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Article: Sorry, I'm Busy That Night; TV Viewers & the Networks, Standing Each Other Up on Saturdays
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 16, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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It used to be the TV night, the curl-up-on-the-sofa-in-your-
pajamas kind of night. "Gunsmoke" was on Saturday. So were "Perry
Mason," "Get Smart" and "Mission: Impossible." "Hill Street Blues"
started there, "Golden Girls" reigned there.
Nowadays, "Cops" is on Saturday night.
During one year (1973-74), one network (CBS) aired "All in the
Family," "M*A*S*H," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart
Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show" on Saturdays. It was, arguably,
the most memorable night of TV ever on TV.
Thirty years later, CBS still dominates Saturday night television,
but its heavy hitters are "The District" and "The Agency."
What happened to Saturday night television?
It's been ...