9 Flops from 1983: The Year NBC Swung and Missed

[TMC]

In 1983, the big TV networks were desperate to find the “next big thing.” Instead, they gave us some of the strangest, most spectacular flops in TV history. From glowing neon heroes to genius orangutans and ghostly Hollywood starlets, this was the year of bold ideas… and brutal cancellations.

In this episode of Throwback Network, we’re counting down the Biggest TV Flops of 1983 — and what went wrong. We’ll revisit shows like Manimal, Mr. Smith, Automan, Wizards and Warriors, Jennifer Slept Here, The Yellow Rose, Bay City Blues, We Got It Made, and The Rousters. We’ll look at why the networks thought these series would be hits, how they were marketed, and the real reasons they crashed — from terrible time slots and gimmicky premises to tone problems and sky-high budgets.

If you remember watching any of these one-season wonders, or you’re just discovering them for the first time, this is a nostalgic deep dive into a year when TV tried everything… and almost none of it worked.

👉 If you love retro TV, forgotten flops, and classic ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s nostalgia, make sure to like the video, subscribe to Throwback Network, and ring the bell so you don’t miss future episodes.

Tell us in the comments: Did you watch any of these shows in 1983? Which flop do you think deserved a second chance?