I used to watch this show when it was on ABC but haven't seen it since. Yesterday while flicking channels I came across it again and forgot how funny it was. Also, the oldest son should have been a heart throb like other television actors like Michael J Fox or Kirk Cameron because he was just as handsome if not more.
shareI think it was quite popular. It's popular all over again in reruns.
shareYeah, it was definitely popular enough to go for 6 seasons which is not easy for a sitcom like this. While I don't think it was ever in the top ten ratings-wise, it made enough of a splash that the people still love it to this day. I know I do !
shareNot every show could be a huge ratings winner, because certain nights historically have low viewership and also if you went up against a powerhouse in the 80s like Dallas or Cosby, you just were not going to perform as well. But I think this program did well in the ways the network needed it to at the time. And given the behind-the-scenes personnel (some had come from the network's earlier hit Barney Miller), it was allowed more leeway and more time to find an audience. ABC also probably felt it would make money overseas and in syndication, which I am sure it did.
share