# Shows that have one WTF? Episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [April 10, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754 "2021-04-10T15:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/222 "2021-05-10T16:57:55Z")
Speaking of “Happy Days”, I recently caught the end of an episode featuring Dr. Joyce Brothers. She walks in and the whole thing turns into a silly whodunit with Dr. Brothers acting as detective. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/223 "2021-05-10T17:00:48Z")
Or a cheesy take on “It’s A wonderful Life” where one character wishes he was never born but finds everyone is better that he is alive. Except for the Beavis & Butthead version where everyone would be better off if both Beavis and Butthead were never born but they are too dumb to realize any lesson from their experience. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/224 "2021-05-10T19:14:38Z")
> [@solost](#): > > A corollary to this is the sitcoms that did a cheesy take on “A Christmas Carol”. Those episodes were always stupid and unimaginative-- I hated them as a kid. They were second only to clip shows in their disappointment. It’s not an episode of a regular show, but I have to suggest that the **Blackadder Christmas Carol** is a wonderful subversion of both A Christmas Carol and all the treacly Christmas Carol-like episodes from TV shows. It’s sort of the anti-Christmas Carol. > **[Blackadder's Christmas Carol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackadder%27s_Christmas_Carol)** > > Blackadder's Christmas Carol, a one-off episode of Blackadder, is a parody of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. It is set between Blackadder the Third (1987) and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), and is narrated by Hugh Laurie. Produced by the BBC, it was first broadcast on BBC1 on 23 December 1988. > Ebenezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), the Victorian proprietor of a "moustache shop", is the nicest man in England. He is everything that Ebenezer Scrooge was by the end of the original... ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/225 "2021-05-10T19:58:15Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Or a cheesy take on “It’s A wonderful Life” where one character wishes he was never born but finds everyone is better that he is alive. _A Bit of Fry & Laurie_ did a terrific one of these, with Hugh Laurie as Rupert Murdoch. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/226 "2021-05-10T20:18:16Z")
So did **Married…with Children**. Except Al discovers that his family is rich, successful and happy without him, so he vows to live if only for the sake of seeing them miserable. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/227 "2021-05-10T20:27:01Z")
In general, _A Christmas Carol_ knockoffs are awful, but _Quantum Leap_ and _Doctor Who_ did pretty good ones. The same for _It’s a Wonderful Life_ – usually awful, but _Married with Children_ managed with with Sam Kinison as the Angel. It showed everyone better off if Al hadn’t been born. ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/228 "2021-05-11T13:02:33Z")
One episode of The Middle was a very thinly veiled VW commercial; besides that it was a pleasant sitcom. That was odd. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/229 "2021-05-12T01:04:44Z")
That reminds of a WTF moment more than an episode: Not just product placement but a commercial for Subway in an episode of Hawaii 5-0 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oQYwFND7rHE/maxresdefault.jpg "Hawaii 5-0 Subway Product Placement") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYwFND7rHE) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/230 "2021-05-12T01:15:26Z")
I’ve been seeing more and more of this sort of product placement lately. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/231 "2021-05-12T01:25:46Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Not just product placement but a commercial for Subway in an episode of Hawaii 5-0 Given the number of younger people who just skip commercials at every opportunity I expect to see more product placements of this kind in the future. A few years back there was an awful Chex Mix (I think) ad in one of the soap operas that people were poking fun at. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/232 "2021-05-12T17:07:01Z")
The old **Lost In Space** was basically one long WTF episode, but most people seem to agree, [“The Great Vegetable Rebellion,”](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636227/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) was the _ne plus ultra_ of LiS WTF. Mark Goddard, June Lockhart and Guy Williams could not stop laughing at the carrot man (Stanley Adams, God love him) and Major West had to turn away from the camera several times. “Moisture! I need moisture!” ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/233 "2021-05-12T17:24:20Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Not just product placement but a commercial for Subway in an episode of Hawaii 5-0 _Cougar Town_ had a similar Subway scene, although this also included the character Abed from _Community_ as the world’s worst background extra: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N3EIeUypd24/maxresdefault.jpg "Abed's Cougar Town Appearance") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3EIeUypd24) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/234 "2021-05-12T17:26:08Z")
Stanley Adams! Cyrano Jones the Tribble hawker, and many other roles (he was on the Andy Griffith show as Otis’ brother). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/235 "2021-05-12T21:36:22Z")
Abed is drinking from a Starbucks cup. Is this a product placement within a product placement within an episode? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/236 "2021-05-12T22:07:49Z")
I just finished watching the “Whacking Day!” episode of _ **The Simpsons** _. Either the writers were stoned, or I was. I can’t be sure. > **[Whacking Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whacking_Day)** > > "Whacking Day" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 29, 1993. The episode revolves around the fictional holiday "Whacking Day", celebrated annually, in which the citizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, then fatally club them. After Bart is expelled from school when he injures Superintendent Chalmers, he applies the knowledge he gains from Mar [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ef10KbypviU/hqdefault.jpg "Whacking Day") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef10KbypviU) The best line came from Miss Springfield: “Gentlemen, start your whacking!” 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/237 "2021-05-13T09:17:09Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > The old **Lost In Space** was basically one long WTF episode, but most people seem to agree, [“The Great Vegetable Rebellion,](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636227/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) Haha thanks for that. [This photo](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636227/mediaviewer/rm3857301760/?context=default) of the big bad made my day. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/238 "2021-05-13T14:54:14Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Haha thanks for that. [This photo](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636227/mediaviewer/rm3857301760/?context=default) of the big bad made my day. And Dr. Smith is slowly turning into a stalk of celery, being nibbled on by Tybo’s henchman. 🤣 The show is on Hulu as we speak. If you do watch it, use caution – you don’t want to fall off your chair, laughing hysterically. It’s bad. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/239 "2021-05-13T16:41:30Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Dr. Smith is slowly turning into a stalk of celery, Google the episode, and there are multiple videos of the cast critiquing it (even Adult Bill Mumy). Moreso than any other episode… really made an impact. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/240 "2021-05-13T17:41:48Z")
Something made me think of an _Andy Griffith_ episode fits. > **[Three Wishes for Opie](https://mayberry.fandom.com/wiki/Three_Wishes_for_Opie)** > > Barney buys a fortune-telling game and lets Opie try it out. Barney gets Andy in trouble with Helen when he summons the two-hundred-year-old spirit of Count Istvan Teleky from a kit he bought at an auction. Opie is granted three wishes, which... [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ysqfb](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ysqfb) ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754/241 "2021-10-23T18:03:06Z")
If the Twilight Zone can have a WTF? episode, season 1 episode 36 would be it. Best to watch “A World of His Own” in its entirety if you can, but here are some of the relevant bits. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/200oMAseieU/hqdefault.jpg "The Twilight Zone -- A World of His Own") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=200oMAseieU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-have-one-wtf-episode/939754.md?page=13)