Name a series that you thought would succeed but became a big flop --- and vice versa

[Sal]

This week, about 4 months late, the new fall TV season should be ready to start. CBS will wait until February to start their lineup once the Super Bowl ends (Go Cowboys!). NBC will begin their new shows tonight starting with Season 2 of "Night Court" followed by a new sitcom called "Extended Family" starring sitcom veterans Jon Cryer ("Two And A Half Men") and Donald Faison ("Scrubs"). If the two funny and charming leads can develop a strong chemistry together like they did with their previous co-stars, then this show could be one of the few hits of what promises to be a very bad season for all networks.

Then again, it could also fail very badly. I've been wrong when it comes to predictions like this in the past. We all have. I've seen many new series that I was sure were going to be big hits only to see them barely last a season and others that I was sure were going to be cancelled right away only to get renewed for many more seasons. In my defense, I made these decisions after seeing only a few episodes. Sometimes, you can't tell right away and you need to see more episodes before you can tell how good or bad a show will become. Here are a few examples from the past where I thought I went wrong and why:

FAILURES THAT I THOUGHT WOULD SUCCEED

When Things Were Rotten - Mel Brooks spoofs Robin Hood. What's not to like? Plenty for the viewers and it was cancelled quickly. I loved it. The viewers were wrong.

Galavant - Another Robin Hood type of comedy which I loved that I think was victimized by ABC constantly moving it around the schedule.

The Crazy Ones - Robin Williams returned to TV for a short but sad stint. I'm still very surprised by this one.

Angie - Lasted only 2 years, should have been longer.

Flo - My favorite character on "Alice", not so beloved on her own show if you go by the ratings.



HIT SHOWS THAT I THOUGHT WOULD FAIL

Modern Family - Shelley Long was a guest star in the third episode. That's normally a good sign that a show has jumped the shark, but this early? That surely spelled disaster for me but this show just kept going for a long time.

Black-Ish - Dumb title. Dumb idea. This can't be that good of a show, but it was and it also kept going for a long time.

The Neighborhood - An incredibly stupid show where I can't see why it's still on the air. Also applies to Bob Loves Abishola. Further proof that Chuck Lorre can do no wrong.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by Sal

This week, about 4 months late, the new fall TV season should be ready to start. CBS will wait until February to start their lineup once the Super Bowl ends (Go Cowboys!). NBC will begin their new shows tonight starting with Season 2 of "Night Court" followed by a new sitcom called "Extended Family" starring sitcom veterans Jon Cryer ("Two And A Half Men") and Donald Faison ("Scrubs"). If the two funny and charming leads can develop a strong chemistry together like they did with their previous co-stars, then this show could be one of the few hits of what promises to be a very bad season for all networks.

Then again, it could also fail very badly. I've been wrong when it comes to predictions like this in the past. We all have. I've seen many new series that I was sure were going to be big hits only to see them barely last a season and others that I was sure were going to be cancelled right away only to get renewed for many more seasons. In my defense, I made these decisions after seeing only a few episodes. Sometimes, you can't tell right away and you need to see more episodes before you can tell how good or bad a show will become. Here are a few examples from the past where I thought I went wrong and why:

FAILURES THAT I THOUGHT WOULD SUCCEED

Galavant - Another Robin Hood type of comedy which I loved that I think was victimized by ABC constantly moving it around the schedule.

Galavant was not moved. It remained Sundays at 8:00 and 8:30 for season 2 as a bridge show between Once Upon a Time arcs.

[icecream]

When Things Were Rotten was one of Little House on the Prairie's many victims. Strange fact, though- that season Little House itself was ranked a lot lower below the top 30 in between strong seasons of #13 and a tie for #15. Too bad, When Things Were Rotten sounds interesting but one and done and long before my time.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

Thought would succeed: Bob
Thought would fail: Frasier

[Sal]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Thought would succeed: Bob
Thought would fail: Frasier

I actually liked "The Tortellis" better than "Frasier". Another one I missed on. Also "Arrested Development". I thought it was awful.

[biffbronson]

I remember watching Bob in primetime, but I think I was working 2nd shift back then and could only watch if I was off that day -- and I don't recall its cancellation.

My family never missed Little House back in the '70s so I never saw When Things Were Rotten. Misty Rowe at the apex of her beauty...!

[icecream]

I thought Brothers and Sisters would be an instant flop like the similar named generic sounding Sons and Daughters was earlier that year, both on ABC. While Brothers and Sisters was never a big hit, it did well enough to last five seasons.

[DJM77]

Failures That I Thought Would Succeed

Grand (1990)
I remember telling my parents that it would be around for a long while. I don't know why I thought that.

Dark Angel (2000-2002)
Maybe I was wrong, but I got the impression that it was pretty popular for the short amount of time that it ran. I remember expressing my shock on this site when it got cancelled.

Hits That I Accurately Predicted Would Be Hits

I know that this might not be exactly what Sal had in mind for this thread, but I'll include them.

Family Matters (1989-1998)
I predicted that this would be a hit during the same conversation that I predicted that Grand would be a hit. I don't remember if this was before or after Jaleel White joined the cast.

Frasier (1993-2004)
I was 15 when this premiered. I remember being on the phone with my friend who laughed about the character getting a spinoff and saying that the show wouldn't last. I told him that I thought it would.

Failure That I Predicted Would Be A Failure

Pepper Dennis (2006)
I remember seeing a preview and thinking to myself that the show would flop.

[TJ]

Back to You - I thought it would be a big hit. It had two big name stars with Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton and a good supporting cast. It was very popular on here. 'Til Death was renewed, but Back to You was cancelled. It might have worked better on CBS.

Out of Practice - It had a great cast, including Ty Burrell who was later on Back to You. It had decent ratings and finished in the top 30.

Mulaney - I thought it could be the next Seinfeld. I badly whiffed on that call.

How I Met Your Mother and Rules of Engagement - I liked the shows, but I'm surprised they had such long runs. How I Met Your Mother didn't really become more popular until the fourth season. Rules of Engagement normally aired as a mid-season replacement.

[Charles Knox]

I thought 2 Broke Girls wouldn't last a full season.