Thank Goodness It's Funny | 156

Kathy Kenzora· Host0:00

If you were a kid, a young teen, or even a parent in the early '90s, there's a pretty good chance I know what you were doing on most Friday nights, sitting in front of the TV watching a two-hour block of programming that included some of the most iconic family-friendly comedies of the era.

Speaker 1· Soundbite0:19

[upbeat music] Friday, it's a night of moving and shaking on an all new TGIF. First, we'll I'm Cathy Kinsora, and this is History of the '90s, a podcast about a decade that changed the world.

Kathy Kenzora· Host0:32

In this episode, we're looking back at ABC's blockbuster Friday night lineup. From Full House and Family Matters to Dinosaurs and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, this is the story of TGIF. Friday night has long been considered the death slot when it comes to television programming. [playful music] Networks typically put shows there that are on their last legs because of a belief people are out and aren't at home watching TV. But in 1989, ABC decided to turn that theory on its head. They realized not everyone goes out on Friday night, in particular parents and kids. So why not make a block of programming just for them? Why not put on some shows they can all watch together and make it feel like an event? Bob Iger had just become president of ABC Entertainment,