Some networks just kind of owned certain nights. NBC had Thursday’s. ABC owned Friday’s. And CBS for some reason reigned on Monday’s. I already went over what their schedule looked like in the late 90’s, but their reign started at least a whole decade earlier. Let’s look back at a schedule that paved the way for a reemrgence for the, at the time time, struggling CBS network.
Through the 80’s CBS had managed some decent successes on Mondays with hits like Newhart and Kate & Allie, when you’re losing to Bloopers & Practical Jokes then there’s a problem. A Problem that was finally worked out with a little magic in the fall of 1990 when the network finally found the right combination. With NBC airing teen oriented shows (Fresh Prince & Blossom) and ABC showing football, CBS scored with a lineup aimed at the more mature audience.
8:00pm
Evening Shade
If you follow my stuff you know this show was not a favorite. At all. But just because I didn’t like doesn’t mean it should be ignored for the huge success it was. Especially in getting Burt Reynolds some well needed publicity (not to mention an Emmy). Reynolds played an ex football player who returned to coach in a high school team in the very rural Evening Shade, Arkansas. What was my problem with the show? I saw a couple episodes and it never worked for me. Course I was alone on that one since it even topped The Cosby Show at one point. The show also starred Marilu Henner and Michael Jeter.
8:30pm
Major Dad
This is another decent hit show with a strong leading actor…that I also never watched very much of. Yeah I guess I preferred to watch the other network when this on. It was harmless enough with a simple premise. When hard-charging United States Marine Corps Major John D.McGillis falls in love with a liberal journalist hi jinks ensure as we see the tough Marine corps major try to fit in with her family and become their father figure. It was a well casted series and lasted a couple years anyway.
Ok those two shows were fine but it the 9:00 hour which really makes this lineup so memorable.
9:00pm
Murphy Brown
This show came around in 1988 but CBS never had the right combination. In 1989 at least five shows came and went in the 8:30 slot before Major Dad finally moved in. The show was a monster hit from the get go, and I am not so proud to admit it took me awhile to get into it. You gotta understand when I was a kid CBS was a nothing network you only watched if you were an old person. But I did finally watch and learn and what a great show this was. Candace Bergen truly pioneered the way women on TV are portrayed and while the show very much stayed to long, when it was good it was REALLY good. The reboot last year was awful, but that’s another subject.
Murphy Brown never had a standard intro or theme music like most shows. I found this on YouTube and will share it because not only is it funny, but sums up the character in 15 seconds. I’m sure this link will be gone one of these days so watch it while it’s here.
9:30pm
Designing Women
While Murphy Brown had trouble finding a lead-in, it always managed a strong hour with its 9:30 show. Somehow Murphy Brown and Designing Women just fit each other beautifully. Was it because they were both centered around strong, independent women? Why not! Designing Women came around in 1986 and was kind of always anchoring that Monday night slot at 9:30. When Murphy Brown moved in it just exploded. And as I have discussed before, it was never a favorite show of mine. I have watched many episodes and will admit even enjoyed some, some of the themes in the series rubs me the wrong way. As I said before I’m sure Atlanta is a beautiful city and the women there are awesome but the worship of that city gets to be to much for me. The cast was solid, can’t argue with with that!
10:00pm
Northern Exposure
People forget “The Trials of Rosie O’Neil” but show of hands, who remembers this show? It seems like no on does but it was a big deal when it was on. Kind of one of those sleepy little shows everyone loves though no one knows why. I never watched but it was all over the place. It’s basically the plot of “Doc Hollywood” just set in Alaska. Featuring Rob Morrow and a young Janine Turner. And it wasn’t just a hit with fans as it won the Emmy for Outstanding drama in 1992. It was a good show with a loyal following which the network would kill by moving it to a death slot on Wednesday’s. While I never watched I am familiar with that pitch perfect theme music that played during the opening.
And yes I know Chicago Hope came later.
With Murphy Brown as anchor the Monday slot got plenty of changes as it went into the 90’s including the Murphy Brown non-spinoff called Love & War that I’ve discussed elsewhere. It was fine but never really caught on.
By 1993 new blood was needed which we got with:
and of course a little show that became the perfect 8:00 lead in for the entire line-up, known as:
as for 9:30 that time slot kinda struggled after Designing Women left, anyone remember Cybil?
By 1996 the schedule was still going, as it evolved into the monster lineup I already covered when Cosby and a little sow called Everybody Loves Raymond came around. Check out that other article for more on that line-up which I really loved. While I never watched the early 90’s as religiously, I did watch and admire what a sold line up that really was. CBS and Monday night’s, always the king.
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