That Time They Made "Lords" Into a TV Show
In 1979, while The Lords of Flatbush ruled the network airways as a popular “Movie of the Week,” CBS launched a short-lived TV show called Flatbush that also featured an Italian street gang. Known as “the Flatbush Fungoes,” they were supposed to be funny and lovable, like the guys from Welcome Back, Kotter…but they weren’t. Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden told the NY Times “the program is unflattering to Italians, Jews, Hispanics and police officers,” even though its LA producer claimed they were simply “bigger-than-life slapstick characters.” TV Guide notes, “The sitcom was criticized for its ethnic stereotypes, but it was the shortage of laughs (and viewers) that caused CBS to cancel it after only three episodes.” (Even Mrs. Columbo lasted longer!)
Although everyone loves seeing “stuffed shirts get a kick in the pants,” the short-lived Flatbush tv show was criticized for having unlikable, unfunny characters. (Photo via @Flatbushed on Twitter)
This critic from the Wichita (Kansas) Beacon was forced to watch Flatbush but at least they got to use the word “Kottersque” (which is kind of like “Kafkaesque” but with a laugh track). (Photo via Newspapers.com)
Most critics, like this one from the Des Moines (Iowa) Register, noted that Flatbush had a whole lotta similarities to both the popular Lords of Flatbush tv movie (featuring the Sweathogs) and Welcome Back, Kotter. The show was such a bomb that even Mrs. Columbo lasted 12 episodes longer. (Photo via Newspapers.com)
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