Why Did 'Hello Larry' Fail? Was It Really That Bad???

[Brian Damage]

Just curious what people think of this show? Was it watchable? Funny? Enjoyable? Why was it canceled?

http://www.tv-intros.com/h/hello%20larry.jpg

[Dr. Thong]

I remember it as a good show back in the day. Haven't seen it since its original run, though, so I can't tell you if its aged well.

[robyrob]

i loved the show, although it was VERY corny and stupid; whether it holds up today or not is pretty subjective - I can watch it today and still get a laugh out of it.

it is not as bad as its reputation would suggest; at the time it was basically the go-to punchline for every comic and host on TV, you couldn't go a day without someone making fun of MacLean Stevenson or the show in general.

[TV_on_the_Porch]

It got really bad press, relentless really, especially in the first weeks and months. For those who weren't around at the time, it became the poster child for bad sitcoms immediately. Very shortly after its debut McLean Stevenson refused to promote it, its reputation was so toxic. The renewal of the show for the 1979-80 season seemed more an act of defiance than anything else. NBC chief Fred Silverman was undaunted, apparently believing the show was a good time slot companion for Diff'rent Strokes, NBC's only other sitcom at the time, hit or otherwise. Hello Larry's Wednesday night ratings were not terrible, but numbers dropped off significantly at 9:30 from 9PM and in fact it did decline in the ratings over the course of the second season.

[catlover79]

I've never seen it - but if I ever got the chance to, I'd watch the reruns.

[Retro4Life]

It was definitely not as bad as it's press made it out to be.

I think the title made it kind of a target. Looking back, it is a pretty silly title. But otherwise, it was a fairly standard 'befuddled dad trying to raise two daughters" type of show, not much different than ODAAT, except a lot less adult in nature. I thought the acting was fine, I had a crush on Kim Richards and I always liked Stevenson. It was basically light family fare, with just a little sauce thrown in, and I think if not for the jokes and the time slot it may have lasted four or five years.

[Guy Incognito]

I think the continued success of M*A*S*H had a lot to do with Hello, Larry's lousy reputation, believe it or not. McLean Stevenson took a great deal of flak for leaving the award-winning, socially-relevant series and subsequently starring in lightweight, critically-lambasted fare (especially since his old series went on to survive and thrive without him). I think the show might have had a fighting chance with a different lead, but it seems like McLean's very presence doomed the production from the start.

As for the quality of the show itself, it was no more (or less) offensive or formulaic than any of the other early '80s sitcoms which followed in its wake. Maybe it was just a year or two ahead of its time...

[TVFactFan]

Just curious what people think of this show? Was it watchable? Funny? Enjoyable? Why was it canceled?

http://www.tv-intros.com/h/hello%20larry.jpg


In all honesty I only watched the episodes with the Diffrent Strokes cast so I haven' had a chance to reallly evaluate the show. It did last longer than

Checking In
Grady
Sanford Arms


LOL

[TVFactFan]

I've never seen it - but if I ever got the chance to, I'd watch the reruns.


You never seen the Diffrent Strokes/Hello Larry crossover?

[70s show watcher]

It was definitely not as bad as it's press made it out to be.

I think the title made it kind of a target. Looking back, it is a pretty silly title. But otherwise, it was a fairly standard 'befuddled dad trying to raise two daughters" type of show, not much different than ODAAT, except a lot less adult in nature. I thought the acting was fine, I had a crush on Kim Richards and I always liked Stevenson. It was basically light family fare, with just a little sauce thrown in, and I think if not for the jokes and the time slot it may have lasted four or five years.i agree it was no emmy winner but for what it was it was very good and btw i had a big crush on kim too

[retrotvfanatic]

I like Hello, Larry. Ive always found it watchable, even today. I have most of the series on tape and I still watch it. I dont think it was the best show ever, but it defiantly doesnt deserve to be called the worst. Its better than most of the crap on tv these days.

[TVFactFan]

I like Hello, Larry. Ive always found it watchable, even today. I have most of the series on tape and I still watch it. I dont think it was the best show ever, but it defiantly doesnt deserve to be called the worst. Its better than most of the crap on tv these days.


Definitely more watchable than the 1st season of the Facts of Life

[retrotvfanatic]

Definitely more watchable than the 1st season of the Facts of Life
Agreed!

[rcbrad]

Hello Larry was ok not really that great or bad. I preferred his first sitcom, The Mclean Stevenson show much more. I wish I could find all of the eps of TMSS. I only have the pilot and there is 2/3rd's of another episode on youtube.

I would not mind seeing the eps of Hello Larry either.

[TVFactFan]

I would buy the show if it was released on DVD because of the connection to Diffrent Strokes

[Yong Fang]

For some reason, Johnny Carson would make fun of "Hello Larry" in his nightly monologues. Carson was on NBC, and Stevenson surely was a friend or an associate of Carson's. Stevenson even subbed for Carson on The Tonight Show on occasion. But being a smartass is part of being a Late Night host, so there it is.

Personally, if Johnny would have died or quit show business around the late 70's, McLean Stevenson would have been a decent replacement. Midwesterners of the same generation, etc.

I was around 12 when the show came on, and I did not think it was a bad show for what it was. Hello Larry had two hot daughters, with the girl who played Ruthie around my age.

[TVFactFan]

For some reason, Johnny Carson would make fun of "Hello Larry" in his nightly monologues. Carson was on NBC, and Stevenson surely was a friend or an associate of Carson's. Stevenson even subbed for Carson on The Tonight Show on occasion. But being a smartass is part of being a Late Night host, so there it is.

Personally, if Johnny would have died or quit show business around the late 70's, McLean Stevenson would have been a decent replacement. Midwesterners of the same generation, etc.

I was around 12 when the show came on, and I did not think it was a bad show for what it was. Hello Larry had two hot daughters, with the girl who played Ruthie around my age.


More watchable than the Facts of Life in my opinion

[Dr. Thong]

The original Diane (Donna Wilkes) was much better than her replacement. She had an edginess to her that the other one didn't.

And yes, Kim Richards was cute and crush-making material, particularly a couple of years after the show ended, when she made a guest appearance on Alice.

[duckie]

I thought it was good, I couldnt wait for it to come on each week and was very disapointed when they cancelled it. And like a few others in this thread, I had a huge crush on Kim.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I thought it was good, I couldnt wait for it to come on each week and was very disapointed when they cancelled it. And like a few others in this thread, I had a huge crush on Kim.
I think everybody had a crush on Kim. :lol:

Hello Larry was a good show. It was in the same category as The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes. I don't know why it didn't last.

[TVFactFan]

I think everybody had a crush on Kim. :lol:

Hello Larry was a good show. It was in the same category as The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes. I don't know why it didn't last.


Especially when it became so connected with Different Strokes. I mean they had like 3 crossovers:lol:

[catlover79]

You never seen the Diffrent Strokes/Hello Larry crossover?
No, but I probably should. They all are on the DS DVDs, right?

[TVFactFan]

No, but I probably should. They all are on the DS DVDs, right?


Yeah they should be but I didn't buy the first 2 seasons of Diffrent Strokes on DVD because I felt the show didn't get good until season 3. So that's why I'm buying season 3 in a month.

But they had a thanksgiving crossover, a portland, orgeon crossover, and I can't think of the other right now

[catlover79]

Thanks - I'll have to check those out. :cool: