Why are modern shows so different from decades ago?

[x7q3]

In the 90's, I remember how there used to be good half-hour comedy shows. These shows actually made you laugh. Shows like Saved by The Bell, Step by Step, Family Matters, etc. Now days, they have comedy shows, but they aren't funny.

Shows used to have catchy, memorable theme songs. I'll just go ahead and use the above shows as examples again. Each of the above shows has a catchy, memorable theme song.

With modern shows, there is zero theme song. There are too many actors on one show. With dramas, the plots are overly complicated, and go in too many different directions, with too many people talking about different things.

Decades ago, there were few actors on a show. There was a simple plot. There was a memorable theme song. These shows were fun to watch. Today is pretty much the opposite of all that.

Here are more shows I like: Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, Cagney and Lacey, 7th Heaven, the original Twilight Zone, Walker Texas Ranger, Hunter, Xena Warrior Princess, etc. I noticed most of these shows have things in common: a memorable theme song, few actors, simple plot, etc. They are fun to watch and don't take themselves so seriously. Modern shows, like Game of Thrones, True Detective, the new Twilight Zone, Westworld, The Blacklist, etc, are so serious that they aren't fun to watch.

How did TV change so much? Why do they have no theme song, too many actors, overly complicated plots, etc? Modern shows are impossible to watch, for the reasons mentioned and more.

[thecooldud]

The time for each ep is shrinking thanks to adverts. An hour show used to be 48 minutes. Then it became 45 minutes. Now they're down to 41 minutes. Hence, a lot of shows throw the credits over the action rather than have proper opening credits so they have more screen time to play with.
As for the lack of a sense of humour... welcome to the modern world, sadly....

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by x7q3

In the 90's, I remember how there used to be good half-hour comedy shows. These shows actually made you laugh. Shows like Saved by The Bell, Step by Step, Family Matters, etc. Now days, they have comedy shows, but they aren't funny.

Shows used to have catchy, memorable theme songs. I'll just go ahead and use the above shows as examples again. Each of the above shows has a catchy, memorable theme song.

With modern shows, there is zero theme song. There are too many actors on one show. With dramas, the plots are overly complicated, and go in too many different directions, with too many people talking about different things.

Decades ago, there were few actors on a show. There was a simple plot. There was a memorable theme song. These shows were fun to watch. Today is pretty much the opposite of all that.

Here are more shows I like: Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, Cagney and Lacey, 7th Heaven, the original Twilight Zone, Walker Texas Ranger, Hunter, Xena Warrior Princess, etc. I noticed most of these shows have things in common: a memorable theme song, few actors, simple plot, etc. They are fun to watch and don't take themselves so seriously. Modern shows, like Game of Thrones, True Detective, the new Twilight Zone, Westworld, The Blacklist, etc, are so serious that they aren't fun to watch.

How did TV change so much? Why do they have no theme song, too many actors, overly complicated plots, etc? Modern shows are impossible to watch, for the reasons mentioned and more.

Social media basically. There is such a fear of upsetting some snowflakes that they are limited to what topics they can joke about. It’s not healthy. Comedy is vital. Especially in our modern times.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

The time for each ep is shrinking thanks to adverts. An hour show used to be 48 minutes. Then it became 45 minutes. Now they're down to 41 minutes. Hence, a lot of shows throw the credits over the action rather than have proper opening credits so they have more screen time to play with.

Spoken like someone who hasn’t watched a show people actually talk about in a couple of decades. Almost none of the shows the OP is complain about consists of 41 minute episodes. In most cases the episodes are close to an hour, in some cases even longer.

I’m not even going to get into a conversation about how Walker Texas Ranger was superior to True Detective or Westworld.

Once Hollywood movies were aimed at adults while most of TV was disposable fluff. Now this has reversed and TV is very you find serious drama which attracts first class writing, directing and acting talent. Hollywood films are much more lightweight, mostly concentrating on superhero and action franchises.

These still is a lot of comedy on TV too, btw.

[Wildcat2000]

You’re making unfair comparisons. You’re comparing fantasy and drama to sitcoms. 2 totally different genres which have always been around.

I hate to go there but this sounds more like nostalgia. I agree about theme songs though. Intros are fun to see.

[kuzronk]

In the era of instant content and far more media sources you don't need to make them episodic and mass enjoyment for the family.

Even if these shows were promoted well most would rather watch that show everybody is talking about (Something like Euphoria) than some show grandparents would watch.

[Alwayshappy]

There were fun shows back then. And there are fun shows currently on the air aswell. You just need to know where to look. I do agree about the intro's though. I miss the days where the majority of the shows on network TV had a nice intro with all actors/actresses in the credits.

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Social media basically. There is such a fear of upsetting some snowflakes that they are limited to what topics they can joke about. It’s not healthy. Comedy is vital. Especially in our modern times.

Its this....I mean think about the humor of those old shows. You are very limited these days to what you can joke about. It's ironic that in a time we can say the most we actually can say the least.

[D00mM4r1n3]

TV these days is just advertising targeted at a narrow demographic. The companies willing to pay the most for ads are dictating what content gets shown and how their products get integrated into the show. You will never get another M*A*S*H or Cheers, there's no place in shows like that for the latest iPhone, Mercedes, or Revlon makeup line.

[EvaDK]

As much as I enjoy watching an old episode of Cheers, Seinfeld or The Office (UK version), I'm not sorry that the sitcom tv format has more or less died out.

As far as I'm concerned, almost all the great comedy/satire writers and performers are gone, retired or have evolved and are doing more serious work now. I'll follow where the talent goes and as of now, that's (mostly) not in comedy tv/film.

[BluRayTim]

I’m a huge Diff’rent Strokes fan myself. I’m also a huge fan of ALF, Alice, All In The Family, Benson, Cheers, The Facts Of Life, Fraiser, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Mr. Belvedere, Mork & Mindy, One Day At A Time (1975), The Ropers, Silver Spoons, Soap, Three’s Company, Too Close For Comfort and Webster.

Amen, Empty Nest, Friends, The Golden Girls, My Two Dads, Seinfeld, Valerie and Wings are good but not in the same league as the sitcoms listed above. When Valerie became The Hogan Family it blew because Sandy Duncan has an awful voice.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

We are nearing the, "in universe" Fahrenheit 451 style of television entertainment sadly.

[GaragePoet]

is this a "back in my day" rant?

[Gacivory]

Growing up I thought Full House was the lowest of lows, I’ll take so many modern shows over that garbage of a show. I never watched Step by Step or Family Matters. I found Screech to be nails on a chalkboard and kept me from watching Saved By The Bell. Despite what some people say I don’t believe there’s some conspiracy to make TV shows worse nowadays, I just think a lot of it is changing tastes. But some people hold onto things they grew up on and won’t say anything after is as good. That’s fine, but don’t blame other people.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Social media basically. There is such a fear of upsetting some snowflakes that they are limited to what topics they can joke about. It’s not healthy. Comedy is vital. Especially in our modern times.

Exactly. Even comedians openly talk about their frustration with having to watch what they say out fear of offending someone these days that they struggle with their standup routines.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Growing up I thought Full House was the lowest of lows, I’ll take so many modern shows over that garbage of a show. I never watched Step by Step or Family Matters. I found Screech to be nails on a chalkboard and kept me from watching Saved By The Bell. Despite what some people say I don’t believe there’s some conspiracy to make TV shows worse nowadays, I just think a lot of it is changing tastes. But some people hold onto things they grew up on and won’t say anything after is as good. That’s fine, but don’t blame other people.

Agree on Full House. Never grew up with it, but I saw a few episodes on Nick. Not for me.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Diminishing originality, unfortunately. Same with music, so much of the current music sounds similar in my opinion, because there are only so many notes and beats. Funny, how so many musicians sue each other for "copyright infringement" on notes, yet movie/tv show creators don't really do that very much that we hear about. Yet, it's the same stories being told over and over and over again.

Also, some shows confuse political commentary for comedy. Politics is very alienating to half an audience. The good old shows, FOR THE MOST PART, were very Apolitical, they were neutral mostly but what they focused on was actual comedy, family, immediate problems, social problems (without dragging down a political affiliation), job drama.

Nowadays, shows want to focus on "chosen one" prophesies, politics, murder mysteries, hedonism and revenge drama. Nobody knows how to do good comedy anymore. When I want some current comedy, I have to find a stand-up special. There are no current tv/streaming series that interest me much. The last good comedys, IN MY OPINION, have been Brooklyn Nine Nine, Goldbergs and The Middle. And the Goldbergs even got pretty old. I miss The Middle.

Full House was for kids, good at the time. Saved by the Bell was also good. Step by Step, Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Home Improvement, those were the golden years for me.

The Office (US), Parks and Rec, Seinfeld and King of Queens I really miss.

Was never a MASH or Cheers fan, but appreciated it.

No good comedies in the last 10 years IMO.

[the one who knocks]

Originally Posted by x7q3

In the 90's, I remember how there used to be good half-hour comedy shows. These shows actually made you laugh. Shows like Saved by The Bell, Step by Step, Family Matters, etc. Now days, they have comedy shows, but they aren't funny.

Maybe try Disney Channel and Nickelodeon? They used to have sitcoms geared towards children like the ones you mentioned. iCarly, Hanna Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, etc. Not sure if they still do.

[BluProofie]

Lol this same exact post(word for word) was made months ago. Those simple, uncomplicated shows you want are still being made on Network TV.

[twobelowpar]

I've rewatched some episodes of those old shows and while they were often more family-friendly, they don't age well and they're really cheesy compared to today's sitcoms.