Too bad TV land is stopping at episode 27! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jon123 · 10-29-2002, 10:36 PM

After seeing "Break a leg, Stephanie" it is too bad we won't be able to see any of the later episodes. Although Edith is sorely missed, her death meant the show could get back more to the Bunker home and not show only the bar. Denise Miller as Billie gave the show a younger adult character and brough back some of the bite that was missing when Mike and Gloria left. When Murray and Veronica were there, we had too many older people on the show.

It's too bad NAN or TVL won't show them all, NAN will be showing AITF three times starting in November, and even though they are superior to ABP episodes, they have been rerun many times already.

DarleneIllyria · 10-29-2002, 11:01 PM

Yeah, it is too bad they won't be showing every episode. I'm just glad they showed what they could show. I'll actually get to see 'Archie Alone'. I hope the cable doesn't go out then. Who knows, maybe if ABP is getting good enough ratings maybe tvland will bring it back later on in 2003.

That's the question I want to ask Pavandbal if he sees this thread. Since ABP comes on at midnight, it might not be getting the best ratings. Maybe if enough people are tuning in, maybe we can see it later on. *crosses fingers*

Oh yeah, welcome to the boards Jon!

RWCTV · 10-30-2002, 02:15 PM

Unfortunately, I think that TVLAND started airing them to give them a breather from being stuck in the Columbia Pictures vault for so long.

I think the reason that Nick at Nite is airing more All in the Family and less Archie's Place is because All in the Family is way more popular with Mike and Gloria then Stephanie is. When discussing "All in the Family" in conversation with people, all of the people I asked favored the Mike and Gloria episodes.

I personally like Archie Bunker's Place, but not many people around my age have that kind of tolerance towards stuff like that. Although I don't think it's the very funny (and Norman Lear has said that about this sequel which Carroll O' Connor took total creative control over), it is very interesting and I like it because it captures my interest. To me, it's kind of like watching a drama like The Love Boat or Family. There are a few times when you laugh, but you laugh harder at the fumed Archie rather than the watered down Archie in this sequel.

Airing 27 episodes could also be a contract agreement with the distributor. The same distributor licensed the airing of 35 episodes of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman for TVLAND to air and only one Fernwood Tonight.

Then again, what else can I say (lol).

Impressions · 10-31-2002, 10:31 PM

I know, it has seems like it has gone so fast, I think they lose the rights in December. It was too bad they didn't air the entire series, but the deal with Screen Gems had got in the way. I was still surprised that they aired ABP, I glad they aired it while they could, or otherwise I would have never seen it.

jon123 · 11-01-2002, 11:29 AM

Still, its too bad AITF and ABP are not included in the same package-ABP would still have been called AITF if Jean Stapleton hadn't left. Also, even though the earliest episodes with Archie facing off against Mike are by far the best of all the shows-the worst shows of AITF were those that didn't feature Archie-like the one where Mike gets mad over a board game-and "Gloria", the series was most boring of all(no guest appearances from Archie or Mike). As long as Archie was there he carried the show no matter what the format was.

RWCTV · 11-01-2002, 11:50 AM

I agree with the last link partially. I say partially because I personally would like the two series blended together, but then again, maybe not.

What I mean is that the real last episode of "All in the Family" was the one where Mike and Gloria went off to California. This was also the last episode under the supervision of Norman Lear.

When the 9th season of "All in the Family" hit the air, it was almost like a totally different series. Carroll O' Connor started to supervise the show. In fact, I think that the last season of
"All in the Family" should be included in the Archie's Place package.

The good thing about blending all 309 episodes (AITF & ABP) together would be that the Archie's Place episodes would be like "All-New" episodes to people who have never seen it and who have seen all of the original All in the Family episodes.

TV Guy · 11-01-2002, 12:19 PM

Interesting thoughts. I believe the shows are kept separate for two reasons: financial and creative. Creatively, ABP isn't as strong as AITF, and adding the later shows to the syndication package will water down the series and perhaps scare off some viewers (I know a lot of folks who love AITF but dislike ABP). Watch the 25th AITF anniversary when it airs on N@N soon -- the special was supervised by Lear, and he treats the end of the eighth season (Mike and Gloria move away) as the end of the series. There is no mention at all of Stephanie, season 9, or ABP.

From a financial viewpoint, shows with large numbers of episodes are less lucrative financially (per episode) if the show isn't split up somehow (see "My Three Sons", "Gunsmoke", "Make Room for Daddy", etc.). Stations buy older shows like this for a certain price per episodes. The more episodes there are, the more the station has to pay. Stations like rerun packages where there are enough episodes to run for around 5 or 6 months without repeating (100-150). At around the 200 episode mark, stations are simply not willing to pay as much per episode if they're forced to buy the whole package.

BTW, I was surprised at how decent "Break a Leg, Stephanie" was, considering it came from the last season, when the show was running on fumes. Episodes where Archie gets to interact with strangers (remember the subway episode?) are usually pretty funny, and this one was no exception. And I like Denise Miller's Billie, although her presence on the show is pretty contrived.

Also, "Games Bunkers Play" is one of my AITF episodes. It was great seeing Mike realize that he was irritating to more people than just Archie.

jon123 · 11-02-2002, 12:00 PM

I agree that the last episode of "All in the Family" should be considered the episode when Mike and Gloria moved because that is the last where Norman Lear had creative control.

My point I was trying to make is that NAN will be showing AITF three times. These are the same episodes that they have rerun the last five years. Why not show AITF twice and then run all the ABP in one time slot instead? Then the people who are turned off by ABP don't have to turn in. It goes without saying that the AITF episodes are superior, but everyone should get the opportunity to see all the ABP episodes, especially if you never saw them before.

10-29-2002, 10:36 PM	#1
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	Too bad TV land is stopping at episode 27! After seeing "Break a leg, Stephanie" it is too bad we won't be able to see any of the later episodes. Although Edith is sorely missed, her death meant the show could get back more to the Bunker home and not show only the bar. Denise Miller as Billie gave the show a younger adult character and brough back some of the bite that was missing when Mike and Gloria left. When Murray and Veronica were there, we had too many older people on the show. It's too bad NAN or TVL won't show them all, NAN will be showing AITF three times starting in November, and even though they are superior to ABP episodes, they have been rerun many times already.

10-30-2002, 02:15 PM	#3
RWCTV Making Sense Senior Member Join Date: Sep 21, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL USA Posts: 1,138	The ABP ratings Unfortunately, I think that TVLAND started airing them to give them a breather from being stuck in the Columbia Pictures vault for so long. I think the reason that Nick at Nite is airing more All in the Family and less Archie's Place is because All in the Family is way more popular with Mike and Gloria then Stephanie is. When discussing "All in the Family" in conversation with people, all of the people I asked favored the Mike and Gloria episodes. I personally like Archie Bunker's Place, but not many people around my age have that kind of tolerance towards stuff like that. Although I don't think it's the very funny (and Norman Lear has said that about this sequel which Carroll O' Connor took total creative control over), it is very interesting and I like it because it captures my interest. To me, it's kind of like watching a drama like The Love Boat or Family. There are a few times when you laugh, but you laugh harder at the fumed Archie rather than the watered down Archie in this sequel. Airing 27 episodes could also be a contract agreement with the distributor. The same distributor licensed the airing of 35 episodes of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman for TVLAND to air and only one Fernwood Tonight. Then again, what else can I say (lol).
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10-29-2002, 11:01 PM	#2
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Yeah, it is too bad they won't be showing every episode. I'm just glad they showed what they could show. I'll actually get to see 'Archie Alone'. I hope the cable doesn't go out then. Who knows, maybe if ABP is getting good enough ratings maybe tvland will bring it back later on in 2003. That's the question I want to ask Pavandbal if he sees this thread. Since ABP comes on at midnight, it might not be getting the best ratings. Maybe if enough people are tuning in, maybe we can see it later on. crosses fingers Oh yeah, welcome to the boards Jon!

10-31-2002, 10:31 PM	#4
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	I know, it has seems like it has gone so fast, I think they lose the rights in December. It was too bad they didn't air the entire series, but the deal with Screen Gems had got in the way. I was still surprised that they aired ABP, I glad they aired it while they could, or otherwise I would have never seen it.

11-01-2002, 11:29 AM	#5
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	Still, its too bad AITF and ABP are not included in the same package-ABP would still have been called AITF if Jean Stapleton hadn't left. Also, even though the earliest episodes with Archie facing off against Mike are by far the best of all the shows-the worst shows of AITF were those that didn't feature Archie-like the one where Mike gets mad over a board game-and "Gloria", the series was most boring of all(no guest appearances from Archie or Mike). As long as Archie was there he carried the show no matter what the format was.

11-01-2002, 11:50 AM	#6
RWCTV Making Sense Senior Member Join Date: Sep 21, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL USA Posts: 1,138	I agree with the last link partially. I say partially because I personally would like the two series blended together, but then again, maybe not. What I mean is that the real last episode of "All in the Family" was the one where Mike and Gloria went off to California. This was also the last episode under the supervision of Norman Lear. When the 9th season of "All in the Family" hit the air, it was almost like a totally different series. Carroll O' Connor started to supervise the show. In fact, I think that the last season of "All in the Family" should be included in the Archie's Place package. The good thing about blending all 309 episodes (AITF & ABP) together would be that the Archie's Place episodes would be like "All-New" episodes to people who have never seen it and who have seen all of the original All in the Family episodes.

11-01-2002, 12:19 PM	#7
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Interesting thoughts. I believe the shows are kept separate for two reasons: financial and creative. Creatively, ABP isn't as strong as AITF, and adding the later shows to the syndication package will water down the series and perhaps scare off some viewers (I know a lot of folks who love AITF but dislike ABP). Watch the 25th AITF anniversary when it airs on N@N soon -- the special was supervised by Lear, and he treats the end of the eighth season (Mike and Gloria move away) as the end of the series. There is no mention at all of Stephanie, season 9, or ABP. From a financial viewpoint, shows with large numbers of episodes are less lucrative financially (per episode) if the show isn't split up somehow (see "My Three Sons", "Gunsmoke", "Make Room for Daddy", etc.). Stations buy older shows like this for a certain price per episodes. The more episodes there are, the more the station has to pay. Stations like rerun packages where there are enough episodes to run for around 5 or 6 months without repeating (100-150). At around the 200 episode mark, stations are simply not willing to pay as much per episode if they're forced to buy the whole package. BTW, I was surprised at how decent "Break a Leg, Stephanie" was, considering it came from the last season, when the show was running on fumes. Episodes where Archie gets to interact with strangers (remember the subway episode?) are usually pretty funny, and this one was no exception. And I like Denise Miller's Billie, although her presence on the show is pretty contrived. Also, "Games Bunkers Play" is one of my AITF episodes. It was great seeing Mike realize that he was irritating to more people than just Archie.

11-02-2002, 12:00 PM	#8
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	I agree that the last episode of "All in the Family" should be considered the episode when Mike and Gloria moved because that is the last where Norman Lear had creative control. My point I was trying to make is that NAN will be showing AITF three times. These are the same episodes that they have rerun the last five years. Why not show AITF twice and then run all the ABP in one time slot instead? Then the people who are turned off by ABP don't have to turn in. It goes without saying that the AITF episodes are superior, but everyone should get the opportunity to see all the ABP episodes, especially if you never saw them before.