Forgotten Network/Syndicated TV Shows of the Past

[cordeliachase]

Why did WGN get rid of "Corner Gas?" Was it because "Corner Gas" is a Canadian production and WGN now brands itself as WGN America? Also, does anyone remember a Canadian coming-of-age show called "Max Glick?" I think it came on Nickelodeon.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Regarding Small Wonder - no, not forgotten...certainly not on this board - people go on about that show all the time. I think you had to be a kid when it was first run. If you were an adult (as I was) at the time, you realize what an awful show it was.

I was an adult as well, and I just thought it was the cheesiest show to ever run on major market otherwise-network TV stations like WJW, our local CBS affiliate at the time (now Fox). It was low-budget with capital L. No, wait, they can't afford capitals.

Look at that video I linked! "Vicki"'s robot back isn't flush with her body! It sticks out up at the top right, like they couldn't get it to look like a "natural" part of a robot's body and gave up.

I watched it with amazement that such drek actually got a half-hour time slot on a network affiliate in a top 20 market.

Regarding Cynthia Stevenson - On that we agree. There's something about her - she isn't particularly beautiful, but has a very sweet quality. Cynthia wasn't on Six Feet Under - you're probably thinking of Dead Like Me, which played on Showtime (not HBO like Six Feet Under), and reappeared in syndicated reruns. Actually, Stevenson played against type in that show , as the dead (ghost) girl's bitchy and selfish mother.

Speaking of forgotten shows - Stevenson co-starred in Bob - Bob Newhart's third, and only failed sitcom. She played his daughter, if I remember correctly.

Yeah, I corrected my error right before your reply, though the IMDB page for her says she did also appear (probably a one shot) on "Six Feet Under" at some point.

And yes, I just now remembered that she was on "Bob". Bob Newhart and Cynthia Stevenson, no wonder I watched that show.

She manages to look interesting even in offbeat or (as described above) "bitchy" roles.

She was a semi-regular on the otherwise horrible "According to Jim", playing the really, really old girlfriend/love interest of the brother on the show. I still thought she was attractive...and the character was very off-putting.

 

[ShawnHill1]

American Journal aired for a few years in syndication, but having other similar shows like Inside Edition and Hard Copy on dosen't really work...

-crainbebo

American Journal was a spin-off of Inside Edition, as many of the reporters from Inside Edition would concurrently work on both shows.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Speaking of forgotten shows - Stevenson co-starred in Bob - Bob Newhart's third, and only failed sitcom. She played his daughter, if I remember correctly.

There was also George and Leo, a sitcom with Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch that only lasted one season in the late 90's. And if you really want to go further back there was Newhart's variety show in the early 60's that only lasted one season.

PS you can count me in on having had a crush on Cynthia Stevenson.

 

[Toledo Eleven]

Here's a print ad for a Christmas episode of Bob with Cynthia Stevenson: http://vintagetoledotv.squarespace.com/picture/bob921221.jpg?pictureId=7337158

 

[crainbebo]

However, American Journal had worser ratings than Inside Edition and Hard Copy. Around 1998, American Journal took a HUGE nosedive in ratings due to the Tom Bergeron Hollywood Squares premiering in syndication, which moved AJ to late nights in many markets.

A few more (again, I'm not sure these were listed)
Coupling (NBC, 2003) Very short-lived U.S. remake of the UK sitcom. Indecent content, poor ratings and being a very poor imitation led it to be cancelled during the November sweeps.
Rhythm and Blues (NBC, 1992) Sitcom with Roger Kabel as a white man who gets on a black radio station after being mistaken for a black man. Five episodes aired before it was axed. Aired on the "Must See TV" block.
Twenty Good Years (NBC, 2006) Sitcom with John Lithgow as a semi-retired surgeon. Axed after four episodes.
Black Sash (The WB, 2003) Short-lived action-adventure-drama with Russell Wong. Axed after six episodes.
Lost at Home (ABC, 2003) Short-lived sitcom with Gregory Hines and Mitch Rouse. Axed after four episodes, since Hines died in August of that year.
Totally Pets (PAX, 2003) A half-hour show that focuses on kids and their pets. Seems to have also been in syndication [weekend filler] for a time (KVAL 13 aired it on Sat. afternoons in Eugene, Ore.).

-crainbebo

 

[71dude]

House Calls (1979-1982) - Wayne Rogers, Lynn Redgrave, Sharon Gless

Private Benjamin (1981-1983) - Lorna Patterson, Eileen Brennan, Hal Williams

The Two of Us (1981-1982) - Peter Cook, Mimi Kennedy, Oliver Clark, Dana Hill

Lewis & Clark (1981-1982) - Gabe Kaplan, Ilene Graff

Harper Valley PTA (1981-1982) - Barbara Eden

Hail to the Chief (1985) - Patty Duke, Ted Bessell

Mr. Sunshine (1986) - Jeffrey Tambor

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Hail to the Chief (1985) - Patty Duke, Ted Bessell

In his most memorable role, the late Ted Bessell played the long-suffering love interest of Marlo Thomas' title character in That Girl. After T.G., Bessell went on to one more project, the forgettable 1972 choker, Me And The Chimp.

 

[johnnya2k6]

A few more!

House of Buggin' (Fox, 1995), a sketch comedy show starring John Leguizamo
Into the Night with Rick Dees (ABC, 1990)
Caesar's Challenge (NBC, 1993), the last new network game show until the current version of Let's Make a Deal
Card Sharks (2001 version), or as most of us called it, Card Guppies
Kid Nation (CBS, 2007)
Temptation Island (Fox, 2001)
Peer Pressure (syndicated, 1997)
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart (NBC, 2005)
Animal Crack-Ups (ABC, 1987), Vin Di Bona's first series before his flagship America's Funniest Home Videos
The Big Moment (ABC, 1999), also by Vin Di Bona and based on Japan's Happy Family Plan
Vibe and The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (both syndicated, 1997)
How'd They Do That? (CBS, 1993)
Hard Time on Planet Earth (CBS, 1989)

And the following are spinoffs:
American Juniors (Fox, 2003)-- American Idol
Skating With The Stars (ABC, 2010)--Dancing With The Stars
Storybook Squares (NBC, 1969)--Hollywood Squares
Wheel of Fortune 2000 (CBS, 1997)--Wheel of Fortune
JEP! (GSN, 1997)--Jeopardy!

 

[WMC2006]

Vibe and The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (both syndicated, 1997)

This may have been mentioned already. Magic Johnson's short lived talk show The Magic Hour which ran from June to September 1998.

 

[crainbebo]

The 2001 version of Card Sharks was very bad IMO. Speaking of Pat Bullard, he also had a short-lived syndicated talk show in 1996.

-crainbebo

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Why did WGN get rid of "Corner Gas?" Was it because "Corner Gas" is a Canadian production and WGN now brands itself as WGN America?

Wow, as a "Corner Gas" superfan, how did I miss THIS???

Basically, "CG" was a victim not of SuperStation WGN's rebranding to WGN America. It was a victim of ownership/management changes.

"CG" was greenlighted by the previous Tribune regime...before Sam Zell, Randy Michaels and a raft of former Jacor/Clear Channel employees took over.

When the Randy Crowd took over, they pushed "CG" back to late night viewing...the first major move into the wee hours was due to one of their pet projects, the TV simulcast of syndicated radio's "Bob and Tom Show". (How'd THAT work out for them? )

At some point, "CG" was pushed into primo timeslots like Tuesday mornings at 4:30 AM (Eastern), and eventually disappeared from WGN America. IIRC, the sixth and final (CTV) season of "CG" never aired on WGN. I watched episodes on YouTube, eventually on CTV.com when they opened them up to Americans, and then bought the S6 DVD.

Basically, Brent and the gang were victims of a regime change at Tribune/WGN. (And of course, Mr. Zell, Mr. Michaels and the rest are now long gone from Tribune.)

 

[ShawnHill1]

Animal Crack-Ups (ABC, 1987), Vin Di Bona's first series before his flagship America's Funniest Home Videos

I remember Animal Cracks-Ups as a seven year-old...if I remember correctly, during most of its first season, ABC ran it both in the morning and primetime on Saturdays, but with different episodes. In fact, it was one of the two shows that replaced American Bandstand on ABC's Saturday morning lineup.

Another ABC show not yet mentioned was their "In Concert" series, which ran Friday nights during the 1990s after Nightline; in some markets, it ran even later at night (usually 12:30 or 1am), usually competiting against NBC's Friday Night Videos. It was a revival of the 1970s version that ABC also ran for three years, before creator Don Kirshner departed halfway through the run to create "Rock Concert".

 

[johnnya2k6]

Yet a few more I plucked out of my head:

The Susan Powter Show (syndicated, 1994)
Countdown at the Neon Armadillo (syndicated, 1993), which (sadly for me) replaced WWF Superstars on KTVF here in Fairbanks
Runaway with The Rich and Famous (syndicated, 1987), Lifestyles' sister show
Going Places (ABC, 1990), co-starring Staci Keanan fresh off of My Two Dads
The Richard Bey Show (syndicated, 1987)
Tempestt (syndicated, 1995), short-lived talk show with Tempestt Bledsoe of Cosby Show fame
The New Ghostwriter Mysteries (CBS, 1997), the short-lived continuation of PBS' Ghostrwiter
Click (syndicated, 1997), hosted by some young fellow named Ryan Seacrest
Chicken Soup (ABC, 1989), starring Jewish comedian Jackie Mason
The Ananda Lewis Show (syndicated, 2001)
Now (NBC, 1993), newsmagazine with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric
Brothers (Showtime, 1984), the first original comedy series for cable (basic or premium)
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (CBS, 1993)
Blackout (CBS, 1988), which canceled -- and would be replaced by -- The $25,000 Pyramid!
Give-n-Take (CBS, 1975), hosted by Jim Lange
Go! (NBC, 1983), hosted by Kevin O'Connell (who was working across the lot at KNBC at the time as their weatherman; he holds the same job now at WGRZ in Buffalo)
Remember WENN (AMC, 2001?), AMC's first original series
Acapulco HEAT (syndicated, 1993)

 

[EricStein]

Countdown at the Neon Armadillo (syndicated, 1993), which (sadly for me) replaced WWF Superstars on KTVF here in Fairbanks

This was when country music was gaining mainstream popularity. A year later came "The Road" (syndicated), which followed country artists and bands on tour.

The Ananda Lewis Show (syndicated, 2001)

The same year had "Iyanla" (syndicated), which was touted as "Oprah's successor" just like many hosts who have come and gone.

 

[CrankyYankee]

Has anyone mentioned "Man From Atlantis" with Patrick Duffy?

 

[crainbebo]

Iyanla? Never heard of that syndi. show. I do remember Ananda Lewis. Only lasted a season.

A couple more
The Caroline Rhea Show (syndicated, 2002-03) Successor to the Rosie O'Donnell show, but only lasted a season.
The Martin Short Show (syndicated, 1998-99) Talk show that only lasted one season.

-crainbebo

 

[cordeliachase]

Does anyone remember back in 1991 when CBS launched a block of programs billed as "Crimetime After Primetime?" Every weeknight at 11:30 there was a different drama such as "Flying Blind" (with Shannon Tweed and a young David James Elliott) or "Scene of the Crime" (penned by Stephen J. Cannell.) "Silk Stalkings" and "Forever Night" also started out in this block before both continued to be produced in syndication. I believe "Sweating Bullets" and "Dark Justice" were the only two that lasted the entire CBS run. The whole thing came to an end in 1993 when CBS finally got a late night talk show when David Letterman came to the Eye Network.

 

[azumanga]

Does anyone remember back in 1991 when CBS launched a block of programs billed as "Crimetime After Primetime?" The whole thing came to an end in 1993 when CBS finally got a late night talk show when David Letterman came to the Eye Network.

Actually, it continued in a way until 1995, when "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder" debuted -- before then, "Crimetime After Primetime" programs followed Dave at 12:35AM ET.

 

[crainbebo]

Here's a few more

Ron Reagan Show (syndicated, 1991) Short-lived talk show with Ron Reagan, President Reagan's son. Addressed political issues of the day, but only lasted a few months, unable to compete with Johnny Carson, Aresnio Hall, etc.
Personals (CBS, 1991) Dating game show where one person would choose from three dates. Being asked yes or no questions, they had to disagree more to go to exotic locations. Aired late nights.
Night Games (CBS, 1991) Another dating game show where three men and women would be asked questions about their personal life. The winning person got the choice of who to date. Aired late nights.
Comic Strip Live (Fox, 1989-94) Saturday night show, mostly a stand-up comedy showcase.

-crainbebo