Why do so many high school shows have trouble transitioning to college? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-29-2015, 05:18 PM

http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/high-...o-college.html

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210 and Veronica Mars are among the shows that struggled at the college level.

IllinoisTVFan · 10-29-2015, 05:26 PM

Saved By The Bell comes to mind. The College Years didn't even last a full season.

king of comedy · 10-29-2015, 05:33 PM

How about Welcome Back Kotter? The Sweathogs stayed in high school for 4 years and they were still sophmores. They should have to college in the fourth year.

Torgo · 10-29-2015, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

How about Welcome Back Kotter? The Sweathogs stayed in high school for 4 years and they were still sophmores. They should have to college in the fourth year.

Yeah, the Sweathogs in college, like that would be believable.

Bonniegirl · 10-29-2015, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Yeah, the Sweathogs in college, like that would be believable.

Yeah!! It went bad when three were still in high school and one dropped out and had the job at the hospital ( Vinnie/ John Travolta so he could pursue his movie career) And they brought in Beau ! Even that didn't work,

and yeah the sweat hogs weren't over achievers or even average achievers who would pursue college! They barely could get through high school!

gidgetgrape · 10-29-2015, 08:48 PM

I think "The Facts of Life" did a good job, but they had the advantage of all the girls already living and working together. As the series progressed, academics wasn't central to the show so they could explore other topics.

yankeesrj12 · 10-30-2015, 12:51 AM

Boy Meets World transitioned pretty well (from middle school, to high school, to college, nonetheless!!)

IllinoisTVFan · 10-30-2015, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Yeah!! It went bad when three were still in high school and one dropped out and had the job at the hospital ( Vinnie/ John Travolta so he could pursue his movie career) And they brought in Beau ! Even that didn't work,

and yeah the sweat hogs weren't over achievers or even average achievers who would pursue college! They barely could get through high school!

They definitely shouldn't have been college students, that's for sure. Then again so many college kids shouldn't be in college. I think Head of the Class did it right, they ended with them graduating.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 11-01-2015, 03:46 PM

I have two thoughts on this:

1. Viewers who watch high school shows are in high school themselves. Once the show goes into college these viewers are in college or working and don't have time to watch the show anymore.

2. Shows that tend to enter characters into college, alot of the time write other character out. This happened to both Saved by the Bell and Dawson's Creek. Both had ratings dropped do to this.

king of comedy · 11-01-2015, 08:36 PM

I think The Fresh Prince had no trouble. Will went on to a community college.

Frenky · 11-02-2015, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/high-...o-college.html

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210 and Veronica Mars are among the shows that struggled at the college level.

Maybe it's because during high school you're underage, living home with your parents, then you go through rebellious phase, first drink, smoke, missing curfew, driving licence, all those great and not so great things about being teenager, all that goes away when you enter college.

As for BH90210 I think the reason is Shannen Doherty leaving the show, S5 was still good without her, but with Gabrielle and Luke leaving show shortly afterwards BH90210 was no longer the same show.

10-29-2015, 05:18 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,596	Why do so many high school shows have trouble transitioning to college? http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/high-...o-college.html Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210 and Veronica Mars are among the shows that struggled at the college level.

11-01-2015, 03:46 PM	#9
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	I have two thoughts on this: 1. Viewers who watch high school shows are in high school themselves. Once the show goes into college these viewers are in college or working and don't have time to watch the show anymore. 2. Shows that tend to enter characters into college, alot of the time write other character out. This happened to both Saved by the Bell and Dawson's Creek. Both had ratings dropped do to this.
	__________________ love is love

10-29-2015, 05:26 PM	#2
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	Saved By The Bell comes to mind. The College Years didn't even last a full season.

10-29-2015, 05:33 PM	#3
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	How about Welcome Back Kotter? The Sweathogs stayed in high school for 4 years and they were still sophmores. They should have to college in the fourth year.

10-29-2015, 08:48 PM	#6
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,505	I think "The Facts of Life" did a good job, but they had the advantage of all the girls already living and working together. As the series progressed, academics wasn't central to the show so they could explore other topics.

10-30-2015, 12:51 AM	#7
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	Boy Meets World transitioned pretty well (from middle school, to high school, to college, nonetheless!!)

11-01-2015, 08:36 PM	#10
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I think The Fresh Prince had no trouble. Will went on to a community college.