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September 16th, 2007

Requiem for Nick at Nite

Back in July I noticed that TV Land – the cable channel allegedly devoted to Old TV Shows – was changing quite a bit by showing movies and newer shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Unfortunately there’s more bad news on the Old TV Shows front: Nick at Nite has apparently reinvented itself as another Disney Channel.

I found this out via TV Squad, which noted that Nick at Nite is showing the absolute crap fest, The George Lopez Show. Really. George Lopez.

It’s kind of sad; just like TV Land, this mini-network has been gutted. As I put it in the TV Land Ping, “It’s all become more of a dumping ground for their content.” That works fine for YouTube because it’s a website; I expect a TV network to be, uh, a little more focused.

That said, here are shows I’d really like to see on Nick at Nite if they actually showed old TV shows:

  • Mr. Belvedere
  • Perfect Strangers
  • Newhart
  • Quantum Leap
  • What’s Happening!!!
  • Star Trek
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (sufficiently old at this point – late 80s/early 90s, I feel)
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • Bewitched (bonus points for airing the Tabitha spin-off)
  • I Dream of Jeannie
  • Get Smart

I’m sure you have others, so speak up.

Posted in Television, Movies, and Music

Steve A September 16, 2007, 2:27 pm

How ’bout Time Tunnel, Rat Patrol, Dragnet and just for something different, My Mother the Car?

Ciao,

Hey, how come my post replying to Joys of Elite Status didn’t show?

jk September 16, 2007, 9:14 pm

Barney Miller and Mary Tyler Moore.

Brian September 18, 2007, 7:07 am

Buddy, I love what you’re saying here! Nick At Nite and TV Land are nothing more than shells of their former selves. I remember seeing Nick At Nite for the first time (way back in the late 80’s-early 90’s). Even as a kid, I loved the fact that there was a tv network dedicated to playing old, classic, black and white tv. TV Land and Nick At Nite used to be my two favorite channels. Now I’m consistently disappointed in their programing decisions. As far as George Lopez, you’re absolutely right. The George Lopez Show is bull-plop (can I say “plop” on the internet?)! No one watched that show when it was on ABC! I’m thinking Lopez has embarrassing pictures of the guy who runs Nick At Nite. That’s the only way the nonsense sitcom of his could get a second life.

If you take a quick look at the TV Land message boards, you’ll notice that there are a lot of people that think like you and me. Unfortunately, our voices will be ignored. Believe it or not, both N@N and TVL see increases in their ratings nearly every ratings period. It’s truly sad.

As far as my programing suggestions, I would say N@N should stick to the old black and whites. I’d love to see Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mr. Ed, and The Lucy Show come back. I like some of your suggestions, though. Mr. Belvedere, and Perfect Strangers would be great on there, as well. I grew up watching, and loving, both.

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