Top 10 TV Genres That Died

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for those small screen genres that have waned or lost public attention over the years. Although some may still exist in an evolved format, others have simply gone the way of the dodo.

#10: Saturday-Morning Cartoons

We realize that modern animated favorites are now available on demand, 24 hours a day. Yet, there still remains a lot of nostalgic feelings out there for that Saturday morning block of cartoon programming many of us watched as kids. The dedicated time set away for animated favorites meant that Saturday mornings were appointment TV for young audiences, just like TGIF was for older viewers. Not being able to watch all the time meant that kids looked forward to being in front of the tube preferably with a bowl of one of the unhealthiest cereals imaginable. It may not seem like much, but the Saturday morning cartoon lineup was, for many kids, a staple of their week.

#9: Telethons

The telethon hasnt completely gone away, as evidenced by Green Bay, Wisconsins long-running WBAY[a]-TV telethon to fight cerebral palsy. That one serves as a well-intentioned exception to the norm, however, since most of us dont really see many of these televised entertainment marathons. One of the most famous of all time was The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, which aired in its original capacity from 1966 to 2014. This was a syndicated holiday tradition for years, and featured many memorable moments, including a reunion between Lewis and his former comedy partner Dean Martin. The genre just doesnt occupy nearly as much network TV time as they did back in the day.

#8: Sketch Comedy

While sketch comedy remains popular and has many dedicated fans, we think its fair to argue that perhaps the golden era of sketch comedy television is in the past. Many of those same fans seek out classics like Mad TV or In Living Color for some nostalgia. Meanwhile, the post-Chappelles Show landscape featured a legion of imitators attempting to hitch a ride for some sketch comedy scrilla. Sure, Saturday Night Live remains a staple, but fans are largely divided with regards to the quality of its writing and humor. Plus, a lot of sketch comedy has migrated to different forms of production, like social media, rather than broadcast television.

#7: Celebrity Christmas Television Specials

Many of us like to get a little corny around the holidays. We might even have our favorite, old school Christmas specials that get us feeling all warm and fuzzy. However, the era of a celebrity-led, prime time holiday special isnt exactly the cluttered landscape that it was back in the day. Sure, Lady Gaga kept the spirit alive with her Thanksgiving program in 2011. But TV used to be littered with these family-friendly jams. Celebs from the worlds of music, acting, and stand-up comedy would sing songs, host skits, and spread cheer for their audiences. Names like Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and Johnny Cash helped make the most wonderful time of the year just a little brighter.

#6: Traditional Prime Time Sitcoms

You know the ones we mean. Think filmed in front of a live studio audience. Sitcoms will always be with us, some with canned laughter and others with in-person giggles. The genre has changed a lot over the decades, both in how theyre created and consumed. The old school sitcom formula is largely missing from todays television landscape. Many old school sitcoms were episodic exercises in comfort, aside from the occasional deviation. You can still find this kind of programming, but the sitcom evolved just like many other genres. With the amount of experimentation in programs, from Seinfeld to Community Always Sunny and beyond, the traditional prime time sitcom is largely a thing of the past.

#5: Soap Operas

The term soap opera serves as a large creative umbrella. You could even argue the narratives of professional wrestling could qualify as soap operas. The medium is also international, especially with influential programming from all around the world. But television in North America used to be chock full of soaps, from classics like All My Children and Guiding Light to the gothic grandeur of Dark Shadows. Daytime television looks a lot different today than it did then. While some titans of the medium still endure today, the storylines and characters are probably far from household names.

#4: Video Dance Shows

Music has been an important aspect of television viewership since the first sets began appearing in peoples homes. There are a number of bygone relics, from music chart promotional shows like Top of the Pops to video countdown shows such as TRL. Then, there were shows that attempted to bridge musical hit charts with dancing, such as American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and Soul Train. MTVs The Grind was a staple of dance show culture in the 90s. The genre found success in highlighting music as well as the popular culture of youth. However, its unlikely youll find a full-on dance program when you reach for the remote today.

#3: Anthology Series

The TV anthology series is another genre that still exists, but in a different form. Contemporary examples like True Detective and American Horror Story fit the genre, but they tend to retain a season-long narrative. This wasnt always the case. Classic examples like The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt and Amazing Stories were anthology staples that remained episodic in execution. There were few or no connecting threads between episodes, other than actors returning to play different roles. This made their stories easily digestible. It wasnt only horror and sci-fi that got the anthology treatment, either, with dramas and thrillers like Masterpiece Theater and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Programs in this style definitely feel like a throwback today.

#2: Made-for-TV Movies

The Hallmark Channel may have cornered the market on a made-for-TV Christmas today, but the heritage of the telefilm stretches back many decades. It was here where homegrown, small screen shockers would attempt to lure in audiences with promises of A-list acting, compelling stories, and big-screen thrills. Viewers of a certain age will likely point to made-for-TV horror flicks like Gargoyles or Dont Be Afraid of the Dark as classics. But telefilms werent only dealing in horror. ABCs lineup of after school specials would air features dealing with the various social struggles young people might encounter. You could say the made-for-TV movie of yesterday shares many qualities with the made-for-streaming movies of today.

#1: Musical Variety Shows

Believe it or not, there used to be a time where one couldnt pick up the remote or get-up to turn that dial without stumbling upon some sort of musical variety show. An extremely prevalent genre in the 1970s especially, its origins date back even to the 1930s and 40s. Generally, variety shows hinged upon the host. Celebs from Donny and Marie to Sonny and Cher received their own variety shows. Episodes would feature brief skits, gloriously corny jokes, and tons of music. Attempts have been made to revive this format, including one from Maya Rudolph and Martin Short in 2016. Time will tell if the genre will return.


Which of these old-school genres do you want to make a comeback? Let us know in the comments.