This year ABC decided to dub their Thursday night drama block TGIT, which stands for Thank Goodness it’s Thursday. And who could blame them? The alphabet network has the hottest lineup that evening with Shonda Rhimes’ series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and the new hit How to Get Away With Murder. This is not the first time that ABC has used that phrase. In the late 80’s, the network began airing a two hour comedy block on Friday’s called TGIF. It was so popular with families that it ran from 1989 until 2000. ABC tried to try it out again in 2003; however, its run would be short-lived and only last for two television seasons. TGIF included many of your favorite comedies from the 90’s. Here is a look at some of your favorites that include an annoying neighbor, a blended family similar to The Brady Bunch, and a teenage boy trying to survive middle school, high school, and, finally, college.
Full House (1989-1991)
The popular family sitcom Full House aired its first season in 1987 on Friday nights. However, TGIF would not officially begin until the series third season. Full House would air at 8:00 PM for its first season and then move to 8:30 PM during season two. It would air after Perfect Strangers and before Mr. Belvedere and then become the anchor sitcom when TGIF premiered in September of 1989. By the time Full House ended its fourth season, it had become hugely popular and ABC decided to move the series to Tuesday nights. This is the night the show would remain on until it ended in 1995.
Step by Step (1991-1997)
Step by Step was the perfect addition to the TGIF lineup when it premiered on September 20, 1991. The comedy was a modern day version of The Brady Bunch. The series starred Patrick Duffy who had just ended his 13 year stint as Bobby Ewing on the popular drama Dallas and Suzanne Somers known for her role of Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company. For the first season, Step by Step aired at 8:30 PM and then would move to 9 PM beginning with season three. ABC would cancel the series in 1997 and it would air for one additional season on CBS.
Family Matters (1989-1997)
Family Matters holds the record for being the series that aired the longest on TGIF. The comedy would last for 7 seasons on ABC before being cancelled and then airing on CBS for one season, like Step by Step. Family Matters is a spin-off of another TGIF sitcom Perfect Strangers and would air following Full House for the first two seasons it was on the air. Family Matters would move to the 8 PM timeslot beginning with season three and would stay there until it was cancelled in 1997. That year Sabrina, the Teenage Witch would anchor TGIF.
Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
Boy Meets World is the series that aired the second longest on TGIF, and would remain on Friday nights for its entire run. During the series’ first three seasons, it was lucky enough to air in between Family Matters and Step by Step. The comedy would air at 9:30 PM during season 4 before returning to 8:30 PM for the remainder of its run. The series has developed such a cult following that the Disney Channel decided to create a series called Girl Meets World in 2014 that centers around Cory and Topanga’s daughter. It has been renewed for a second season.
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1993-1996)
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper began airing on TGIF at 9:30 PM starting with its second season. The series would air its first season on Tuesday nights after Full House. After some restructuring of the series and the addition of Raven Symone, it would make its debut on TGIF and remain there for three years. The fifth and final 13-episode season would be shifted to Saturdays to make room for the new series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Clueless. Had the series been picked up for a sixth season, the wedding of Mark and Vanessa would have been the season premiere episode.
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996-2000)
Before coming to TGIF in 1996, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch aired as a made for TV movie during that same year on Showtime. The first episode of the series was watched by 17 million viewers, which by today’s standards is very high especially for a series airing on Friday nights. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch would remain on TGIF until the brand ended in 2000. That same year, the comedy would move to the WB and air three additional seasons. The only timeslot Sabrina did not air on during its TGIF run was at 9:30 PM.
Perfect Strangers (1988-1992)
Perfect Strangers was on the first four seasons of TGIF. It would air at 8 PM for the first season of TGIF and then move to 9 PM for the three final seasons. Perfect Strangers originally aired on Tuesday nights in 1986 when it aired a very short six episode first season. It would move to Wednesday nights for the next two seasons before the move to Friday nights, which proved to be a ratings success for the comedy that starred Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot. The eight and final season would air on Friday, but during the Summer hiatus.
Just the Ten of Us (1988-1990)
You may not remember the comedy Just the Ten of Us, which was a spin-off of the comedy of Growing Pains, but it aired its final two seasons during the first two seasons of TGIF. Just the Ten of Us was about a coach and teacher that is married and had eight children. The series had a 4-episode first season on Tuesday nights before making the move to Fridays. The comedy did take home an Emmy win in 1990 for Outstanding Lighting Direction before being cancelled after airing 47 episodes.
Clueless (1996)
ABC decided it would be a good idea to bring the popular 1995 movie Clueless to the small screen. Most of the cast would reprise their roles when it began airing on TGIF in September of 1996. However, Cher would not be played by Alicia Silverstone. Rachel Blanchard would take over the role and ABC would end up canceling the series in March of 1997. It would survive for two additional seasons on UPN.
What was your favorite show to air on TGIF? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Photo via ABC]
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