Question about short-lived show in syndication - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BLT · 06-13-2003, 12:21 PM

I thought that a show had to have around 100 episodes or 3-4 seasons worth of episodes to be in syndication. I understand that older shows have longer seasons (30+ episodes), but shows like Munsters & Abbott & Costello only ran two seasons--I wouldn't think that they would have enough episodes to rerun. Could someone explain the rules of syndication?

Mr. Television · 06-13-2003, 06:50 PM

The addams family had 64 episodes and the munsters had 70. Tv shows made more episodes in the 1950's and 1960's.

IGNTBone · 06-14-2003, 12:31 AM

I think a show actually only needs 22 eps to be sold into syndication. I remember reading Barry Williams' "Growing Up Brady" book, where he mentioned that Filmation wanted to shoot five more episodes of the "Brady Kids" cartoon, so the total would come to 22, and could be shown in reruns.

The kids and their agent told them "no", but the studio produced them anyway without them.

Pavan · 06-14-2003, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLT
I thought that a show had to have around 100 episodes or 3-4 seasons worth of episodes to be in syndication. I understand that older shows have longer seasons (30+ episodes), but shows like Munsters & Abbott & Costello only ran two seasons--I wouldn't think that they would have enough episodes to rerun. Could someone explain the rules of syndication?

Your thinking of local syndication. A show needs around 100 episodes and 4-5 seasons to enter local syndication, while the show is running on network primetime television still or has just finished.

Basically any show that has less than 100 episodes can be aired on cable now.

tvje · 06-15-2003, 12:00 AM

Police Squad has only 6 episodes, and Comedy Central use to rerun it, and all episodes are avalable on home video.

USA use to air a block of short lived shows, Working, My Two Dads, Men Behaving Badly, etc., TBS use to air reruns of Boosem Buddies.

Today TV Land airs Square Peqs every weekend. It only has 20 episodes. (though they have yet to air production episodes 17-20)

Penny Lane · 06-16-2003, 02:22 PM

Gidget had very few episodes.
Someone mentioned Square Pegs. I would love to see that again!

BrandonS · 06-17-2003, 08:22 AM

"Fawlty Towers" only made 13 episodes (on purpose) and it's shown a lot, although it does get rather boring after you've seen each episode five or six times. I think (personal opinion) you really ought to have at least 75 episodes of a series for it to be successful in syndication - just so the fans don't get to remember each episode so clearly that they can't enjoy watching it again. The original "Star Trek" series only made 79.

Impressions · 06-17-2003, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Gidget had very few episodes.
Someone mentioned Square Pegs. I would love to see that again!

Square Pegs can already be seen on TV Land in their "TV Land Kitschen" block on Saturdays/Sundays at 1:00am/Eastern.

Penny Lane · 06-17-2003, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Impressions
Square Pegs can already be seen on TV Land in their "TV Land Kitschen" block on Saturdays/Sundays at 1:00am/Eastern.

That's why I haven't watched it!

Mrgman · 01-01-2006, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvje

TBS use to air reruns of Boosem Buddies.

It still does weekends at 6:00 am

06-13-2003, 12:21 PM	#1
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	Question about short-lived show in syndication I thought that a show had to have around 100 episodes or 3-4 seasons worth of episodes to be in syndication. I understand that older shows have longer seasons (30+ episodes), but shows like Munsters & Abbott & Costello only ran two seasons--I wouldn't think that they would have enough episodes to rerun. Could someone explain the rules of syndication?
	__________________ I have nothing else to say.

06-15-2003, 12:00 AM	#5
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Police Squad has only 6 episodes, and Comedy Central use to rerun it, and all episodes are avalable on home video. USA use to air a block of short lived shows, Working, My Two Dads, Men Behaving Badly, etc., TBS use to air reruns of Boosem Buddies. Today TV Land airs Square Peqs every weekend. It only has 20 episodes. (though they have yet to air production episodes 17-20)
	__________________ tvje

06-16-2003, 02:22 PM	#6
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,263	Gidget had very few episodes. Someone mentioned Square Pegs. I would love to see that again!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

06-13-2003, 06:50 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	The addams family had 64 episodes and the munsters had 70. Tv shows made more episodes in the 1950's and 1960's.

06-14-2003, 12:31 AM	#3
IGNTBone Member Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Location: Tequesta, FL Posts: 1,201	I think a show actually only needs 22 eps to be sold into syndication. I remember reading Barry Williams' "Growing Up Brady" book, where he mentioned that Filmation wanted to shoot five more episodes of the "Brady Kids" cartoon, so the total would come to 22, and could be shown in reruns. The kids and their agent told them "no", but the studio produced them anyway without them.

06-17-2003, 08:22 AM	#7
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	"Fawlty Towers" only made 13 episodes (on purpose) and it's shown a lot, although it does get rather boring after you've seen each episode five or six times. I think (personal opinion) you really ought to have at least 75 episodes of a series for it to be successful in syndication - just so the fans don't get to remember each episode so clearly that they can't enjoy watching it again. The original "Star Trek" series only made 79.