TMC
06-05-2009, 09:46 PM
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 10 - Adam Carolla Show: Too Late with Adam Carolla
Run: 52 episodes
Idea: If Jimmy Kimmel can do it, why can’t the Ace?
Outcome: Carolla’s talent lies in his off-the-cuff wit and ability to
rant. Neither of those shone through in this 30-minute show. It also
doesn’t help that Carolla has a face perfect for radio. They got their
highest ratings when Steve-O got drunk and tackled Carolla in his
chair. The clip sums up the show: kind of funny, but more awkward with
Carolla caught like a deer in the headlights.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 9 - Keenan Ivory Wayans Show: The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
Run: 11 episodes
Idea: People loved Arsenio Hall; they loved In Living Color; they’ll
love this!
Outcome: It quickly became apparent that Keenen was no Arsenio, and In
Living Color’s success may have been due to Jim Carrey and the other
Wayans. Keenen encouraged the crowd to holler the whole time, even
through his monologue (he wasn’t saying much, anyway). Then he’d talk
through his interviews, not letting the guest say much. The only
review on TV.com reads: “The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show does have its
high points although I certainly wished there were more of them.” You
can experience more high points at the dentist.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 8 - Alan Thicke Show: Thicke of the Night
Run: 1 season
Idea: Canadians love him as a talk show host!
Outcome: Americans quickly realized that Canadians’ taste in talk show
hosts is really, really sad. The wittiest part of the show was its
name. Alan Thicke is not funny. He may have done just fine as a
daytime talk show host, but he was supposed to rival The Tonight Show
Starring Johnny Carson. Thicke failed, and his consolation prize was a
role on Growing Pains.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 7 - Greg Behrendt Show: The Greg Behrendt Show
Run: 42 episodes
Idea: Behrendt told you when he just wasn't that into you, and now
he’s going to tell you again on a TV show.
Outcome: Greg Behrendt is actually a great standup comedian who wrote
the Oprah-friendly book, He’s Just Not That Into You, on a lark. It
blew up, and now he’s stuck schlepping the self-help act. Obviously,
Greg wanted it to be more of a comedy show, but it ended up being a
confusing mess somewhere between Jerry Springer, Dr. Phil and YouTube
sketches.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 6 - ALF Show: ALF's Hit Talk Show
Run: 7 episodes
The Idea: Ed McMahon really needs money, and ALF’s ‘80s nostalgia is
hot.
Outcome: Of all the things Ed McMahon has done for money, this
surprisingly is not the worst (that’s his Cash 4 Gold commercial).
Still, the running joke on the show was how low McMahon’s career had
sank, which is not so much a joke when it’s sadly true. ALF invited B-
list celebrities to talk and ate the snacks on his desk. The show was
fun and retro, but after a sitcom and animated series, how many cat-
eating jokes can we stand?
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 5 - Steve Wilkos Show: The Steve Wilkos Show
Run: Renewed for Season 3 (sadly)
Idea: The bouncer from Jerry Springer gets his own show.
Outcome: Dr. Phil is a buffoon who yells obvious things at dumb
people, but at least he has a doctorate. Wilkos was a marine and a cop
before becoming Springer’s bouncer. The knowledge of how to break
heads doesn’t mean you can shrink heads. While Springer laughs at his
guests, Steve screams at them on episodes with titles like “My Aunt
Made Me a Prostitute,” “Yes Sir, I Hit My Pregnant Wife” and “Heroin
Mom Lives in a Van.”
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 4 - Chevy Chase Show: The Chevy Chase Show
Run: 25 episodes
The Idea: Chevy did well on SNL's Weekend Update (16 years ago).
Outcome: The thing producers forget when casting Chevy is that he’s
not likable. His success is due to his ability to comically milk
awkwardness and his pratfalls. Neither of these skills work well on a
talk show. The first show, Chevy was so noticeably nervous that the
audience squirmed in their seats.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 3 - John McEnroe Show: McEnroe
Run: 6 months
Idea: Loudmouth tennis star will yell at guests. That’ll be funny!
Outcome: Not funny at all, but when has CNBC been known for its
humorous programming? Off the court, McEnroe is at a loss for words.
When interviewing guests, a two-year old could have hit a tennis ball
through the gaps in conversation. The show twice earned a 0.0 Nielsen
rating. After that, a new executive producer was brought in to “save
the show.” His big ideas were making McEnroe wear nicer suits and
limiting the involvement of sidekick John Fugelsang (the only funny
thing on the show).
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 2 - Lily Allen Show: Lily Allen and Friends
Run: 8 episodes
Idea: Silly pop singer Lily Allen will talk about things online
because kids love things online.
Outcome: The BBC filled the audience with Lily Allen’s online friends.
Before the end of the first taping, half of them had left due to
boredom. Her guests included new bands, some real celebrities and
internet celebrities who people voted on. Chris Crocker was a
“correspondent,” and that should tell you something. During one show,
Lily exposed her breast for three minutes. Topless shots of her online
prove that’s not a good thing.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 1 - Magic Johnson Show: The Magic Hour
Run: 40 episodes
The Idea: Former basketball great won huge ratings when he talked
about contracting HIV on The Arsenio Hall Show, so let’s give him his
own show.
Outcome: Critics universally panned the show for Magic’s complete lack
of wit or chemistry with his guest or sidekicks. The first sidekick,
Craig Shoemaker, was pushed into the background, as if it was his
fault. Tommy Davidson didn’t do much better. The show’s only high
point was when Howard Stern showed up and asked Magic about having sex
with HIV, and why he fired “the white guy” (Craig Shoemaker).
No. 10 - Adam Carolla Show: Too Late with Adam Carolla
Run: 52 episodes
Idea: If Jimmy Kimmel can do it, why can’t the Ace?
Outcome: Carolla’s talent lies in his off-the-cuff wit and ability to
rant. Neither of those shone through in this 30-minute show. It also
doesn’t help that Carolla has a face perfect for radio. They got their
highest ratings when Steve-O got drunk and tackled Carolla in his
chair. The clip sums up the show: kind of funny, but more awkward with
Carolla caught like a deer in the headlights.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 9 - Keenan Ivory Wayans Show: The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
Run: 11 episodes
Idea: People loved Arsenio Hall; they loved In Living Color; they’ll
love this!
Outcome: It quickly became apparent that Keenen was no Arsenio, and In
Living Color’s success may have been due to Jim Carrey and the other
Wayans. Keenen encouraged the crowd to holler the whole time, even
through his monologue (he wasn’t saying much, anyway). Then he’d talk
through his interviews, not letting the guest say much. The only
review on TV.com reads: “The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show does have its
high points although I certainly wished there were more of them.” You
can experience more high points at the dentist.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 8 - Alan Thicke Show: Thicke of the Night
Run: 1 season
Idea: Canadians love him as a talk show host!
Outcome: Americans quickly realized that Canadians’ taste in talk show
hosts is really, really sad. The wittiest part of the show was its
name. Alan Thicke is not funny. He may have done just fine as a
daytime talk show host, but he was supposed to rival The Tonight Show
Starring Johnny Carson. Thicke failed, and his consolation prize was a
role on Growing Pains.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 7 - Greg Behrendt Show: The Greg Behrendt Show
Run: 42 episodes
Idea: Behrendt told you when he just wasn't that into you, and now
he’s going to tell you again on a TV show.
Outcome: Greg Behrendt is actually a great standup comedian who wrote
the Oprah-friendly book, He’s Just Not That Into You, on a lark. It
blew up, and now he’s stuck schlepping the self-help act. Obviously,
Greg wanted it to be more of a comedy show, but it ended up being a
confusing mess somewhere between Jerry Springer, Dr. Phil and YouTube
sketches.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 6 - ALF Show: ALF's Hit Talk Show
Run: 7 episodes
The Idea: Ed McMahon really needs money, and ALF’s ‘80s nostalgia is
hot.
Outcome: Of all the things Ed McMahon has done for money, this
surprisingly is not the worst (that’s his Cash 4 Gold commercial).
Still, the running joke on the show was how low McMahon’s career had
sank, which is not so much a joke when it’s sadly true. ALF invited B-
list celebrities to talk and ate the snacks on his desk. The show was
fun and retro, but after a sitcom and animated series, how many cat-
eating jokes can we stand?
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 5 - Steve Wilkos Show: The Steve Wilkos Show
Run: Renewed for Season 3 (sadly)
Idea: The bouncer from Jerry Springer gets his own show.
Outcome: Dr. Phil is a buffoon who yells obvious things at dumb
people, but at least he has a doctorate. Wilkos was a marine and a cop
before becoming Springer’s bouncer. The knowledge of how to break
heads doesn’t mean you can shrink heads. While Springer laughs at his
guests, Steve screams at them on episodes with titles like “My Aunt
Made Me a Prostitute,” “Yes Sir, I Hit My Pregnant Wife” and “Heroin
Mom Lives in a Van.”
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 4 - Chevy Chase Show: The Chevy Chase Show
Run: 25 episodes
The Idea: Chevy did well on SNL's Weekend Update (16 years ago).
Outcome: The thing producers forget when casting Chevy is that he’s
not likable. His success is due to his ability to comically milk
awkwardness and his pratfalls. Neither of these skills work well on a
talk show. The first show, Chevy was so noticeably nervous that the
audience squirmed in their seats.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 3 - John McEnroe Show: McEnroe
Run: 6 months
Idea: Loudmouth tennis star will yell at guests. That’ll be funny!
Outcome: Not funny at all, but when has CNBC been known for its
humorous programming? Off the court, McEnroe is at a loss for words.
When interviewing guests, a two-year old could have hit a tennis ball
through the gaps in conversation. The show twice earned a 0.0 Nielsen
rating. After that, a new executive producer was brought in to “save
the show.” His big ideas were making McEnroe wear nicer suits and
limiting the involvement of sidekick John Fugelsang (the only funny
thing on the show).
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 2 - Lily Allen Show: Lily Allen and Friends
Run: 8 episodes
Idea: Silly pop singer Lily Allen will talk about things online
because kids love things online.
Outcome: The BBC filled the audience with Lily Allen’s online friends.
Before the end of the first taping, half of them had left due to
boredom. Her guests included new bands, some real celebrities and
internet celebrities who people voted on. Chris Crocker was a
“correspondent,” and that should tell you something. During one show,
Lily exposed her breast for three minutes. Topless shots of her online
prove that’s not a good thing.
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/top-10-ill-conceived-talk-show...
No. 1 - Magic Johnson Show: The Magic Hour
Run: 40 episodes
The Idea: Former basketball great won huge ratings when he talked
about contracting HIV on The Arsenio Hall Show, so let’s give him his
own show.
Outcome: Critics universally panned the show for Magic’s complete lack
of wit or chemistry with his guest or sidekicks. The first sidekick,
Craig Shoemaker, was pushed into the background, as if it was his
fault. Tommy Davidson didn’t do much better. The show’s only high
point was when Howard Stern showed up and asked Magic about having sex
with HIV, and why he fired “the white guy” (Craig Shoemaker).