TV's Biggest Flops (MSN)

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Armed & Famous"
Then perhaps a reality show with D-level celebrities playing cops in a small Indiana town would be enough high-concept for you. At least, that was the thinking at CBS for 16 days this year. "Famous" had LaToya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Trish Stratus, "Wee-Man" from "Jackass" and Erik Estrada (in the most inspired choice) moving to Muncie, Ind., to become police officers (while simultaneously arresting perps and signing autographs for them). Amazingly, no one wanted to watch this.

It was a quick cancellation, I never got to the show. It looked interesting.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by MikeL

just asking what does msn have to do with shows not lasting lol

Huh?

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

They got that game show mixed-up with the Groucho Marx classic. The Jackie Gleason flop was actually titled You're In the Picture.

You are absolutely right. Good pick up.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

They got that game show mixed-up with the Groucho Marx classic. The Jackie Gleason flop was actually titled You're In the Picture.

I was wondering the same thing.

[Sal]

I remember "Melba". After a couple of episodes she was toast!


Here's a few others I've thought of that were so bad, their failure still stings today:


Pink Lady & Jeff --- A 1970s ripoff of "Donny & Marie" with a female host who barely spoke English, except for maybe "Help us, please!"

Supertrain --- "The Love Boat" on land. A complete train wreck in every way imaginable.

Emeril --- BAM! This show was terrible, and mercifully short.

McLean's Mistakes: "In The Beginning", "Condo", "Hello, Larry", all starring McLean Stevenson after he left MASH. What was he thinking??? At least you can't blame him for "AfterMASH".

The Tortellis --- Speaking of spinoffs, this one lasted about 10 years less than "Frasier".

Turn On --- A variety show made to resemble "Laugh-In" starring Tim Conway that lasted only 10 minutes (that's right, 10 minutes) because of its questionable R-rated content.


Before They Were Friends: Before "Friends" became a huge hit, its stars had to suffer through stuff like "Vinnie and Bobby" (Matt LeBlanc), "Muddling Through" (Jennifer Aniston), and "Misfits Of Science" (Courtney Cox). Oh, the sacrifices you have to make on the way up!

Naturally, no discussion of sitcom flops would be complete without mentioning the most notorious case of all time: "My Mother The Car". More than 40 years after its premiere, you have to ask yourself: Is this the worst sitcom of all time or just the victim of a bad rep? Poor Jerry Van Dyke (who is really a very funny actor) turned down co-starring roles in both "Gilligan's Island" (as Gilligan) and "The Andy Griffith Show", in which he would have been the new deputy, to appear in this new show. He was hoping that it would be a hit, despite its ridiculous premise, so that he would be proven right about turning down two of the most coveted jobs in TV history, and, at the same time, he could finally emerge from his big brother's shadow. That wouldn't happen until 20 years later when he played Luther so brilliantly on "Coach". Until then, he would always be reminded of "Mother"'s failure and he would be left to wonder what might have been. At least when "Coach" came along, he could finally relax and receive praise for his work instead of scorn. It couldn't have happened to a nicer or more deserving person.

[catlover79]

"Melba" was toast, ha ha, very funny.

I did see the DVD set of Pink Lady & Jeff. I borrowed it from my then-boss, who also hosted a pop culture radio show on the side. It was indeed a miserable failure. Everything said about it is true. Sal, make that TWO women who couldn't speak English!!

Pre-Friends, Jennifer Aniston was also in a TV version of Ferris Bueller, which naturally sank without a trace.

There was also the horrible My Big Fat Greek Life - which was spun off from a truly warm and funny movie.

I think my brother-in-law was the only one who watched Inside Schwartz - at least he was the only one who liked it. I never saw it so I can't comment.

Another show I'd like to see that I heard was horrible is Manimal. Anyone here ever seen that one??

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Sal

Pink Lady & Jeff --- A 1970s ripoff of "Donny & Marie" with a female host who barely spoke English, except for maybe "Help us, please!"

This was an 80's series, not 70's and it wasn't a ripoff of Donny and Marie. It starred the duo of Keiko Masuda (Kei) & Mitsuyo Nemoto (Mei) along with Jeff Altman. They were just coming off their one hit wonder (Kiss In the Dark) and how they ever managed to get their own series is beyond me but they did have some great guest stars including, Sherman Hemsley, Debbie Harry, Sid Caesar, Donny Osmond, Teddy Pendergrass, Larry Hagman, Lorne Greene, Florence Henderson, Red Buttons, Alice Cooper and Jerry Lewis.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

You are absolutely right. Good pick up.

Thanks, Brian.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

This was an 80's series, not 70's and it wasn't a ripoff of Donny and Marie. It starred the duo of Keiko Masuda (Kei) & Mitsuyo Nemoto (Mei) along with Jeff Altman. They were just coming off their one hit wonder (Kiss In the Dark) and how they ever managed to get their own series is beyond me but they did have some great guest stars including, Sherman Hemsley, Debbie Harry, Sid Caesar, Donny Osmond, Teddy Pendergrass, Larry Hagman, Lorne Greene, Florence Henderson, Red Buttons, Alice Cooper and Jerry Lewis.

I used to watch that show. I was shocked to learn the girls didn't speak a word of English. That show had great guests.

Didn't Pink Lady have a show in their own country?

[bencasey]

Other 1-episode bombs:

Co-Ed Fever with a pre-implant Heather Thomas

South of Sunset with Glenn Frey

Public Morals (I think that's what it was called)


And then of course there have been shows so bad that they were cancelled before they even aired like Manchester Prep, Rewind with Scott Baio, Commando Nanny and a few others. Snip, which also never aired, was actually quite funny. I saw them at the Museum of Broadcasting. That was cancelled because NBC was chicken****, not because the show wasn't any good. As a matter of fact, I'm sure it would have been a hit.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by bencasey

Other 1-episode bombs:

South of Sunset with Glenn Frey

I remember this one all too well, This was hyped to death during the 93 World Series & I've often wondered if the promo overkill had something to do with it's low rating and immediate cancellation. Also, Didn't USA or some other cable channel air the remaining episodes?

[comedyfreak]

Life With Lucy only lasted 2 months and was cancelled by ABC.
13 Queens BLVD, starring Eileen Brennan only lasted a month or so before being cancelled by CBS.

[bencasey]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I remember this one all too well, This was hyped to death during the 93 World Series & I've often wondered if the promo overkill had something to do with it's low rating and immediate cancellation. Also, Didn't USA or some other cable channel air the remaining episodes?

I think either MTV or VH1 ran out the rest of the episodes.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Life With Lucy only lasted 2 months and was cancelled by ABC.

That show was so embarressingly forced. The supporting cast was awful as well. That lady that played her daughter...over-actress of the year, 1986.

[88survivor]

There was another early 80s show that Scott Baio hosted called "We're Moving" It lasted from 1981-83, I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f8ReGbA9-k