Summer’s Top TV Hits

From unclebarky.com

TV networks, particularly the Big Four broadcasters, typically don’t put too much stock in the summer. Instead they fill the hot-weather months with throwaways and in later years, scads of brainless reality competitions.

Still, some of prime-time’s biggest enduring hits got their starts while many potential viewers were vacationing or enjoying the elongated daylight hours by getting outdoors instead of vegging on the couch. All of these heavy-hitters were launched in June, July or August, which technically leaves out CBS’ Survivor and its May 31, 2000 premiere. Sorry about that. (Start dates are in parentheses.)

10. Northern Exposure (July 12, 1990, CBS) — This critically acclaimed fish-out-water dramedy made fictional Cicely, Alaska a quirky playground for townies and incoming Dr. Joel Fleischmann (Rob Morrow). Its five-season run included four nominations as best drama series. Executive producer David Chase went on to do a little thing called The Sopranos.

9. Fear Factor (June 11, 2001, NBC) — It uniformly repulsed TV critics but found an almost fanatic audience among younger, presumably less-discriminating viewers who enjoyed the sights and sounds of contestants gagging and eating pig rectums. Guffawing host Joe Rogan was a perfect fit for a series that NBC plugged in with Deal Or No Deal zeal for five stomach-turning seasons.

8. The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (Aug. 1, 1971, CBS) — She vamped, he camped and audiences flocked to their day-glo variety series for six on-off-on again years. The duo’s divorce prompted each to do their own unsuccessful shows before they reunited as ex-husband and wife for two more seasons of somewhat forced hilarity.

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