# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/121 "2013-03-06T21:31:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I see no mention of either _Soap_ or _Barney Miller_, both of which were considered groundbreaking when they first came on: > > _Remington Steele_? > > [Lou Grant (TV Series 1977–1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075528/) Remington Steele currently runs on MeTV. > [@](#): > > _Rockford Files_? > > [The Rockford Files (TV Series 1974–1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071042/) > > Last time I heard anyone mention _Rockford Files_ was on an old rerun of _Frasier._☹ MeTV. > [@April\_R](#): > > I loved that it had Dave Foley in it from Kids In The Hall And the multi-talented Phil Hartman, R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/122 "2013-03-06T21:33:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I see no mention of either _Soap_ or _Barney Miller_, both of which were considered groundbreaking when they first came on: > > [Soap (TV Series 1977–1981) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075584/) > > [Barney Miller (TV Series 1975–1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072472/) > > _St Elsewhere_? > > [St. Elsewhere (TV Series 1982–1988) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083483/) > > _Hill Street Blues_? > > [Hill Street Blues (TV Series 1981–1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081873/) > > _Lou Grant_? > > [Lou Grant (TV Series 1977–1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075528/) > > _Remington Steele_? > > [Lou Grant (TV Series 1977–1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075528/) > > _Rockford Files_? > > [The Rockford Files (TV Series 1974–1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071042/) > > Last time I heard anyone mention _Rockford Files_ was on an old rerun of _Frasier._☹ I’m almost certain that several of those are currently in reruns on either [MeTV](http://metvnetwork.com/), [FamilyNet](http://www.familynet.com/), or [AntennaTV](http://www.antennatv.tv/). I can’t keep them straight in my head. Not exactly Nick at Nite, but they’re out there. Edit: I see I’ve been beaten to it on a couple. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/123 "2013-03-06T21:42:40Z")
Yes Dear is in pretty heavy rotation on Nick at Nite (and TBS before that), hardly forgotten. Coach, like Wings is on Reelz. So is Becker, and I think they also show Newsradio from time to time. Coach and Becker were also in fairly heavy rotation on WGN not too long ago (maybe they still are, I dunno). Depending on where you are, According to Jim can still be found in local syndication. Soap runs on AntennaTV sometimes (as does its spinoff Benson, another surprisingly long running show). Barney Miller either runs there or on WGN, I forget which. Alice, last time I remember seeing that was back when E! decided to start running real shows instead of just celeb/movie/gossip type self produced stuff. Drew Carey, haven’t seen that for ages. When Ion was running it, I don’t think they even made it past the first 4 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/124 "2013-03-06T21:47:59Z")
I believe someone also mentioned Gunsmoke. How can that be forgotten? I don’t think it’s ever been out of syndication. To my count it currently runs on three networks. Encore Western even has the early half-hour episodes entitled “Marshall Dillon.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/125 "2013-03-06T22:00:13Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The British comedy [Are You Being Served](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Being_Served%3F) ran from 1972 to 1985, and was shown on PBS. Most people have never heard of it, but it is fabulous. Is this a whoosh? That show’s huge. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/126 "2013-03-06T22:17:52Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Is this a whoosh? That show’s huge. Concur. It’s _still_ on PBS where I live. ---
**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, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/127 "2013-03-06T23:13:33Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > And the multi-talented Phil Hartman, R.I.P. oh geez ☹ yeah ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/128 "2013-03-06T23:53:16Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Walker gave Haley Joel Osment AIDS. > > [NEVER FORGET!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdsTUcuD7YA) No, you need [this link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ5w4MkFofc) for full effect. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/129 "2013-03-07T01:28:08Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Another show that’s not (AFAIK) in sydnication, and won’t get a full DVD release because of music rights. Malcolm in the Middle airs here(Michigan) in re-runs, so it is syndicated. > [@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. 🙂 🙂 🙂 What is the GMC station? > [@phreesh](#): > > [Newsradio](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewsRadio) lasted five seasons (With Wings as a lead in), but never really made a cultural impact. Cultural impact…no. I think it is well remembered, though. I will admit I never saw and obviously don’t remember the Jon Lovitz season, but I remember the rest. Seventh Heaven may be the winner, but Just Shoot Me is a strong contender. I absolutely adore Supernatural(now in season 8 and renewed for season 9), but I sometimes wonder how many folks have ever seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/130 "2013-03-07T01:37:40Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > What is the GMC station? Pretty sure it’s the [Gospel Music Channel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_TV), which I’ve never heard of, either. > [@](#): > > I never saw and obviously don’t remember the Jon Lovitz season Don’t. Lovitz is good, but he can’t replace Phil Hartman, even though, to his and the writers’ credit, he didn’t really try. > [@](#): > > Seventh Heaven may be the winner, but Just Shoot Me is a strong contender. I absolutely adore Supernatural(now in season 8 and renewed for season 9), but I sometimes wonder how many folks have ever seen it. I watched _Just Shoot Me_ and loved it. _Seventh Heaven_ found a niche audience and rode it for a pretty long time, considering. [_A Different World_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Different_World_%28TV_series%29) ran for six seasons, but is rarely mentioned these days despite being a spin-off of _The Cosby Show_. ---
**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 7, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/131 "2013-03-07T02:06:12Z")
I thought _Newsradio_ was really good. _St. Elsewhere_ was one of my favorite shows when it aired originally. I used to watch _Remington Steele_ too, but I haven’t seen it for many years. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/132 "2013-03-07T03:22:31Z")
[Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangin%27_with_Mr._Cooper) - 5 years, 101 episodes. [Perfect Strangers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_Strangers_%28TV_series%29)- 8 seasons 150 episodes [Mr. Belvedere](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Belvedere)- 6 seasons 117 episodes [227](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/227_%28TV_series%29)- 5 seasons 116 episodes ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/133 "2013-03-07T04:22:11Z")
Most of the shows mentioned were pretty big during my childhood (I’m 33) and are pretty memorable to me. Even _Yes, Dear_, which ran later and I didn’t really watch. It starred the guy from Boston Common, daughter from Uncle Buck, and the host of Nick’s Guts. ---
**Author:** ![JerseySwamps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@JerseySwamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseySwamps)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/134 "2013-03-07T04:39:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Nobody mentions **Murphy Brown** , though that was on for a decade. > [@Biggirl](#): > > It gets mentioned a lot for a show that’s been off the air for 15 years. Just last week it got a passing mention on a documentary I saw about women in comedy (it was touted as a doc about women in comedy but it was really about women in sit-coms.) > > Vice President Quayle made Murphy Brown unforgettable. I have to agree with JohnT here. For as big as Murphy Brown was, it is almost forgotten about now. VP Quayle is himself forgettable. The entire cast has fallen off of the face of the Earth. The main problem is that the writing was TOO topical. In 2013 no one wants to hear jokes about James Carville and George Stephanopolous. Meanwhile a show like Everybody Loves Raymond will live forever. Murphy Brown won The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in its second and fourth season and neither is available on DVD. Along with the first season of The Wonder Years, these are the only seasons that won that award in the last 40+ years that are not available on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/135 "2013-03-07T04:59:23Z")
William F. Buckley’s _Firing Line_ ran from 1966 to 1999. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/136 "2013-03-07T07:39:01Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Walker gave Haley Joel Osment AIDS. > > [NEVER FORGET!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdsTUcuD7YA) In that episode of Walker Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris uses Cherokee magic to enter Haley Joel Osment’s dreams and spin kick his nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/137 "2013-03-07T08:41:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The British comedy [Are You Being Served](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Being_Served%3F) ran from 1972 to 1985, and was shown on PBS. Most people have never heard of it, **but it is fabulous**. And aside from Mr. Humphries, the rest of the cast isn’t bad either! Even Mrs. Slocombe’s hoo hah. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/138 "2013-03-07T09:23:52Z")
I came in to mention _Supernatural_, which appears to have been on TV for most of the last decade, despite the fact I’ve only ever met one person who watches it. I will also nominate _Neighbours_ - I know it’s hugely popular overseas and has viewership numbers suggesting it’s very popular here in Australia, but again - never met anyone who watches it (unlike rival soap _Home & Away_, where I have encountered several fans). ---
**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 7, 2013, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/139 "2013-03-07T09:44:52Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Wings has one of my favorite lines of all time. Probably wont work typed out because its all about timing and character. Brian becomes the boy toy of a rich older woman (played by Tim Daly’s real-life sister, Tyne Daly) who gives him a Porsche: Antonio: Driving an automobile like this is like making love to a ravishingly beautiful woman. Brian: Why is that? Antonio: I’ve never done either. _Wings_ had its moments. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064/140 "2013-03-07T17:09:57Z")
> [@JerseySwamps](#): > > Murphy Brown won The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in its second and fourth season and neither is available on DVD. Along with the first season of The Wonder Years, these are the only seasons that won that award in the last 40+ years that are not available on DVD. I would assume that’s because of music licensing issues. _The Wonder Years_ featured period appropriate music, and I remember _Murphy Brown_ having a fair amount of Motown music (the title character was a fan). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-running-yet-most-forgotten-or-forgettable-tv-show/652064.md?page=8)