Short-Lived TV Shows: Hits, Misses, or Something In-Between? (1987-88)

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The 1987-88 television season was a battleground for ambitious shows trying to find their place. From cult classics to forgotten experiments, many promising series launched with high hopes—only to disappear just as fast. Through TV promos, intros, scheduling details, and Nielsen ratings, this video explores the short-lived shows that couldn’t withstand the network shake-ups.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:07 Supercarrier
• 03:18 Dolly
• 04:48 Buck James
• 06:47 Frank's Place
• 08:03 Blue Skies
• 09:38 Eisenhower & Lutz
• 11:47 Trial and Error
• 13:20 J.J. Starbuck
• 14:49 The Law and Harry McGraw
• 16:36 The Oldest Rookie
• 18:10 Aaron's Way
• 20:29 A Year in the Life
• 22:30 The Slap Maxwell Story
• 24:20 Just in Time
• 26:23 Probe
• 28:00 Hothouse
• 30:18 The Highwayman
• 32:44 I Married Dora
• 34:19 The Thorns
• 35:54 Pursuit of Happiness
• 37:30 Family Man
• 38:55 Beverly Hill Buntz
• 40:52 Private Eye
• 42:35 Once a Hero
• 44:19 Sable
• 45:54 High Mountain Rangers
• 48:22 Family Double Dare
• 49:54 Everything's Relative
• 51:39 The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
• 53:51 Women in Prison
• 55:36 Werewolf
• 56:55 Leg Work
• 58:31 Second Chance
• 1:00:22 Boys Will Be Boys
• 1:02:11 The Dirty Dozen
• 1:04:07 Mama's Boy
• 1:05:22 Marblehead Manor
• 1:07:13 New Monkees
• 1:08:50 You Can't Take it With You
• 1:11:11 The Dom DeLuise Show
• 1:12:30 Bustin' Loose

🕵️ Cult Favorite Spotlight: Werewolf – This supernatural thriller captured loyal fans but never got the second season it deserved. Despite its unique take on horror, shifting schedules and limited promotion sealed its fate.

💣 Syndicated Bomb: New Monkees – An ambitious attempt to modernize The Monkees for a new generation… but lightning didn’t strike twice. With a new cast and an updated style, the syndicated series quickly fizzled out, leaving behind little more than curiosity and confusion.

Were these cancellations unfair, or were they doomed from the start? You decide as we take a deep dive into the lost TV gems of 1987-88.