Why did F Troop only last 2 seasons?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SitcomsHeydayfan · 11-29-2018, 03:59 AM

It was certainly funny enough to last at least 5 or 6 seasons!

howilu · 12-02-2018, 04:36 PM

Economics is what killed F Troop. When the show went from black and white to color in the fall of 1966, it became more expensive to produce. Production took up most of the Warner Ranch lot that didn't make the new owners of Warner Bros., Seven Arts happy so ABC discharged the sitcom after two seasons. It should have had a longer run.

Screwy Wabbit · 12-02-2018, 04:39 PM

The Warner studio head didn't like "wasting" such a large outdoor area (for Fort Courage and the town) on one TV show. Also, reportedly the then-new color production process was very expensive.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-03-2018, 09:12 AM

They should've raised the ad rates and/or slightly reduced the pay of the actors and staff.

If you told the actors and staff you have a choice. The show can end and you'll get NOTHING or we can keep having FUN for another season but you have to take less pay.

Less pay is better than NOTHING so I'd take that deal! It's not like any of the F Troop actors went on to superstardom in the next year or 2 after F Troop.

PhoenixAcres · 12-05-2018, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Economics is what killed F Troop. When the show went from black and white to color in the fall of 1966, it became more expensive to produce. Production took up most of the Warner Ranch lot that didn't make the new owners of Warner Bros., Seven Arts happy so ABC discharged the sitcom after two seasons. It should have had a longer run.

Yeah and it was really a shame. It deserved many more seasons. It was a funny show with great characters, with a different style from most sitcoms of the time.

I think if they had let it go a few more years it would have done much better in syndication, and that would have been more money to the studio. Ah well.

I didn't even know the show existed until MeTV ran it about 5 years ago and I'm very thankful they did.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-05-2018, 05:39 AM

Yeah, UNIQUE is a good word to describe it. It's the ONLY western comedy TV show ever made!

Is there a western TV comedy I'm missing??

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-05-2018, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

There was "Best of the West," 1981-82.

I'm guessing it bombed because it only lasted one season and nobody's heard of it??

DJM77 · 12-05-2018, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

I'm guessing it bombed because it only lasted one season and nobody's heard of it??

I watched the complete series when it was still on YouTube a few years ago and I have to say that it was the funniest single season sitcom that I've ever watched. I read that ABC delayed the renewing of the series for a second season and Joel Higgins ended up signing to star in Silver Spoons. ABC ended up announcing that they decided to renew Best Of The West, but they had to cancel it because Joel Higgins was no longer available.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-06-2018, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

I watched the complete series when it was still on YouTube a few years ago and I have to say that it was the funniest single season sitcom that I've ever watched. I read that ABC delayed the renewing of the series for a second season and Joel Higgins ended up signing to star in Silver Spoons. ABC ended up announcing that they decided to renew Best Of The West, but they had to cancel it because Joel Higgins was no longer available.

I wonder why no sitcom network shows it if it's so good?

treky · 12-08-2018, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

There was "Best of the West," 1981-82.

also "RANGO" with Tim Conway which also ran just one season; 1966-67 on ABC.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-09-2018, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Pistols 'n Petticoats, 1966-67.

I don't know anything about that show but the title is hilarious!

TV Guy · 12-09-2018, 07:52 AM

Pistols n Petticoats probably would have gotten a renewal, but its star (Ann Sheridan) fell ill and died prior to the end of the season.

Warner Bros. made a BIG mistake in cancelling F-Troop. Had they done a few more seasons, it would have become a syndication staple, like “Hogan’s Heroes”. A classic example of playing the short game, not the long game. I hope whoever was responsible for the decision got fired, because they cost the studio millions.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-09-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I guess Dusty's Trail was a western, too.

As great as Gilligan's Island was you can say just the OPPOSITE about Dusty's Trail. It's absolutely AWFUL.

Forrest Tucker was in it but I can't imagine he was proud of it. The irony is I think Bob Denver actually said Dusty's Trail was his favorite show to make. That's the actual acting not the final product. It's still pretty shocking he said that considering how horrid the show was.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 12-09-2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

Pistols n Petticoats probably would have gotten a renewal, but its star (Ann Sheridan) fell ill and died prior to the end of the season.

Warner Bros. made a BIG mistake in cancelling F-Troop. Had they done a few more seasons, it would have become a syndication staple, like “Hogan’s Heroes”. A classic example of playing the short game, not the long game. I hope whoever was responsible for the decision got fired, because they cost the studio millions.

Totally agree but we're the ratings good for F Troop back when it originally aired?

Andy Morrison · 01-19-2019, 02:04 PM

F Troop is the Funniest Thing I have seen. Unbelievable it only lasted two seasons, and that the marvellous opening scene was not repeated for season 2.

11-29-2018, 03:59 AM	#1
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	Why did F Troop only last 2 seasons?? It was certainly funny enough to last at least 5 or 6 seasons!

12-02-2018, 04:36 PM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Economics is what killed F Troop. When the show went from black and white to color in the fall of 1966, it became more expensive to produce. Production took up most of the Warner Ranch lot that didn't make the new owners of Warner Bros., Seven Arts happy so ABC discharged the sitcom after two seasons. It should have had a longer run.

12-02-2018, 04:39 PM	#3
Screwy Wabbit Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2017 Posts: 64	The Warner studio head didn't like "wasting" such a large outdoor area (for Fort Courage and the town) on one TV show. Also, reportedly the then-new color production process was very expensive.

12-03-2018, 09:12 AM	#4
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	They should've raised the ad rates and/or slightly reduced the pay of the actors and staff. If you told the actors and staff you have a choice. The show can end and you'll get NOTHING or we can keep having FUN for another season but you have to take less pay. Less pay is better than NOTHING so I'd take that deal! It's not like any of the F Troop actors went on to superstardom in the next year or 2 after F Troop.

12-05-2018, 05:39 AM	#6
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	Yeah, UNIQUE is a good word to describe it. It's the ONLY western comedy TV show ever made! Is there a western TV comedy I'm missing??

12-09-2018, 07:52 AM	#12
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Pistols n Petticoats probably would have gotten a renewal, but its star (Ann Sheridan) fell ill and died prior to the end of the season. Warner Bros. made a BIG mistake in cancelling F-Troop. Had they done a few more seasons, it would have become a syndication staple, like “Hogan’s Heroes”. A classic example of playing the short game, not the long game. I hope whoever was responsible for the decision got fired, because they cost the studio millions.

01-19-2019, 02:04 PM	#15
Andy Morrison Member First Time Poster Join Date: Jan 19, 2019 Location: Wirral, Merseyside, UK Posts: 1	F Troop is the Funniest Thing I have seen. Unbelievable it only lasted two seasons, and that the marvellous opening scene was not repeated for season 2.