History Series / Fridays

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'' that relied on more vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (some ABC affiliates [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refused to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse later in the year as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material (most famously Creator/AndyKaufman's 1981 hosting stint that ended with a WorkedShoot fight on stage) and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). The show was also noted for embracing new genres of rock music compared to ''SNL'' at the time. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for the increasingly popular news show ''Nightline'', and cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second full[[/note]] season.

-->'''[[Series/PrimetimeGlick Jiminy Glick]]:''' Why was it called ''Fridays''?
-->'''Creator/LarryDavid:''' Well, because it was just like ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''--
-->'''Jiminy Glick:''' But not funny.
-->'''Larry David:''' (''laughing'') But not funny, yes!

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'' that relied on more vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refused to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse later in the year as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material (most famously Creator/AndyKaufman's 1981 hosting stint that ended with a WorkedShoot fight on stage) and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). The show was also noted for embracing new genres of rock music compared to ''SNL'' at the time. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for the increasingly popular news show ''Nightline'', and cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second full[[/note]] season.

* MoralGuardians: Routinely, savagely mocked on the show. One sketch was a ShowWithinAShow produced by the Moral Majority (a Christian conservative organization founded by Jerry Falwell that was influential in the early '80s but has since disbanded) where a punk band performed {{Bowdlerized}} songs.

''Fridays'' was a SketchComedy television series produced by Creator/{{ABC}}. Lasting from 1980 to 1982, it was regarded (and in a lot of ways ''was'') a [[FollowTheLeader blatant attempt]] to compete with the massively successful ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' on Creator/{{NBC}}: it featured a parody news segment; musical guests; and starting in its second season, celebrity guest hosts (including Creator/GeorgeCarlin, the show's first such host, had also hosted the premiere episode of ''SNL'' in 1975). Comedian Jack Burns served as the show's announcer and introduced musical acts onscreen.

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material (most famously Creator/AndyKaufman's 1981 hosting stint that ended with a WorkedShoot fight on stage) and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). The show was also noted for embracing new genres of rock music compared to ''SNL'' at the time. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts by non-NBC networks to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. However, interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, it was the starting point for Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards, who were both cast members. Creator/ShoutFactory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). The show was also noted for embracing new genres of rock music compared to ''SNL'' at the time. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

** One sketch shows a little girl (played by Melanie Chartoff) losing a tooth and eager to give it to the Tooth Fairy, only for her parents (Michael Richards and Marybeth Burrell) to admit that the Tooth Fairy isn't real. From there the girl learns that her parents aren't real either because they're actors, and her bedroom isn't real because it's a set.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: One sketch shows a little girl (played by Melanie Chartoff) losing a tooth and eager to give it to the Tooth Fairy, only for her parents (Michael Richards and Marybeth Burrell) to admit that the Tooth Fairy isn't real. From there the girl learns that her parents aren't real either because they're actors, and her bedroom isn't real because it's a set with a studio audience.

** One sketch, played mostly straight, showed a punk rocker (played by Michael Richards) arguing with his father about his lifestyle, with the father disowning his son and the rocker giving a heartfelt defense of the punk generation. The sketch takes a swerve to humor when the rocker discovers that his father was being literal: he's not his ''biological'' son on account that they have different hair colors.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts by non-NBC networks to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. However, interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, was the starting point for Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards, who were both cast members. Creator/ShoutFactory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts by non-NBC networks to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. However, interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, was the starting point for Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards, who were both cast members. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

''Fridays'' was a SketchComedy television series produced by Creator/{{ABC}}. Lasting from 1980 to 1982, it was regarded (and is a lot of ways ''was'') a [[FollowTheLeader blatant attempt]] to compete with the massively successful ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' on Creator/{{NBC}}: it featured a parody news segment; musical guests; and starting in its second season, celebrity guest hosts (including Creator/GeorgeCarlin, the show's first such host, had also hosted the premiere episode of ''SNL'' in 1975). Comedian Jack Burns served as the show's announcer and introduced musical acts onscreen.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts by non-NBC networks to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. However, interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, it jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards, who were both cast members. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. Interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, it jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. Interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). The show was also known for being more embracing of new genres of rock music than ''SNL'' was at the time. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material and its forays into pointed political satire (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and MoralGuardians being frequent targets). But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

* MsFanservice: Melanie Chartoff was certainly treated as one; her intro in the opening sequence shows her lounging in a hot tub.

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier, inventive material and its forays into political satire. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. Interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV and Website/YouTube).

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier material and its forays into political satire. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in a midnight timeslot to make way for ''Nightline'', cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. Interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid and Creator/MichaelRichards. SHOUT! Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV).

''Fridays'' was a short-lived SketchComedy television series produced by Creator/{{ABC}}. Lasting from 1980 to 1982, the show was regarded (and is a lot of ways ''was'') a [[FollowTheLeader blatant attempt]] to compete with the massively successful ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' on Creator/{{NBC}}: it featured a parody news segment; musical guests; and starting in its second season, celebrity guest hosts (including Creator/GeorgeCarlin, the show's first such host, had also hosted the premiere episode of ''SNL'' in 1975). Comedian Jack Burns served as the show's announcer and introduced musical acts onscreen.

''Fridays'' was a short-lived SketchComedy television series produced by Creator/{{ABC}}. Lasting from 1980 to 1982, the show was regarded (and is a lot of ways ''was'') a knockoff attempt to compete with the massively successful ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' on Creator/{{NBC}}: it featured a parody news segment; musical guests; and starting in its second season, celebrity guest hosts (including Creator/GeorgeCarlin, the show's first such host, had also hosted the premiere episode of ''SNL'' in 1975). Comedian Jack Burns served as the show's announcer and introduced musical acts onscreen.

''Fridays'' is nowadays remembered as the first of numerous failed attempts to successfully compete with ''SNL'', which is currently [[LongRunners in its 47th season]]. Interest in ''Fridays'' has been revived in recent years thanks to the fact that, despite its short run, jump-started the careers of Creator/LarryDavid, Creator/MichaelRichards, and Creator/MelanieChartoff. SHOUT Factory released highlights from ''Fridays'' on a five-disc DVD set in 2013, and has since made the entire series available for streaming (as has Tubi TV).

The show was initially poorly-regarded by critics for being an obvious knockoff of ''SNL'', and for relying on vulgar, lowbrow shock humor (which caused some ABC affiliates to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork refuse to air it]] after just a few episodes). However, opinion began to reverse as ''SNL'' was going through its [[AudienceAlienatingEra disastrous sixth season]], with both critics and viewers complimenting ''Fridays'' ' edgier material and its forays into political satire. But this wasn't enough to keep ABC from putting ''Fridays'' in the FridayNightDeathSlot, cancelling the show at the end of its third[[note]]actually second[[/note]] season.