MovieChat Forums > When Things Were Rotten (1975) Discussion > Best show on tv at the time.

Best show on tv at the time.

posted 20 years ago by torquemama2002
14 replies | jump to latest

The best thing about having only three major networks and some independent tv channels, were the few choices of shows to watch. This was a good thing because we made our choice to watch and if we miss it once, the repeat will be back on in a few weeks. We didn't sweat it too much!

MASH, When Things Were Rotten, Welcome Back Kotter, Barney Miller, were the staple of our tv viewing night. To quote Henry Hill "it was a glorious time".

I am 38 so I know these shows and memories!LOL

"Why don't you have another beer?"-Scott Stevens

[–] kgriffith11 19 years ago

I hear ya! I'm 53 and I remember all sorts of shows that I can't even remember the titles of-- Except--WHEN THINGS WERE ROTTEN! hahahah! We didn't have VCRs or Tivo or anything like that -- what we had were summer reruns --that is why I have seen Robin Hood Men in Tights about as many times as I have seen Rocky Horror Picture Show -- I still watch RHMIT and recite all the lines before they come on -- and I have developed a pretty good English accent haha -because , unlike some OTHER Robin Hoods---!

[–] torquemama2002 19 years ago

When there isn't a lot of competition on tv, that is when the best shows are on!

"Why don't you have another beer?"-Scott Stevens

[–] ActualSighs 19 years ago

I loved this show during its short run. It was a bitter disappointment to me when it was cancelled abruptly.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RookieAngel 19 years ago

I couldn't believe it when this show was cancelled. Frustrating to think not enough people "got it" when I was rolling around on the floor laughing until I could hardly breathe.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] torquemama2002 17 years ago

It was so freakin' hillarious! I can't wait for it to come on DVD.

And if you're into that kind of humor, Freakazoid was released on DVD today! Funny ass cartoon.

"Why don't you have another beer?"-Scott Stevens

[–] fredgarv79 16 years ago

I agree with everything said here, there were SO many great shows during this era. but, I don't agree that "when things were rotten" was one of them. I absolutely love mel brook's, I loved blazing saddles, and young frankenstien, loved them to death, thought they were hilarious, but I distinctly remember back when this show came out on tv, I was 14, and just being very disappointed. to me it was not up to par with his movies at all. I remember an advertisement for the show, after it had been on a few weeks, showing a wall, with plastic ears glued to it, and the announcer came on and said "even the walls have ears" or some such, and that, that, was the funniest bit in the half hour episode. I think I was proved correct here by it's early cancellation.

but saying that, I would like to see it again, this time not expecting so much and maybe I might like it better, but I kinda doubt it. the men in tights movie I was appalled at how bad it was when it came out, but now I can watch it and just relax and I do like it more now. especially if compared to the crap that passes for comedy tha'ts on tv today. why isn't it on DVD yet? they have just about everything else ever done on tv out, why not this one? must be some silly issue involving a fight between the network and mel brook's or something.

[–] torquemama2002 16 years ago

The thinking back then, like it is today, if people really like the small production, lets cancell it to promote some big name piece of crap. Shows back then like "Thanks A Lot", and "Thicker Than Water", were small productions that packed a lot of laughs. They just weren't successful to the powers that be.

Made you look.

[–] ZoneFighter 14 years ago

There's tons of crap released on DVD but this great series isn't available. What a shame.

[–] alan8653 16 years ago

I dont see here mentioned the fabulous homage to Abbot and Costello's "Who on first"!
Except it wasd a church abbot played by Dick Patterson. Ha! Ha!

[–] fredgarv79 14 years ago

torquemama, your only 38 and remember these early shows and the only 3 networks? I'm 50 sad to say. you make an interesting point. I distinctly remember when in the early fall, you eagerly awaited the announcement of the new fall shows, cause there were only 3 networks, and what they had to give, you got. I remember saturday nights, 1974 or so, on CBS, you got MASH, All in the family, the Mary tyler moore show, and bob newhart all in a row, followed by carol burnett at 10pm. now I didn't like carol burnett much but wow, what a lineup! 4 classic great shows all on one night. today they would immediately break it up and spread it out over the week.

your right, less channels meant better tv. it was something to look forward to, before the age of even VCR's. you couldn't tape them, so you better be there that night to watch. a true golden age of tv and movies to, from say 1965 through 1975. then in the mid to late 70's some network execs took over that ruined everything and put out such crap as "supertrain" and don rickles sitcoms and I remember that horrible sitcom with suzanne summers as a sheriff in the south somewhere, and tons of others.

anyway, compared to today, we get 37 different reality shows like swamp men, americas top model, etc it was truly a golden age of tv.

[–] torquemama2002 14 years ago

The Don Rickles sitcom you speak of is "CPO Sharkey". My dad loved that show!LOL

The New York Rangers suck. And Sidney Crosby is a cry baby!

[–] fredgarv79 14 years ago

yah that one was not bad really, it was his best sitcom by far, but he had a few others, one called "the don rickles show" that was pretty bad, about as bad as "the bob crane show" the guy from hogans hero's. every star back then had his own show called "the (insert name of star) show" which usually revolved around the star and his sitcom family with the requisite hot wife who was much younger and 2.5 perfect kids.