# TV shows that were fed after midnight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068 "2002-09-12T01:59:19Z")\ **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:** [September 12, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/1 "2002-09-12T01:59:19Z")
Every so often, a television show undergoes a bizarre _Gremlins_-like metamorphosis, where it changes dramatically from it’s original style. For examples: _Lost In Space_. First season attempted to be serious SF-adventure. By the second season, camp had taken over. Ditto _Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea_. First b&w season leaned towards Cold War, spy drama. Later seasons introduced the rubber Giant Sea Monster. Or the show’s main stars depart, and it has to be rebooted: Sanford & Son/ Sanford Arms Battlestar Galactica/ Galactica 1980 Or … WTF?? They just decide to chuck it all and start over: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (third season) Josie & the Pussycats/ The Pussycats in Outer Space. Any other examples you can think of? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/2 "2002-09-12T09:27:23Z")
A few other shows (usually cartoons) underwent the “…in Outer Space” transformation, including _The Partridge Family_. _The Flintstones_ went that-a-way when they got their new neighbors, freshly ripped off from _The Addams Family_ (What was their name? The Creepies? The Ghoulies?), and then when Pebbles and Bam-Bam grew up, but everyone else stayed the same age. _All in the Family_ went through some rough changes (Gloria and Meathead left, Stephanie came and went, Edith died, various whacky neighbors came and went, Archie opened up a bar, etc.) before finally being put out of its misery. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/3 "2002-09-12T10:32:43Z")
_Wonder Woman_ Went from gripping WW2 action to polyster-spun 70s spy adventure. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/4 "2002-09-12T11:10:46Z")
quite a recent one actually: two years ago (When i was still a care-free late night student) after _late night poker_ there used to be a really dodgy martial arts _Mortal Kombat_ series - all fighting and cardboard cutout characters. **but…** the last series (at least it was the last one they showed in this country) actually made me sit up and take notice - it actually gained an interesting and reasonably complex plot! I hate to say it, but i was actually disappointed when it went off air… ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/5 "2002-09-12T12:54:42Z")
Got to love the **Gremlins** reference. One of my favorite cartoons- **Voltron**. All of a sudden there was a second Voltron series (running at the same time as the first) with cars and such instead of the Lions. WTF? As I recall, **Battlestar Gallactica** made some massive changes to the series towards the end (its weird seeing clips of it during the cheesy Radio Shack commericals). ---
**Author:** ![KoalaBear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@KoalaBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KoalaBear)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/6 "2002-09-12T13:14:27Z")
**[Space: 1999](http://www.space1999.net/catacombs/)**. Year one := _2001: A Space Odyssey_ – Epic production values. Fabulous British guest stars (Lee, Cushing, Geeson, Blessed, Leighton, Glover, Collins et al). Understated performances. Metaphysical storylines with a touch of horror. Year two := _Lost In Space_ (late) – Puny recycled sets. Low-budget rubber alien of the week. Shatner-style overacting. Absurdist storylines featuring rebellious vegetables and sadistic boulders. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/7 "2002-09-12T13:39:18Z")
The writers for SeaQuest DSV never shoulda let the sub leave Earth! ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/8 "2002-09-12T16:21:49Z")
One of the original Fox shows was called something like “Second Chance”, where Matthew Perry was given a second chance to get into heaven. Then, for no apparent reason (well, besides that it was a pretty bad show) they renamed it “Boys Will Be Boys”, got rid of the angel, and made it into a totally generic sitcom. Same cast playing the same characters, only no overriding plotline about getting into heaven. I think they may have done the same thing to some of their other early shows. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/9 "2002-09-12T17:29:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elf6c \* > \*\*Got to love the **Gremlins** reference. > > One of my favorite cartoons- **Voltron**. All of a sudden there was a second Voltron series (running at the same time as the first) with cars and such instead of the Lions. WTF? > \*\* Actually, the 2 shows were completely unrelated. But when they were imported to America, they were re-titled and combined into Voltron. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/10 "2002-09-12T17:41:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\* > > Actually, the 2 shows were completely unrelated. > > But when they were imported to America, they were re-titled and combined into Voltron. \*\* Unrelated-- the second one sure _looked_ like Voltron. Or unrelated in time? Or did they take Friends and Seinfeld (as it were) and combine them with new dubbing into the same show. BTW, I like the car one better. I still remember the episodes were it destroyed like 15 ro-beasts in a row while attacking some giant base. Ah, good times. . . 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/11 "2002-09-12T17:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, the 2 shows were completely unrelated. There were cross-references between the two. Remember the little runt who piloted Green Lion? There was a similar-looking character in the vehicle-Voltron who was said in one episode to be his cousin, and there was some sort of correspondence between them (i.e., letters). And I seem to recall hearing that the vehicle thingy was Voltron-1, the lions were Voltron-3, and there was also a Voltron-2 which we in the States never got to see. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/12 "2002-09-12T20:38:18Z")
But the Seinfeld/Friends analogy is accurate. RE-Similiar looking characters Check out Battle Of The Planets/G-Force as well All 3 shows had Studly leader guy Hot chick who may or may not be leader’s love interest Short geeky kid with glasses Fat guy who was always eating New title sequences would have been no problem. Since they were replacing the Japanese dialogue with English anyway, adding references to a cousin and calling the robot Voltron would have been easy as well. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/13 "2002-09-12T20:46:54Z")
But the Seinfeld/Friends analogy is accurate. RE-Similiar looking characters Check out Battle Of The Planets/G-Force as well All 3 shows had Studly leader guy Hot chick who may or may not be leader’s love interest Short geeky kid with glasses Fat guy who was always eating New title sequences would have been no problem. Since they were replacing the Japanese dialogue with English anyway, adding references to a cousin and calling the robot Voltron would have been easy as well. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/14 "2002-09-12T21:02:34Z")
I’m looking for more. But for now ``` [The Truth](http://members.tripod.com/jjblue10/questions.html#voltron) ``` MTV also did a special on anime that mentioned Saber Rider and Hayakujo Golion being made into Voltron. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/15 "2002-09-12T21:10:22Z")
I’m looking for more. But for now ``` [The Truth](http://members.tripod.com/jjblue10/questions.html#voltron) ``` MTV also did a special on anime that mentioned Saber Rider and Hayakujo Golion being made into Voltron. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/16 "2002-09-12T21:19:00Z")
I’m only hittin’ submit once folks. Any hoo [From This Here Site](http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/2233/show.html) > [@](#): > > \*\* > Voltron’s Japanese Origins > Voltron is an “Americanized” version of a Japanese show called Hyaku Ju Oh Go-lion (King of 100 Beasts, Go-lion). This show came into existence in 1981. It consisted of only the 52 episodes seen in Voltron’s LionForce first season. While I have yet to see an episode of this show, I have read articles about it. It potrays a much darker, violent, and dismal storyline than Voltron does. Graphic violence, gore, and so forth appeared in this anime series. > The Japanese version of the Vehicle Voltron is called, Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV (Armored Squadron Dairugger XV). I have no further information on this Japanese counterpart as of yet. \*\* RE-Voltron 2 > [@](#): > > \*\* > There was a third series (though technically second), one that never made it to the US market, called Albegas and I no nothing more about the show other than it consisted of only three pilots. It was actually Voltron II. The Lion Voltron was Voltron III and the Vehicle Voltron was Voltron I. I’m not sure how they arrived at this numbering, but this is how I often see the designations of the robots. > These “team-oriented” shows all developed from a 1972 show called Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman. This was the hallmark show for the anime team genre. It too, saw Americanization as Battle of the Planets in 1978, G-Force in 1976, and Eagle Riders in 1997. It’s Japanese counterpart was one of the first long running anime series ever, consisting of over three seasons and approx. 152 episodes total. It also set the standards for the character looks (eg. stern leader, rebel second, kid, large guy, and a female) as well as character color schemes. It is difficult to say if live action team shows such as the Power Ranger’s predecessors were before, during, or after Gatch, but they all shared the same generalizations. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/17 "2002-09-12T21:39:15Z")
Well, didn’t Valerie Harper have a TV sitcom built around her? But then she quit, in some kind of dispute with the network. Ordinarily, you’d think a show built around one star would be finished when that star left. But instead, they renamed the show “Valerie’s Family,” and kept it on the air. Later, they replaced her with Sandy Duncan, and renamed the show “The Hogan Family.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/18 "2002-09-12T21:56:43Z")
Well, I’m going to take the controversial route and say _The Simpsons._ The change wasn’t overnight, and the changes need not even be considered all bad (Heck, I still watch it), but it’s certainly a VERY different series today than when it started. It’d be like having _Outlaw Star_ turn into _Rocky and Bullwinkle_, or some even more apt comparison. Sure, they might be able to pull it off, maybe even do a pretty good job at it, but it’s still quite a change. And don’t get me started on _Deep Space Nine_’s transformation into “Amazing War Stories.” Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/19 "2002-09-12T22:09:25Z")
This doesn’t matter all that much since it got canned but **Cursed** about a guy who was cursed became **The Weber Show** about a guy who wasn’t cursed. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068/20 "2002-09-13T01:09:26Z")
One show that changed over time was The Andy Griffith Show. Early episodes were a slapstick rural comedy, later ones seemd to be more character driven warm and fuzzy. with hardly a guffaw line in sight. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-were-fed-after-midnight/128068.md?page=2)