Back when shows actually aired on Saturday nights.
by yrnej | created - 16 Oct 2014 | updated - 16 Oct 2014 | PublicThese days, there are almost no first-run scripted shows on Saturdays in prime time. The major networks show news magazines, movies and reruns on Saturdays because the TV audience is perceived as smaller and not in the "right" demographic. But this has not always been so. Which of these past TV shows that was a big hit on Saturdays is your favorite?
Discuss the list here
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1. Alice (1976–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures and trials of an aspiring singer and her co-workers at a greasy spoon diner.
Stars: Linda Lavin, Beth Howland, Vic Tayback, Philip McKeon
Votes: 3,513
2. All in the Family (1971–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
A working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Stars: Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers
Votes: 13,077
3. Amen (1986–1991)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The new head of Philadelphia's First Community Church, Rev. Rueben Gregory, finds dealing with the headstrong, opinionated and unethical Deacon Ernest Frye - who works as a lawyer when not ... See full summary »
Stars: Sherman Hemsley, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford, Roz Ryan
Votes: 1,341
4. The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
Stars: Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, Marcia Wallace
Votes: 4,419
5. Bonanza (1959–1973)
TV-PG | 49 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts
Votes: 7,292
6. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family
Television show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.
Stars: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner
Votes: 4,332
7. The Commish (1991–1996)
60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Slightly offbeat television police comedy-drama. Tony Scali is the Police Commissioner in a small town, where solutions to difficult situations often require considerable creativity. Tony's... See full summary »
Stars: Michael Chiklis, Theresa Saldana, Kaj-Erik Eriksen, Geoffrey Nauffts
Votes: 1,647
8. The Defenders (1961–1965)
60 min | Drama
A father and son lawyer duo take a variety of cases that often deal with the important issues of the day.
Stars: E.G. Marshall, Robert Reed, Polly Rowles, Ossie Davis
Votes: 314
9. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993–1998)
60 min | Drama, Family, Western
The trials and adventures of a female doctor in a small wild west town.
Stars: Jane Seymour, Joe Lando, Shawn Toovey, Chad Allen
Votes: 9,370
10. Empty Nest (1988–1995)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
"Empty Nest" is set in Miami and tells of the day to day misadventures of a widowed pediatrician, Harry Weston, and his two adult daughters, Barbara and Carol Weston, who have come back to ... See full summary »
Stars: Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure, Park Overall
Votes: 2,560
11. Fantasy Island (1977–1984)
TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Accounts of visitors to a unique resort island in the Pacific Ocean that can fulfill literally any fantasy requested, but rarely turn out as expected.
Stars: Ricardo Montalban, Hervé Villechaize, Christopher Hewett, Wendy Schaal
Votes: 6,212
12. Flipper (1964–1967)
Not Rated | 30 min | Adventure, Family
Ranger Porter Ricks is responsible for the animal and human life in Coral Key Park, Florida. Stories center on his 15-year-old son Sandy and 10-year-old Bud and, especially, on their pet dolphin Flipper.
Stars: Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin, Tommy Norden, Flipper
Votes: 1,999
13. Get Smart (1965–1970)
TV-G | 25 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Maxwell Smart, a highly intellectual but bumbling spy working for the CONTROL agency, battles the evil forces of rival spy agency KAOS with the help of his competent partner Agent 99.
Stars: Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Edward Platt, Robert Karvelas
Votes: 10,139
14. Gilligan's Island (1964–1992)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Seven men and women are stranded on an uncharted island following a torrential storm.
Stars: Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer
Votes: 11,665
15. The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.
Stars: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Votes: 28,722
16. Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough and tumble Dodge City.
Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis
Votes: 4,630
17. Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963)
Approved | 25 min | Western
The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter for hire.
Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham, Stewart East
Votes: 2,117
18. The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
30 min | Comedy, Family
A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph
Votes: 4,326
19. I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A United States astronaut finds his life vastly complicated when he stumbles on to a bottle containing a female genie.
Stars: Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Rorke
Votes: 11,851
20. The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.
Stars: Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, Roxie Roker
Votes: 6,952
21. The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982)
TV-G | 60 min | Family, Music
One of the most successful and fondly-remembered shows in TV history, "The Lawrence Welk Show" featured musical numbers and skits, with host Welk leading the band.
Stars: Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, Dick Dale, Norma Zimmer
Votes: 367
22. The Love Boat (1977–1987)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The romantic and comic tales of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess.
Stars: Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy
Votes: 8,054
23. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Stars: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper
Votes: 6,265
24. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.
Stars: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr
Votes: 47,747
25. Perry Mason (1957–1966)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of a master criminal defense attorney, handling the most difficult of cases in the aid of the innocent.
Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins
Votes: 4,425
26. Rhoda (1974–1978)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
After spending several years in her young adult life in Minneapolis but with her brash Bronx Jewish upbringing in tow and with its associated sarcasm, artistically inclined Rhoda ... See full summary »
Stars: Valerie Harper, Julie Kavner, Lorenzo Music, David Groh
Votes: 1,938
27. Sisters (1991–1996)
60 min | Drama
Follows the lives and loves of four close, but very different, sisters of the Reed family living in Winnetka, Illinois.
Stars: Swoosie Kurtz, Patricia Kalember, Sela Ward, Elizabeth Hoffman
Votes: 1,702
28. Taxi (1978–1983)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The staff of a New York City taxicab company go about their job while they dream of greater things.
Stars: Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conaway, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner
Votes: 10,660
29. T.J. Hooker (1982–1986)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The weekly adventures of tough-as-nails veteran police officer Sgt. T.J. Hooker, who rides the beat with his rookie partner Vince Romano.
Stars: William Shatner, Heather Locklear, Adrian Zmed, James Darren
Votes: 3,402
30. Touched by an Angel (1994–2003)
TV-G | 60 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Monica, Tess, and Andrew are a trio of angels sent to Earth to tell depressed and troubled people that God loves them and hasn't forgotten them.
Stars: Roma Downey, Della Reese, John Dye, Valerie Bertinelli
Votes: 5,893
31. 227 (1985–1990)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
This series took place in an apartment building numbered 227. The cast would frequently be sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs, involved in some discussion that would unfold into the weekly plotline.
Stars: Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, Alaina Reed-Hall
Votes: 2,403
32. Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Walker and his partner Trivette are Texas Rangers. They make it their business to battle crime in Dallas and all around the Great State of Texas.
Stars: Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Sheree J. Wilson, Noble Willingham
Votes: 14,218
33. Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A compassionate teacher returns to his inner city high school of his youth to teach a new generation of trouble making kids.
Stars: Gabe Kaplan, Ron Palillo, John Travolta, Robert Hegyes
Votes: 4,946
34. Your Show of Shows (1950–1954)
90 min | Comedy
Best remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
Stars: Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Felisa Vanoff, Carl Reiner
Votes: 265
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