# TV shows the inexplicably remain on the air. (or, Who watches this? Anyone?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458 "2004-08-05T15:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/41 "2004-08-05T20:31:43Z")
The great thing is that there’s nothing appealing on television this fall. I figure an hour and a half a week for \*The Simpsons \* and the news, with the occasional \*Iron Chef \* and PBS special, and nothing more. It’s a little like needing less sleep all of a sudden. Extra hours for thinking, walking, making love! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/42 "2004-08-05T20:38:54Z")
I’ll admit, I watched the first two seasons of Becker and it was pretty funny. Really really funny actually. But when they dropped Terry Farrell and moved it to four different nights in a few months I lost interest. Catching some reruns in syndication showed me I gave up at the right time. I’m actually of two minds on King of the Hill, when it’s good I’m in tears at how funny it is. When it’s bad I start believing that even the good episodes weren’t that good. The one that comes instantly to my mind is the last season of Spin City. The cast had been gutted, they made the mayor an idiot, and it was the Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear show. It was just bad. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/43 "2004-08-05T20:48:43Z")
I used to ponder why certain shows were still on. Now, I ponder why certain shows have been brought back. Who in their right mind decided that another generation needed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Or Transformers? I will admit, I liked the original Transformers. This new stuff is crap. They should have just let the shows live peacefully in the minds of 20-30 year olds. For the record, I like Becker. So does my fiancee’s father. I know 4 people who love Third Watch. My sister loves King of the Hill. She likes it enough that she calls her son Boomhauer (sp?) because when he’s tired, he speaks gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/44 "2004-08-05T21:29:53Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > [Here](http://www.psiphi.org/tmp/networks-2004.html)’s the upcoming Fall schedule. A few revelations: > > **American Dreams** is entering its 3rd season. I feel like I know everything that’s happened to Meg and her freakin’ family because NBC trumpets the show relentlessly in its promos, but I don’t know a single person who’s ever seen an episode. I like _American Dreams_ - I didn’t watch the first season, but later got caught up in it. As someone said, it’s cursed with a poor time slot. I used to watch _Seventh Heaven_. Then it got **really, really** bad. Even now I can see one of the early episodes on and realize that it was bad even then - I just didn’t realize it at the time. I can’t think of any shows to add (I have minimal cable, and don’t watch that much television anymore). ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/45 "2004-08-05T21:34:47Z")
I actually wonder about how entire networks stay on the air. Who is watching all this crap? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/46 "2004-08-05T21:51:20Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > I used to watch _Seventh Heaven_. Then it got **really, really** bad. Even now I can see one of the early episodes on and realize that it was bad even then - I just didn’t realize it at the time. This show has the worst kids since _Mr. Belvedere_. They’re all obnoxious. Especially the little girl. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/47 "2004-08-05T22:22:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Tom Bergeron is the best host they’ve had yet, but it isn’t like the competition is stiff. But Tom Bergeron sure is! > [@](#): > > The scary thing for me is that AFV is getting a rap as an older person’s show. If they’d bring back Tawney Kitaen and Daisy Fuentes as hostesses, maybe it’d be a different story. I didn’t miss an episode when those babes were the hosts. FTR, I love AFV. Especially the clips of kids and animals. That’s the most natural, organic humor on Earth, I tell ya. Kids and animals. And as lame as his on camera comedy was, Bob Saget was the unparalleled master of the AFV voiceovers. Oh, and especially pinata clips. I tell ya, the Mexicans sure knew how to stage comedy. “So you see, we blindfold the ninos, give 'em all clubs, and tell 'em that there’s dulces inside the pinata. Then we spin 'em around tres o quatros, and let 'em swing away. Hilarity is sure to follow!” Now what’s _really_ bad is the Funniest Animals Videos on Animal Planet. The voiceovers _just make no damn sense_! And the clips aren’t funny. Who writes that crap? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/48 "2004-08-05T22:43:21Z")
😕 No one has named _Yes, Dear_? That has to be one of the most painfully unfunny shows on the air. The only reason it’s a “ratings winner” is because it’s on after _Everybody Loves Raymond_. Does anyone name _Yes, Dear_ as their favorite TV show? Are there any fan sites in tribute to it? Do people organize _Yes, Dear_ parties to watch the show every week? If so, I’ve never met any of them. I about had a seizure when I saw this unholy crapfest was added to TBS’s “Very Funny” lineup. Very funny, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/49 "2004-08-05T22:56:53Z")
Check out Television Without Pity’s 7th Heaven message boards. These people are out for BLOOD! And it’s f-in’ hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/50 "2004-08-05T22:59:48Z")
My sister is a big **Seventh Heaven and American Dreams** fan, and she is shocked when I tell her I don’t watch them. She is very church-oriented, and as a child of the sixties loves anything that lets her relive her childhood. I don’t like revisionist history (you know, like the later seasons of the Walton’s that dealt with current-day topics and situations using modern-day sensibilities, instead of era-appropriate behavior). I know this is a new show, but how does **Studio 7** stay on the air? I watched 15 minutes and couldn’t bear any more. Oh and my 80-year-old mom loves both **Everybody Loves Raymond and America’s Funniest Home Videos** She’ll even tape them to watch in the morning. Patricia Heaton is a local girl, so she watches it because of that (funny, but she won’t watch Drew Carey…hmmm.) and she loves shows with older women as stars (hence her fondness for Murder She Wrote and Hettie Wainthrop on Mystery). ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/51 "2004-08-05T23:17:18Z")
I thought _Becker_ would be like a Dr. Archie Bunker, which would make it beyond cool. But as Ted Danson performs it, he acts like Peter Griffith of _Family Guy_, ugh. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/52 "2004-08-05T23:34:15Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > **American Dreams** is entering its 3rd season. I feel like I know everything that’s happened to Meg and her freakin’ family because NBC trumpets the show relentlessly in its promos, but I don’t know a single person who’s ever seen an episode. I watched _American Dreams_ when it first came out, stopped watching for awhile and then got back into it last season. My parents are huge fans of the show. I’ll probably get them the DVDs at some point. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > While flipping through channels last night, I ran across Full House. Full House. It stayed on the air for a number of years and there has never, ever, EVER been a worse show. Never. A few months back, one of my coworkers announced to our quad, in dead seriousness, that _Full House_ was one of the best shows ever on the air. I believe his exact words were: “Full House. Now that’s good television.” He doesn’t work here anymore. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/53 "2004-08-05T23:40:14Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Or me and Mr2U. > > We LOVE watching Cops! We’re struggling during this point of the TV season because Cops comes on at 6:00 after the 5:00 Springer on channel 50 Ahh yes, the WPWR 2 hours of white trash. I love that, watching morons and idiots left to their own devices. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/54 "2004-08-06T00:56:05Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > … > Now what’s _really_ bad is the Funniest Animals Videos on Animal Planet. The voiceovers _just make no damn sense_! And the clips aren’t funny. Who writes that crap? Oh yeah, I almost mentioned that one before. It didn’t take long to figure out that the only way to watch that show is with the sound muted. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/55 "2004-08-06T01:50:35Z")
Weren’t _Wings_ and _Coach_ both on for, like, 200 years? Who the hell thought that shit was funny? Same goes for _Will & Grace_ - I can’t see how that show is any different from a billion other cookie-cutter sitcoms. I guess it had _Friends_ as a lead-in, but Christ. The only show on “Must-See TV” Thursday that I’ve thought was worth a fig since _Seinfeld_ is _Scrubs_, which means I’m sure they’ll be cancelling it any day now. _The Simpsons_ is a pale shadow of its former self, and I agree with everybody who doesn’t find _King of the Hill_ funny. But _Arrested Development_ is probably the best sitcom Fox has come up with since _Get A Life_, although I guess nobody watches it. _Futurama_ seemed liked a weak _Simpsons_ ripoff, while I’m ranting about Fox. Every single show on ABC’s schedule for the past decade has blown. But my all-time most inexplicable successful show has gotta be _M_A_S_H\*\*. Sententious beat-you-over-the-head moralizing intercut with lame Henny Youngman style one-liners. Bored me to tears. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/56 "2004-08-06T02:49:51Z")
I was amazed to find my mother hooked on Seventh Heaven for a little while. You’ve got to understand that she’s not just not religious, she’s completely anti-religious and hates everyone and everything to do with religion. I waltz into the loungeroom, and find Mum sitting on the couch deeply involved in the story of a minister with seven children (Mum also hates large families and soap operas) and I thought I’d slipped into bizarro world. Every week I try to avoid the absolute blitz of ads that our network puts on for Charmed, and I wonder “Who on earth watches that crap?”. To date, I haven’t met anyone who does. Perhaps they just don’t move in my circles. I also loathe Becker (hooray! it’s gone!). Full House was evil, but far from the worst sitcom ever. Have you blocked all memory of Family Matters? Happily Ever After? Step By Step? Small Wonder? There’s a lot of hot competition for the title of Worst Sitcom Ever. I always find myself on the losing team. Apparently, what I like and what most people like is completely different. I’d have axed that worthless tripe Buffy after episode one, but it’s been a massively popular show and has even generated spinoffs. I loved Grosse Point, thought that was a very clever and funny show, and I think it got the chop after only one season. Very disappointing. Right now I’m loving Scrubs and hoping that I won’t be the kiss of death for it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/57 "2004-08-06T05:07:55Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > I’ll never wish death on anyone, but I sincerely pray something happens to Tom Bergeron to ensure he’ll never appear on my television again. Maybe crippling laryngitis, or at worst a crane accident. How about a Bob Crane “accident?” ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/58 "2004-08-06T11:26:43Z")
> [@Tiramisu](#): > > Oh yeah, I almost mentioned that one before. It didn’t take long to figure out that the only way to watch that show is with the sound muted. My vet’s office has a TV in their waiting room that’s always playing _Funniest Animal Videos_. It doesn’t have regular ads, just ads for Animal Planet. (I guess it’s a special video they’ve gotten from the Animal Planet, maybe.) Anyway, they play it with the sound off, thankfully, so while you’re waiting with your dog or cat you can just watch the funny puppy and kitten clips. You have to look at the host, but you don’t have to hear him. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/59 "2004-08-06T11:58:00Z")
I can’t watch _King Of The Hill_. I _lived King Of The Hill._ My dad was Hank Hill, although I was not Bobby. I went to high school with Boomhauer; he later married Luanne. I roomed with Dale in college, briefly, before his weird-assed conspiracy theories drove me into finding another apartment. I knew Bill briefly; he married Peggy after his first marriage broke up. Never met John Red Corn, although I wouldn’t mind. He seems like an interesting sort of guy. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458/60 "2004-08-06T12:16:23Z")
I really like **King of the Hill**. I find Bobby hilarious - “That’s not your purse” **The Simpsons** should have been canned a few seasons back, since season 9/10 it’s been getting really really jaded, reusing the old jokes for maximum comic non-effect. Why they kept this on TV and cancelled **Futurama** I’ll never know. If **Star Trek** ever comes back in any guise at all after **Voyager** is over I’ll be very surprised. Way to kill a franchise. I can’t watch **CSI Miami** , just bores me stupid, as does **Nip/Tuck** and **Las Vegas**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-the-inexplicably-remain-on-the-air-or-who-watches-this-anyone/258458.md?page=4)