The show raised the question, but declined to answer, why negative stereotypes of blacks make such fashionable art these days.
The show has declined even further since Mr. Smith's departure.
The show was popular in 1970s, with up to 5 million viewers, but declined in the 1980s, until it was cancelled.
Although the production team received requests, the show declined to use celebrity guests for cameo roles in the 2008 Christmas special.
Our graphic shows how the wave of Islamist violence reached a peak in the middle of the decade and then declined.
This story is frequently used as an example of how the show declined during the 1980's.
The latest shows that expenditures paid for with public funds declined 9 percent in the year that ended March 31.
The show, a consistent disappointment to NBC by creative standards, opened last fall to enormous ratings success but has since declined.
Figures just revised show that the nation'sgross domestic product declined in both the third and fourth quarters of 1993.
The show declined in overall ratings and now rarely finishes in the top five shows of the week.