Bobj

This topic follows on from the Sitcoms Never Repeated thread which has highlighted some great sitcoms down the years. However there seems to be no explanation as to why this is the case. Is it a case of "Sitcom Snobbery"?

For example why do some sitcoms acheive cult status and are repeated at every opprtunity (BBC are the main culprits) whilst others are left to gather dust on the shelves (if they still exist). Some of these shows acheived massive ratings at the time far out performing shows like 'The Good Life' so why are they ignored.

Is it really the case that the public are demanding repeats of Porridge or Open All Hours (good as they are) and they have acheived cult status because of that or is there someone deciding that this is what the public must see?

Then there is the old excuse that shows can't be shown because they were made in black & white. I don't really buy that as old episodes of Steptoe & Son & Dads Army have been successfully screened.

I'm sure many of these sitcoms would stand the test of time. Why couldn't the BBC or ITV allocate a timeslot to old sitcoms and show a different one each week to test the water.

I'm really interested to know what others think.

arty-dave

The BBC have enough old sitcom material in the vaults to have a "Classic Comedy" channel.

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Sgt Dudfoot

One reason that would certainly apply to certain sitcoms is that the pc brigade would give them such a hard time. Misguided, killjoy fools!

Steve Crook

Have you seen Love Thy Neighbour or Mind Your Language|?
They'd make the BNP cringe with embarrassment at the racial sterotypes.

Steve

DB7

To be fair The Good Life was regularly repeated on UK Gold last year and used to pop up on BBC2 early on a Sunday evening, A few like Reggie Perrin, Ever Decreasing Circles, Citizen Smith etc were airing on UK Drama too.

Sgt Dudfoot

Kind of my point, not that I'm advocating stereotyping, but they are products of an earlier time and should be seen as such.

Harbottle

I completely agree with you The Good Life was ok but nothing special in my view and yet we a constantly bombarded with repeats of this show along with Some Mothers Do ‘Av ‘Em [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] . I had hoped that as the Freeview channel BBC4 does show some archive shows, it might extend to some old comedy series getting an outing [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif[/img]

Bobj

Just read a piece in next weeks TV & Satelite Week which states that Danny Baker is to front a new quiz show on UKTV Gold called 'Sitcom Showdown' in which two teams of fans from different sitcoms compete to answer questions on their favourite sitcoms. The winning team gets to have an episode of its show aired. No indication as to when this will start. It will be interesting to see if some different shows are included or just the same ones that the station currently shows.

Steve Crook

I would imagine that it would be limited - to shows where some of the recognisable cast members are still alive. After all you can't really do it with people that just had a few walk-on parts or played a minor, instantly forgettable character.

Hang on though... instantly forgettable? Danny Baker? Yes, it might work [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Steve

Bobj

I think you misunderstand matey. The teams consist of fans of the show not cast members although that might be a good idea.

arty-dave

Hey, professori