Sitcoms that successfully transitioned to color - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmo · 01-30-2020, 06:09 PM

What sitcoms survived the mid-1960s transition to color broadcasting without losing that “special something”?

tvfan25 · 01-30-2020, 06:50 PM

Gilligan's Island
Bewitched
Gomer Pyle USMC

TSMIV · 01-30-2020, 08:15 PM

I Dream of Jeannie

merlinjones · 01-30-2020, 08:48 PM

Least loss (at first):

Bewitched
I Dream of Jeannie
Gilligan's Island
The Beverly Hillbillies
Petticoat Junction
Gomer Pyle USMC
Hogan's Heroes

Biggest loss:

My Three Sons
The Andy Griffith Show
The Lucy Show

Toss up:

My Favorite Martian
F Troop

TV Guy · 01-30-2020, 09:34 PM

Jeannie transitioned the best. It became quicker-paced and more off-the-wall starting with its first color season.

Bewitched and Petticoat both had successful first color seasons that matched the tone of their respective black-and-white seasons. Then they both headed south.

F-Troop transitioned well. It’s only a two-season series, so it really didn’t have time to decline.

Hazel also made the move successfully.

How about The Joey Bishop Show, which, strangely went from B&W to color and then back to B&W?

I thought the first two color seasons of “My Three Sons” were fine. It’s when they moved to California and started marrying everyone off that it went downhill.

1960'sTVfan · 01-30-2020, 09:43 PM

Gilligan's Island is probably the sitcom that transitioned best from B & W to color, with the tropical island setting that series should really have been in color from the beginning but the network declined to go with color filming for the 1st season.

I Dream Of Jeannie's 1st season in B & W is more of a fantasy/romantic comedy type of sitcom. In season 2 when the change to color was made, the style of comedy in the series also changed, gradually becoming more frantic and zany, and by the 3rd and 4th seasons the episodes played out like a live action cartoon.

treky · 01-31-2020, 02:37 AM

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, BEWITCHED, GOMER PYLE

MikeLutton · 01-31-2020, 03:19 AM

don't forget the Honeymooners

treky · 01-31-2020, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

don't forget the Honeymooners

also HOGANS HEROES and GET SMART

stevea · 01-31-2020, 07:16 AM

Hogan's Heroes and Get Smart only had the pilot episode in black and white.

As for Hogan, I'm not sure if MeTV shows the black and white episode; I'm pretty sure TV Land did.

1960'sTVfan · 01-31-2020, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

F-Troop transitioned well. It’s only a two-season series, so it really didn’t have time to decline.

Hazel also made the move successfully.

How about The Joey Bishop Show, which, strangely went from B&W to color and then back to B&W?

I agree that F Troop and Hazel also transitioned well from B & W to color.

The Joey Bishop Show is unique because it's bookended with two B & W seasons and sandwiched in the middle with two color seasons, although season one does have five episodes in color.

treky · 02-01-2020, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Hogan's Heroes and Get Smart only had the pilot episode in black and white.

As for Hogan, I'm not sure if MeTV shows the black and white episode; I'm pretty sure TV Land did.

yes; ME TV has shown the black-and-white pilot episode of HH.

TV Guy · 02-01-2020, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

don't forget the Honeymooners

Those color episodes of the Honeymooners are horrible. It’s probably the example of the worst decline when a show went to color. But also, let’s face it: the color episodes are a completely different show, produced years later, with a different cast and format, and with a different production method.

stevea · 02-01-2020, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

Those color episodes of the Honeymooners are horrible. It’s probably the example of the worst decline when a show went to color. But also, let’s face it: the color episodes are a completely different show, produced years later, with a different cast and format, and with a different production method.

Are these the sketches from The Jackie Gleason Show from Miami, the ones with Sheila MacRae as Alice, and Jane Kean as Trixie?

MIKEPR · 02-01-2020, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

It's a tough standard. Most shows that have a special something find it within the first season or two, then lose it within a few years. I'd say the Hillbillies, Gilligan, and F Troop probably lost the least in color.

Why would anyone think a show would lose anything because of the transfer from C&W to color?

That's silly.

01-30-2020, 06:09 PM	#1
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	Sitcoms that successfully transitioned to color What sitcoms survived the mid-1960s transition to color broadcasting without losing that “special something”?

01-31-2020, 02:37 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, BEWITCHED, GOMER PYLE
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

01-31-2020, 03:19 AM	#8
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,883	don't forget the Honeymooners
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man

01-30-2020, 06:50 PM	#2
tvfan25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 634	Gilligan's Island Bewitched Gomer Pyle USMC

01-30-2020, 08:15 PM	#3
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	I Dream of Jeannie

01-30-2020, 08:48 PM	#4
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 931	Least loss (at first): Bewitched I Dream of Jeannie Gilligan's Island The Beverly Hillbillies Petticoat Junction Gomer Pyle USMC Hogan's Heroes Biggest loss: My Three Sons The Andy Griffith Show The Lucy Show Toss up: My Favorite Martian F Troop

01-30-2020, 09:34 PM	#5
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Jeannie transitioned the best. It became quicker-paced and more off-the-wall starting with its first color season. Bewitched and Petticoat both had successful first color seasons that matched the tone of their respective black-and-white seasons. Then they both headed south. F-Troop transitioned well. It’s only a two-season series, so it really didn’t have time to decline. Hazel also made the move successfully. How about The Joey Bishop Show, which, strangely went from B&W to color and then back to B&W? I thought the first two color seasons of “My Three Sons” were fine. It’s when they moved to California and started marrying everyone off that it went downhill.

01-30-2020, 09:43 PM	#6
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,082	Gilligan's Island is probably the sitcom that transitioned best from B & W to color, with the tropical island setting that series should really have been in color from the beginning but the network declined to go with color filming for the 1st season. I Dream Of Jeannie's 1st season in B & W is more of a fantasy/romantic comedy type of sitcom. In season 2 when the change to color was made, the style of comedy in the series also changed, gradually becoming more frantic and zany, and by the 3rd and 4th seasons the episodes played out like a live action cartoon.

01-31-2020, 07:16 AM	#10
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,536	Hogan's Heroes and Get Smart only had the pilot episode in black and white. As for Hogan, I'm not sure if MeTV shows the black and white episode; I'm pretty sure TV Land did.