So, how many canceled network shows were resurrected in syndication?

Cafe Society
#1

Charles In Charge was on CBS from 1984-1985, then it was mercifully canceled, showing a just universe.

The universe had a big laugh when Charles In Charge returned in new syndicated episodes from 1986-1990.

It’s A Living was on ABC from 1980-1982.

It was revived in syndication and ran from 1985-1989.

Mama’s Family was on NBC from 1983-1985.

It also got a defibrillation and was returned via syndication from 1986-1990.

So, what other tv shows have been ressurected after cancellation?

I mean with the majority of the original cast, with the same title, with only a little break in production.

Not network hopping, but cancellation leading to syndication.

#2

The Jetsons had originally made only one season back in the 60s, but a new season-plus was made in the mid to late 80s when they were resurrected in syndication.

#3

The New Twilight Zone ran a season and a half on CBS, and then another in syndication.

Hee Haw went into successful syndication after CBS cancelled it.

#4

One of the best examples? See if you can guess.

Around 1971, CBS TV had the #1 show in the Nielsen’s, but they cancelled it. What show was it, and why did they cancel it?
ANSWER DOWN BELOW:

Bet a lot of you guessed “The Smothers Brothers,” right? Wrong! It was “The Lawrence Welk Show”! People forget just how popular Lawrence Welk was. His variety show was, by far, the most watched program in television in 1971- but CBS didn’t like the demographics of Welk’s viewers. The great majority of his fans were elderly people, and advertisers aren’t interested in older viewers. In spite of the high ratings, Welk’s show was becoming a money loser, because the only advertisers he could attract were Geritol, Phillips Milk of Magnesia, Halley’s M-O, Sominex, and various laxatives.

So, CBS cancelled the #1 show in the ratings. But don’t feel too sorry for Welk. He went into syndication almost immediately, kept making new shows for many years, and made a fortune.

#5

Baywatch lasted a season on NBC (1989-1990) before it was cancelled. A year or so later it returned in syndication to become one of the most popular shows in the world. [Norm MacDonald] Which just proves my theory: Germans Love David Hasselhoff. [/Norm MacDonald]

#6

Sliders went from Fox to Sci-Fi. It really shouldn’t have, and the SciFi episodes were horrible, but it did move over have Fox dinged it.

Stargate SG-1 moved from Showtime to Sci-Fi as well, but the show quality remains pretty good so far.

#7

Star Trek became the immense phenomenon it is after syndication. It only ran for three seasons.

#8

Eonwe, as a fan of the network Trek, I beg to differ. It’s been a burgeoning phenomenon for decades in movie/syndication/new quasi-spinoff series/etc. But it became a “cult favorite” while still a network show. Had demographics rather than raw ratings been the standard when it was cancelled, it would not have been.

#9

[hijack]
Personally I think that network cancelation was a good thing in the long run. If the show had continued on it would have invariablly died under it’s own weight and the fan masses would have had their Star Trek appetites largely sated. The syndication of a series pulled in (or even before) its prime kept the appetite alive and allowed the movies and the spin-offs.
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#10

This is not the same thing.

It did not continue in it’s original form after cancellation.

It also did not move from network to first run syndication.

#11

Indeed, if it were not for Bjo Trimble and the fan mobilization after Trek was cancelled after season 2, there never would have been a third season. Even though that last year was generally sub-par, it made Trek a syndicable show (at 79 episodes, which was then the minimum as 100 is today), which enabled it to survive and generate the spin-offs and films.

–Cliffy

#12

Lawrence Welk was on ABC, not CBS. I think astorian is thinking of Hee-Haw. Both were canceled, both moved to syndication, and both thrived for years.

Fame was on NBC for one or two years and moved to first-run syndication.

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd was on NBC for a year and moved to first-run cable.

There are innumerable game shows that had runs on the networks and then moved on to syndication.

And one of those little pieces of useless information, Mr. Ed was originally developed for syndication, but then CBS bought it.