Originally Posted by Felt PeltView Post Does Just the Ten of Us count? A cursory look at youtube reveals they had money for song royalties and an editing machine that could do fancy wipes. Plus, a large cast. Their song sounds enough like the Greatest American Hero theme to have stuck in my head. But it’s possible they were intellectually impoverished. I can’t bring myself to watch it.
Ah, but the ladies of “Just the Ten of Us” made it a must-see. Oh yeah, and in addition to Heather Langenkamp, the show featured Brooke Theiss (a.k.a. Cockroach Girl from NOES 4).
Side issue: whatever happened to the 80s trend of having theme songs that were all about the show you were going to watch? “Charles in Charge”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, “The Fall Guy”, “The Dukes of Hazzard”, etc. That was greatness.
I think that’s why I can’t watch it. It reminds me of how easy it was to get an earlier version of myself to watch a show/waste time away. Put some attractive women in it, have them say vapid lines.
Holy shit! I also remember a sitcom where Matt Fewer played an aerospace engineer and delt with his wacky family. I remember it mainly because this was around the time aerospace jobs were being gutted and because it was right before the prime-time showing of Batman: The Animated Series.
Originally Posted by MattioliView Post Side issue: whatever happened to the 80s trend of having theme songs that were all about the show you were going to watch? “Charles in Charge”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, “The Fall Guy”, “The Dukes of Hazzard”, etc. That was greatness.
I was wondering the same thing. Heck, hardly any theme songs have words anymore.
Another side issue: anyone notice that there aren’t really any family friendly sitcoms in prime time anymore? There may be some PG rated, but there aren’t any of those Miller-Boyett “Full House,” “Perfect Strangers” type shows. Or maybe there are but they all moved to ABC Family and Disney Channel. Not saying this is a bad thing, just an observation.
Down to Earth, the story of a 1920’s flapper who gets run over by a car and comes back as the guardian angel/maid for modern-day family. Family patriarch played by the 2nd Darren from Bewitched, the one that died of AIDS.
We Got It Made, which seemed to exist solely to show off Teri Copley, who played a maid hired by a couple of New York bachelors to clean their apartment.
Originally Posted by eeninView Post I would say that Married with Children counts, but the greatness of the cast elevates it to greatness.
Definitely looks like a high school play, but the writing and acting is top notch. Likewise, ALF is a ridiculous, over the top concept, but the writing and (some of) the acting took it to another level.
I’m going to say that Mama’s Family may fit this category.
Yes, it was a spinoff of the Carol Burnett show*, but it’s production values were extremely low (almost everything took place in the house. They had maybe one or two other sets) and it was cancelled by NBC then revived in syndication, where it ran for another four years. Also, Ken Berry never got Larry Storch to do a guest spot, so that automatically lowers it. Actually, I’m going to say that Mama’s Family sort of morphed into one of these. The first couple of seasons had Rue McLanahan, Betty White, and Carol Burnett is recurring roles. Then it started going downhill, the bigger names vanished, and it got cheaper and cheaper as the years went on.
*Not a sitcom, thus this skirts the Growin Pains/Just the Ten of Us rule!
‘C.P.O Sharkey’ - The Don Rickles sitcom from the late 70s. This was one of the cheapest looking shows that I remember seeing; seriously, I think that the show only had one set. Does anyone else remember this show?
Originally Posted by Judas BoothView Post‘C.P.O Sharkey’ - The Don Rickles sitcom from the late 70s. This was one of the cheapest looking shows that I remember seeing; seriously, I think that the show only had one set. Does anyone else remember this show?
Yep, part of NBC’s doom time in the late 70s/early 80s. There’s a great Carson moment where he barges in on the set of Sharkey to confront Rickles over a cigarette case Rickles broke while guest-hosting The Tonight Show. It’s in the Mr. Warmth special Devin mentioned in the Watch This Now series.
Originally Posted by Drew S.View Post I’m going to say that Mama’s Family may fit this category. Yes, it was a spinoff of the Carol Burnett show*, but it’s production values were extremely low (almost everything took place in the house. They had maybe one or two other sets) and it was cancelled by NBC then revived in syndication, where it ran for another four years. Also, Ken Berry never got Larry Storch to do a guest spot, so that automatically lowers it. Actually, I’m going to say that Mama’s Family sort of morphed into one of these. The first couple of seasons had Rue McLanahan, Betty White, and Carol Burnett is recurring roles. Then it started going downhill, the bigger names vanished, and it got cheaper and cheaper as the years went on. *Not a sitcom, thus this skirts the Growin Pains/Just the Ten of Us rule!
I was going to say Mama’s Family but your explanation was much better than mine would have been. I think you’re right about it starting out fine and turning into a low-budget sitcom. It really took a nosedive when it was revived in syndication.
Side note: I also feel like there was about 10 years where TBS showed nothing but Mama’s Family, Saved By the Bell and old Burt Reynolds movies. And everything started at 5 minutes past the half hour.
Originally Posted by BeldarView Post Side note: I also feel like there was about 10 years where TBS showed nothing but Mama’s Family, Saved By the Bell and old Burt Reynolds movies. And everything started at 5 minutes past the half hour.
Spinoff of Golden Girl’s it seems. Pretty sure most of the episodes took place in either the Doctor’s office (with wise cracking assistant), or at his home.
The only thing I really remember from it is a scene where the neurotic daughter is concerned the soft spot on her head has reopened.