BJ and the bear

[Kenny Atkinson]

Does anyone have an any idea why this show never was syndicated or even lately show up on a classic tv network? (i.e. METV,RTV,Antenna TV etc)

 

[visaman]

Maybe because there were only 46 episodes ??? I read that it was syndicated with LOBO, but I don't remember that.

 

[F.M.Hertz]

Easy. Bad plots, dated references, cartoonish approach, far-fetched premise, not a ratings winner... the list goes on.

But that truck...that truck was beautiful.

 

[SteveRichards]

"BJ and the Bear" and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" were syndicated for at least a couple of years (maybe longer) starting in the fall of 1983 under the umbrella title, "The BJ/Lobo Show." If a station carried the show 5 days a week, episodes of BJ would typically alternate with episodes of Lobo. There were only three seasons of BJ and only two seasons of Lobo, and those were not all complete 22-episode seasons. According to Wikipedia, there were 48 episodes of BJ and 37 episodes of Lobo. Typically, a network show does not go into syndicated reruns (at least as a 5 or 6-day strip) without at least four seasons worth of episodes. Assuming a show has four complete seasons, that's usually around 88 episodes. If Wikipedia's figures are close to right, both shows combined make an 85-episode package. Had the syndicator not combined both shows under the umbrella title, neither show would have seen the light of day in syndication.

Wikipedia also says that "The BJ/Lobo Show" was offered in a 30-minute edited version, which I was not aware of nor can I verify. My local station carried the regular 60-minute version.

As to why neither show has not turned up recently on any of the retro networks, I can't really say, although the above posters all offer good reasons. Both shows were produced by Universal, so NBC/Universal would have the rights.

 

[vibe]

Maybe off topic but maybe we need another retro network called "Bad TV." Probably would generate a lot of interest.
On topic BJ and the Bear was forgettable.

 

[radiorob2.0]

"BJ and the Bear" and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" were syndicated for at least a couple of years (maybe longer) starting in the fall of 1983 under the umbrella title, "The BJ/Lobo Show." If a station carried the show 5 days a week, episodes of BJ would typically alternate with episodes of Lobo. There were only three seasons of BJ and only two seasons of Lobo, and those were not all complete 22-episode seasons. According to Wikipedia, there were 48 episodes of BJ and 37 episodes of Lobo. Typically, a network show does not go into syndicated reruns (at least as a 5 or 6-day strip) without at least four seasons worth of episodes. Assuming a show has four complete seasons, that's usually around 88 episodes. If Wikipedia's figures are close to right, both shows combined make an 85-episode package. Had the syndicator not combined both shows under the umbrella title, neither show would have seen the light of day in syndication.

Wikipedia also says that "The BJ/Lobo Show" was offered in a 30-minute edited version, which I was not aware of nor can I verify. My local station carried the regular 60-minute version.

As to why neither show has not turned up recently on any of the retro networks, I can't really say, although the above posters all offer good reasons. Both shows were produced by Universal, so NBC/Universal would have the rights.

It must have been difficult with each show's complex plot to possibly condense those episodes to just 30 minutes.

But seriously.....

Here is the likely discussion at NBC.....

"Here's an idea, the kids today like tractor trailers. You know "Convoy", "Smokey and the Bandit"; we need a TV show based on that."

"That's a great idea! But it is missing something, it needs a hook."

"I know, let's add a monkey."

"Great idea! It will be "Me and the Chimp" but in a semi!"

 

[cd637299]

Maybe off topic but maybe we need another retro network called "Bad TV." Probably would generate a lot of interest.
On topic BJ and the Bear was forgettable.

I had a similar idea, called "The Bomb Channel," with a Milton Bradley-esque "Time Bomb" for a logo bug. Certainly there are enough shows out there to qualify. The issue would be, how would it be spread out over a week?

Maybe RTV/Antenna TV/MeTV could devote a 3-hour block each week for stuff like this (much to the involved actors' chagrin), if there is not enough programming to supply one channel 24/7.

cd

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Thanks for your input.How did the original 39 Honeymooners ever get into syndication?I knew there was some soet of mark of like 75 episodes.

 

[azumanga]

"BJ and the Bear" and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" were syndicated for at least a couple of years (maybe longer) starting in the fall of 1983 under the umbrella title, "The BJ/Lobo Show"...
Wikipedia also says that "The BJ/Lobo Show" was offered in a 30-minute edited version, which I was not aware of nor can I verify. My local station carried the regular 60-minute version.

As past retro schedules have indicated, BJ/Lobo was offered as a 30-minute or 60-minute show. As I only saw the original 60-minute version (on WFTS), I can't say what the 30-minute version was like.

How did the original 39 Honeymooners ever get into syndication?I knew there was some soet of mark of like 75 episodes.

Prior to the 1980s, I have no idea, but it did help alot after the mid-1980s, when "The Lost Episodes" (kinnies of Honeymooners sketches from "The Jackie Gleason Show") were added to the mix, significantly bolstering its episode count.

 

[Marckd]

BJ/Lobo was offered as a one hour show. But stations sometimes opted to run them a half hour episodes. They basically spread an hour episode to 2 days running part one and part two respectively. fantasy Island was run in that manner in some markets as well.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Maybe off topic but maybe we need another retro network called "Bad TV." Probably would generate a lot of interest.
On topic BJ and the Bear was forgettable.

Oh, yes. That is an idea whose time is long overdue.
Sign me up for Manimal Week!

 

[rnigma1]

Yeah, I remember "B.J. McKay and his good friend Bear..." It was a Glen Larson (aka "Glen Larceny") show, so you know it's gonna rip off a movie or two. "Let's heist the trucker vs sheriff motif of Smokey and the Bandit, the chimp sidekick of Every Which Way but Loose, throw in some T&A 'cause that's the trend, toss 'em in a blender and see what comes out!"
Best thing about the "Lobo" spinoff was the opening titles, with the Frankie Laine theme song and the elaborate gag with all the sheriff cars piled up.

 

[RicoGregg]

Easy. Bad plots, dated references, cartoonish approach, far-fetched premise, not a ratings winner... the list goes on.

BJ and the Bear was forgettable.

BJ and the Bear was one of the most ill-conceived, badly written, poorly cast, stupidly concepted, idiotic, dumb, moronic, sophomoric-on-its-best-day, addle-headed, pi**-poorly acted, creatively retarded, asinine, intelligence-challenged, and just plain STUPID shows to ever hit the airwaves.

It boggles the mind that there are people, talented, creative people in both Hollywood and New York who can't get a network exec's secretary to sneeze at them, but because of things like cronyism, nepotism, or whatever-other-ism, crap like this gets on the air.

Unbelievable.

 

[vibe]

I think those "talented" Hollywood and NYC folk were fired and found a new gig, politics.

 

[therealjm12]

A good friend of mine was working at a NBC affiliate back when BJ & The Bear was on it's first run. One Saturday night a director was experimenting with some key shots so he had my friend sit on a stool in front of the blue wall and put the network feed of BJ & The Bear behind it. You guessed it. Somehow the shot was reversed between the preview and main bank on the switcher so my friend ends up as a special guest star on BJ. It stayed up there for several minutes. Finally someone in the newsroom walked in master control and says they are getting phone calls from viewers wanting to know who the guy is on the stool in BJ & The Bear.
The next day my friend was at a local fireman's carnival and a little boy walks by him and yells " hey Mom that's the guy that was on BJ & The Bear last night"! Probably that was the best thing that ever happened on that show.

 

[teevee]

Wow you guys are harsh bj mckay was an iconic figure back in the day and it was a fun show to watch don't you remember judy landers as stacks she was great I liked it better than lobo though.

 

[FreddyE1977]

General rule of thumb: If it has a monkey in it, don't count on those syndication checks
to bankroll your retirement.

 

[RicoGregg]

Look what Bonzo the chimp did for Ronald Reagan.

:

Never mind.