It's 35 years of TGIF, a staple for many families during the 90's. We all know sitcom classics like Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Boy Meets World that aired on the TV Block. TGIF ran for 11 years and to go along with those classics, there were a few duds. Then there were sitcoms, that weren't terrible but weren't necessarily great. Then there's one's you completely forgot aired on TGIF, here are ten sitcoms you may not remember being apart of the block.
10. Going Places
A standard yet interesting concept for a TV series Going Places followed four young Hollywood writers who share a house, while they try to make it. It starred Heather Locklear, Alan Ruck, and lesser known names but hey I know that face Jerry Levine and Hallie Todd (Lizzie Mcguire's mom). It debuted September 21, 1990 and lasted until March of 1991. It likely did not fit into the family themed sitcoms that were major successes for TGIF at the time.
9. Just The Ten Of Us
Just The Ten Of Us was a ABC sitcom that actually debuted before TGIF was created. Debuting in 1988, it was a spin-off of Growing Pains that followed a couple as they raised their eight kids (damn eight kids). The father Graham Lubbock (Bill Kirchenbauer) is the gym teacher at the same catholic high school, his oldest daughters attend. Which of course bought it's own hijinks to the sitcom. It also starred Heather Lagenkemp who is best known from the Nightmare on Elm Street films as Nancy. The series actually lasted for 3 seasons, and was a staple in the sitcom rerun world of USA network back in the day. It just didn't sustain enough of a legacy to be remembered as being a part of TGIF.
8. Baby Talk
Loosely based on the hit film series Look's Who Talking, Baby Talk followed a few plot points with the film. The baby's name was Mikey, this time voiced by Tony Danza, his mother Maggie is a single mom as Mikey's father refused to leave his wife for her. That's pretty much where the similarities stopped, while George Clooney and later Scott Baio joined the cast, two different actresses portrayed Maggie over it's two seasons and I don't remember the show being very funny. Which is why it has become forgotten to time.
7. Where I Live
Where I Live starred Doug E. Doug followed Doug a typical teenager along with his best friends Reggie (Flex Alexander) and Malcolm (Shaun Baker) living in Harlem. Along with the clashes he experiences with his hardworking immigrant parents. It debuted as a mid-season replacement in March of 1993, but wasn't a ratings hit. It bounced around on days, but truly wasn't given a chance to make a statement on TGIF.
6. Odd Man Out
Odd Man Out debuted September 24, 1999 as TGIF was starting to lose it's gripe on pop culture. It starred Erik Von Detten as the only male in the house with his mom, aunt and three sisters. The series followed Von Detten's character Andrew, as he tries to be the man of the house while trying to get some teenage privacy in a house full of women. It only lasted 13 episodes, but being as though TGIF was in decline at the time it never stood a chance.
5. The Hughleys
Comedian D.L. Hughley finally got his own sitcom in the fall of 1998 with The Hughleys. Featuring D.L. as a vending machine entrepreneur raising his family in the suburbs. The first season was a huge success for ABC, the second season experienced a drop in ratings before it was cancelled, where the show was then picked up by UPN. Which I think is where most people remember watching it.
4. On Our Own
On Our Own debuted September 13, 1994 on TGIF and is best remembered for starring the Smollet siblings. Jurnee Smollet was best known for her appearances on Full House as Michelle's best friend Denise, while brother Jussie was best known for his role in the classic 1992 film Mighty Ducks. The other four siblings weren't known, but that didn't stop ABC from giving them their own sitcom. It featured the siblings, alongside Ralph Harris as their older brother Josh who are raising themselves since their parents passed. Josh dresses up in drag as a older aunt, to keep the hounds of child protective services away and splitting up the family.
The series didn't catch on which is a shame because it actually had a strong message.
3. Two Of A Kind
A couple years after Full House ended, ABC decided to try and strike gold again with the Olsen twins. This time as twin sisters getting into mischief while their widowed dad and college professor Kevin tried to keep everything in order. Along for the ride is Carrie, a student of Kevin's at the university and babysitter to the twin's. The show wasn't horrible, but not sure it's what audiences wanted from the Olsen twins at the time. It debuted in September of 1998 and was cancelled in 1999 after one season. It played on Fox Family later ABC Family for a little in reruns, which is where most people probably discovered it.
2. Clueless
There is absolutely no question the 1995 film Clueless is a classic, it has held up to this day and if it's on and I'm busy I will watch it. After the mega success of the film, a TV series was developed and debuted September 20, 1996 on ABC. Stacey Dash, Donald Fasion, Elisa Donovan, Twink Caplan, and Wallace Shaw were the only main cast remembers to reprise their roles. While Sean Holland who had one scene in the movie, gained a bigger role. Rachel Blanchard took over the role of Cher.
The series followed in the footsteps of the movie, as the characters seemed even more clueless. It was a moderate success on TGIF, but was cancelled after two seasons. Then suddenly the repeats over the summer were ratings hits, and UPN picked the show up for two additional seasons. Then syndication followed, where even more people watched the show. Forgetting it's mild success all started on TGIF.
1. Sister, Sister
April 1, 1994 Sister Sister debuted on ABC in the TGIF block. We all know the story, two sisters separated at birth find each other in a mall and their respective single parents, agree to move in the same house and raise them jointly. The series ran for two seasons ABC, but was cancelled in 1995 when the new upstart WB network picked the series up and it found success. Running for a total of 6 seasons, most people probably saw the show on the WB network or in syndication, but it all started right on the historic block known as TGIF.
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