014, 01:54 AM

The TBS sitcom "Down to Earth", best remembered for its theme song, premiered in 1984.

Frenky · 11-20-2014, 02:45 PM

The Catlins (1983) on TBS

70s show watcher · 11-20-2014, 06:09 PM

another life cbn early 80s

Retro4Life · 11-20-2014, 06:30 PM

Pretty sure this one pre-dated all of them, on Showtime, 1982.

http://www.people.com/people/archive...084224,00.html

Dr. Loveless · 11-21-2014, 01:59 AM

Another very early made-for-cable series was HBO's The Hitchhiker (1983-1987, later moving to USA Network).

Jaqui-Michel · 11-24-2014, 01:02 PM

Brothers ran on Showtime from 84-89.

Torgo · 11-24-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaqui-Michel

Brothers ran on Showtime from 84-89.

That was one of the first ones I thought of when I saw this thread. I remember watching this with my family when it was on.

MacLeaper · 11-24-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Fraggle Rock on HBO

Yay for Fraggle Rock!

I also remember Another Life- one of the few soap operas I could get into.

MacLeaper · 11-24-2014, 04:08 PM

This list might be helpful- it presents the longest-running shows on US Cable TV. Looks like The 700 Club tops the list- it's been running since 1977 on Christian Broadcasting Network (and it's gone from there to The Family Channel/Fox Family/ABC Family). I didn't realize it had been running that long. I like to watch it here and there sometimes- Pat Robertson and his cohosts can be funny and entertaining and they usually do have some great, encouraging testimonies of how Christ has worked in people's lives- and they are always sure to present The Gospel of Jesus in each episode and I certainly love that!

"Inside the NFL" on HBO and later Showtime is also tied for longest-running cable show, having also premiered in 1977. Both shows are up to 36 seasons now.

bencasey · 11-25-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacLeaper

This list might be helpful- it presents the longest-running shows on US Cable TV. Looks like The 700 Club tops the list- it's been running since 1977 on Christian Broadcasting Network (and it's gone from there to The Family Channel/Fox Family/ABC Family). I didn't realize it had been running that long. I like to watch it here and there sometimes- Pat Robertson and his cohosts can be funny and entertaining and they usually do have some great, encouraging testimonies of how Christ has worked in people's lives- and they are always sure to present The Gospel of Jesus in each episode and I certainly love that!

I only wish that there was a similar show about how religion is nothing but brainwashing and how people are just deluding themselves believing in supernatural beings.

UMFaninMD · 11-25-2014, 08:03 PM

I liked Another Life and I consider myself more of a spiritual person than religious. The acting was pretty good for a low-budget soap and they were one of the first to include supernatural story angles (albeit of a Christian nature) years before Days of Our Lives and others followed suit. You really didn't have to be into religion to enjoy it.

Nickelodeon aired several series in the 90's which became very popular:

Fifteen (1991-1993)
Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994)
Salute Your Shorts (1991-1992)

And when Fox was just beginning, they had 21 Jump Street which began in 1987 and aired until 1991. The spinoff, Booker, aired from 1989-1990.

icecream · 11-26-2014, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMFaninMD

And when Fox was just beginning, they had 21 Jump Street which began in 1987 and aired until 1991. The spinoff, Booker, aired from 1989-1990.

FOX isn't cable, they've always been a broadcast network.

11-20-2014, 01:04 AM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	Earliest Orginal Series on Cable Channels? I am wondering what some of the earliest original series on US cable channels (basic or premium) were. For example, HBO had a series titled First and Ten that ran from 1984 to 1990. after that, they had The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).
	__________________ "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

11-20-2014, 06:30 PM	#7
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Pretty sure this one pre-dated all of them, on Showtime, 1982. http://www.people.com/people/archive...084224,00.html
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

11-24-2014, 01:02 PM	#9
Jaqui-Michel Brick City Citizen Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 355	Brothers ran on Showtime from 84-89.
	__________________ Stupidity - The Silent Killer

11-20-2014, 01:15 AM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	Off the top of my head Fraggle Rock on HBO Dream On on HBO Not Necessarily The News on HBO

11-20-2014, 01:39 AM	#3
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	The Showtime episodes of The Paper Chase (1983-1986)?

11-20-2014, 01:54 AM	#4
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	The TBS sitcom "Down to Earth", best remembered for its theme song, premiered in 1984.

11-20-2014, 02:45 PM	#5
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	The Catlins (1983) on TBS

11-20-2014, 06:09 PM	#6
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	another life cbn early 80s

11-21-2014, 01:59 AM	#8
Dr. Loveless Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2012 Location: New England Posts: 224	Another very early made-for-cable series was HBO's The Hitchhiker (1983-1987, later moving to USA Network).

11-24-2014, 04:08 PM	#12
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	This list might be helpful- it presents the longest-running shows on US Cable TV. Looks like The 700 Club tops the list- it's been running since 1977 on Christian Broadcasting Network (and it's gone from there to The Family Channel/Fox Family/ABC Family). I didn't realize it had been running that long. I like to watch it here and there sometimes- Pat Robertson and his cohosts can be funny and entertaining and they usually do have some great, encouraging testimonies of how Christ has worked in people's lives- and they are always sure to present The Gospel of Jesus in each episode and I certainly love that! "Inside the NFL" on HBO and later Showtime is also tied for longest-running cable show, having also premiered in 1977. Both shows are up to 36 seasons now.

11-25-2014, 08:03 PM	#14
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	I liked Another Life and I consider myself more of a spiritual person than religious. The acting was pretty good for a low-budget soap and they were one of the first to include supernatural story angles (albeit of a Christian nature) years before Days of Our Lives and others followed suit. You really didn't have to be into religion to enjoy it. Nickelodeon aired several series in the 90's which became very popular: Fifteen (1991-1993) Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994) Salute Your Shorts (1991-1992) And when Fox was just beginning, they had 21 Jump Street which began in 1987 and aired until 1991. The spinoff, Booker, aired from 1989-1990.