# Popular TV shows that aren't anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [December 22, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017 "2024-12-22T14:37:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/1 "2024-12-22T14:37:21Z")
Not sure if this should be a reply or its own thread but I’m starting a new one. I read this recently: [Wildly popular shows that are gone](https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/once-wildly-popular-tv-shows-that-are-now-forgotten) and I found it really interesting. Some of these show defined pop culture of their time. Maybe that’s exactly the issue? They were of a time and that’s gone? Anyone have any others? Take care! ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/2 "2024-12-22T14:38:31Z")
Here is the reddit thread that they used or started for that article. [Reddit thread on shows that disappeared](https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/1h4pibf/wildly_popular_tv_shows_that_are_completely_lost/) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/3 "2024-12-22T15:01:00Z")
‘Desperate Housewives’. Husband and I had a box set and binge watched, one dreary Christmas. ‘The Wonder Years’ - again, a music rights problem. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/4 "2024-12-22T15:07:27Z")
Westerns like Gunsmoke or Bonanza aren’t talked about much nowadays. (Outside of the awesome podcast ‘Bonanas for Bonanza’, of course.) ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/5 "2024-12-22T15:18:34Z")
**Full House** was huge in its day, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were pop-culture celebrities for a while afterwards. Haven’t heard of either in years. Just checked, and the twins are now 38. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/6 "2024-12-22T15:33:05Z")
There was a time during which popular off-network shows were put into syndication and sold to local TV stations to fill odd hours. Now, more often than not, they fill odd hours with talk shows or expanded local news. Replacing them have been the seemingly dozens of odd streaming options, like Tubi and others. Probably some of the shows mentioned can be found somewhere, if music rights or other tangled legal issues aren’t keeping them in the vault. Some shows were not as popular as you might think. “Wings” got ratings because NBC placed it between two very popular shows. This was “tentpole” programming. People watched “Wings” because they were already watching NBC and didn’t want to change the channel. At various times, the tentpoles were “Seinfeld,” “Cheers” or “Mad About You.” “Wings” was good enough to hold up the middle of the tent, and got respectable ratings over several years. “Dear John,” a decent sitcom with Judd Hirsch, was similarly placed but didn’t hold up the tent, and has now been forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/7 "2024-12-22T15:55:03Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > “Wings” was good enough to hold up the middle of the tent, and got respectable ratings over several years. Wings is always my first thought about this kind of topic. Was only middling popular while new (though enough to get eight seasons) but then was on syndicated rotation on the cable USA network seemingly 24/7. I was in college at the time and we could (it seemed) always find an episode of Wings on if there was nothing else worth watching. But, post that, I haven’t seen an episode since the mid 90s and never hear the show mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/8 "2024-12-22T16:02:30Z")
I remember watching Boston Common in college, a sitcom starring Anthony Clark as a country bumpkin working at a university in Boston. Steve Paymer is an underrated comic actor, and he guest starred. Traylor Howard was the love interest. And none of those names are known today. > **[Boston Common (TV series)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Common_(TV_series))** > > Boston Common is an American television sitcom created by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick that aired on NBC from March 21, 1996 to April 28, 1997. In its first season, it ranked 8th for the year, with a 15.6 household rating, but with a move to Sundays in its second season, it dropped to 52nd place.\[citation needed\] > Boyd Pritchett is a genial, easy-going twenty-something from Virginia who delivers his sister Wyleen to college in Boston. Then Boyd falls in love with Joy and decides to stay, much to... Perhaps the best answer might be Herman’s Head. Yeardley Smith _in the flesh_! > **[Herman's Head](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman%27s_Head)** > > Herman's Head is an American sitcom that aired on the Fox network from September 8, 1991, until April 21, 1994. The series was created by Andy Guerdat and Steve Kreinberg, and produced by Witt/Thomas Productions in association with Touchstone Television. William Ragsdale stars as the title character, Herman Brooks. Herman's thought processes are dramatized in a "Greek chorus"-style interpretation, with four characters representing different aspects of his personality (played by Molly Hagan, Ke (My definition of _popular_ may be up for debate) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/9 "2024-12-22T16:27:24Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > **Full House** was huge in its day, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were pop-culture celebrities for a while afterwards. Haven’t heard of either in years. Just checked, and the twins are now 38. This is still pretty popular, it runs regularly in syndication and my daughter and a lot of her friends watched it (in fact, she still does occasionally as comfort-watching). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/10 "2024-12-22T16:49:26Z")
_Suddenly Susan_ with Brooke Shields. I have no idea what it was about or who else was in it. I think it was one of those Thursday night shows. I only remember the opening theme song was a rocking version of “Ode to Joy.” ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/11 "2024-12-22T17:17:42Z")
I watched many on the list. I did watch Herman’s Head. Several Simpsons people on it. I remember Boston Common. Then a lot of shows came out with Boston in the title. Suddenly Susan, Caroline in the City, Madman of the People, Drexell’s Class, Kate & Allie, Hooperman, Mission Impossible (1980s - I think it’s forgotten that it existed briefly then), Head of the Class, Just the Ten of Us, Perfect Strangers, Max Headroom, and I’m sure many more. There were a lot of shows that I liked and want an update. Tekwar, although Cyberpunk shows could include this. They were on cable, so not as easy to find. Silk Stockings. Lots of USA shows. Kindred. I watched too much TV. Maybe. Wow. I was in college from '90 to '95 and didn’t watch as much. Then watched a TON from '95 to '98, then dropped a lot and only targeted shows. Thanks for the conversation! ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/12 "2024-12-22T17:31:01Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > “Dear John,” a decent sitcom with Judd Hirsch, was similarly placed but didn’t hold up the tent, and has now been forgotten. I remember that one. I watched it and thought it was, let’s say, “reasonably good.” But even though I remember it now that someone else has mentioned it, I’m pretty sure that if I had been to name some shows I hadn’t seen in a long time, I would never have thought of it on my own. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/13 "2024-12-22T17:42:54Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Kindred. Kindred The Embraced had some failings. It was based on the role playing game Vampire The Masquerade. However, it made a lot of weird changes. As in the rpg, vampires have different clans. in the rpg each clan has a unique flaw. Nosferatu are hideously ugly. Malkavians are insane. Ventrue can only feed from a small subset of humans etc. The Nosferatur in the show was bald, had weird ears and was kind of ugly. I don’t remember any of the other clan flaws ever showing up. In the rpg, there were some powers every vampire had. There were also a set of powers called Disciplines. Each clan had three disciplines that cost less experience points to learn. Off the top of my head- Ventru had Dominate (You tell people what to do. They do it) and two others. The Nosferatu had Obfuscate (the ability to become invisible and to disguise your appearance) and two others, etc. In the show, all vampires seem to have access to all Disciplines and at very high levels. The other problem with the show was that the POV human was C Thomas Howell. > [@vislor](#): > > I watched too much TV. Maybe. Wow. Shame on you! You can never watch too much TV! I am watching Comet’s Sunday block of Friday The 13th-The Series right now. The current episode is about a dentist who uses the antique electric chair he was sentenced to die in to kill patients so that he may extend his life and gain electrical super powers. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/14 "2024-12-22T18:11:16Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Kindred The Embraced had some failings. Namely that it was terrible. I remember watching it when it aired (as I recall, it didn’t last the full season so I wouldn’t call it ‘popular’) and sort of powering through it because, neat, show about a popular RPG. But I tried rewatching it a few years back and it was awful. Classic C-Tier Aaron Spelling dreck with some mangled vampire rules pushed into it. It deserves to be forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/15 "2024-12-22T18:16:27Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > (as I recall, it didn’t last the full season so I wouldn’t call it ‘popular’) IIRC The ratings were good. The series ended early because the actor who played Prince Julian Luna was killed in a motorcycle accident. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/16 "2024-12-22T18:20:28Z")
Maybe. They had unaired episodes they never bothered to put on the air so that doesn’t sounds like “The audiences want more of this” to me, even if they would have had trouble filming another season. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/17 "2024-12-22T18:42:12Z")
> [@](#): > > While [Fox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) was deciding whether or not to renew KTE for a second season, star [Mark Frankel](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Mark_Frankel) died in a motorcycle accident. The decision was made not to try to find a replacement and let the single season stand > > - KTE received higher ratings than _[Buffy The Vampire Slayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_The_Vampire_Slayer)_ when it premiered the very next year. Had KTE continued into a second season, Buffy may not have happened.[[1]](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Kindred:_The_Embraced#cite_note-TGM20years-1) > - KTE also received higher ratings than _[Melrose Place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melrose_Place)_, but Fox decided to focus on its more “real world” or non-supernatural drama programs.[[1]](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Kindred:_The_Embraced#cite_note-TGM20years-1) From here > **[Kindred: The Embraced](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Kindred:_The_Embraced)** > > Kindred: The Embraced was an American television series loosely based in Vampire: The Masquerade. The plot was set in San Francisco and the series premiered on Fox on April 2, 1996. It ran for eight episodes before being canceled on May 9,... ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/18 "2024-12-22T18:54:16Z")
Back when adult bookstores were a thing I saw a porn flick titled, “Herman’s Other Head”. I’ll let myself out. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/19 "2024-12-22T18:55:47Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > _Suddenly Susan_ with Brooke Shields. I have no idea what it was about or who else was in it… I remember that one of her co-stars, David Strickland (kind of a poor man’s Chris O’Donnell) committed suicide. It also had Kathy Griffin as a wacky redhead. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017/20 "2024-12-22T18:59:20Z")
IIRC Susan (Brooke Shields) worked at a magazine. The actor who played the juvenile delinquent in The Breakfast Club played the boss. It originally did have a “rocking version of Ode To Joy”. Later, they made a new intro with a song sung by Sheryl Crowe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-tv-shows-that-arent-anymore/1012017.md?page=2)