Before "Friends", in what situation comedy flops did Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Perry appear? Which sitcoms were canceled after only a single episode? What sitcom bomb was described by one critic as "Will & Graceless"? Which Oscar-winning actress made her TV series debut in a comedy that lasted just four episodes? The answers to these questions and other fascinating facts are found in "Sitcom Bombs: A Guide to the Most Forgettable TV Comedies." From "A.E.S. Hudson Street" to "Zorro and Son", from comedies about a talking dog and a 1300 year-old dragon, to shows featuring a bisexual Abraham Lincoln and a gay congressman, "Sitcom Bombs" details over 140 situation comedies that disappeared from TV almost as quickly as they appeared. The book describes sitcoms that lasted for less than six episodes, who created and starred in them, and what became of the actors and creators after their shows were canceled

Read my review here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2010/08/blog-book-review-sitcom-bombs-guide-to.html

Purchase the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1451528078/ref=nosim/happydaysonline3-20

What are all your all-time favorite or least favorite sitcom bombs? How many have you seen episodes of?

I enjoyed Working Stiffs, Crumbs and Kitchen Confidential. I've probably seen episodes of around 20 of the sitcoms that are covered in the book.

Sounds like a fun read! I will definitely keep my eyes out for it. Thanks for that info!! :cool: :D

P.S. "A.E.S. Hudson Street" to "Zorro and Son"...two shows that starred a certain gentleman by the initials G.S. :eyes:

Sounds like a fun and informative book!

To answer your original question, Todd, I saw all 5 episodes of A.E.S. Hudson Street and enjoyed that show.

But to be fair, I don't think low ratings and the writing were the only factors that tanked that show. I found out something else that happened during A.E.S.' short run:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=262633

I see Common Law made the list! That makes THREE shows on the list that Gregory Sierra starred in. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Looks like they don't even mention The Ugliest Girl In Town which I believe came on during the late 60's or very early 70's. Also Chopper one and Chase along with The Nightstalker also not mentioned.

Surprised that Inside Schwartz and Emeril didn't make the cut. :crazy: :lol:

I ordered a copy of this book from Amazon.ca yesterday. Can't wait to read it!

I always thought Welcome to the Captain was a good show that should have lasted longer than it did (about 5 episodes I think).

I always thought Welcome to the Captain was a good show that should have lasted longer than it did (about 5 episodes I think).
I agree!

I hope this book isn't like the book "TV Turkeys" that had came out several years ago. "TV Turkeys was chock full of misleading info. Example the infamous ABC-TV "Turn-ON"..

*The Cleveland ABC affiliate had sent ABC a telegram telling them if they must write dirty words don't use our walls ( or something similar )..

*The Denver ABC affiliate was so upset at Turn-ON that the show was taken off the air before the end of the broadcast.

*According to a "settlement" between the sposnor and ABC, Turn-ON is locked up and it is never to be seen again.

...ah all of the above was FALSE !!

Then again ever since that bio of Wolfman Jack that turned out to be 90% false( even his closest friends admitted to it ) and despite being written by the Wolfman himself, I have to admit most books that I have read since then it does seem like they are doing their homework and checking out facts....hopefully the authors of this book had done the same.

^ I know what you mean. Hopefully, the author of this book did his homework.

I always thought Welcome to the Captain was a good show that should have lasted longer than it did (about 5 episodes I think).

i agree!

I've never even heard of Welcome to the Captain. :eek: :crazy: :lol:

I've never even heard of Welcome to the Captain. :eek: :crazy: :lol:
Welcome to the Captain ran for 5 episodes in the fall of 2008. It was about a young writer (Fran Kranz) who moved into a legendary Hollywood apartment building called The El Capitain (aka The Captain). Other residents were played by Chris Klein, Al Madrigal, Jeffrey Tambor, Joanna Garcia, and Raquel Welch.

i just recently saw episodes of up all night with patti labelle, vivicia a fox, morris chestnut and on you tube- from what i've seen i enjoyed it. it lasted 1 season.

Welcome to the Captain ran for 5 episodes in the fall of 2008. It was about a young writer (Fran Kranz) who moved into a legendary Hollywood apartment building called The El Capitain (aka The Captain). Other residents were played by Chris Klein, Al Madrigal, Jeffrey Tambor, Joanna Garcia, and Raquel Welch.
Which network aired it?

Which network aired it?
CBS

CBS
Thanks!!

one great sitcom that lasted 7 episodes is "The Simple Life" with Judith Light and Sara Rue, it aired on CBS in 1997.

Also great was 1999's "Style & Substance" with Jean Smart and Nancy McKeon. it lasted about a season.

How about the awful 1992 sitcom, Billy? One of the co-stars was a pre-Big Bang Theory, even pre-Roseanne Johnny Galecki.

one great sitcom that lasted 7 episodes is "The Simple Life" with Judith Light and Sara Rue, it aired on CBS in 1997.

Also great was 1999's "Style & Substance" with Jean Smart and Nancy McKeon. it lasted about a season.
Speaking of Judith Light, I also enjoyed her short-lived sitcom from 1993-94, Phenom. William Devane was in it, too. I think that was their first show post-Who's the Boss and post-Knots Landing.

[QUOTE=catlover79]Speaking of Judith Light, I also enjoyed her short-lived sitcom from 1993-94, Phenom. William Devane was in it, too. I think that was their first show post-Who's the Boss and post-Knots Landing.[/QUOTEi really enjoyed phenom too]

[QUOTE=catlover79]Speaking of Judith Light, I also enjoyed her short-lived sitcom from 1993-94, Phenom. William Devane was in it, too. I think that was their first show post-Who's the Boss and post-Knots Landing.[/QUOTEi really enjoyed phenom too]
I remember Carly Simon sang (and probably wrote) the theme song as well. :cool:

I ordered a copy of this book from Amazon.ca yesterday. Can't wait to read it!
Did you get the book yet, Marv?

Speaking of books with errors, I'm currently reading "Brady Brady Brady" by Sherwood and Lloyd J. Schwartz.......and already I've discovered at least 3 factual errors.........are there not editors and proof readers anymore?

I'm also doing a book review of this for Chris Mann's Retroality.tv website.

Speaking of books with errors, I'm currently reading "Brady Brady Brady" by Sherwood and Lloyd J. Schwartz.......and already I've discovered at least 3 factual errors.........are there not editors and proof readers anymore?

I'm also doing a book review of this for Chris Mann's Retroality.tv website.
I haven't read the Schwartzes' book yet, but I put a hold on it at the library. Factual errors irritate me, too. Maybe it's just the perfectionist in me, but doesn't anyone check these manuscripts with a fine tooth comb before they go to print? :mad: :mad: :mad:

Did you get the book yet, Marv?
It shipped late last week so I expect it to arrive in a day or two.

It shipped late last week so I expect it to arrive in a day or two.
Cool!! Let me know what it says about AES Hudson Street, Common Law and Zorro & Son when it comes, please. :cool:

Cool!! Let me know what it says about AES Hudson Street, Common Law and Zorro & Son when it comes, please. :cool:
I sure will!!

I sure will!!
Thanks!!!

Thanks!!!
My Pleasure!

I also ordered the book from amazon. i can't wait to read it.

Here you go Monika.

A.E.S. Hudson Street
Premiered March 23, 1978 on ABC

One of the creators of Barney Miller, Danny Arnold, along with Chris Hayward and Tony Sheehan created A.E.S. Hudson Street, which was like Barney Miller but in a hospital setting. Of course after Barney Miller, almost any workplace ensemble sitcom was likened to that series. A.E.S. Hudson Street took place in an inner city emergency ward: A.E.S. stood for Adult emergency Services.

Gregory Sierra, familiar as a detective on Barney Miller, played Dr. Tony Menzies in the series - a chief resident who had to deal with patients needing emergency care, a crazy hospital staff, and a bureaucratic hospital administrator.Some of the situations encountered in the five episodes that aired in spring 1978 were an escaped mental patient masquerading as a doctor who performed so well he was almost hiredby the hospital, a black doctor treating a bigoted South African, and news that the hospital might close due to budget cuts.

The pilot episode of A.E.S. Hudson Street with F. Murray Abraham as Dr. Menzies aired in 1977, almost a year before the series debut. F. Murray Abraham would go on to win an Oscar for best actor for his role in the movie Amadeus.

A.E.S. Hudson Street followed Barney Miller on Thursdays at 9:30 PM but failed to attract an audience and so disappeared quickly.

Common Law
Premiered September 28, 1996 on ABC

As the title implies, Common Law was a comedy about co-habitating attornys. John Alvarez, played by stand-up comedian Greg Giraldo, was a Harvard-educated Hispanic lawyer hired by a conservative New York law firm who fell in love with Nancy (Megyn Price), another attorney at the firm. They moved in together but had to keep it a secret because the law firm frowned on interoffice romances.

In the premiere episode, John and Nancy were given a career-making case, with Nancy wanting to work on the case all the time and John wanting to take time to bail an old friend out of jail. Other storylines had the couple trying to impress each others parents. John's father was portrayed by Gregory Sierra, who had previously appeared on two sitcom flops, A.E.S. Hudson Street and Zorro And Son.

Based loosely on Greg Giraldo's own brief career as a Harvard-trained lawyer, Common Law was developed into a sitcom by Rob LaZebnik. LaZebnik went on to produce the sitcoms Less Than Perfect and The Simpsons. Greg Giraldo resumed his stand-up career after Common Law, appearing on Comedy Central stand-up specials as well as on Conan O'Brien and David Letterman. Megyn Price became a regular on several series: Lateline, Grounded For Life, and more recently, Rules Of Engagement.

Zorro And Son
Premiered April 6, 1983, on CBS

The concept of Zorro and Son was that Don Diego (Zorro) was growing older and no longer capable of fighting injustice against the Spanish troops in old California. And so his faithful manservant, Bernardo, sent to Spain for Don Diego's son, Don Carlos.

Eric Cohen, who had helped to develop the sitcom Gun Shy, also developed Zorro and Son. He would later write episodes of the HBO comedy 1st and Ten and the sitcom Amen. Considered for the role of the elder Zorro was Guy Williams, the star of Walt Disney's original Zorro series, but apparently he turned it down because he did not like the fact that the new series would be a comedy. The actor Henry Darrow was then cast as the elder Zorro. Darrow had previously voiced the Zorro character on the 1981 animated series The Adventures of Zorro, and after the demise of Zorro and Son, he would go on to portray Don Alejandro de la Vega (the original Zorro's father) in the Family Channel Zorro series that premiered in January 1990.

Bill Dana, who had created the Jose Jimenez character and had starred in his own sitcom in the 1960's, played the senior Zorro's servant. He would later portray Uncle Angelo on The Golden Girls.

Paul Regina was featured as Zorro's son on the series. Much to Zorro Sr.'s chagrin, Zorro Jr. preferred to use guns and other more modern weapons against Spanish troops instead of the sword his father had used. Paul Regina later starred on the Showtime comedy Brothers as well as the syndicated remake of The Untouchables in 1993.

The commander of the Spanish troops and Zorro and his son's primary antagonist on each episode was Commandante Paco Pico (Gregory Sierra, who had starred in the short lived A.E.S. Hudson Street). Sierra went on to play the father on another sitcom flop in the 1990's, Common Law.

Thanks, Marv! Were there any pictures of those three shows in the book?

Thanks, Marv! Were there any pictures of those three shows in the book?
You're Welcome! Sorry there are no pictures in the book. That was the first thing I checked when the book arrived. I knew you would ask! :D

You're Welcome! Sorry there are no pictures in the book. That was the first thing I checked when the book arrived. I knew you would ask! :D
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Yeah, I've seen or own copies of quite a few of the shows on the list. My favorite bad TV shows on that list are Scorch, Checking In, and Nearly Departed.

The only one of the shows on the list I ever watched was A.E.S. Hudson Street and I thought it was decent. The acting and writing was good, but something tragic happened behind the scenes that make me think that low ratings isn't the only reason the show ended after only 5 episodes:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=262633

would you believe that in 94/95 i actully picked daddys girls do do better than friends in the ratings:eek: shows you what i know

Most spring tryout shows last for only 4 to 6 episodes. Few of them are ever picked up for a fall run. They have to really do extremely well to be considered. Some do, such as The Wonder Years but most do not. I wouldn't put these into the bomb category.

would you believe that in 94/95 i actully picked daddys girls do do better than friends in the ratings:eek: shows you what i know

I remember that show. Dudley Moore, right?

I remember that show. Dudley Moore, right?
Yes! Dudley Moore played a single father with three daughters. The daughters were played by Stacy Galina, Meredith Scott Lynn, and Keri Russell.

Thanks - I knew Keri Russell was in it but was unfamiliar with the rest of the cast.

I saw "Aliens in the Family" and yes, that WAS a stupid TGIF Show. "Mr. Cooper" was a better show than that!

^ I don't even remember that show. Sounds like I didn't miss much!!

^ I don't even remember that show. Sounds like I didn't miss much!!

Nope...you didn't.

...was essentially a "live-action cartoon", featuring life-sized "Muppets" interacting with "real" actors. It belonged on ABC's Saturday morning schedule, not 9pm(et) on Fridays...and that's exactly where it ended up in the summer of '96, to "burn off" its remaining episodes. Today, a series like that would be perfectly comfortable in prime-time on, say, "The Disney Channel".

:tv:

...that was CBS' answer to "ROSEANNE", starring Nell Carter....it just wasn't as funny. Six episodes were taped (including a Christmas episode, on its second week!), but only five were shown. Bill Irvin, the author of "Sitcom Bombs", doesn't know why, but I remember why: On January 19, 1991, CBS pre-empted most of its Saturday night schedule for live coverage of the second day of the Gulf War...and "YOU TAKE THE KIDS" happend to be scheduled on Saturdays at 8pm(et), and the final episode was supposed to appear that very evening. There was no reason for the network to ever reschedule the final episode because of the terrible ratings the series earned, and the Gulf War virtually finished it off.

:tv:

...was essentially a "live-action cartoon", featuring life-sized "Muppets" interacting with "real" actors. It belonged on ABC's Saturday morning schedule, not 9pm(et) on Fridays...and that's exactly where it ended up in the summer of '96, to "burn off" its remaining episodes. Today, a series like that would be perfectly comfortable in prime-time on, say, "The Disney Channel".

:tv:

Thanks for the info - I'd never even heard of it!! But like I said before, sounds like I didn't miss much. :lol:

The only one of the shows on the list I ever watched was A.E.S. Hudson Street and I thought it was decent. The acting and writing was good, but something tragic happened behind the scenes that make me think that low ratings isn't the only reason the show ended after only 5 episodes:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=262633

Gee, I wonder why you chose to watch A.E.S. Hudson Street, Monika?

Hmmmm.....?

...virtually all of the episodes are posted on YouTube.

:tv:

There were a bunch of good sitcom bombs. My favorites include:

Clerks
Free Agents U.S.
Life on a Stick
Lost at Home
The O'Keefes
On the Air
On the Spot
Welcome to The Captain

There are a whole bunch of others that I would like to see. One of these is Danny, a short lived series on CBS starring Daniel Stern. If anyone has it, please let me know.

I'm still dying to find "Women in Prison." Since Julia Campbell's guest appearances on "Austin & Ally," I've been dying to show some of the usual Disney Channel fans her old work, and I don't mean her role in "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion."

^ Wasn't CCH Pounder on that show?

^ Wasn't CCH Pounder on that show?
She was. She played Dawn Murphy, the token black woman of the series who killed her apparently abusive husband.

I'm still dying to find "Women in Prison." Since Julia Campbell's guest appearances on "Austin & Ally," I've been dying to show some of the usual Disney Channel fans her old work, and I don't mean her role in "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion."
i LOVED that show - it also had Wendy Jo Sperber on it

i LOVED that show - it also had Wendy Jo Sperber on it
That's before I had a Fox station.

Did this book ever come out? I’m not seeing it in any used book sites.

Did this book ever come out? I’m not seeing it in any used book sites.

It was definitely released in 2010. It was self-published by the author. I still have my copy.

There are a few reviews for it on Amazon.

It was definitely released in 2010. It was self-published by the author. I still have my copy.

There are a few reviews for it on Amazon.

You definitely have a collector's item. It's nowhere on the back market.

Reviews seem to be mixed. You seem to like it more then others. Hell, it made Pete angry. Although he did give it 2 stars instead of none.

pete5125
2.0 out of 5 stars Book makes me angry
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2010
Verified Purchase
Sitcom Bombs: A Guide to the Most Forgettable TV Comedies...is a book as it says, sitcom bombs, these are shows that make it on the air but air less than 6 episodes, sounded like a cool book, but it seems that writer Rick Irvin took on more than could be covered in the time span he chooses, which is over the last 60 years or so, the problem with the book is not the amount of shows that he choose to cover but the fact that each show is covered in 2 pages or less, he even has an appendix that list the shows by network(this is legitly handy) but not the year or page number to go back and review them, the shows that he covers gives the briefest of histories for the show, what its competition was and a where are we now for the actors, it does not give an episode guide or interviews with members of the show, just the shortest of synopsis....I guess I expected more than I got, every time I pick up the book I feel cheated by the lack of information I receive on each TV series, I was also expecting a witty review as why this high concept show was such a colloso bomb, but I did not receive that either....Cool Title, great idea, poorly executed.

Did this book ever come out? I’m not seeing it in any used book sites.
"Sitcom Bombs" was published briefly over 10 years ago. However, when a more comprehensive book about short-lived comedies - "Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw" was published in 2012, "Sitcom Bombs" ceased publication.
"Forgotten Laughs" can be purchased through Amazon.

Here's the Amazon link.

Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw (https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Laughs-Episode-Sitcoms-Probably/dp/1593932251?crid=11P23BYH2U5UV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pTB8qD67dq9xAPI7BmY1THcvj0zIbnv9QxWz-LCbWNVOSDUAka1cwIYRhG0vOA7cltTIosCULNDvOloMZgnlOBix4kPRQas4OHj7IN10SXcV4XzvtoVTaJIfxVxabWIGsjqeDWnbbXn-eAInNdEjL0mg8_vVMMajmUjaadwTdHISmhcomQUe0k4LhsNhWBhtOR7y56896dVs0p6V_Z63bc3aTXdbijSQbO3yFOrEPy7dS8JfRssPb2EUZrJ9__7Z.lZf86krQb9i6FTGnJIzU8m9zF7ovCVgwibhB9yE-3P8&dib_tag=se&keywords=forgotten+laughs+an+episode+guide&qid=1737219647&s=books&sprefix=forgotten+laughs+an+episode+guide%2Cstripbooks%2C89&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=happydaysonline3-20&linkId=55d5a3fb7423715caea90163d534482a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)

Forgotten Laughs book recommendation (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=310388)

Ever wonder what the unaired episodes of situation comedies that disappeared quickly from the air were about? Curious about those comedy series such as Rewind, The Grubbs, and The Ortegas that the Fox network announced for its fall schedule but that never premiered? Did you know that stars like Bradley Cooper, Michelle Williams, and Brad Pitt made some of their earliest appearances on short-lived sitcoms?

Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw contains answers to these questions as well as others about quickly-canceled, never-aired, and short-run situation comedies. Published for the first time are episode descriptions for these forgotten shows. This reference book contains the most complete descriptions of sitcoms such as the quickly-canceled Doc Corkle, Co-Ed Fever, and Black Tie Affair, the never-aired Misconceptions, The Singles Table, and Snip, as well as short-run comedies like Fathers and Sons and Free Country and over 140 more. Most episode descriptions were culled from the archives of the Library of Congress, the Paley Center, and the UCLA TV script collection. In addition, Forgotten Laughs also includes insights from many producers, directors, and writers who worked on these little-known shows.

We also reviewed Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series (http://www.amazon.com/Spinning-Laughter-Profiles-Proposed-Spin-offs/dp/1593931980/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1459089667&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=happydaysonline5-20&linkId=f87db4300a576595ed9f861eb3f4f8d5).

SitcomsOnline Book Club Review - Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series (https://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2016/03/sitcomsonline-book-club-review-spinning.html)

We also reviewed Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series (http://www.amazon.com/Spinning-Laughter-Profiles-Proposed-Spin-offs/dp/1593931980/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1459089667&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=happydaysonline5-20&linkId=f87db4300a576595ed9f861eb3f4f8d5).

SitcomsOnline Book Club Review - Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series (https://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2016/03/sitcomsonline-book-club-review-spinning.html)

This one I actually have.