Today, I want to know which network TV sitcom are you most surprised to learn that it lasted at least eight seasons.
Pop Culture Theme Time is a feature where I put a question to you to see what you think about a particular theme. I might later revisit the theme for a future Drawing Crazy Patterns or Top Five.
Generally speaking, longevity in the world of sitcoms is a normal enough thing, as the most popular shows can pretty much keep on going for as long as they want to go. For instance, you can personally dislike Big Bang Theory or Modern Family, but it isn’t a surprise that the shows kept going when they kept routinely being one of the top sitcoms on television for all of those years, ya know?
So no, when these things gets surprising is when we’re NOT talking about the top of the market shows and yet they still somehow lasted at least eight seasons on network TV. I came up with this concept after realizing that Perfect Strangers not only went eight seasons, but it could have gone more had its stars, Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot, chosen to do more (they instead agreed to do a reduced final season and then the network said, “Screw it, your ‘reduced number’ is now reduced to just six episodes to wrap everything up”).
However, after looking at a list of TV shows that have lasted at least eight seasons, my answer would now be According to Jim, the sitcom vehicle for Jim Belushi. I don’t even think that the show was that bad, as I liked the supporting cast a lot and even Belushi wasn’t as bad as you might think for a show that was sort of pitched as “The show where they guy DOESN’T apologize for screwing up” (the amusing thing is that the show really didn’t stray too far from traditional sitcom plots despite its ostensible “edgy” basic conceit of the show where the dad doesn’t apologize for screwing up). That said, whether you liked or disliked the show, it’s still shocking that it lasted for EIGHT SEASONS on network television!
That’s my pick. What’s yours? I’ll accept syndicated shows provided that they ORIGINATED as network TV shows before moving to syndication.
And feel free to suggest future Pop Culture Theme Time topics to me at brian@popculturereferences.com!
I want to say all of FOX’s animated shows…but that is more a function of age…I just never got them. My official nomination is Roseanne. It was pretty entertaining those first years, but man, those last 4 or 5 years SUCKED. Writing wanted to SHOCK instead of tickle the ol’ funnybone.
I know it is it’s own thing, but the downfall Roseanne lives on as The Conners gets worse.
The Drew Carey show. I know the network had buyers’ remorse after they extended the show, but the last two years were horrible. The cast deserved better writing.
I always am surprised that COACH lasted 9 seasons. And while I know the ratings rocked, the fact that TWO & A HALF MEN made it 12 seasons, including 4 (as in a third of the show’s run) without co-star Charlie Sheen is pretty amazing.
I agree with Kevin & Bryan H about ROSEANNE. When it started out it had its charms, but things really started going off the rails around season 6. Seasons 7-8 are when it started doing more absurd fantasy and season 9 was downright bonkers (although I am glad that Jim Varney got a few episodes of non-Ernest work to showcase his skills before he died). Cronin’s “syndication bounce” likely explained how it got renewed over a decade later for a 10th season, and of course Barr’s big mouth got her fired.
I still am amazed that “LAST MAN STANDING” not only ran 9 seasons, but survived the network-swapping gambit better than most shows (which usually last only one more season after switching networks). I know the ratings were good for both networks (especially Fox, which has a lower threshold), but aside for the conservative rallying regarding its original cancellation, or Tim Allen’s political beliefs, I never heard anything about the show beyond it being generic sitcom schmaltz.
My first thought was The Simpsons. Every time I hear that it’s being renewed for another handful of seasons I always wonder why.
I was also surprised to find both Family Guy and American Dad both continuing seeing as Family Guy was canceled once and I didn’t think anyone watched American Dad to begin with.
The last two seasons of Roseanne were terrible but it had 6 great seasons plus the reboot(pre Connors version) was a great season as well.
How the heck did Full House make it past Season 1, yet alone eight full seasons plus a reunion/continuation series?
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