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One little-known adage in the world of TV sitcoms is “when the networks hand you lemons, there’s always first-run syndication.” Occasionally, when a series fails to land a place on the network schedule, there is someone on the production staff who believes in the project enough (or who has a well-placed relative at a UHF station) that it finds a home in first-run syndication. Here are six examples.
1. She’s the Sheriff
She’s the Sheriff (1987-89) was a major slice of humble pie for Suzanne Somers. After spending several years on magazine covers and posters as a result of her success on Three’s Company, she found herself almost blacklisted after a salary dispute. Not only was she shown the door, the Three’s Company legal team also invoked a “cease and desist” order that essentially prevented Somers from accepting any roles that even remotely resembled Chrissy Snow. The major networks were reluctant to get involved in a potentially sticky situation, and the series offers that had been flooding her manager’s office were quietly rescinded. Desperate for work, Somers signed on for She’s the Sheriff, in which her character inherits Lakes County, Nevada’s most important law enforcement position after the death of her husband.
2. Small Wonder
Small Wonder always seems to rate tops on “bottom” lists, but the show had a four-year run (1985-89), so someone must have been watching it. Tiffany Brissette was suitably mechanical in her portrayal of Vicki, the Voice Input Child Identicant built by her robotics engineer father. Much of the humor was based on the fact that Vicki was incapable of emotion and interpreted most commands literally (a schtick Get Smart’s Hymie the Robot had already done to death). Tiffany Brissette eventually left the business and took up distance running. She has successfully placed in many marathons over the years, and is now in nursing school.
3. Out of This World
Out of This World aired from 1987-1991 and was one of many “aliens on Earth” sitcoms of that era. In this case, 13-year-old Evie Garland was the offspring of an Earthling mother (Saturday Night Fever’s Donna Pescow) and an unseen father from the planet Antareus. Evie communicated with dad via an illuminated cube similar to those decorative lights available at Spencer Gifts. Dad’s voice was provided by Burt Reynolds, who was in the midst of a “between Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 and Evening Shade” career lull.
4. Madame’s Place
Madame’s Place only ran for one season, but it seemed much longer because, unlike most sitcoms, it was filmed to air five episodes per week. The star of the show was ventriloquist Wayland Flowers’ sarcastic diva puppet, Madame. The series used an arsenal of attention-getting devices: Madame’s bawdy humor, celebrity guest stars on the talk show-within-a-show, and a scantily clad Landers sister, but it was usually banished to a late-night time slot in most markets and was never able to develop a large audience base.
5. Mama’s Family
Mama’s Family started out on NBC but was canceled in 1984 after one season. Lorimar Telepictures saw some potential in the series, however, and the show returned in syndicated form from 1986 through 1990. Rue McClanahan and Betty White were regulars during the NBC season but were unavailable for the syndicated version thanks to some other show they got involved with called The Golden Girls. Mama’s Family was actually inspired by this classic skit on The Carol Burnett Show; it was supposed to be a one-off, but was so well-received that it turned into a recurring bit:
6. Charles in Charge
Who didn’t want Charles in Charge of them? The answer is CBS apparently, since the network canned the series after one season in 1985. But Scott Baio still had enough of the teen idol vibe left over from his Happy Days stint that he was able to carry this show for an additional four years in syndication. The Pembroke Family, which had employed Charles as a babysitter during the show’s first season, moved to Seattle and sublet their home to the Powells. The Powell patriarch was in the military and consequently spent most of his time away from home, which gave Charles an excuse to continue to live downstairs rent-free. Apart from giving Meg Ryan one of her earliest TV appearances, Charles in Charge also afforded Baio the opportunity to get his feet wet as a director (which he did under the name “Scott Vincent Baio” in order to assert his Seriousness Credentials.)
* * * * *
Let’s see who is brave enough to admit that they watched She’s the Sheriff just to see Suzanne in uniform, or that they know all the words to the Charles in Charge theme song.
Comments (35)
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Wouldn’t Baywatch fit into this category as well?
posted by Mavis on 11-19-2009 at 1:34 pm
Shouldn’t ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ make this list. Ran for seven seasons, I don’t think it was ever exclusive to a major network.
posted by Witty Nickname on 11-19-2009 at 1:36 pm
They’re still showing Charles in Charge here in the dreaded 1130 pm Sunday night slot after the local news..when you’d rather see Letterman or SNL any other night..
for insomniacs only!
“Charles in Charge, of our days and our nights. Charles in Charge, of our wrongs and our rights….”
posted by John W on 11-19-2009 at 1:36 pm
Wow, that’s quite a cavalcade of, um, television you’ve got there. :)
posted by Debi on 11-19-2009 at 1:38 pm
I never watched the Sheriff show. Guilty of watching Charles in Charge and loving it. Had completely forgotten about Madame’s Place! Tons of clips on Youtube – definitely reminds me of my youth. Thanks so much for this list!
posted by Sara's Whimsy on 11-19-2009 at 1:42 pm
I remember watching Small Wonder AND Out of This World (aired back to back, no less) on rare laaaaate night tv occasions.
I think shows with such blatant premises (ie: “she’s a robot living with a human family. that’s the show.”) do well when they’re in a timeslot where the viewership doesn’t have to follow the storyline from week to week or even night to night to enjoy the show.
posted by ab on 11-19-2009 at 1:58 pm
There is a new boy in the neighborhood
He lives downstairs and it is understood. He is there just to take good care of me like he’s one of the family. Charles in Charge of our days and our nights Charles in Charge of our wrongs and our rights.
Its pretty sad, but I have to sing tv theme songs to my daughter at night because those are the only ones I remember. Charles in Charge is one of the classics!
posted by Marty on 11-19-2009 at 2:23 pm
Embarassingly from memory:
The new boy in the neighborhood
Lives downstairs and it’s understood
That he’s there just to take good care of me
Like he’s part of the family
Charles in Charge
Of our days and our nights
Charles in Charge
Of our Wrongs and our Rights
And I sing, I want, I want Charles in Charge of me
posted by Jon on 11-19-2009 at 2:42 pm
How about Grounded for Life? Started off on FOX and moved to another network (UPN?)
posted by Ian from Baltimore on 11-19-2009 at 2:47 pm
Umm…I watched them when they aired in the ’80s, I was about 6 or 7 I think. LOVED Small Wonder, Charles in Charge and Out of this World. Also, this is not a sitcom but very few people my age also remember Denver the last Dinosaur. Does anyone here remember that cartoon? I used to love it when I was little (and their target demographic).
Denver the last dinosaur, he’s my friend and a whole lot more! lol that was their theme song!
posted by Pink Coat on 11-19-2009 at 2:51 pm
I can’t believe that “Star Trek” didn’t make this list!
posted by Angel H. on 11-19-2009 at 3:11 pm
Mavis is right. Baywatch should be at the top of this list. It had a one-season run on NBC but was completely saved by syndication.
posted by Bob on 11-19-2009 at 3:11 pm
“Mama’s Family” was a big hit at my house while I was growing up.
posted by the creature on 11-19-2009 at 3:17 pm
Star Trek and all its sequels weren’t “saved” by syndication, the shows were produced exclusively as syndicated shows and were never network shows.
Another odd duck is Stargate SG-1. When it was canceled on Showtime in ‘02, it was already being broadcast in syndication on a six-month delay. Its syndication ratings were high enough that SciFi Channel picked it up, and broadcast new episodes for another five seasons — plus its sequels, Atlantis and Universe.
posted by Mark on 11-19-2009 at 3:19 pm
While reading about Small Wonder, it made me think of this show I watched as a kid with Evie and her disembodied-voice father. Scroll down . . . and BAM! Thanks for featuring Out of This World! (And Mama’s Family & Charles in Charge . . . other childhood/rerun favorites!)
posted by Amanda on 11-19-2009 at 3:20 pm
Oops… I goofed. Star Trek was a network show, its *sequels* were never network shows.
posted by Mark on 11-19-2009 at 3:21 pm
The origonal Star Trek ran on NBC, then lived on in syndication repeats where most people saw it. The Next Generation was exclusively syndicated. Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise were all produced for UPN.
Yes Baywatch should be on this list. One season on nbc then too many years in syndication.
posted by Bill on 11-19-2009 at 3:41 pm
I absolutely loved Charles in Charge and Out of this World! I grew up watching rerun after rerun after rerun. Fond Memories.
posted by FrankieA on 11-19-2009 at 3:59 pm
LOVED charles in charge. i also think i was either in elementary school or even before elem school….which really speaks to the show’s quality.
posted by Nicole on 11-19-2009 at 4:11 pm
I always wondered what happened to the actress that played Vicki on “Small Wonder”. And, don’t forget – “Charles in Charge” brought us Nicole Eggert before her Baywatch stint!
posted by Steve from San Diego on 11-19-2009 at 4:14 pm
LOVED Mama’s Family!
posted by Kate on 11-19-2009 at 5:55 pm
Definitely remember watching Small Wonder, Out of this World, and Mama’s Family. How I loved Mama’s family!
posted by Leigh on 11-19-2009 at 5:55 pm
Used to watch “Out of the World” all the time after school. You know pretty much anything with the great Donna Pescow in it is going to be good!
posted by Justin on 11-19-2009 at 7:06 pm
Not only do I know all of the words to the Charles in Charge theme song, but I had a student who was named Chuckie and I used to sing that song to him every single day. I miss him. I miss the song. I do not miss the show.
posted by Shelby Tucker on 11-19-2009 at 10:30 pm
I don’t know if it applies to this list or not but TBS back in the mid/late 80’s had a few syndicated shows,but again not sure where they may fall on this list. “Back Down to Earth” is one,and another I cannot for the life remember that came on either before or after that one.
posted by lisaj on 11-19-2009 at 10:48 pm
The Boondocks. Canned by Fox before actually making it to Adult Swim. Same with Family Guy, but Fox brought them back.
posted by Jen on 11-20-2009 at 4:44 am
As a child I was a huge fan of Charles in Charge, Small Wonder and Out of this World, however it seems that the latter is bit more obscure as I’ve had many people literally draw blanks when referencing it. And yes I can sing all 3 theme songs verbatim!
posted by Andrew on 11-20-2009 at 5:58 am
Yeah, hate to admit it, I watched Charles in Charge every day after school. LOVED it.
posted by Tyk on 11-20-2009 at 7:38 am
There’s a new boy in the neighborhood
He lives downstairs and its understood
he’s there just to take good care of me
Like he’s one of the family….
Charles in Charge of our days and our night
Charles in chare of our wrongs and our rights
and i want charles in charge of me…
posted by Matt on 11-20-2009 at 10:58 am
If I could have one wish in the world, to this day, it would be to have Evie’s powers!!! Oh, if only I could stop time!!!
posted by Addie on 11-20-2009 at 12:56 pm
wouldn’t Family Guy fall into this list as well? It might have initially ran for more than one season on Fox, but it then got dumped to syndication only to be re-picked up after its popularity grew. Correct?
posted by pacificsherpa on 11-20-2009 at 1:10 pm
Pink Coat, I SO remember “Denver, the Last Dinosaur.” In fact, its theme song still pops into my head from time to time. :O
I watched all of these shows, except for “She’s the Sheriff” and “Madame’s Place.” And I’m another one who still remembers the words to the “Charles in Charge” theme song. There were actually two versions: a “lives upstairs” version and a “lives downstairs” version, though I don’t remember which version belonged to which family. (Yes, I am rather embarrassed. Why do you ask? ;))
posted by NYCGirl on 11-24-2009 at 5:07 pm
I admit proudly I watched all of these shows whenever they were on.
posted by Militant Lezbian on 12-1-2009 at 5:11 pm
Pink Coat and NYCGirl, I am SO glad someone else remembers Denver! I thought I was the only one!
posted by Alyssa on 1-15-2010 at 4:49 pm
Actually the pilot for Star Trek:TNG was shown as a 2 hour movie on ABC.
posted by antonio on 1-31-2010 at 12:05 am