Longest running comedies in TV history

[Alan]

The longest running comedies in TV history - by episodes:

Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet =435
My 3 Sons = 392
The Simpsons= 357 (by end of this season)
The Jack Benny Program=343

This came from an article on "The Simpsons" upcoming 350th episode (i hadn't realized that it so recently passed JB) and having (in the opinion of the Canadian Sun's TV critic) "jumped the shark".

(i assume this "Fonzie on Happy Days" reference is well known to mean when a show takes a big downturn in watchability)

Did JB ever "jump the shark"?

IMO, the radio show never does....though i agree with many in feeling that the last 2-3 years are not as good (i especially find some of the 54-55 shows particularly weak in energy).

I have only seen about 25 TV eps, and enjoyed them all, tho they are certainly uneven.

It is unfair for me to say, as i havn't seen any of the later JB TV specials, but in reading about them and seeing photo stills, am i at all right in guessing that they aren't as good as earlier eps? (i must admit, this is partly becouse of my opinions of some of the guest stars).

Alan

[River Phoenix]

Of course, Jack ran 1000 episodes on radio, which is really astronomical when you think about it.

[shimp scrampi]

Here's something of a paradox concerning the alleged radio/tv "shark jumps" (IMO, neither format ever had a huge, permanent downturn in quality, though there were periods/episodes of varying interest).

The end of Jack's radio show is often cited as taking a downturn when the budget was cut, limiting the amount of big guest star appearances, and it's mostly just "the gang" (Phil & Mary being limited though).

Jack's TV show is often criticized for lacking "the gang" but relying on big weekly guest stars.

Can't have the cake and eat it too, I guess! I personally don't mind the '50s radio shows, since I am more interested in Jack's cast than some of the guest stars that were big in their day but don't hold a lot of interest to me, with some notable exceptions.

[Alan]

I don't mind the relative lack of guest stars in the radio show's later days....even tho i believe that the show was particularly good in making guest appearances work well.

(didn't JB insist that guests be appropriate for the show and material? Also, this was probably yet another example of the difference talented writers can make ).

I just find that there is a bit of a lack of energy towards the end.

Many of these shows (at least among those i have heard); have the stilted Mary dubs, seem to have some non-gang sequences that are drawn out longer than before (example-telephone operators-hmm, maybe lack of stars were a reason here?), maybe energy and attention was focussing more and more on the TV program.....i even find that JB starts to speak slower!?

[Mike]

Curious that Ozzie and Harriet have the record for the most episodes, since they seem to be all but forgotten now. Mike

[Mike]

Oh... and "The Simpsons." YUCK!!!

[shimp scrampi]

Oh... and "The Simpsons." YUCK!!!

(Rochester voice) Oh, COME now!

I love the Simpsons and it's a Sunday night institution for me, the one last broadcast show I still go out of my way to catch. They still even have "Frank Nelson", how can you not love that?

"Frank" as a waiter: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES?
Homer: Why do you talk like that?
"Frank": I've had a STROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKE?

Maybe mildly offensive (but, I assume it was a mild stroke), certainly got a belly-laugh out of me!

[Alan]

Curious that Ozzie and Harriet have the record for the most episodes, since they seem to be all but forgotten now. Mike

Yeah, i would guess that mostly only those with direct 50's exposure have detailed recollection.

I can vaguely recall "My 3 sons" from 70's repeats...I would bet that it is virtually forgotten by ~98% of people under 30....

In Fred McMurray's(sp?) case, i would venture to guess that one or two of his "classic" movies ("Double Indemnity" comes to mind), generates somewhat wider and longer memory.

I believe that JB still has significant "recognizability" among those ~35 and over (yes, i realize many of you are younger, but i'm refering to the general population)....but is there not a dramatic drop in those under ~35?

[LLeff]

Yeah, i would guess that mostly only those with direct 50's exposure have detailed recollection.

I've heard that direct 60's exposure tends to dull the memory of some events...

I believe that JB still has significant "recognizability" among those ~35 and over (yes, i realize many of you are younger, but i'm refering to the general population)....but is there not a dramatic drop in those under ~35?

Speaking as one who is 36, I have to say that I'm hard-pressed to find a LOT of people my own age who have a vivid memory of Jack. The name generally elicits, "Hmmm...was he a comedian?" I've already discussed the amount of flack I got for my love of Jack during middle and high school. I was 5 when Jack died, so I don't have a meaningful first-hand memory of him when he was alive. I think you need to get to be at least...well...39 to find people who do have a meaningful recollection of him during his lifetime.

But that's not to say that the composition of the IJBFC consists of only people my age and older. Some of our most enthusiastic members are those who discovered Jack somewhere between their years of 8 and 20, and haven't hit their 39th birthday yet. I was just saying to someone yesterday that at the 39 Forever convention, you could have found people in every age decade from sub-teens all the way through their 90s. I'd estimate that the average was smack-dab in the middle, with a fairly flat bell distribution across the years.

[haverpopper]

LLeff -- I had no idea you were so young! I assumed you had been there listening to the broadcasts as they were aired live...

And, not to drag up bad memories, but what kind of flack did you get in high school for being a JB fan?

I'm 24, and it's true that most people my age that I've met aren't familiar with JB.

As for whether the show ever jumped the shark: I'm only familiar with the radio show, but for me the show jumped when Phil left. Bob Crosby? Pfft.

I like the Simpsons, but it jumped long ago -- Homer got too dumb and the adventures became more and more antic and surreal. If they can tone it down a bit and bring it back to character-based comedy, it could be good again. OH -- and jamming as many references (be they pop culture, historical, literary, whatever) into a show does NOT make something funny or witty. For those who are curious, the article the original poster refers to can be found here: http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows ... 20674.html

[LLeff]

LLeff -- I had no idea you were so young! I assumed you had been there listening to the broadcasts as they were aired live...

Maybe in a previous life, but not in this one. I can only wish...

And, not to drag up bad memories, but what kind of flack did you get in high school for being a JB fan?

It was generally just verbal harassment typical of teenagers. I remember being followed down the hall frequently with people screaming dumb things at me like, "Jack Benny died of MAGGOTS!" There were also various bizarre rumors about me, such as that I'd memorized Irving Fein's entire biography of Jack. (Would have been sort of helpful if I had...there's a lot of good information there...but it's more fun to reread it.) The most bizarre rumor that made its way back to me was that I had bribed the caretaker of Hillside Cemetery (who actually became a friend of mine in subsequent years) to exhume Jack's body and I had it in my closet at home for...various purposes. On a few memorable occasions, some creative person would drop a note in my locker with a picture of Jack and a love note purporting to be "from Jack". Teenagers have way too much time on their hands.

OH -- and jamming as many references (be they pop culture, historical, literary, whatever) into a show does NOT make something funny or witty.

What's more, it will make the shows much more dated and ultimately forgotten.

[shimp scrampi]

LL, those stories are crazy! You should feel vindicated nowadays though since we all get so much out of the IJBFC and appreciate it so much. I didn't get anything like that at all for liking Jack in high school, basically "who?" and that's about it. But then, I wasn't running the fan club!

As for the Simpsons (promise I won't harp on it further!), I agree that it is sometimes hit-&-miss nowadays, but I wouldn't write it off just yet. Yesterday's two episodes illustrate the ups and downs perfectly, a weak parody of "American Idol" that will definitely fall into that 'dated' category, but it was followed by a brilliant, politically insightful, and character-driven story where Homer becomes a prophet (of sorts). On the whole though, I don't think the references are pointless, and the fact that they come from all periods - "Frank Nelson" being one, I think assuages the critique that the show overall will become "dated".

[LLeff]

LL, those stories are crazy! You should feel vindicated nowadays though since we all get so much out of the IJBFC and appreciate it so much. I didn't get anything like that at all for liking Jack in high school, basically "who?" and that's about it. But then, I wasn't running the fan club!

Oh, I get quite a yock out of the number of younger members that we have. I once said to Dan, "They're finally discovering that I was right." And thanks much for your kind words and appreciation.

Unfortunately, some of it was actually encouraged by a few teachers (or one in particular who was well-liked by other students) who liked to point out and jest at my love of Jack. He gave the speech at our commencement, and was saying the names of each student with a word describing them. So it went something like, "Sandy...kindness... Jason...athletic... Jane...compassionate... Kris...insightful... Laura...(affecting a Benny mannerism) JACK!" It got a laugh and basically served as his last dig at me.

A little over a year ago, I told the story of being verbally abused in the Genentech cafeteria by a coworker who was taunting me for the club and telling me that I was "the private joke of the IT department" because of it. I never say much about the club in the workplace, but apparently someone got hold of it and decided to make it an object of ridicule. As our parents used to say, "They're just jealous of you." But it's sad to see that grown (I can't say mature) people can still act as badly as teenagers.

But y'know...whatever. These things are vastly the exception, and most people who hear about the club are enthusiastic. I made plane reservations for my trip to Waukegan and Boston the other day, and the club came up when the agent asked about the purpose of my trip. She was so excited that she immediately started telling the operators on either side of her, "I've got the President of the International Jack Benny Fan Club on the phone! Isn't that SO COOL?!?!"

[shimp scrampi]

Not to get cheesy and sound like one of those trite, meaningless "life affirming" types (I really hate that stuff) but if I've learned a life lesson from Jack Benny, it is the ability to laugh at myself. Obviously there is a line where taunting, either by content or repetition, becomes hurtful, but I credit Jack (particularly all of the stories about Jack cracking up in real life when insulted) for keeping me sane. I could easily get in a huff if people insult or pick on my personality, but I tend to be laughing the loudest and the longest if it's particularly accurate. Just a random example, I was having drinks with friends at the Tonga Room in SF (an awesome, mid-century tiki bar), nibbling on the garnish of my mai-tai, and one of these acquaintances leans over to another and stage-whispered, "I bet that's the only fiber he gets in his diet". Now, that could have been a Phil Harris gag, and I was rolling around with tears coming out of my eyes. But, it might have been the rum.

[haverpopper]

She was so excited that she immediately started telling the operators on either side of her, "I've got the President of the International Jack Benny Fan Club on the phone! Isn't that SO COOL?!?!"

Did they sound like Gertrude and Mabel?