Common things TV shows use to do that you don't see anymore - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Crusinforabrusin · 03-19-2017, 09:06 PM

Whatever it may be: TV shows , plots , types of characters , etc... , what are things that were once commonly seen on television , that you just don't see anymore?

Light dramas - Unlike Bonanza or Highway to Heaven, Many of today's dramas are quite "heavy" to stomach and a bit depressing to watch(I.E. Law And Order). Light Dramas always ended on a sweet or bittersweet note , and it is easier to stomach.

Laugh tracks - Yes , there are some still around , but mostly , they've been on the out in recent years. Call me stupid , but I enjoy the laugh tracks. It makes me feel as if I'm laughing along with real people. Unfortunately , sitcoms are leaning towards a format without a laugh track(which makes it feel more like a drama\comedy in my opinion).

Sitcoms being shot on video tape - This one has been gone for a while now. My guess is that as time went on , better filming techniques were invented , therefore, leading to the demise of the video tape sitcom. You don't see them anymore.

Retro4Life · 03-19-2017, 09:55 PM

Two things come to mind immediately: quicksand and whirlpools. Both of these natural phenomena used to be a staple of adventure shows, with people getting sucked in to one of them and them having a terrible time getting out.

How long has it been since anyone has used either of them? It's weird, really. It's not like they went away or something. Maybe they just sort of wore out their narrative welcome?

Also, getting lost. With all the digital media, phones, GPS, etc. it's getting harder and harder for horror films to find a way to make their characters lost. They can always used the old "no coverage out here" but there aren't many places where there's no coverage anymore.

bmasters9 · 03-20-2017, 03:56 AM

Half-hour dramas (cop/detective shows, Westerns, the like): now every dramatic show is an hour (or +/- 42 min. w/o commercials).

Torgo · 03-20-2017, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Also, getting lost. With all the digital media, phones, GPS, etc. it's getting harder and harder for horror films to find a way to make their characters lost. They can always used the old "no coverage out here" but there aren't many places where there's no coverage anymore.

This is why there's many horror films being set in the 70's and 80's- "retro horror".
Also, I see characters either drop their phone so it breaks, or they forget their phone back at the car, or they decide to all gather up their phones and keep them locked up, plotwise the characters are doing this so they won't be distracted, but in reality it's to do away with the whole call for help/GPS thing.

JJM · 03-21-2017, 10:14 AM

dramas: keep my interests
comedies: consistently funny

Retro4Life · 03-21-2017, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

This is why there's many horror films being set in the 70's and 80's- "retro horror".
Also, I see characters either drop their phone so it breaks, or they forget their phone back at the car, or they decide to all gather up their phones and keep them locked up, plotwise the characters are doing this so they won't be distracted, but in reality it's to do away with the whole call for help/GPS thing.

You're also seeing the end of the "cut the telephone line" trick like they did in the Halloween; doesn't do any good if nobody has a landline and cell phones are in every purse!

Torgo · 03-21-2017, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

You're also seeing the end of the "cut the telephone line" trick like they did in the Halloween; doesn't do any good if nobody has a landline and cell phones are in every purse!

True. Always thought it was funny though that the killer waited until they try to use the phone to cut the cord, at least Jason did. I guess he stood outside the window watching the phone haha

Retro4Life · 03-21-2017, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

True. Always thought it was funny though that the killer waited until they try to use the phone to cut the cord, at least Jason did. I guess he stood outside the window watching the phone haha

Hey, just because these guys are hulking, mute, indestructible supernatural killing machines doesn't mean they don't have a flair for the dramatic!

Torgo · 03-21-2017, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Hey, just because these guys are hulking, mute, indestructible supernatural killing machines doesn't mean they don't have a flair for the dramatic!

Haha! They have pizzazz!

MrCleveland · 03-21-2017, 01:37 PM

For sitcoms...a serious moment!

Up until the 1990's, there's a serious moment in an episode where someone dies, someone gets wronged, or someone tell a character "look at my side of the story"! That really doesn't happen anymore!

Mace Dolex · 03-21-2017, 03:43 PM

Flashback clip shows - used mostly in sitcoms as a cost saving tool to add a filler episode but now you rarely see them used anymore, I guess with TV shows getting a quicker DVD release a person can just pop in their favorite episode.

king of comedy · 03-21-2017, 04:25 PM

There are still some sitcoms that have laugh tracks. 2 on ABC Last Man Standing and Dr. Ken and the others on CBS which include The Big Bang Theory. Not all sitcoms work with a laugh track.

factsoflife · 03-21-2017, 08:53 PM

Actresses in sitcoms hiding their pregnancy behind big purses or couches. Mostly because there aren't as many sitcoms anymore.

03-19-2017, 09:06 PM	#1
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	Common things TV shows use to do that you don't see anymore Whatever it may be: TV shows , plots , types of characters , etc... , what are things that were once commonly seen on television , that you just don't see anymore? Light dramas - Unlike Bonanza or Highway to Heaven, Many of today's dramas are quite "heavy" to stomach and a bit depressing to watch(I.E. Law And Order). Light Dramas always ended on a sweet or bittersweet note , and it is easier to stomach. Laugh tracks - Yes , there are some still around , but mostly , they've been on the out in recent years. Call me stupid , but I enjoy the laugh tracks. It makes me feel as if I'm laughing along with real people. Unfortunately , sitcoms are leaning towards a format without a laugh track(which makes it feel more like a drama\comedy in my opinion). Sitcoms being shot on video tape - This one has been gone for a while now. My guess is that as time went on , better filming techniques were invented , therefore, leading to the demise of the video tape sitcom. You don't see them anymore.

03-19-2017, 09:55 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Two things come to mind immediately: quicksand and whirlpools. Both of these natural phenomena used to be a staple of adventure shows, with people getting sucked in to one of them and them having a terrible time getting out. How long has it been since anyone has used either of them? It's weird, really. It's not like they went away or something. Maybe they just sort of wore out their narrative welcome? Also, getting lost. With all the digital media, phones, GPS, etc. it's getting harder and harder for horror films to find a way to make their characters lost. They can always used the old "no coverage out here" but there aren't many places where there's no coverage anymore.
	__________________ 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."

03-20-2017, 03:56 AM	#3
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	Half-hour dramas (cop/detective shows, Westerns, the like): now every dramatic show is an hour (or +/- 42 min. w/o commercials).
	__________________ "CBS Sports presents...The Prudential College Football Report, sponsored by The Prudential, offering a full range of insurance and other financial services. The Prudential: the Rock...it's strong, it's on the move, it's bigger than life." (Don Robertson's spiel for The Prudential College Football Report in the 1986 season; modified from what it was in 1985)

03-21-2017, 01:37 PM	#10
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	For sitcoms...a serious moment! Up until the 1990's, there's a serious moment in an episode where someone dies, someone gets wronged, or someone tell a character "look at my side of the story"! That really doesn't happen anymore!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

03-21-2017, 08:53 PM	#13
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	Actresses in sitcoms hiding their pregnancy behind big purses or couches. Mostly because there aren't as many sitcoms anymore.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

03-21-2017, 10:14 AM	#5
JJM Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 05, 2016 Location: The 70s Posts: 100	dramas: keep my interests comedies: consistently funny

03-21-2017, 03:43 PM	#11
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	Flashback clip shows - used mostly in sitcoms as a cost saving tool to add a filler episode but now you rarely see them used anymore, I guess with TV shows getting a quicker DVD release a person can just pop in their favorite episode.

03-21-2017, 04:25 PM	#12
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	There are still some sitcoms that have laugh tracks. 2 on ABC Last Man Standing and Dr. Ken and the others on CBS which include The Big Bang Theory. Not all sitcoms work with a laugh track.