MovieChat Forums > Out of Practice (2005) Discussion > Best Sitcom EVer Cancelled wo a Chance.

Best Sitcom EVer Cancelled wo a Chance.

posted 18 years ago by drmark7
13 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps the best sitcom and most promising to ever be cancelled. The NEW YEARS EVE episode was an all-time TV classic episode. It was so densely packed with comedy, I could hardly take a breath from laughing. I approached OOP with caution due to the hit and miss presence of Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler. But even THEY won me over. I'm sure all of us posters will buy a DVD box set. But they should really try to bring this back. 50 times better than NEW CHRISTINE and that Jenna Elfman show (of course, that's gone, too.) If only shows weren't decided on by demographics instead of quality. Dr. Mark

[–] jon_harald 16 years ago

"Perhaps the best sitcom and most promising to ever be cancelled."
______________

> You have obviously not seen Arrested Development.

[–] SelfProclaimedHuegonot 16 years ago

Both very good series that were ended because the leads weren't "likable".

[–] theangryintern 16 years ago

Arrested Development was on for a few seasons, though, while Out of Practice barely lasted one. While the first season of Arrested was fantastic, I think they got new writers or something because the 2nd and 3rd seasons were not nearly as funny. I really want to smack around the TV execs these days. If a show isn't an instant hit, they can it. They seem to forget some of the best and most popular shows in history took time to get that way. Look at Seinfeld, arguably one of the funniest shows ever, had a HUGE following, great ratings, but it didn't really take off until it's 3rd season. If it would have started in the past couple years it would have been canceled already. Out of Practice was a hilarious show with a great ensemble cast, and it seems like since it wasn't the #1 show after the pilot that they canceled it.

[–] Kotter7579 16 years ago

Good Seinfeld example. Friends was also low-rated in season one, as was Happy Days. Friends and Happy Days went on to 10 seasons each!! Yes, it's different now (not a good thing!) but I am tired of the networks and how they don't seem to get the TV audience as they assault and plunder us with inane sitcoms like 2.5 men, BBT, and Rules of E, WAY TO MANY reality shows and endless spin-offs of crime shows.
Sad.
I hope OOP gets on DVD!

Q: What is your favorite place?
A: Underneath my Grandmother's dining room table.

[–] drmark7 16 years ago

Check ioffer dot com. I just got a full season set there w. professional picture menus, the original pilot (Called FLESH + BLOOD!) and many episodes that were never aired on CBS!!! Laughing once again.

[–] sluido 16 years ago

Friends wasn't low rated in its first season, it was an instant hit. So much even that it lead to the demise of long-running show Murder She Wrote.

I love this show, more than the other 2 it was competing in its time slot for. That time slot is golden, between Two and a Half Men and CSI Miami. Seinfeld calls it a "timeslot hit". Out of the three comedies, Old Christine is the most suitable for a broader audience, true, but it still blows chunks.

[–] Kotter7579 16 years ago

I've read articles and have seen interviews with NBC folks saying that Friends was an unknown in 1994-95 (it's first season) and was actually in fact on the bubble. The ratings were not killer, but we all know that in season two (95-96) it went through the roof, gained a lot of steam with the Ross/Rachel thing, and the others found their form. Good call on Murder she wrote, though..

Good usage of the "timeslot hit" from Seinfeld. Yeah, Old Christine isn't winning me or a lot of others over that I've spoken with. Good point about it being "more broad" but still, OOP was such an amazing show that should have soldiered on!

Top of the Muffin to You!

[–] pcarkner 15 years ago

I really liked Out of Practice. It was funnier than How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, or Christine.
Another very funny series that was never given a chance was Grosse Pointe, which was cancelled after one season by the WB back around 2001.

[–] Kotter7579 15 years ago

I'm happy Paula Marshall is getting another chance on Gary Unmarried, but seriously, OOP is way better than Rules of E and is better than Old Christine. I still am shocked OOP did not finish it's first season, or even get a chance at season 2. It had decent ratings for much of it's run, great writing, and an excellent cast. I just don't get it!!

He called me Greenhorn ... and I called him Tony Randall.

[–] VinnieRattolle 15 years ago

A friend of mine recently offered to make me copies of the show and I replied, "I liked Out of Practice despite the fact that it was painfully mediocre." Judging by the episodes that CBS aired, I stand by that remark. The show was mildly amusing, but nothing to write home about. However, I just discovered that they really started finding a groove in the third of the season that CBS didn't air. Tilly appeared more, Channing and Winkler toned down their over the top characterizations a bit, and the writing began to improve. Still not stellar, but it was getting better. Most sitcoms really take off in their second season, and now having seen how the series ended, I'm more disappointed that they canceled it than I was... when they canceled it.

Uh, Kotter, I dunno what interviews you read, but Friends was never on the bubble. True, the show was unknown at the beginning, but it quickly gained momentum and became a big hit by the end of the season, ranking #9 in the overall ratings for the year. The following season there were more new sitcoms than any season before or since, and 99% of them were unfairly accused of being "Friends Clones" (Can't Hurry Love, The Crew, Too Something, Misery Loves Company, Partners, Dweebs, If Not for You, The Drew Carey Show, The Single Guy, etc.).

[–] Kotter7579 15 years ago

UHG --- many of those shows you listed were indeed awful.

You are absolutely correct about the final 8 eps that CBS did not air; those were indeed quality episodes. If others get the chance, pick up the set on iOffer and enjoy. Great show. I know it wasn't the best, but Rules of E is terrible, and OOP should have gotten a better chance. If "Yes Dear" can last four full seasons and a two more as midseason barely hanging on, then OOP should have been on for at least another!!

A 12-year old Benjamin Linus just brought me a sandwich. How do you think I'm doing?

[–] NewYorkGrove 13 years ago

I will NEVER EVER forgive CBS for cancelling OOP, it was CLEARLY the best comedy and kept that GAWWD AWFUL "How I Met Your Mother" smooth

[–] !!!deleted!!! (29543476) 8 years ago

I agree. They are regularly showing the first (and only) season of this on comedy central and I find it really entertaining. I got suspicious when I noticed that there are some sequels that I have alreeady seen 3 or 4 times and was surprised to come here and find out the show got cancelled.

Really don't get why. I don't get one comment here about the likability of characters either. Not one character did I find annoying or out of place.