TGIF (ABC)

This article is about the ABC programming block; for other meanings see: TGIF

TGIF was the slogan of a prime time programming block on the ABC TV network. A similar programming concept to NBC's Must See TV lineup on Thursdays, most of the TGIF shows were family sitcoms. The slogan comes from the initials of the popular phrase Thank God It's Friday.

TGIF Heyday

The block of predominantly family-friendly situation comedies was inaugurated with the following sequence of shows in the 1988-89 season: Perfect Strangers, Full House, Mr. Belvedere and Just the Ten of Us. In subsequent years, Perfect Strangers spin-off, Family Matters and the Brady Bunch-inspired Step by Step joined the line-up.

During the heyday of TGIF, the main characters of one of the Friday prime-time sitcoms would "host" the two-hour block of episodes for that week. Always in character, they would introduce each show and comment on the proceedings afterward; sometimes, they would find a common thread between each show (e.g., honesty). The night's former mascot was a cartoon mouse breaking a clock with a hammer, which appeared in the late 1980s-early 1990s.

Some hosts referred to TGIF as, "Thank Goodness It's Funny."

Until 1997, TGIF was presented by the character host(s) that evening (usually breaking fourth wall). At the end of the programming block, the character host(s) would sign off, saying: "We'll see you next week." After the commercial break, the announcement, "I'm Hugh Downs", "and I'm Barbara Walters," "and this is 20/20", signalled the conclusion of TGIF, (and often bedtime) at 10 p.m. eastern, (9 p.m. central).

Theme Songs

First Theme Lyrics

Time for fun...

(Thank Goodness)

Time for a good laugh...

(It's funny...)

Time...Time...

(Time...Time...)

Time for fun...

T-T-Time...

Second Theme Lyrics

It's Friday night

and the mood is right

Come have some fun

show you how it's done

T-G-I-F

Decline of TGIF

In 1997, Family Matters and Step by Step left TGIF and aired on CBS for the same night. Both shows appeared on CBS Block Party, a similar sitcom programming block with four sitcoms, but failed with both the lineup and shows only lasting one season. As their Friday evening programming evolved, ABC retired the traditional TGIF logo and phased out the theme song.

However, as the years progressed, ABC began to see sagging ratings in the TGIF lineup. Shows like Boy Meets World and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch started out strong but weakened. New shows joined the lineup, including the likes of Teen Angel and You Wish, which lasted only a season (or less) before they were dropped. Eventually, the programming block became a dumping ground for shows that ABC no longer wished to run during other time slots, including The Hughleys (which later found home on UPN).

Return of TGIF

By 2000, ABC had discontinued the Friday prime time programming block entirely, with the exception of a Working Comedy comedy block during Fall 2000/01 of fading comedies: Two Guys and a Girl, Trouble with Normal, Madigan Men and Norm. This lineup only lasted one year; ABC then reverted to dramas and reality shows like The Mole. By then Friday nights were the weakest rating night of the week, with only a few shows receiving attention, such as CBS' CSI, which premiered on Friday.

TGIF returned to the air in Fall 2003 with heavy promotion. This included a promo spot employing the pop tune "YMCA" (sung to the words T-G-I-F), featuring all four family comedies' casts seated on a living-room couch. However, that season's lineup met with only moderate success, seeing a consistent second- or third-place showing against a popular CBS lineup that included Joan of Arcadia and JAG. As of 2005, ABC no longer actively promotes the TGIF name, having once again dropped the TGIF block in the fall of 2005.

In Fall of 2005, Hope & Faith continued to air on Friday nights, Less Than Perfect was renewed for midseason 2005-2006 airing (April 2006), and The George Lopez Show was moved to a Tuesday comedy block, then back to its original night of Wednesday. Ironically, CBS cancelled both Joan and JAG in May 2005.

Currently

In Spring 2006, Hope & Faith moved to Tuesday's lineup, and Friday nights have been used to debut hour-long dramas. Even if Friday sitcoms would return on ABC, it is presumed that they would be similar in tone to the other nights' offerings, and not match those 1990s sitcoms targeted specifically at families and children. Most 1990s family-targeted sitcoms appear currently on the Disney Channel with rebroadcasts on ABC's Saturday Morning Lineup.

When Sabrina the Teenage Witch moved to WB, it also debuted on Friday nights. This was seen to invigorate that network's similarly-targeted Friday sitcom block lineup. The WB's lineup featured the hit shows Reba, Grounded for Life and What I Like About You.

After finishing syndication periods, remnants of TGIF now occupy ABC Family's afternoon lineup. The cable network airs hour blocks of the sitcoms Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, and Boy Meets World.

Trivia

* TGIF was promoted with a series of trading cards featuring publicity shots from Perfect Strangers, Full House and Family Matters.
* During the late 1980s-early 1990s Fall Season, various casts would host Saturday Morning Preview Specials, which previewed much of new Saturday morning programming which would air the following day prior to the Disney acquisition of ABC Saturdays.
* During the mid-1990s, ABC scheduled a music special for The Beatles Anthology. To promote the special on the previous Friday, all of the TGIF sitcoms' opening theme songs were each replaced with Beatles songs, regardless of the individual shows' plot with the exception of Boy Meets World. From the Boy Meets World Wikipedia guide: "The writers of Boy Meets World twisted the concept around, by instead using a Monkees song and having that week's episode feature the Monkees as guest stars."
*Musical group Hanson hosted TGIF leading up to their special Meet Hanson. Between the shows it showed them in the studio, "commanding" the shows to come on, and at one point even incorporating 'TGIF' into their mega-hit song "MMMBop".

TGIF (ABC): Encyclopedia BETA

Contents

TGIF (ABC)

TGIF Heyday

Theme Songs

First Theme Lyrics

Second Theme Lyrics

Decline of TGIF

Return of TGIF

Currently

Trivia

Logos

TGIF Schedules

Fall 1988

Fall 1989

Fall 1990

Summer 1991

Fall 1991

Fall 1992

Fall 1993

Fall 1994

Fall 1995

Spring 1996

Fall 1996

Fall 1997

Fall 1998

Fall 1999

Fall 2003

Fall 2004

External links