[Lord Aquaman]

Didn't Star Trek The Next Generation suffer from the occasional overly soap opera syndrome?

Money also plays a big factor in all this - the overbearing 10 year run of Friends was all about the actors trying to squeeze as much money out of the show as possible. They all knew that their film careers would never completely work out, so they kept renewing their TV contracts year after year after year so that they'd have a nest egg when their movies started to bomb.

[Chefelf]

Friends was never teh same show after the first season.  It became a show that was too hip for teh room and they while they had some good episodes, alot of them were downright cringey in their awfulness.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought that the first season was kinda awkward. There were some genuinely good and memorable (for me, anyway) moments in seasons 2-4 but after that it just turned into stupid Ross & Rachel crap.

I have to admit that while Chandler was my favorite character early on (for obvious reasons) I rather liked Ross in the last few seasons. He clearly went completely insane and acted like a total weirdo. I found him to be the most hysterical character on the show, yet I don't know if it was entirely intentional.

Rosanne went on WAYYYY too long, anyone remember that final season?  Yikes!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. The last few seasons of Roseanne were horrible. I loved that show, though. The whole thing about Dan's heart attack and that Roseanne had dreamed all the show or whatever was just insane. Another great comedy that just got too serious for its own good.

[Laura]

Yes.  The last few seasons of Roseanne were horrible.  I loved that show, though.  The whole thing about Dan's heart attack and that Roseanne had dreamed all the show or whatever was just insane.  Another great comedy that just got too serious for its own good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, and the whole thing about Dan cheating on Roseanne and Darlene being pregnant and her baby almost dying and stuff. Darlene became so normal! And while I love her and appreciate that she was in the show up till the end, I thought it was kind of lame that she went to art school in Chicago but ended up settling down in her mother's house to raise her baby with her high-school husband, even less independent than Becky who at least didn't live at home.

Basically everything after they won the lottery was totally stupid. I actually think the winning-the-lottery thing might have been a cute end for the show-- like, just one episode where they're rich and the money problems that have been central to the show are gone and they can do anything they want, but they decide to stay in Lanford and fund the local factory or what have you. In the show, the post-lottery stuff was stretched out so that you forgot they were rich, it was just kinda "there". They should either have not done it or had it end the show.

And the finale where they reveal that Roseanne wrote the whole show (or at least the last two seasons or so) the way she WANTED life to turn out; Dan has been dead for a year and the real Darlene married the real Mark and the real Becky married the real David. That was just a kick in the face. How depressing!


ETA: Xena: Actually there were some choice episodes in the third season (the Groundhog Day one; two Joxers; the one where Gabby's scroll is enchanted and everything she writes comes true; the one where everyone is obsessed with something: Xena with fishing, Gabby with herself, Joxer with being Tarzan; some good Autolycus stuff) as well as some stinkers (the Hope saga, the one about Julius Caesar). It's a season of extremes, but I would argue that the good ones are some of the best.

There are, however, no good ones in season four, not even ones that sound like they would be good, like the one where Autolycus is trapped in a city where dancing is outlawed. I didn't see the season the whole way through, so there might be one or two good episodes. Still, it's largely crap.

This post has been edited by Laura: 13 February 2005 - 01:00 PM

[Private Zod]

Didn't

Money also plays a big factor in all this - the overbearing 10 year run of Friends was all about the actors trying to squeeze as much money out of the show as possible. They all knew that their film careers would never completely work out, so they kept renewing their TV contracts year after year after year so that they'd have a nest egg when their movies started to bomb.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't forget the rubes who wanted that show on everyweek. The cast by teh 10th season was ready to call it quits until NBC ponied up even more money. Before they even did teh last season, teh cast admitted they had enough money for several lifetimes.

For alot of people, there was something reassuring about knowing every Thursday at 8, Friends would be on...no matter how awful the show got. People get evry comfortable in routines...

I for one thought Frasier was a much better, clever show. it never got the fanfare and "pop culture" chic that Friends got..mainly b/c it was was not written with teh intention of making 17 years olds laugh. You actually had to think about the jokes that were being said since the writing was so sharp. As contrasted to Friends, when the best they could come up for a joke near the end was having someone say "bitch" to get a cheap laugh. Kinda like heel wrestlers who used to get cheap heat by simply ripping on the cities where they were performing in order to get a response from the crowds. No thought or creativity involved. Just a very overrated show.

[Despondent]

Don't forget the rubes who wanted that show on everyweek.  The cast by teh 10th season was ready to call it quits until NBC ponied up even more money.  Before they even did teh last season, teh cast admitted they had enough money for several lifetimes. 

For alot of people, there was something reassuring about knowing every Thursday at 8, Friends would be on...no matter how awful the show got.  People get evry comfortable in routines...

I for one thought Frasier was a much better, clever show.  it never got the fanfare and "pop culture" chic that Friends got..mainly b/c it was was not written with teh intention of making 17 years olds laugh.  You actually had to think about the jokes that were being said since the writing was so sharp.  As contrasted to Friends, when the best they could come up for a joke near the end was having someone say "bitch" to get a cheap laugh.  Kinda like heel wrestlers who used to get cheap heat by simply ripping on the cities where they were performing in order to get a response from the crowds.  No thought or creativity involved.  Just a very overrated show.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great post. Even more reminiscent when I imagine canned laughter at every pause.

[Private Zod]

One last point on Friends...2 of the worst shows I have ever seen on network TV had one episode where Monica thought Chandler was into Shark Porn. My mouth was actually open for 7 minutes in disbelief. The other was when Robin Williams and Billy Crystal appeared as a promo for their god-awful film (Father's Day, I think) at teh beginning of one episode in Central Perk. It was so bad and cringe-worthy, I needed to take a shower b/c I felt so dirty and spoiled after watching it.

Another show to add to this list is Happy Days. Used to love it when I was between 6-11. I now know I was a fucking dolt as a child whenever I would catch an old episode now (bad even before Fonzie jumped the shark).

[Just your average movie goer]

You're a good man, Private Zod. Anyone who hates Friends is a friend to me.

[Lord Aquaman]

Funny how a lot more people hate Friends now than they did when it was on. Maybe it took them a while to catch on to just how bad the show had gotten (it wasn't exactly brilliant to begin with but it had a few mildly amusing moments here and there in its early seasons; but by year 6 the show was completely unbearable).

[Just your average movie goer]

I don't know about anyone else but I always hated it. When I saw it, it kind of made me want to shoot my television set and never watch television again.

[Jane Sherwood]

I don't think I ever hated or liked the show, I just never cared. I've never even seen a single episode of it all the way through. I've been frustrated by people who always make a big deal about it and all that, but overall I just don't give a damn about some stupid popular sitcom. It isn't worth my attention.

I like making fun of the theme song, though...

[Private Zod]

I like making fun of the theme song, though...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

UGGGHHH! That god-awful theme song! To make that horrible song even worse, the video they made with the cast in it acting all cute with the instruments and sunglasses. I think that touched off my hatred for the show.

[Jane Sherwood]

Which is exactly why it's so easy to twist around.

[bychance]

Smallville.

[Vesuvius]

Family Matters crumbled and went crazy by the end of their run. It was already rotting well into whatever season... If it were on dvd, I could tell where the smell was coming from.

Mad TV was alright in the beginning, but when Will Sasso, Aries Spears, and Phil Lamarr were on there, it was great. All this stuff that's been coming out in the last 3 1/2 years is garbage.

[TruJade]

I totally agree with bychance
and Smallville

Yes Oh SWEET LORD IN HEAVEN YESSSSSSSSSSS

This past weeks episode was ridiculous
with the revealing of the powers and
Clark denying his feelings for Lois
STUPID!

Now that Lana is off the show
they had better get together by the end of this season
its really pissing me off
i just watch now so i can see how it will end

but NOOOOO they just announced a 9th season!
One Tree Hill is dragging out too but Smallville is much worse
The CW needs to learn to let go

This post has been edited by TruJade: 14 March 2009 - 04:03 AM