Sitcoms that seemed to be made simply for syndication or even just network filler

[TMC]

In other words, can you think of a sitcom that seemingly went to the most crazy length or changes to make it longer or simply more syndication friendly in terms of episode numbers? It could be due to reinventing itself every season like squeezing out a new season with a new premise.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by TMC

In other words, can you think of a sitcom that seemingly went to the most crazy length or changes to make it longer or simply more syndication friendly in terms of episode numbers?

The only show I think identifies to this is Saved By The Bell The New Class. It lasted 7 years with each season having majority of the cast replaced with younger characters so it would take longer to get to the senior year of high school. I don't think any sitcom has had the number of cast changes like this show so it could last longer.

[Charley Knox]

According to Jim, HIMYM, The Middle and just about any Chuck Lorre show.

[cnnbcbs]

Originally Posted by Christopher

The only show I think identifies to this is Saved By The Bell The New Class. It lasted 7 years with each season having majority of the cast replaced with younger characters so it would take longer to get to the senior year of high school. I don't think any sitcom has had the number of cast changes like this show so it could last longer.

That's what the Head of the Class people should've done, everyone rips on that show cause it took the genius students five years to get through high school.

[cnnbcbs]

As far as existing merely as filler, rules of engagement. That show lasted many years but maybe only once did it get a full season. It got to like 100 for syndication all in all.

[cnnbcbs]

Originally Posted by TMC

In other words, can you think of a sitcom that seemingly went to the most crazy length or changes to make it longer or simply more syndication friendly in terms of episode numbers? It could be due to reinventing itself every season like squeezing out a new season with a new premise.

The Naked Truth. Season one had a good premise with solid ratings. NBC picked it up for season two and retooled it, then retooled it again for season 3.

Hearts Afire was a political sitcom by the designing women/evening shade people. A thematic companion of sorts to Murphy Brown. It seemed to do decently but was retooled to be more like Evening Shade. Was midseason spackle for season 3 then cancelled.

Speaking of changing Premise, Facts of Life changed twice first with Edna's Edibles then with Over Our Heads.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by cnnbcbs

That's what the Head of the Class people should've done, everyone rips on that show cause it took the genius students five years to get through high school.

Head of the Class had three students leave and four different students join at the start of season 4. So what if some of the others stayed the whole run, Head of the Class is a much better show than the highly overrated Saved by the Bell franchise ever will be.

[Mace Dolex]

The Charlie Sheen sitcom Anger Management had some episode order deal with FX network of 10+90 to reach that magical syndication number of 100 episodes.

[TV Guy]

Oh yeah - the 10/90 model, which included the Tyler Perry sitcoms. Both Kevin James and Kelsey Grammer had deals for 10/90 sitcoms, but they never came to fruition. Thank God.

‘Til Death was kept in production to get to 100 episodes, even though the ratings were crap


All of those revivals of 1980s sitcoms for first-run syndication were done to pad out the rerun packages. Once they got to 100-120 episodes, they went out of production.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

...

‘Til Death was kept in production to get to 100 episodes, even though the ratings were crap

Sony Television has been known to give sweetheart deals to keep shows going to get as many episodes as possible which is what they did with 'Til Death.

It's reported they did the same thing for the "Mad about You" revival just to get it picked up someplace (and Spectrum's excusive window is now over and Sony still hasn't found a place for repeats or done anything regarding DVD/Streaming/Download) and the shortened 4th Season of the "One day at a Time" reboot.

I'd expect Sony Television to do the same thing with CBS to keep S.W.A.T. on another season. A sweetheart deal.

[cnnbcbs]

Munsters Today and What's Happening Now! were created to boost the syndication packages of both Munsters and What's Happening. Combined with the original shows got both over 100 episodes.

Also in the 80s, Jackie Gleason's kinescopes of honeymooners sketches were packaged as 'lost episodes' and eventually joined 'the classic 39' in syndication, boosting it's number over 100 as well.

[cnnbcbs]

Mama's Family, It's A Living, Charles in Charge, Fame and Too Close For comfort were all successfully revived in the 80s for syndication. On the action drama side, Airwolf was revived on the cheap for one season on USA to pad out the episode count. In the 90s Baywatch, Sliders and Viper were revived after cancellation giving both shows healthy episode counts.

[Merry24]

American Housewife. This show keeps getting renewed yet every season-Spring premiers it has a new night and new time slot.

[Old School]

Mr Box Office, The First Family...

[Old School]

Originally Posted by catsrule

Head of the Class had three students leave and four different students join at the start of season 4. So what if some of the others stayed the whole run, Head of the Class is a much better show than the highly overrated Saved by the Bell franchise ever will be.

Head Of The Class should be on MeTV Sunday mornings not Saved By The Bell...