Coach

I feel like their is shows that stand the test of time like a "I love Lucy", "All In the Family". However will "Coach" be remembered 15 even 25 years from now? In my opinion it should have consideration. Its was a well written show (for the most part) but most of all, it was the solid cast that kept the show strong for 8 out of the 10 years airing on ABC. Emmy's went to Craig T. Nelson, for his lead role as "Hayden Fox". also a well deserved Emmy Nod went to Jerry Van Dyke, who's very funny character as "Luther Van Damn. Im disappointed however, that its syndicated only at 5:00 and 6:00am. It was dropped fast from Nick @ Nite's prime time lineup in 2004 ,and i never understood why. Im still Anxiously awaiting the release of the show on DVD soon.

This show was particularly good when the show was based in Minnesota. When it went to Florida, it went downhill.

This is the only series of its kind. I believe that they targetted the older crowd. I may be 17 but I wouldn't miss it.

This isn't my favorite show of all time but it's one of those I never forgot. The reason this show works is cause of the ensemble cast. Especially Craig T. nelson and Jerry Van Dyke.

What makes this work is Craig T. Nelson. He's almost the "Archie Bunker" of the 90's...without the racial part. He's a Neanderthal type who thinks guys are the Kings and football guys rule all and women are all wrong. The fun part is, you get to see all his flaws. He's insecure and self conscious about his relationship with his girlfriend...basically he's like all guys. That's why this show works, cause he's like every guy.

With every show there's a "Barney Fife" type character and in this show it's no different. Here you find, Jerry van Dyke. You can thank casting for putting him in this role cause it was a role of a lifetime. He plays the absolute bumbling old assistant football coach who is clueless about almost everything and is nuts about Elvis. Again, a lot of guys are like this so it's easy to see why this show last for 8 years. For reference on his character, watch the "Sweeties Cereal" episode.

This show tries to show you the life of a football coach but it's really about a simple guy who happens to be a football coach who's a little outdated in his way of thinking. Trust me, watch this show and laugh. I always do.

The writers of Coach really had a no-win situation. The best part about the show was that he was taking a team of nobodies and trying to turn a football program around at a fictitious school that supposedly had a once great football program. Minnesota State was the underdog. They started out taking things slow. They didn't rush into making them champions. In th first season they were happy to just get a few wins. Then they made it to their first Bowl game (where they got killed in a blizzard). Then Hayden beat his mentor and won his first Bowl game. This culminated in the team winning the national championship.

That is where the trouble began and the producers knew it. Where do they go from there? Sure, the team trying to defend their championship was enough to sustain one season. But that was it. The main reason for the shows existence was gone.

So what did the writers do in a last ditch effort? They give Hayden another bunch of underdogs, an expansion NFL team. It just didn't work. Coach (the show) was about Minnesota State. Not Florida. The shows really lost a lot of quality after that move. It was a classic example of a show that should have gone out on top a season or two earlier.