Seasons history

[James]

I have noticed some things that are different today in regards to sitcoms:

1. Leave It To Beaver lasted six years (1957-1963) and produced 234 episodes, an average of 39 per year. Most seasons usually go 22-24 episodes nowadays.

2. The series finale of The Brady Bunch aired March 8, 1974. Most season (and series, for that matter) finales air in May nowadays.

What made these things change, and when did they do so?

[Brian]

Maybe it's the cost of producing episodes that is causing the decrease in episodes per season.

[JT]

I know what you mean with the eps per season thing. It took "The Donna Reed Show" 8 years (1958-1966) to make 275 episodes, yet it took "Cheers" 11 years (1982-1993) to make the same amount.