These are shows that are either completely forgotten or that were never well known to begin with. They have to only lasted (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ShortRunners) no more than three seasons, was never even nominated for an Emmy or a Golden Globe in a major category, and aren't always on the lists of fondly remembered, gone-too-soon (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TooGoodtolast) shows.

Shows that never went to DVD are definitely getting forgotten about

DAG is my favorite one season comedy of all time that hardly anyone remembers. I even sent David Alan Grier a message a few months ago asking if it could be released on DVD, but he never responded. Grand Slam on GSN was a fantastic tournament of game show champions, their best ever original but sadly it hasn't reaired at all since its original year.

I’d like to tell you, but I’ve completely forgotten about them.

^^^:lol:

These are shows that are either completely forgotten or that were never well known to begin with. They have to only lasted (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ShortRunners) no more than three seasons, was never even nominated for an Emmy or a Golden Globe in a major category, and aren't always on the lists of fondly remembered, gone-too-soon (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TooGoodtolast) shows.

Two of a Kind

Not sure if these shows pass the final criterium in your list, but I'll list them anyway:


It's Your Move
Police Squad
Sledge Hammer
Selfie

Homefront

Freaks and Geeks

Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It ran for only two seasons. It hasn't been in syndication for years. If it had run for 5-6 seasons, it would be more remembered like Family Affair or The Brady Bunch.

Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It ran for only two seasons. It hasn't been in syndication for years. If it had run for 5-6 seasons, it would be more remembered like Family Affair or The Brady Bunch.

I remember that show. I liked it as a kid! ;)

I liked Brooklyn Bridge ! I wish that would have lasted longer ! ;)

I remember that show. I liked it as a kid! ;)

I liked Brooklyn Bridge ! I wish that would have lasted longer ! ;)

My mom has always wanted one of those Old English Sheepdogs like Ladadog (who was also in The Shaggy Dog). :)

Brooklyn Bridge was great as well. It should be on DVD.

Freaks and Geeks

I wouldn't say that "Freaks and Geeks" is completely forgotten today.

One of my favs. was "Brimstone" that aired 1998-99 on Fox (13 eps).

It starred Peter Horton as a deceased cop who the Devil (John Glover) sends back to Earth to capture 113 demons that escaped from Hell. If he succeeds he is promised to get a second chance at life. A tattoo on his body disappears with each demon he sends back.

I even sent David Alan Grier a message a few months ago asking if it could be released on DVD, but he never responded.

Cast members have nothing to do with those decisions.

I wouldn't say that "Freaks and Geeks" is completely forgotten today.

True, it found an audience when it was on Netflix.

Anybody remember Reasonable Doubts with Mark Harmon and Marilee Matlin? It ran for 2 seasons ('91-'93) on NBC. I'm still mad it got cancelled and I've always thought it was the best show Mark ever did.

I love every show with actor Bronson Pinchot in it.

God bless you and him always!!!

Holly

Anybody remember Reasonable Doubts with Mark Harmon and Marilee Matlin? It ran for 2 seasons ('91-'93) on NBC. I'm still mad it got cancelled and I've always thought it was the best show Mark ever did.

The only thing I remember about Reasonable Doubts is that it was a poster on a Seinfeld episode

257231

Herman's Head - I have even seen media reports calling the show "Howard's Head" (or similar). I remember enjoying the show while it was on, but haven't thought about it in years. The series received a terribly low 17% Tomatometer (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hermans_head/s01) on RottenTomatoes, with no audience reviews. In its third season, it was tied for 94th place (http://web.archive.org/web/20170820091824/http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/08/1993-94-ratings-history-abc-sitcoms-go.html) in the ratings. It seems completely forgotten.

The only thing I remember about Reasonable Doubts is that it was a poster on a Seinfeld episode

257231

LOL! I remember that poster on Seinfeld! Wish I had one of them! Even more, I wish the show would get a DVD release!

The Cara Williams Show 1964-65 sitcom.

Hey Landlord 1966-67 sitcom.

That's Life 1968-69 musical sitcom.

Arnie 1970-72 sitcom.

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
Delta
It Takes Two (1982-83)
The Powers That Be

Nothing Sacred

Herman's Head - I have even seen media reports calling the show "Howard's Head" (or similar). I remember enjoying the show while it was on, but haven't thought about it in years. The series received a terribly low 17% Tomatometer (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hermans_head/s01) on RottenTomatoes, with no audience reviews. In its third season, it was tied for 94th place (http://web.archive.org/web/20170820091824/http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/08/1993-94-ratings-history-abc-sitcoms-go.html) in the ratings. It seems completely forgotten.

17%?! Wow! Now I have second thoughts about liking this show and regret seeing it.

17%?! Wow! Now I have second thoughts about liking this show and regret seeing it.

I enjoyed it while it was on, but I was also a teenager at the time. I don't know how it's aged over the years.

Another forgotten show I remember from years past was How to Marry a Millionaire, which was based on the Marilyn Monroe film. This aired in the late 1950s/early 1960s, and some cable channel aired it in the 1980s, when I first saw it. Some episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, but I haven't seen it aired anywhere in a very long time.

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
Delta
It Takes Two (1982-83)
The Powers That Be

I remember Delta and The Powers That Be. TPTB was quite short-lived, despite being produced by Norman Lear and the future producers of Friends.

I didn't watch much of Delta; it mostly aired at the same time as The Simpsons during The Simpsons' classic era.

I dunno if these shows count, but...

Thunder Alley
Kirk
Titus
The Norm Show/Norm

I'd like to see these shows on DVD, but that'll happen when the Cleveland Clowns are in The Super Bowl....

I'd forgotten about The Norm Show even though I bought it on DVD years ago. Love Laurie Metcalf!

How to Marry a Millionaire was released a few years ago as well. I have both sets but the Season 2 one is MUCH better. They really made Barbara Eden the lead in Season 2 and she's fantastic in it!! Much funnier than she ever was in I Dream of Jeannie or Harper Valley PTA. In fact, Season 2 of HTMAM is probably her best work IMO.

I'd forgotten about The Norm Show even though I bought it on DVD years ago. Love Laurie Metcalf!

How to Marry a Millionaire was released a few years ago as well. I have both sets but the Season 2 one is MUCH better. They really made Barbara Eden the lead in Season 2 and she's fantastic in it!! Much funnier than she ever was in I Dream of Jeannie or Harper Valley PTA. In fact, Season 2 of HTMAM is probably her best work IMO.

I had no idea HTMAM was out on DVD! Thank you, Kasey!

You're welcome! A few years ago, I was so impressed with this show, I wrote the following review on Amazon:

I can’t say if Season 1 is better than this because I wanted to start with this cheaper volume, but I CAN say that this is the best blind-buy DVD purchase I’ve ever made (next to THE LIEUTENANT). I am glad I took other online reviews with a grain of salt, some of whom called the show mediocre, otherwise I would not have given this a chance.

This is the kind of show that would have fit in perfectly on late 1980s Nick@Nite when they were showing such programs as Make Room for Daddy, Car 54 and The Ann Sothern Show. Due to the low number of episodes they could have run it on weekends only like The Smothers Brothers Show.

It’s light and frothy and Eden is a hoot to watch. Her Jeannie role didn’t offer her the kind of comedic material she is afforded here. Jeannie was naïve and childlike, and Larry Hagman performed most of the comedy, but in Millionaire, Barbara is like a precursor to Suzanne Somers in Three’s Company, an attractive, ditzy blonde whose portrayer developed a real knack for comedy as the series progressed. And for those lamenting she’s not in a sexy harem costume, all will be forgiven when you see her cha-cha in a strapless gown and four-inch heels.

In “What’s Cooking with Loco”, the script is clever with Eden wringing the most out of every line reading. Even a simple wide-eyed “WHAT???” can bring guffaws. She exudes that special “Star Quality” from the get-go and one can see she was destined. Another farcical entry “Gwen’s Secret” has Loco mistaking a ventriloquist and his dummy for a murderous kidnapper who has trapped a little boy in a suitcase. She shows range and treads into Lucille Ball territory when she masquerades as a giddy star struck bobbysoxer in “Loco the Teenager”.

Merry Anders and Lisa Gaye provide ample support, but as the “straight” characters, they aren’t as flashy or interesting—this is Barbara’s show all the way. Picture quality is terrific for such a rare show. Fans of female-dominated 1950s sitcoms such as My Little Margie and Susie will love this! FIVE STARS.

**I have since purchased Season 1, but the scripts did not take full of advantage of Barbara's talents and I didn't care for Lori Nelson as much as her replacement Lisa Gaye.

I'd forgotten about The Norm Show even though I bought it on DVD years ago. Love Laurie Metcalf!

How to Marry a Millionaire was released a few years ago as well. I have both sets but the Season 2 one is MUCH better. They really made Barbara Eden the lead in Season 2 and she's fantastic in it!! Much funnier than she ever was in I Dream of Jeannie or Harper Valley PTA. In fact, Season 2 of HTMAM is probably her best work IMO.

“HTMAM” was one of several shows that were part of a short-lived fourth network in the late 1950s. Season 1 had 39 episodes. Season 2 only had 13.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTA_Film_Network

House Calls

THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS SHOW

THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS SHOW

Nick@Nite ran that but I didn't get cable during the time they were playing it. I would love to see some, but nobody seems to have any episodes.

Davis Rules

Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It ran for only two seasons. It hasn't been in syndication for years. If it had run for 5-6 seasons, it would be more remembered like Family Affair or The Brady Bunch.

The last time I recall seeing it was on WOR sometime in the late 80's or early 90's.

Nick@Nite ran that but I didn't get cable during the time they were playing it. I would love to see some, but nobody seems to have any episodes.
that's ok; you're not missing much.

SledgeHAMMER!
What a Country
F Troop
Police Squad(although it was parlayed into 3 of the best comedies of ALL TIME with the Naked Gun trilogy!)

I remember Sledge Hammer. It was quite funny!

Babes: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babes_(TV_series)

Woops!:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woops!

The Highwayman: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Highwayman_(TV_series)

Hard Time on Planet Earth
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Time_on_Planet_Earth

I remember Sledge Hammer. It was quite funny!

Yes, it was. It was right up there with Naked Gun. There was supposed to be a Sledghammer movie but unfortunately it never happened.

I vaguely remember Herman’s Head. No one I know seems to remember it at all. Fox had quite a few forgettable shows then. I’d love to see Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and Get a Life again. I don’t think I ever saw Drexel’s Class, even though the network promoted it heavily in the early 90s.

I wouldn’t have minded Love on a Rooftop getting another season. Bob, had they kept the first format would have been another (I didn’t even know they had a very short second season until recently!)

I vaguely remember Herman’s Head. No one I know seems to remember it at all. Fox had quite a few forgettable shows then. I’d love to see Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and Get a Life again. I don’t think I ever saw Drexel’s Class, even though the network promoted it heavily in the early 90s.


Herman's Head and Get a Life both have quite a few episodes on YouTube and there is one episode of Drexell's Class on there. I've been watching Parker Lewis Can't Lose on Crackle.

Vanishing Son starting Russell Wong, it only lasted 1 season and only had 13 episodes, it was an very entertaining show back then

I just found an episode of George (a failed 1993 George Foreman sitcom) that starts at the 1:03:31 mark right here:

https://archive.org/details/tgif-93

Friday the 13th: The Series

Frank's Place

Generations

Vanishing Son starting Russell Wong, it only lasted 1 season and only had 13 episodes, it was an very entertaining show back then

Never heard of that but it looks like Russell Wong is the first EVER Asian lead in a sitcom.

Never heard of that but it looks like Russell Wong is the first EVER Asian lead in a sitcom.

I think Pat Morita was the first Asian lead in a sitcom with 1976’s “Mr. T and Tina”.

"Andy Richter Controls the Universe" aired on FOX for two half seasons from 2002-2003, totaling 19 episodes (only 14 were broadcast). This show quickly became a favorite of mine, even landing in my top ten. I was devastated the both times it was cancelled. It eventually came to DVD (where I was able to see the five unaired episodes) but very few people seem to know of this show.

NewsRadio. The writing was sharp and the cast was electric and so talented. The show was overshadowed by the other NBC sitcoms. Sadly the show is now mainly known for the murder of one of its stars.

Style & Substance (1998) which co-starred Nancy McKeon and Jean Smart was a whip-smart series that really never got a chance to shine. Smart played a outrageous Martha Stewart like character and McKeon her straight-laced producer. Evidentially, two things doomed this show from succeeding; first Martha Stewart apparently was hugely offended by this show, assuming it was a parody or personal attack on her and secondly, the death of one of its supporting cast members (Joseph Maher).

This brings me to another series from 1998, The Simple Life starring Judith Light which had Light playing a character similar to Martha Stewart. This series didn't generate as much press as Style & Substance (which Martha apparently very much hated) but was cancelled abruptly just the same.

Both aired on CBS, and both seem to have become totally forgotten by everybody.

Sister Kate
Thea
George & Leo
Stark Raving Mad
Good Grief
Roc

Does anybody remember Rags to Riches?

Does anybody remember Rags to Riches?

I never watched it much, but I remember it.

IMDB (Series Info) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106171/

The series starred Doug E. Doug as Douglas St. Martin, a Trinidadian American teenager living in the Harlem section of New York City. He lived with his caring, hard-working parents and his younger sister. Much of the show focused on Douglas's misadventures with his best friends, Reggie (Flex) and Malcolm (Shaun Baker). The show was based on Doug E. Doug's own childhood.


3lPv6MXRfGc

Where I Live Opening Theme


MAIN CAST


Sullivan Walker as James St. Martin

Lorraine Toussaint as Marie St. Martin

Doug E. Doug as Douglas St. Martin

Yunoka Doyle as Sharon St. Martin

Flex Alexander as Reggie Coltrane

Shaun Baker as Malcolm

Jason Bose Smith as Kwanzie


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0257/3165/products/MVA59315_770x.jpeg?v=1497049634

Does anybody remember Rags to Riches?

My sister adored that show, and since this was back in the era of one TV per household and three networks, I watched along with her. The girls were likeable, the music numbers were quite well done, but the show vanished very quickly. The little one, Heidi Zeigler, was so cute. Very quickly she was snatched up by Just the Ten of Us, where she again played the much younger fifth sister.

I remember disliking the father. I guess he was too gruff.

Sister Kate
Thea
George & Leo
Stark Raving Mad
Good Grief
Roc

The only one of these I watched regularly was Sister Kate, but it was very quickly cancelled.

GEORGE & LEO

The New Adventures of Huck Finn
The Travels of Jamie McPheeters
The Girl With Something Extra
The Pruitts of Southhampton
When Things Were Rotten
The Mouse Factory
The Ugliest Girl in Town
Funny Face
My World and Welcome to It

Sister Kate
Thea
George & Leo
Stark Raving Mad
Good Grief
Roc
Thea wasn't a bad show. This is where i first discovered brandy, too.

Payne (1999 John Larroquette sitcom)

Payne (1999 John Larroquette sitcom)

That's one of my favorite shows as well.

That's one of my favorite shows as well.

I don't remember that one.

Good Grief (FOX,1990)

When Things Were Rotten. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Things_Were_Rotten

Buffalo Bill -- it did get issued on DVD but I think it's pretty well forgotten.

"Tenspeed And Brown Shoe" (1980) comes to mind. Ben Vereen (quick-witted parolee E.L. "Tenspeed" Turner) and Jeff Goldblum (accountant and aspiring Bogart-esque gumshoe Lionel Whitney) both had incredible chemistry together as the unlikely and mismatched crime-fighting duo...despite a lavish promotional campaign and fairly decent ratings, ABC ultimately canceled "Tenspeed And Brown Shoe" in the summer of '80 after fourteen episodes. Vereen reprised the role of E.L. "Tenspeed" Turner on the equally unsuccessful "J.J. Starbuck" (for its last five episodes) eight years later in 1988.

Throb! (1986)
Bless This House (1995)
Courting Alex (2006)
Pearl (1996)
Starting from Scratch (1986)
The Nutt House (1989)
Chicken Soup (1989)

The Good Guys (this show was about 10 years ago), a FOX hour long police academy starring Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks as polar opposite detective partners. Whitford played this 1970's, mustached, "ladies man" , egotistical, lovable idiot and Hanks played the more tempered straight laced partner. Took place and filmed in Dallas Texas, and the crime and criminals of the week were mostly hilarious. Hated that FOX canned it but pretty much knew it was going to happen beforehand.

Dads.(also in the 00's or maybe early 10's) A comedy on FOX about two guys about 30 running a successful video game company and for whatever reason, each of their fathers went to live with them. One father was played by Martin Mull (who played a clueless guy). The other "dad" was more of a loudmouth, know it all, manly man kind of guy.

I saw the Pilot of this show out of boredom and not expecting much, and just LAUGHED MYSELF TO TEARS for twenty minutes. God, that was funny. And the series kept up at least for me out loud laughing humor its whole run. It was tasteless and crude. Crude is a fine line to me which can be done horribly (like Married with Children) or masterfully like this show. I think for whatever reasons the critics hated it and viewers didnt see it because it was canned after one season, again, with me fully knowing beforehand.

Lastly......

BEST OF THE WEST (1981), which was the best single season show of all time. It was on ABC and it was a comedy about a man who somehow became Sheriff of a very disfunctional town ran by a silly crime boss and his sidekick (Frog, played by a talented character actor who has been in a thousand different shows). For me the comedy was absolutely top notch and as a young teenager died laughing at it every week and looked forward to the next episode. I believe unless it has been removed that Best of the West in its entirity is on YouTube. I saw it as a middle aged adult, same conclusion, died laughing at it (after not seeing it for 35 years and forgetting the episodes). Supposedly the lead actor left the show to go on a horrid show called "Silver Spoons". Ugh. Best of the West should have stayed on for at least five seasons.

The urban dramedy South Central is yet another one that got away. Airing for only ten low-rated episodes on Fox in the spring of '94, South Central was lauded by both critics and civil organizations for its bleak and uncertain--as well as unapologetic--portrayal of nineties urban life in Los Angeles. Along with Roc, In Living Color, and The Sinbad Show, Fox sacked South Central that summer due to lackluster ratings. Too bad.

REMEMBER WENN a sitcom that aired on AMC (no, I didn't mean ABC:talk:)in the 90s. It was set at a small radio station in Pittsburgh pa. in the late 30s and was about the employees. It was good; it reminded me of WKRP IN CINCINNATI but unfortunately AMC canceled it after just 2 seasons and except for a brief time on weekday afternoons about 15-20 years ago on AMC;, as far as I know noone else has ever shown it.

Throb! (1986)
Bless This House (1995)
Courting Alex (2006)
Pearl (1996)
Starting from Scratch (1986)
The Nutt House (1989)
Chicken Soup (1989)

When I first saw this thread, the FIRST show that popped into my head was Starting from Scratch! I was a teenager at the time and in LOVE with the daughter (Heidi Helmer). Heard she passed away very young. Very Sad. Anyways, I was SHOCKED to see someone else mention this show! So Cool!

New zoo revue is one I like thats forgotton I think...

Empty Nest.