A sitcom vet fights the studio and loses, with another vet taking over a long running 1986 series.
The Kinescope Initiative 0131 /
Four sitcoms from 1986 make their debut, including two that do fairly well, and two not so well. Guess which ones starred sitcom vets.
The Kinescope Initiative 0130 /
Three flops take us into 1986, with one starring a TV legend trying again for the brass ring.
The Kinescope Initiative 0129 /
From 1985, a Pudding Guy clone and an example of how not to be a child star.
The Kinescope Initiative 0128 /
NBC hits the daily double in a single night of 1985 sitcom premieres, including a milestone series called "Miami Nice".
The Kinescope Initiative 0127 /
Two sitcoms from 1985--one a sequel to a classic, the other a return to the "secret" format--plus a flashback to a 1983 series.
The Kinescope Initiative 0126 /
We kick off 1985 with a future Oscar winner, a long running butler, a short running sitcom vet, and the daughter of a TV legend.
The Kinescope Initiative 0125 /
1984 wraps up with a teenage show (and a creepy backstory), along with two shows that crashed and burned.
The Kinescope Initiative 0124 /
A major hit for ABC, followed by a spinout flop and a show ahead of it's time.
The Kinescope Initiative 0123 /
NBC's milestone series of 1984--now tarred by scandal.
The Kinescope Initiative 0122 /
Two future movie stars are wasted in flops, while we take a shot of insulin for a treacly quasi-hit of 1984.
The Kinescope Initiative 0121 /
Three stinkers and one hit from 1984--the latter starring two showbiz vets but sitcom newbies.
The Kinescope Initiative 0120 /
A satire, a movie knockoff, a returning star, and an ethnic comedy all premiere in 1984--and end the same year.
The Kinescope Initiative 0119 /
We move from 1983 to 1984, but the flops keep coming.
The Kinescope Initiative 0118 /
A throwback gimmick, a sequel failure, and a Lucy quasi-remake, all from 1983.
The Kinescope Initiative 0117 /
Three more sitcoms of 1983--a flop, a second flop that somehow made it to syndication, and a knockoff of Diff'rent Strokes that somehow became a hit.
The Kinescope Initiative 0116 /
1983 brings us three more flops, a show that seemed better at the time, and a missed opportunity for NBC.
The Kinescope Initiative 0115 /
Four more sitcoms from 1983—all flops.
The Kinescope Initiative 0114 /
We kick off 1983 with a show I despise, followed by two failures for sitcom vets.
The Kinescope Initiative 0113 /
We wrap up 1982 with a remake, a return, and two bombs.