ONE SEASON WONDERS: That 80s Show

On Wednesdays, I look at shows that lasted one season or less. Today I am looking at 2000s flop That 80s Show!

THAT 80S SHOW

Programming Details:

January 23, 2002 - May 29, 2002

13 episodes

FOX

Starring: Glenn Howerton, Tinsley Grimes, Chyler Leigh, Eddie Shin, Brittany Daniel, Margaret Smith and Geoff Pierson

Created by: Mark Brazill, Terry Turner & Linda Wallem

Plot: A group of twentysomething friends are living in San Diego in 1984. Corey Howard (Howerton) is a struggling musician working at a record store with June Tuesday (Leigh) and Margaret (Smith) while living with his sister, Katie (Grimes) and father, R.T. (Pierson). Rounding out the main cast is Corey's best friend, Roger (Shin) and ex-girlfriend, Sophia (Daniel). 

Brief Pilot Review:

Before shows like The Goldbergs and Stranger Things, this was the first show to look nostalgically at 80s culture. It has some of the same sensibilities as its "parent" show, That 70s Show. Especially with its raucous studio audience and attempts at portraying a wide swath of the culture from the decade. It also doesn't overdo it with the cultural references, which is nice. However, it's lacking in a couple major ways. First of all, the cast just isn't there. That 70s Show did a great job of making the characters instantly definable and unique and they also had a tremendous cast that could almost always elevate the show even when the material wasn't there. This cast did not seem up to the challenge. Glenn Howerton is no Topher Grace and Geoff Pierson is no Kurtwood Smith. Maybe they could have grown into the roles, but they were not starting from as strong a place. 

The bigger difference, and I think its entirely fair to compare the two given what a money grab this show was, is that it's not quirky at all. Like it or hate it, That 70s Show had a very unique voice with its dream sequences and occasionally wild camera shooting style. None of that is present here except maybe a little bit in the filming style at the bar. Maybe that was intentional to try to not make it seem like a complete copy. But it makes it feel like a very standard show with no voice or discernible characteristics. Why call a show That 80s Show and then fail to do anything that made That 70s Show such a hit?

What Went Wrong:

Though it has become a huge hit in syndication and streaming, That 70s Show was not a massive hit at the time though it was a very consistent performer for a network that was still relatively young. Back in 2001-02, American Idol had not yet premiered (that came in Summer 2002) and FOX was still clearly the "fourth network" of the Big Four. So That 70s Show became a flagship show for them. There was also a growing nostalgia for the 80s as the new millennium started in the same way there was nostalgia for the 70s in the 50s and titles like American Graffiti and Happy Days were able to take advantage. So there were all sorts of reasons that That 80s Show seemed like a good idea. But it was also apparent that it was an attempt by FOX to try to milk the success of 70s.

While That 70s Show was never a critical darling, That 80s Show was a victim of negative reviews with it being unfavorably compared to That 70s Show or criticized for being too soon as far as 80s nostalgia. It did not air following 70s but was instead tasked with leading off Wednesday nights. While the series premiere garnered a pretty decent rating, numbers dropped pretty fast. It aired through the spring but was cancelled after one half season. That 70s Show ran for four more seasons while 80s stars Glenn Howerton and Chyler Leigh went on to bigger successes. And of course 80s nostalgia has had its day on sitcoms. It just wasn't this one.

Tomorrow: A look at the sixth season of That 70s Show!

Next Wednesday: A look at 1960 flop My Sister Eileen!