Television Q&A: Why don't networks rebroadcast shows like 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas'?

You have questions. I have some answers. Q: I was wondering why networks don't show TV shows like "Dynasty," "Dallas," "Knots Landing" and "L.A. Law." They are all great shows. A: Major networks can't just repeat decades-old shows; that's basically left to retro services and streaming. After all, times and taste change. So, if they go to the old well for an idea, it gets updated. The CW tried a new version of "Dynasty" not long ago and ended it after three unremarkable seasons. A TNT revival of "Dallas" seemed to be getting by until star Larry Hagman died during the second season; the third season proved to be the last. And television does still embrace complicated, serialized family sagas. HBO's "Succession" is a riveting example, and I'm well hooked on the CW's "All American," among others. Workplace successors to "L.A. Law" include the engaging "All Rise" on CBS and USA's "Suits," which wrapped up last year. Q: Since Saturday night TV has little viewing, why don't they have all the awards shows on this night instead of screwing up our shows during the other nights? This way most people can stay up late and sleep in the next morning. A: You kind of answered your own question. Saturday night is the least-viewed night for TV during the week. It wasn't always like that: CBS once had an all-time great Saturday lineup of "All in the Family," "M*A*S*H," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show." But people's habits changed, and more and more used Saturdays to go out, or to rent a movie to watch at home, or find other things to do than sit down for a night of network television. Networks then chose for the most part not to waste their expensive scripted programs on that night. Sunday, meanwhile, continued to hold a favorite place in folks' viewing habits, so much that broadcasters and non-broadcast outlets alike stack big shows on that night — and arrange to put many of the biggest specials there as well. Q: Is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers related to William Powell, the actor in the "Thin Man" movies? I have noticed similarities. A: As best as I can find, they are not related. Q: We recently watched "The Devil's Brigade." Somehow the movie's ending was cut off. The bombardment had ended. Canadian and U.S. troops were over the mountain and charging toward the enemy for hand-to-hand combat. And it ended. How much of the ending did we miss? A: Some, although I cannot explain why. The 1968 movie about a U.S.-Canadian unit in World War II concludes with a long battle sequence on the mountain, the death of a major character, a voice-over about the unit's valor — and closing credits. You can see it, as I did, via Amazon Prime, and at no extra cost if you are already paying for Prime. Q: Why did John Amos leave "Good Times"? The show wasn't as good after he left. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often complained about the show's writing. In a widely reported interview on the show "Sway in the Morning" in 2017, Amos said: "When the show first started, we had no African American writers on the show, and some of the attitudes they had written, as per my character and, frankly, for some of the other characters as well, caused me to say … 'We can't do this, we can't do that.' And they'd say, 'What do you mean we can't do this?' They'd go on about their credits …. and I'd look at each and every one of them and say, 'Well, how long have you been black? That just doesn't happen in the community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our children do that.'" Amos said he was not diplomatic in his complaints, that "the writers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes." He was let go. But he did return to "Good Times" in a way in 2019, when he made a surprise appearance during a live re-creation of a "Good Times" episode on ABC. ——— (Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. Letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.) ——— ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.