# Longest running yet most forgotten (or forgettable) TV Show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064 "2013-03-05T03:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/61 "2013-03-05T23:13:27Z")
This is a great thread. It’s hard to think of shows that aren’t memorable - for obvious reasons. [Mannix](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061277/)ran for 8 seasons, but may only be forgotten because it was 40 years ago. Shows from the 80’s and 90’s are more impressive. I personally don’t remember a thing about _[Designing Women](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090418/)_, but maybe some people do. Or the “Alan Thicke head-of-household that begat a crazy Christian kid” show. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/62 "2013-03-05T23:14:04Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > And I would argue that The Simpsons, while it started off as being a major hit and cultural influence, has sunk into a similar status. I haven’t heard anyone talking about the latest episode in years. :rolleyes: Yeah, a thread about ‘forgotten or forgettable’ TV shows is incomplete without mentioning … what’s their name again? Oh, right, The Sampsons. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/63 "2013-03-05T23:23:13Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > I have never heard anyone talk about **The Red Skelton Show** (1951-1971), even though it was rated in Nielsen’s Top 15 for 15 of its 20 seasons, including nine seasons in the Top 10. Ha! We were talking about it just last night when someone quoted Skelton’s sign-off. (“Goodnight and God bless.”) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/64 "2013-03-05T23:40:41Z")
Well, the most forgotten show will hardly be posted here. I mean, we’ll have forgotten it, right? However, I have recently been reminded of: Night Court (9 seasons) T.J. Hooker (4 seasons) Highway to Heaven (5 seasons) So forgettable, I don’t even remember what reminded me of them. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/65 "2013-03-06T00:42:37Z")
A good point Robot Arm! I love that line too, “So forgettable, I don’t even remember what reminded me of them.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/66 "2013-03-06T01:03:32Z")
“Lamp Unto My Feet” ran for 32 years. I never saw one episode. Of course, a show that ran at 9:00 AM Sunday wasn’t about to be big. Anybody remember it? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/67 "2013-03-06T01:52:29Z")
Step by Step ran 7 seasons but I have never met anybody who has ever seen it, despite having relatively “big name” stars. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/68 "2013-03-06T01:54:20Z")
For the sake of this thread, I was really only thinking about primetime-type shows, not early morning religious stuff or daytime soaps. Though I didn’t specify that so I’m not upset about people bringing it up. Lamp Unto My Feet, I’ve never heard of at all. Never heard of Step by Step either. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/69 "2013-03-06T02:05:33Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > “7th Heaven” ran 11 years, and I don’t think it made much of a dent at all in the TV ratings. Kind of a niche show; it was a huge, huge deal with Christians. It also launched Jessica Biel’s career, and most significantly was the show that helped established the WB as a lasting network. I never watched a minute of it but even I’d say the show had some lasting impact. Going down the list of the longest-running shows, the first one I find myself really shocked at is “Stargate SG-1.” I am flabbergasted the show’s been on for 11 years. It seems to be a place careers end, not begin, and I’ve never met anyone who watches it, heard any critical praise for it, or noticed it having any impact whatsoever on anything. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/70 "2013-03-06T02:07:23Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > _Simon & Simon_ ran for 8 seasons. The _Simon & Simon/Magnum P.I._ crossover was awesome! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/71 "2013-03-06T02:08:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Going down the list of the longest-running shows, the first one I find myself really shocked at is “Stargate SG-1.” I am flabbergasted the show’s been on for 11 years. It seems to be a place careers end, not begin, and I’ve never met anyone who watches it, heard any critical praise for it, or noticed it having any impact whatsoever on anything. Um… wow. No. I’m not even a Stargate fan but… it’s definitely extremely popular and well syndicated, with like 2 spinoff series and a whole huge expanded universe. I’d probably peg Stargate as the 3rd or 4th most popular Sci-Fi franchise after Trek and Wars and maybe 1 or 2 others. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/72 "2013-03-06T02:10:11Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Step by Step ran 7 seasons but I have never met anybody who has ever seen it, despite having relatively “big name” stars. I grew up watching Step by Step, the [theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzII_m_a8lE) is now stuck in my head, thanks for bringing it up 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/73 "2013-03-06T02:16:46Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > I grew up watching Step by Step, the [theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzII_m_a8lE) is now stuck in my head, thanks for bringing it up 😛 I had to look it up. That’s the one with Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers and some kids. I never watched it but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard my wife mention it. (She’s 12 years younger than me.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/74 "2013-03-06T02:20:19Z")
> [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](#): > > To me, 7th Heaven never should have ended. > God bless you always!!! > Holly > P.S. Thank God for the GMC station. 🙂 🙂 🙂 :rolleyes: Touched by an Angel: “[Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touched_by_an_Angel)” and I can’t remember one episode. Horrible show IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/75 "2013-03-06T02:22:18Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Um… wow. No. I’m not even a Stargate fan but… it’s definitely extremely popular and well syndicated, with like 2 spinoff series and a whole huge expanded universe. I’d probably peg Stargate as the 3rd or 4th most popular Sci-Fi franchise after Trek and Wars and maybe 1 or 2 others. Stargate SG-1 was the longest consecutive running sci-fi show ever. (Doctor Who was not consecutive so while I love it also, it doesn’t count.) It has definitely not been forgotten and there is a video game being created around it right now, with the original actors doing the voices. I’d say it’s right there under Wars/Trek. Eureka killed it; the actors were making too much money by this point so the production company went cheaper and kept the show with the less paid actors. (I like Eureka too, so I’m not bitter. Okay yes I am.) As for actors moving on, Amanda Tapping (Sam Carter) went on to produce/direct Sanctuary, which was originally supposed to be webisodes only, until syfy picked it up for a while as a real show. And now she’s on Supernatural which has a pretty good following. Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) had some good bits on Burn Notice, and Richard Dean Anderson is, well, Richard Dean Anderson. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/76 "2013-03-06T02:24:52Z")
[California Dreams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Dreams) Anyone…anyone? [And Kids Incorporated](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Incorporated)? My childhood had lame shows, but I loved them. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/77 "2013-03-06T02:46:40Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’d put Walker, Texas Ranger in that category. > > It was on for eight seasons, was apparently a hit show but I don’t know anyone who watched it or even noticed when it went away. The memory of Walker Texas Ranger is kept alive by legions of baked college students who enjoy it for its unintentional hilarity. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/78 "2013-03-06T02:50:52Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > [California Dreams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Dreams) > Anyone…anyone? I remember California Dreams. Its memory has certainly been overshadowed by that of its sister show Saved by the Bell. There was discussion up thread about Matlock and Diagnoses Murder. Those shows, along with Murder, She Wrote were part of a weird TV fad where old people solved murders. I think people mostly remember Murder, She wrote for the theory that Angela Landsbury must have been committing all the murders then framing other people for them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/79 "2013-03-06T02:57:01Z")
When’s the last time you thought of any episode from [A Different World](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Different_World_(TV_series))’s six season run? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/80 "2013-03-06T03:11:26Z")
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