It may surprise you to know that people are actually spending more time watching comedies on television today. Many of the hit comedies that ended their broadcast runs are, of course, still on television—in syndication and on cable (not to mention full seasons being available on DVD).
What are the most popular comedies on television today?
Would you believe, the top 15 are Family Guy, George Lopez, Two and a Half Men 1-5 dvd box set, Home Improvement, Fresh Prince, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Family Matters, That ‘70s Show, King of Queens, Friends, Frasier, Andy Griffith, Roseanne and M*A*S*H? Of these, only two, Family Guy and Two and a Half Men 1-5 dvd box set, will be on a broadcast network this fall.
This is part of the problem in developing new network comedy successes. As viewing options proliferate, and the shelf-life of a classic comedy expands by many years, it is far more difficult for new sitcoms to catch on. Viewers are spending more time watching Seinfeld, Friends, and Everybody Loves Raymond today than when they were at the height of their first-run popularity on broadcast television. It makes putting something on broadcast to draw those viewers all the more difficult, because they’re still being compared to those comedy classics.
In 1993/94, combining broadcast, syndication, and ad-supported cable, there were about 180 hours per week of comedies on television. During the 1999/00 season, this rose to 390 hours. It was more than 600 hours during 2006/07, and roughly 790 hours in 2008/09 (this season).
Looking at the amount of time spent with comedies on broadcast, syndicated, and ad-supported cable television combined, shows that viewers are watching more than ever.
Let’s take a look at some comedy trends in syndication and cable. We’ll start with the 1993/94 season, the first in which Nielsen began reporting individual cable programs.
More High-Profile Comedies in Syndication
Back in the 1993/94 season, there were only eight comedies in syndication, six of them off-network series. Only four, Roseanne, Married…With Children, Family Matters, and Empty Nest, aired simultaneously on broadcast and syndication.
Six years later, in the 1999/00 season, there were 21 comedies in syndication (20 off-network). Five comedies, including four of the five highest rated—Friends, Frasier, Drew Carey, and 3rd Rock From the Sun—were airing on broadcast at the same time. Nine other syndicated comedies had been on broadcast the previous season.
During the 2005/06 season. eight comedies—That ‘70s Show, King of Queens, King of the Hill, Malcolm in the Middle, Bernie Mac, Will & Grace, Yes, Dear, and Girlfriends—aired on both broadcast and syndication, with an additional six also having aired on broadcast during the previous season.
In 2006/07, there were 22 comedies in syndication, 20 off-network, 2 off-cable—just four, King of Queens, According to Jim, Scrubs, and Girlfriends, aired on both broadcast and syndication, with six having aired on broadcast during the previous season.
During the 2008/09 season, there have been 25 comedies airing in syndication (20 off-network, 5 off-cable). Four, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men 1-5 dvd box set, According to Jim, and Scrubs, aired on both broadcast and syndication. Only two additional comedies also aired on broadcast the previous year.
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