TV shows with bad titles - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-30-2016, 03:17 AM

Have there ever been any TV shows that have really bad names, no matter how the quality of them is? Cougar Town is probably the most obvious (at least among recent years) example of this sort of thing.

Also, any show based on the main issue (e.g. Prison Break, Burn Notice, Under the Dome, Veep, New Girl, etc.) feels like this because unless the show only has a single season run or you can sustain that main issue over several seasons, the show ends up having nothing to do with the title.

bgva · 05-30-2016, 01:13 PM

I grit my teeth at any TV show (or movie) that's simply called "The ___", i.e. "The View", "The Talk", "The Real". It's pretty lazy and cliche, IMO, but I guess it's easier to follow with there being so many TV shows out now.

JSP · 05-30-2016, 03:07 PM

I thought "Nurse" was a pretty lousy title for a show back in 1981-82 that had Robert Reed (Mike Brady) co-starring in it. Just too simple and basic. It's like, ok, she's a nurse, but what makes her better than any other nurse? Why should we care about THIS nurse? I guess the television audience back then couldn't figure out the answer either, which was why the show was short-lived.

Zoneboy · 05-30-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I guess the television audience back then couldn't figure out the answer either, which was why the show was short-lived.

The title of the show was based on the 1979 book by Peggy Anderson so that had nothing to do with it. More likely it was short-lived because it was scheduled against The Fall Guy on ABC & The Facts of Life & Love, Sidney on NBC during on Wednesday nights. When moved to Thursday, it was pitted against Barney Miller & Taxi on ABC & Diff'rent Strokes & Gimme a Break on NBC.

Nurse

1981-82 TV Schedule

JSP · 05-30-2016, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

The title of the show was based on the 1979 book by Peggy Anderson so that had nothing to do with it. More likely it was short-lived because it was scheduled against The Fall Guy on ABC & The Facts of Life & Love, Sidney on NBC during on Wednesday nights. When moved to Thursday, it was pitted against Barney Miller & Taxi on ABC & Diff'rent Strokes & Gimme a Break on NBC.

Nurse

1981-82 TV Schedule

That was some tough competition they had to go up against, but I still think it's a bad title, either for a book, movie, or TV show.

05-30-2016, 03:17 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,532	TV shows with bad titles Have there ever been any TV shows that have really bad names, no matter how the quality of them is? Cougar Town is probably the most obvious (at least among recent years) example of this sort of thing. Also, any show based on the main issue (e.g. Prison Break, Burn Notice, Under the Dome, Veep, New Girl, etc.) feels like this because unless the show only has a single season run or you can sustain that main issue over several seasons, the show ends up having nothing to do with the title.

05-30-2016, 03:07 PM	#3
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	I thought "Nurse" was a pretty lousy title for a show back in 1981-82 that had Robert Reed (Mike Brady) co-starring in it. Just too simple and basic. It's like, ok, she's a nurse, but what makes her better than any other nurse? Why should we care about THIS nurse? I guess the television audience back then couldn't figure out the answer either, which was why the show was short-lived.
	Last edited by JSP; 05-30-2016 at 04:42 PM.

05-30-2016, 01:13 PM	#2
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	I grit my teeth at any TV show (or movie) that's simply called "The ___", i.e. "The View", "The Talk", "The Real". It's pretty lazy and cliche, IMO, but I guess it's easier to follow with there being so many TV shows out now.