MovieChat Forums > Crazy Like a Fox (1984) Discussion > How CBS Killed This Show

How CBS Killed This Show

posted 16 years ago by Eric-62-2
3 replies | jump to latest

This was a great comedy-mystery show that should have lasted longer than it did, and for that you can blame CBS which seemed determined to kill it. "Crazy Like A Fox" originally debuted in a good timeslot, Sunday at 9 PM with "Murder She Wrote" as its lead-in and benefiting as well from promotion on the CBS Sunday NFL broadcasts. Then suddenly mid-way through its second season, CBS moved it from the safety of Sunday nights to Wednesday nights opposite a show called "Dynasty" which made no sense at all unless CBS just had it in for this show.

There was enough fan protest after the show's cancellation to get the follow-up TV movie "Still Crazy Like A Fox" made one year later, but the hope that this would lead to a revival never came off alas. I remember WPHL-Philadelphia airing repeats in the early 90s but since then the show has all but disappeared. I have to make do with the four episodes I taped plus "Still Crazy Like A Fox" since I think the chances of Sony (which holds the rights) releasing this show on DVD are non-existent.

[–] bmasters1 15 years ago

This was a great comedy-mystery show that should have lasted longer than it did, and for that you can blame CBS which seemed determined to kill it. "Crazy Like A Fox" originally debuted in a good timeslot, Sunday at 9 PM with "Murder She Wrote" as its lead-in and benefiting as well from promotion on the CBS Sunday NFL broadcasts. Then suddenly mid-way through its second season, CBS moved it from the safety of Sunday nights to Wednesday nights opposite a show called "Dynasty" which made no sense at all unless CBS just had it in for this show.

What was so wrong with "Crazy Like A Fox" in CBS's opinion that they moved it from Sundays, 9 P.M. after "MSW" to Wednesdays opposite "Dynasty" on ABC (which I also believe was 9 P.M.)? Like you, I do not understand that.

As a little sidenote, which of these CBS Sunday schedules (in your opinion) made more sense?

"Murder, She Wrote," "Crazy Like A Fox," and "Trapper John, M.D."

or

"Amazing Race," "Cold Case," and "Without A Trace"

This is just my opinion, but I would have gone for the nonrhyming one of about a quarter-century ago ("Murder," "Fox," and "Trapper") over the rhyming one of more recent vintage ("Race," "Case," and "Trace"). I would guess that you'd feel the same way.

[–] Walls Of Jericho 9 years ago

If I recall, this is about the time CBS went to a "Sunday Night Movie" format. It wasn't very original considering ABC had a movie of the week on Sundays for years (usually big blockbusters like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws debuted here) and NBC had one too. They probably thought Crazy would find it's audience elsewhere, but no it didn't. Really sad, it was a great show. My dad to this day still loves to say "What could possibly happen???"

_____
"Do I look to be in a gaming mood?"

[–] jp10573 12 years ago

episodes are now on Australian free to air,1 a night,the ranch episode was just on today.Now we Aussie's have digital tv we have much more channels,mostly with adverts and old american shows like fox and buck rodgers,incredible hulk.i get a good laugh out of them.