Why did Taxi (utterly) fail on NBC? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 09-15-2022, 07:07 AM

After four seasons on ABC, the network cancelled Taxi. I think to the performers and the staff, this was a shock.

NBC picked up the show in 1982 and just lasted one season. The ratings were poor, very poor actually. I have seen that last season and the series did not drop in quality at all. In my opinion it was one of the greatest TV shows with an extremely talented cast. It also fell in snyc to what NBC was trying and successfully accomplishing, as in shows of higher quality and substance.

NBC then also usually gave shows a chance (Cheers was on the bottom the first year) because NBC didnt have anything else to fall back on. Maybe because Taxi was on ABC for four years it had its chance. Five years is a good run for a series anyway. Maybe Taxi died on NBC because people didnt watch NBC.

Opinions (to something 40 years ago?)

icecream · 09-15-2022, 07:29 AM

If Taxi had the Cheers lead-in a few years later it would have done great. But Cheers itself struggled until The Cosby Show came and strengthened the whole night.

TVFactFan · 09-19-2022, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

After four seasons on ABC, the network cancelled Taxi. I think to the performers and the staff, this was a shock.

NBC picked up the show in 1982 and just lasted one season. The ratings were poor, very poor actually. I have seen that last season and the series did not drop in quality at all. In my opinion it was one of the greatest TV shows with an extremely talented cast. It also fell in snyc to what NBC was trying and successfully accomplishing, as in shows of higher quality and substance.

NBC then also usually gave shows a chance (Cheers was on the bottom the first year) because NBC didnt have anything else to fall back on. Maybe because Taxi was on ABC for four years it had its chance. Five years is a good run for a series anyway. Maybe Taxi died on NBC because people didnt watch NBC.

Opinions (to something 40 years ago?)

Ratings after 1st episode aired on NBC on 9/30/82

"ranked 56 out of 63 shows for that week. Show went up against too close for Comfort and Magnum PI in the 9:30pm slot and ratings never got better

Centre Daily Times, Oct 10, 1982, page 62

Duster76 · 09-20-2022, 10:54 PM

Taxi has a complicated rating history that's for sure. The first two seasons were gold, a top 10 finish in season 1, and a top 15 finish in season 2. A closer examination suggests that much of that success had to do with the lead-in show Three's Company which was the number 2 show in the nation during those first two seasons. Taxi was moved from the 9:30 Tuesday night slot to Wednesday at 9:00pm for season 3. This turned out to be an ill-fated line up for ABC. All the series were returning from the prior season and all (with the exception of Taxi) would be cancelled, they were Eight is Enough, Soap and Vegas. Taxi was moved back to 9:30 but not on Tuesday night but on Thursday night with Barney Miller as the lead show at 9pm. Barney Miller was fading by the time Taxi arrived so the move did little to help the series. Taxi stayed in the same time slot to start season 4, finishing the season at number 53, a similar rating to the lead-in show Barney Miller which was in its final season. Taxi was cancelled and moved to NBC where the rating continued to decline finishing at number 73.

Taxi wasn't a mass appeal show it was just too quirky, in my opinion it was also one of the greatest shows of all time.

09-15-2022, 07:07 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Why did Taxi (utterly) fail on NBC? After four seasons on ABC, the network cancelled Taxi. I think to the performers and the staff, this was a shock. NBC picked up the show in 1982 and just lasted one season. The ratings were poor, very poor actually. I have seen that last season and the series did not drop in quality at all. In my opinion it was one of the greatest TV shows with an extremely talented cast. It also fell in snyc to what NBC was trying and successfully accomplishing, as in shows of higher quality and substance. NBC then also usually gave shows a chance (Cheers was on the bottom the first year) because NBC didnt have anything else to fall back on. Maybe because Taxi was on ABC for four years it had its chance. Five years is a good run for a series anyway. Maybe Taxi died on NBC because people didnt watch NBC. Opinions (to something 40 years ago?)

09-15-2022, 07:29 AM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,685	If Taxi had the Cheers lead-in a few years later it would have done great. But Cheers itself struggled until The Cosby Show came and strengthened the whole night.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

09-20-2022, 10:54 PM	#4
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,641	Taxi has a complicated rating history that's for sure. The first two seasons were gold, a top 10 finish in season 1, and a top 15 finish in season 2. A closer examination suggests that much of that success had to do with the lead-in show Three's Company which was the number 2 show in the nation during those first two seasons. Taxi was moved from the 9:30 Tuesday night slot to Wednesday at 9:00pm for season 3. This turned out to be an ill-fated line up for ABC. All the series were returning from the prior season and all (with the exception of Taxi) would be cancelled, they were Eight is Enough, Soap and Vegas. Taxi was moved back to 9:30 but not on Tuesday night but on Thursday night with Barney Miller as the lead show at 9pm. Barney Miller was fading by the time Taxi arrived so the move did little to help the series. Taxi stayed in the same time slot to start season 4, finishing the season at number 53, a similar rating to the lead-in show Barney Miller which was in its final season. Taxi was cancelled and moved to NBC where the rating continued to decline finishing at number 73. Taxi wasn't a mass appeal show it was just too quirky, in my opinion it was also one of the greatest shows of all time.