# TV series with the most inexplicable longevity **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703 "2008-06-29T22:31:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/1 "2008-06-29T22:31:11Z")
There have been lousy shows that sank without a ripple. There have been great shows that lasted year after year. There have been great shows that tragically ended way before their time. And there have been shows that by every measure should have been cancelled after their fourth episode, yet somehow managed to go on and on. What TV series do you think had the the most inexplicably high ratio of longevity to worth? (Note that an absolute bomb that somehow managed to complete a single thirteen-episode run might have a higher ratio than a mediocre show that lasted for ten seasons. Or vice-versa.) ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/2 "2008-06-29T22:45:18Z")
\*\*Wings \*\* Nine seasons, and I’ve never met anyone who’s ever watched more than one episode. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/3 "2008-06-29T22:47:37Z")
I’ve never met anyone who loved Raymond, either. Or any of the shows cloned from it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/4 "2008-06-29T22:49:52Z")
**According to Jim**. Unfunny comedy – OK, there are many of those – based on the premise that Jim was so unfailingly loveable that he could act as an utter selfish bastard toward everyone around him and just smile at the end and he’d be OK. It is inexplicable that his wife stayed with him for more than 13 weeks. Honorable mention to **Full House.** ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/5 "2008-06-29T22:55:48Z")
[QUOTE=Leechboy] \*\*Wings \*\* Nine seasons, and I’ve never met anyone who’s ever watched more than one episode. [/QUOTE] I agree it was an awful show. But apparently a ratings winner. So it does not seem to fit the OP. As for Raymond it had an average 17 million viewers. Does not seem to fit the OP either ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/6 "2008-06-29T22:59:05Z")
[QUOTE=Leechboy] \*\*Wings \*\* Nine seasons, and I’ve never met anyone who’s ever watched more than one episode. [/QUOTE] You have now. We not only watched, but we have it on DVD. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/7 "2008-06-29T23:06:44Z")
_Buffy_. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/8 "2008-06-29T23:12:22Z")
Jesus, **Airman** , now you’ve done it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/9 "2008-06-29T23:12:55Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] You have now. We not only watched, but we have it on DVD. 😃 [/QUOTE] Don’t have it on DVD yet, but I want it. So that’s two. “Old soldiers never die, they just Fay DeVay.” And I have a picture of Antonio’s “Twister” Halloween costume on the wall of my office. Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/10 "2008-06-29T23:14:51Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] _Buffy_. [/QUOTE] Hardly inexplicable, it had a dedicated fan base and a persistent audience. For me, it would have to go back to some of the others mentioned, although I’ve never watched more than a few minutes of any of them. Meaning shows that consistently get reasonable ratings and keep running along, but you NEVER hear anyone talking about them, you never hear any buzz, they’re just THERE, year after year. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/11 "2008-06-29T23:48:58Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] _Buffy_. [/QUOTE] Because of your continued passionate defense of gun rights, I’m gonna pretend I didn’t read this. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/12 "2008-06-29T23:59:58Z")
_Zack and Cody’s Suite Life._ Even for drecky kidTV it is unutterably bad. Yet my boys like it enough to watch it every weekend for an hour or so. I tell ya, it makes Hannah Montana look like Shakespeare. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/13 "2008-06-30T00:02:05Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] **According to Jim**. Unfunny comedy – OK, there are many of those – based on the premise that Jim was so unfailingly loveable that he could act as an utter selfish bastard toward everyone around him and just smile at the end and he’d be OK. It is inexplicable that his wife stayed with him for more than 13 weeks. Honorable mention to **Full House.** [/QUOTE] I second **According to Jim**. I think ABC just keeps giving him a free pass because he was lucky enough to have the last name **Belushi**. **Full House** though!? :eek: That and \*\*Family Matters \*\* were the cornerstone of TGIF back in the day when I was growing up. Everyone ages 4-14 watched that show when it was on. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/14 "2008-06-30T00:06:20Z")
I’ve watched lots of episodes of Wings. Partly because I’m damned lazy, and partly because Tim Daly is HOTTT. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/15 "2008-06-30T00:09:01Z")
**Hee Haw** 1969 to 1992, 23 Frickin’ years! > **[Hee Haw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hee_Haw)** > > Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired from 1969 to 1992, and on TNN from 1996 to 1997. Reruns of the series were broadcast on RFD-TV from September 2008 to April 2020, and aired on Circle. > The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, but centered on country music, rural rather than pop culture-inspired humor, and with far less topical material. Hosted by country music artist... ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/16 "2008-06-30T00:22:54Z")
I liked _Wings_ quite a bit, actually, though it was for the supporting characters. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/17 "2008-06-30T00:26:41Z")
[QUOTE=Gala Matrix Fire] I’ve watched lots of episodes of Wings. Partly because I’m damned lazy, and partly because Tim Daly is HOTTT. [/QUOTE] I used to think pretty well of Crystal Bernard, but lately I’ve come to appreciate the charms of Rebecca Schull (Faye). ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/18 "2008-06-30T00:27:05Z")
Becker Obviously a formulaic vehicle for Danson, (Stern Doc, wacky staff and patients… new fun every week - oh boy!) Mediocrity ensues… I know it oinly lasted a few yrs, and became increasing issue / preachy, but really, it was just a stale formula, with stae writing, stale produiction and stale acting… Glad its gone FML ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/19 "2008-06-30T00:43:08Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] _Buffy_. [/QUOTE] I’m a big fan of **Buffy the Vampire Slayer** and **Angel** , but honestly, I’m surprised it didn’t get canceled after the first season. Maybe the first season just suffers by comparison to the really good seasons that came later. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703/20 "2008-06-30T00:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=vison] _Zack and Cody’s Suite Life._ Even for drecky kidTV it is unutterably bad. Yet my boys like it enough to watch it every weekend for an hour or so. I tell ya, it makes Hannah Montana look like Shakespeare. [/QUOTE] 46 yo male here- 3 reasons I watch it- Ashley Tilsdale the chick that play London Tipton the hottie Mom Oh yes, and I was a fan of Wings when it was on. Not enough tho to follow it on syndication or get the DVDs. But if I ran into it while flipping channels, I might keep it on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-with-the-most-inexplicable-longevity/454703.md?page=2)