NBC Puts The Final Nail In The Coffin Of Its ‘Must See TV’ Thursday Night Lineup - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 12-13-2014, 09:08 PM

http://uproxx.com/tv/2014/12/nbc-put...-night-lineup/

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When the NBC returns from the holiday break, it’s schedule is going to look different for the first time in decades. That’s because the network has finally killed off one of its longest running and successful programming blocks: the Thursday “must see” comedies.

With the cancellation of A To Z and Bad Judge earlier this fall, the writing was on the wall. We were even calling it “the end” back when The Biggest Loser was leading those two series into battle and The Blacklist was announced to be taking a Thursday spot in the spring. Turns out it isn’t coming alone. From Deadline:

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NBC has set its midseason schedule, which will feature three drama series on Thursday going head-to-head with ABC’s all-drama Shondaland lineup, which has been dominating the night this fall. The block will be anchored by The Blacklist, which, as previously announced, will move into the 9 PM Thursday slot on February 5, following an airing after the Super Bowl. The Blacklist will be used to launch new spy drama Allegiance at 10 PM, with 8-episode limited series The Slap slotted at 8 PM. The last time NBC had an all-drama Thursday lineup was 35 years ago, in the 1979-80 season, when it aired Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Quincy M.E. and Kate Loves a Mystery.

Buck Rogers, Quincy, and Kate Loves a Mystery. Talk about a set of hoots to settle in to watch during a night of television, especially if it is that punk rock episode of Quincy. How could you change the channel?

The move is an attempt for NBC to compete with ABC’s Shonda Rhimes assault that has ruled the night with shows like Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder. Not to mention CBS owning “comedy” with The Big Bang Theory. It has been a rough go on Thursdays for NBC.

That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a great, even if the executives at the network would disagree. In the past few years alone we’ve seen some of the best shows of all time hit the air. 30 Rock, Parks And Rec, and The Office all go their start on Thursdays and join classics like Cheers, Seinfeld, and Friends in that long lasting legacy.

You can’t really be shocked, though. TV has always been such a fickle thing to get right and audience tastes are always shifting. Twenty to thirty years with sustained success is pretty damn great. We might not even have network television in another twenty.

tlc38tlc38 · 12-13-2014, 09:30 PM

My top 11 "Must See TV" shows:

1. Will & Grace
2. Cheers
3. Night Court
4. Family Ties
5. Wings
6. Seinfeld
7. The Cosby Show
8. Friends
9. Just Shoot Me!
10. Suddenly Susan
11. Veronica's Closet

TV_on_the_Porch · 12-15-2014, 07:29 PM

I think they're mistaken about 1979-80 being the last season when NBC had a sitcom-less Thursday. Diff'rent Strokes didn't move to Thursdays until late in the fall of '81.

mets82 · 12-16-2014, 05:34 PM

Seinfeld is my number 1 Must See TV show. I will say that Must See TV has been dying a slow death for years now.

MrCleveland · 12-16-2014, 05:37 PM

I thought "Must See TV" ended 10 years ago!

Adamantium · 12-17-2014, 05:09 AM

The funny thing is, the only time I watched NBC Thursdays every week has been in recent years. I'd watch The Office, Parks & Recreation and Community. In a time where I just wait for the show to come to DVD, those three shows I actually watched in their original run each week. And yet the ratings have always been bad for those shows once I started watching them.

80sTrivia · 12-17-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Twenty to thirty years with sustained success is pretty damn great. We might not even have network television in another twenty.

I fear this will be the truth...

12-13-2014, 09:30 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	My top 11 "Must See TV" shows: 1. Will & Grace 2. Cheers 3. Night Court 4. Family Ties 5. Wings 6. Seinfeld 7. The Cosby Show 8. Friends 9. Just Shoot Me! 10. Suddenly Susan 11. Veronica's Closet
	__________________ 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.

12-16-2014, 05:34 PM	#4
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Seinfeld is my number 1 Must See TV show. I will say that Must See TV has been dying a slow death for years now.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

12-16-2014, 05:37 PM	#5
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	I thought "Must See TV" ended 10 years ago!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

12-15-2014, 07:29 PM	#3
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	I think they're mistaken about 1979-80 being the last season when NBC had a sitcom-less Thursday. Diff'rent Strokes didn't move to Thursdays until late in the fall of '81.

12-17-2014, 05:09 AM	#6
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,820	The funny thing is, the only time I watched NBC Thursdays every week has been in recent years. I'd watch The Office, Parks & Recreation and Community. In a time where I just wait for the show to come to DVD, those three shows I actually watched in their original run each week. And yet the ratings have always been bad for those shows once I started watching them.