What happened with Variety Shows? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 01-06-2015, 09:55 AM

In the 1970s, starting from the late 1960s, variety shows were popular on television.

Carol Burnett, Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher., were some off her famous ones I remember from childhood.There were others that were not as successful, such as giving Sonny and Cher their own shows after the divorce(and Cher's show was good), Tim Conway, Redd Foxx, the infamous Brady Bunch show, Captain and Tennille.

Then after 1980, the genre died out completely. What happened? Never been revived, that's it. I think people want to forget the 1970s. Or not.

Another thing that networks do not do anymore is TV movies...."The CBS television movie 'My Baby is Ugly and Stupid' starring Shelley Hack." That is easier to deduce why they died, there are so many channels making bad movies that the networks don't need to.

Marvo301 · 01-06-2015, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

In the 1970s, starting from the late 1960s, variety shows were popular on television.

Carol Burnett, Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher., were some off her famous ones I remember from childhood.There were others that were not as successful, such as giving Sonny and Cher their own shows after the divorce(and Cher's show was good), Tim Conway, Redd Foxx, the infamous Brady Bunch show, Captain and Tennille.

Then after 1980, the genre died out completely. What happened? Never been revived, that's it. I think people want to forget the 1970s. Or not.

Another thing that networks do not do anymore is TV movies...."The CBS television movie 'My Baby is Ugly and Stupid' starring Shelley Hack." That is easier to deduce why they died, there are so many channels making bad movies that the networks don't need to.

There were a lot of very popular variety shows in the 60's as well. The Garry Moore Show (where Carol Burnett got her start), The Andy Williams Show, and The Dean Martin Show for example. I think it would be very expensive to produce a variety show these days. The budget for music clearance alone would be astronomical! And the pay scale for dancers, musicians etc. would be much higher now too. Money is probably the biggest reason variety shows no longer exist.

Steve_uk · 01-06-2015, 04:00 PM

Do the advertisers think that our attention span won't stretch to a couple of hours? Is there a shortage of comperes with the strength of personality to present such a show? And will producers take risks with untried and unproven stars or is it all about ratings at the end of the day?

MrCleveland · 01-06-2015, 05:34 PM

I feel that SNL ended the Variety Show in the 70's. By then Variety Shows went away from prime-time. The closest show that was a prime-time variety show was Chappelle's Show.

JamesG · 01-06-2015, 06:18 PM

Neil Patrick Harris is reportedly working on one for NBC.

There were a few recent attempts at launching new ones, but they ultimately didn't work out. I know of Rosie Live from 2008, the infamous Osbournes Reloaded from 2009 and the more recent The Maya Rudolph Show.

MrCleveland · 01-06-2015, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Neil Patrick Harris is reportedly working on one for NBC.

There were a few recent attempts at launching new ones, but they ultimately didn't work out. I know of Rosie Live from 2008, the infamous Osbournes Reloaded from 2009 and the more recent The Maya Rudolph Show.

I felt the variety show on prime-time bit the dust when Pink Lady and Jeff came on...who green-lighted that show?

bencasey · 01-07-2015, 01:16 PM

They were a product of their era, the 3-network and a few indy station universe. People had far fewer choices in TV and entertainment in general. Families might have had one set and if you gave them a show that had a broad appeal, it was a way to bring in an audience. Now, everyone has access to only watch or listen to what they want, families watching something together is a thing of the past. No one pays any attention to anything that doesn't interest them. That's why you get these morons posting on twitter who don't know who Paul McCartney is. Kids now live in their own isolated little world. But, lots of genres have disappeared besides variety shows - westerns, anthologies, most game shows and soap operas. TV movies and miniseries.

Steve_uk · 01-07-2015, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencasey

They were a product of their era, the 3-network and a few indy station universe. People had far fewer choices in TV and entertainment in general. Families might have had one set and if you gave them a show that had a broad appeal, it was a way to bring in an audience. Now, everyone has access to only watch or listen to what they want, families watching something together is a thing of the past. No one pays any attention to anything that doesn't interest them. That's why you get these morons posting on twitter who don't know who Paul McCartney is. Kids now live in their own isolated little world. But, lots of genres have disappeared besides variety shows - westerns, anthologies, most game shows and soap operas. TV movies and miniseries.

I appreciate the above Ben and concur wholeheartedly that we now have a fractured society with a far shorter time span than in previous generations. I also cite an article by Steve Binder below,whom I assume is a journalist with some inside knowledge of the subject.http://www.caucus.org/archives/00spr...mevariety.html

MrCleveland · 01-07-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencasey

They were a product of their era, the 3-network and a few indy station universe. People had far fewer choices in TV and entertainment in general. Families might have had one set and if you gave them a show that had a broad appeal, it was a way to bring in an audience. Now, everyone has access to only watch or listen to what they want, families watching something together is a thing of the past. No one pays any attention to anything that doesn't interest them. That's why you get these morons posting on twitter who don't know who Paul McCartney is. Kids now live in their own isolated little world. But, lots of genres have disappeared besides variety shows - westerns, anthologies, most game shows and soap operas. TV movies and miniseries.

I know who Paul McCartney is...and I was born in the 80's!

PS-Another dead genre...SatAM Cartoons! Sadly...I'm the last generation that knows about that gem!

LUNCH · 01-07-2015, 02:11 PM

As much as I like the old variety shows,I have no interest in them making a new variety show.The old ones had talented and likeable hosts,cast members and guest stars.They were great entertainment. Can you imagine what a variety show would look like today,or in other words how terrible it would be with todays "celebrities". "Special guest star this week--Justin Bieber" "Next week "Paris Hilton"--No thankyou.

Steve_uk · 01-07-2015, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

As much as I like the old variety shows,I have no interest in them making a new variety show.The old ones had talented and likeable hosts and guest stars.Can you imagine what a variety show would look like today with todays "celebrities"."Special gest star this week--Justin Bieber" "Next week "Paris Hilton"--No thankyou.

I would like to think of them as a vehicle for new talent to get exposure with the inevitable celebrities which you name being top of the bill. But maybe as some have already intimated these shows are a thing of the past.

MrCleveland · 01-07-2015, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

As much as I like the old variety shows,I have no interest in them making a new variety show.The old ones had talented and likeable hosts and guest stars.Can you imagine what a variety show would look like today with todays "celebrities"."Special gest star this week--Justin Bieber" "Next week "Paris Hilton"--No thankyou.

I feel the only one that can make a decent Variety Special now is Michael Buble.

Patty Duke · 01-07-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

As much as I like the old variety shows,I have no interest in them making a new variety show.The old ones had talented and likeable hosts,cast members and guest stars.They were great entertainment. Can you imagine what a variety show would look like today,or in other words how terrible it would be with todays "celebrities". "Special guest star this week--Justin Bieber" "Next week "Paris Hilton"--No thankyou.

I agree 100%. I personally think the stars of today don't hold a candle to the ones back then. I have no interest in seeing anything they'd offer now.

LUNCH · 01-07-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty Duke

I agree 100%. I personally think the stars of today don't hold a candle to the ones back then. I have no interest in seeing anything they'd offer now.

And I agree with you Patty Duke.I also have no interest in watching almost anything they offer now.In my opinion even todays so called A listers (top celebrities) don't even come close to the celebrities of previous generations. I don't know what got into that Hollywood water.

UMFaninMD · 01-07-2015, 08:55 PM

For one thing, reality competition shows like The Voice, American Idol, and Dancing With the Stars, where you choose who wins and loses, and there's a high tendency for manufactured drama, has replaced all-star variety shows.

01-06-2015, 09:55 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	What happened with Variety Shows? In the 1970s, starting from the late 1960s, variety shows were popular on television. Carol Burnett, Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher., were some off her famous ones I remember from childhood.There were others that were not as successful, such as giving Sonny and Cher their own shows after the divorce(and Cher's show was good), Tim Conway, Redd Foxx, the infamous Brady Bunch show, Captain and Tennille. Then after 1980, the genre died out completely. What happened? Never been revived, that's it. I think people want to forget the 1970s. Or not. Another thing that networks do not do anymore is TV movies...."The CBS television movie 'My Baby is Ugly and Stupid' starring Shelley Hack." That is easier to deduce why they died, there are so many channels making bad movies that the networks don't need to.

01-06-2015, 05:34 PM	#4
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 feel that SNL ended the Variety Show in the 70's. By then Variety Shows went away from prime-time. The closest show that was a prime-time variety show was Chappelle's Show.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

01-07-2015, 02:11 PM	#10
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	As much as I like the old variety shows,I have no interest in them making a new variety show.The old ones had talented and likeable hosts,cast members and guest stars.They were great entertainment. Can you imagine what a variety show would look like today,or in other words how terrible it would be with todays "celebrities". "Special guest star this week--Justin Bieber" "Next week "Paris Hilton"--No thankyou.
	Last edited by LUNCH; 01-07-2015 at 02:33 PM.

01-06-2015, 04:00 PM	#3
Steve_uk Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 29, 2012 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 5,803	Do the advertisers think that our attention span won't stretch to a couple of hours? Is there a shortage of comperes with the strength of personality to present such a show? And will producers take risks with untried and unproven stars or is it all about ratings at the end of the day?

01-06-2015, 06:18 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	Neil Patrick Harris is reportedly working on one for NBC. There were a few recent attempts at launching new ones, but they ultimately didn't work out. I know of Rosie Live from 2008, the infamous Osbournes Reloaded from 2009 and the more recent The Maya Rudolph Show.

01-07-2015, 01:16 PM	#7
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	They were a product of their era, the 3-network and a few indy station universe. People had far fewer choices in TV and entertainment in general. Families might have had one set and if you gave them a show that had a broad appeal, it was a way to bring in an audience. Now, everyone has access to only watch or listen to what they want, families watching something together is a thing of the past. No one pays any attention to anything that doesn't interest them. That's why you get these morons posting on twitter who don't know who Paul McCartney is. Kids now live in their own isolated little world. But, lots of genres have disappeared besides variety shows - westerns, anthologies, most game shows and soap operas. TV movies and miniseries.

01-07-2015, 08:55 PM	#15
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	For one thing, reality competition shows like The Voice, American Idol, and Dancing With the Stars, where you choose who wins and loses, and there's a high tendency for manufactured drama, has replaced all-star variety shows.