disappointing comebacks

[BLT]

I was thinking about how Lucille Ball's return to TV in 1986 was highly hyped, but failed. What other beloved TV stars do you believe made a very disappointing return to television?

Tony Danza--"Hudson Street," "Tony Danza Show"
Henry Winkler--"Monty"
John Larroquette--"Payne" (I loved this show, but apparently no one else did)
Rhea Pearlman--Pearl
Bob Newhart -- I was disappointed by "Bob". But I really liked "George & Leo," his chemistry with Judd Hirsch was terrific.

[TVLIFE]

Mary Tyler Moore had a couple of come back shows that flopped.

She is great but her later shows really were not. I think it was "Mary" in 1986 and "Annie McGuire" in1988. Those were sort of bland.

Poor Mary.

[Jimbo]

In the early 1970s, there was "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". I think he started out as a doctor(?) in the early episodes, and then somehow they switched the format around and made him into a soap oprea actor (a real "Jump The Shark" moment).

Shows that have the word "New" in their title always seem to be doomed from the start:

The New Dick Van Dyke Show
The New Odd Couple
The New Monkees
The New WKRP in Cincinnati

[Sitcomwriter]

Don Adams (and Andy Dick :eek: ) in a 90's update of "Get Smart" with 99 as a recurring character.

[tvje]

Bill Cosby on "Cosby". It was okay but far below the greatness of "the Cosby show". And every sitcom starting a Seinfeld alumn exept for "Curb your Enthusazm"

[JT]

Originally posted by Jimbo
In the early 1970s, there was "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". I think he started out as a doctor(?) in the early episodes, and then somehow they switched the format around and made him into a soap oprea actor (a real "Jump The Shark" moment).

Shows that have the word "New" in their title always seem to be doomed from the start:

The New Dick Van Dyke Show
The New Odd Couple
The New Monkees
The New WKRP in Cincinnati

Don't you mean he started out as a talk show host, because he did...

[ThomasE]

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
Don Adams (and Andy Dick :eek: ) in a 90's update of "Get Smart" with 99 as a recurring character.
Dang! You too my answer. LOL.

[Rob1]

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
Don Adams (and Andy Dick :eek: ) in a 90's update of "Get Smart" with 99 as a recurring character.


I remember that series. It was on TV about 1994 or 1995, I think. Your'e right, it was terrible.

[Adamantium]

Originally posted by Rob1



I remember that series. It was on TV about 1994 or 1995, I think. Your'e right, it was terrible.

About the Get Smart revival:
I remember Andy Dick had just started "NewsRadio" in 1995, and at some event, said "NewsRadio" was a much better show than the new "Get Smart." He almost got in trouble, but luckily for him "Get Smart" was canceled.

[Sitcomwriter]

Originally posted by TVAdam


About the Get Smart revival:
I remember Andy Dick had just started "NewsRadio" in 1995, and at some event, said "NewsRadio" was a much better show than the new "Get Smart." He almost got in trouble, but luckily for him "Get Smart" was canceled.

I never actually saw it but It really does sound awful.

[mstewart]

Originally posted by TVLIFE
Mary Tyler Moore had a couple of come back shows that flopped.

She is great but her later shows really were not. I think it was "Mary" in 1986 and "Annie McGuire" in1988. Those were sort of bland.

Poor Mary.

Mary's variety hour shows was great it just came at a time that type of entertainment has died. I'll never forget her dance with Gene Kelly.

Mary in 1986 was horrible and lame 80's version of the classic Mary Tyler Moore Show. Annie McGuire was a very good series except that it was too deep for that time period that the show was on.

Her worse was New York News with Gregory Harrison and Madeline Kahn. It was beyond me that she took part in such a horrible series with a character that was so unlikeable.

[mstewart]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jimbo
[B]In the early 1970s, there was "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". I think he started out as a doctor(?) in the early episodes, and then somehow they switched the format around and made him into a soap oprea actor (a real "Jump The Shark" moment).

The first two seasons he was a talk show host in Phoenix. That cast featured Fannie Flagg, Hope Lange, Nancy Dussault, and Marty Brill. That was an excellent cast. The problem with that show was it was a 70s version of the original TDVDS with remakes of episodes from that show. The show in many respects was ahead of its time with the many issues they dealt with. Instead of giving the show and the cast a chance they threw out the entire cast except for Van Dyke and Lange and moved them out to Hollywood to star in a soap. The show got worse. I did not like that cast.

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by JT


Don't you mean he started out as a talk show host, because he did...

You're right JT! I'm not sure why I thought he was a doctor (then again, I was reaching back 30 years in the memory banks for this one!)

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by mstewart
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jimbo
[B]In the early 1970s, there was "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". I think he started out as a doctor(?) in the early episodes, and then somehow they switched the format around and made him into a soap oprea actor (a real "Jump The Shark" moment).

The first two seasons he was a talk show host in Phoenix. That cast featured Fannie Flagg, Hope Lange, Nancy Dussault, and Marty Brill. That was an excellent cast. The problem with that show was it was a 70s version of the original TDVDS with remakes of episodes from that show. The show in many respects was ahead of its time with the many issues they dealt with. Instead of giving the show and the cast a chance they threw out the entire cast except for Van Dyke and Lange and moved them out to Hollywood to star in a soap. The show got worse. I did not like that cast.

Thanks mstewart! Lots of good info there!

[mstewart]

Originally posted by Jimbo


Thanks mstewart! Lots of good info there!

Originally posted by mstewart
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jimbo
[B]In the early 1970s, there was "The New Dick Van Dyke Show". I think he started out as a doctor(?) in the early episodes, and then somehow they switched the format around and made him into a soap oprea actor (a real "Jump The Shark" moment).

The first two seasons he was a talk show host in Phoenix. That cast featured Fannie Flagg, Hope Lange, Nancy Dussault, and Marty Brill. That was an excellent cast. The problem with that show was it was a 70s version of the original TDVDS with remakes of episodes from that show. The show in many respects was ahead of its time with the many issues they dealt with. Instead of giving the show and the cast a chance they threw out the entire cast except for Van Dyke and Lange and moved them out to Hollywood to star in a soap. The show got worse. I did not like that cast.

Hey Jimbo thanks. To talk about how that show was ahead of its time. It dealt with a late in life pregnancy when Dick and his wife found out that they were expecting. In the early 70s not too many people in their 40s bearing children. Now it's a way of life. They dealt with interracial dating but without being heavy handed about it. They should had given Van Dyke a different premise to work with then to repeat the show business premise as the original TDVDS was.