Was it any good ? I don't recall it at all, i don't think it was aired in Australia

I remember not liking it. Parker Lewis was better. (really I just remember watching the first night with the Fresh Prince, and loving FP)

I see Jennifer Aniston was in it though, so it'd be interesting to see again.

I saw a clip of the first episode on youtube. It didn't seem very good.

Perhaps put the original air year in the title? Some may think this is a new show.

the show was awful.

and so is this thread.

I have similar memories as Starman. I remember not expecting much from Fresh Prince and looking forward to Ferris. Was wrong on both accounts.

I have the complete series on DVD. I remember thinking it was not great when it aired and rewatching it I was correct.

Parker Lewis was a FAR better show that holds up a lot more.

Was there ever a good TV series based on a movie besides MASH?

I actually think "Fast Times" was decent.

I didn't even like this show when I was 9.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I remeber loving it when it was on. Haven't seen it since so i don't know how it holds up. Liked Parker Lewis but didn't like it as much as Ferris. Always thought Parker was a knock-off Ferris anyways.

Highlander: The Series - Ran for six seasons.

Stargate SG-1 - Very successful for Showtime, then switched to Sci-Fi

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I wasn't a big fan but it ran for several seasons and had a huge cult following.

Alien Nation - Only ran one season, but then spawned five or six TV movies. Another one that had a cult following.

The Odd Couple - Five seasons. I remember it being funny.

Friday Night Lights - I think is still running somewhere. I watched the first season and thought it was ok.

Clerks: The Animated Series - It didn't last long, but I have the DVD set and think it's brilliant.

Alice - Based on the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was a huge hit for CBS.

Fame - Hate to say it (because I loved the film but hated the TV show) but NBC had a pretty big hit with this.

Also ----

The Dead Zone.
In the Heat of the Night.
The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
La Femme Nikita.
The Paper Chase.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Then there was What's Happening!! which was sort of based on the film Cooley High and was one of my all-time favorite TV shows.

Ugh! How did I not think of FNL?! Yes! It's on DirecTV right now and NBC in January. It's probably the best TV drama on right now, and arguably this decade.

Umm Deadwood, Sopranos, Dexter, and Lost then maybe FNL.

Wow thats a loaded crazy statement.

This was my first thought entering this thread. I'm surprised only three people have made this comment so far (including myself).

IIRC, Ferris and Parker were on at the same time. Both shows tried to mock the other, but Ferris last a whole 10 or so episodes while Parker went on for 3 seasons. Shocked Shout! never brought either series to DVD.

I have this strong memory of the last scene of the first season of Parker Lewis. They pull back and there are two figures shown from the back watching Parker and his friends. One goes "How does he do it?" and the other one goes "Come on, Ferris, let's get out of here!".

Friday Night Lights is based on book, just like the movie is.

Remember the movie and watched the first season of Buffy. It's been years since I've watched either. I'm curious though, are there any similarities between the movie and the tv show other than the name and the general premise (girl named Buffy slays vampires)? The movie seemed to be more of a comedy while the show was more of a drama.

Really Original Desmond? I know most shows are in re-runs during the holidays, but your really scraping to the bottom of the barrel asking about a show that aired 18 years ago and only lasted 1 season. Same goes with that mini-series Merlin you asked about.

Is Australian TV really that lousy?

There are thousands of better American shows (current and past) you could try watching instead if you are really that bored.

Well, IIRC, the TV series and movie take place (I guess) in the same universe as I remember Buffy and her mom in the principal's office and he made a comment about the events from the movie (that's why the Sommers moved)... But as far as tone goes, the TV series had some comedy, but yeah it was a teen drama.

Sorta. The movie is based on the book (true story) the show is more of a fictionalized re imagining of those events. At least part of the first season, anyway. They are well into their own territory now.

The show tied very little into the film...besides Buffy burning down the GYM (IIRC) and Angel visiting her in L.A (when she was first known to be a slayer in the movie). The movie is really bad. I blocked it from memory.

OK, so maybe not the decade, maybe that's an overstatement. But I personally do believe FNL is the best network TV drama.