# TV series that were never on the rails to begin with **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882 "2016-05-16T01:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/41 "2016-05-16T19:24:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Prisoner** _ might have been an “acid-fueled fever dream,” but it was a **GREAT** acid-fueled fever dream! 🆒 Yeah. You say “acid fueled fever dream” like it’s a _bad_ thing.🙂 ---
**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 16, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/42 "2016-05-16T19:30:53Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I nominate _The Prisoner, Hogan’s Heros_ and to a lesser extent _Teletubbies_. Two acid-fueled fever dreams and a comedy about a Nazi prison camp. > > Let’s add _BooBah,_ too. > > Damn! I’d like to see that! Korman is fucking hilarious. Any disparaging words directed at Po or Laa-Laa and **IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME!** **BIG HUG!** ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/43 "2016-05-16T21:46:21Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > An American version of _Red Dwarf_ was attempted. Never got beyond the pilot episode. Deservedly. I seem to remember a season in which two networks each aired an odd cop show with a robot cop. (Googling) 1976-77. **Holms and Yo-Yo** got a 13 show season in, but was #33 on TV Guides list of the 50 worst shows ever. \*\* Future Cop **had 7 episodes, then was re-piloted as** Cops and Robin \*\*for one more episode in 1978. In both cases, only the robot’s partner was supposed to know he was a robot, so that a lot of the comedy came from the human partner trying to keep everyone else from seeing the whacky robotisms or trying to explain them away. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/44 "2016-05-16T21:53:37Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > -Nearly Departed I was going to post this one myself. How can you screw up a _Topper_ rip-off? Well, don’t actually do _Topper_ for one thing. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/45 "2016-05-16T22:04:45Z")
The late eighties _War of the Worlds_ TV series. A premise so stupid that I could not get past it: \*\*The events depicted in the 1953 movie happened as shown…only over the last thirty-odd years…most of the world forgot it ever happened. \*\* Really. :smack: A catastrophe that makes World War II look like a paid vacation…and people have forgotten that it happened. * * * By comparison, _Space: Above and Beyond_ (or as I called it, “Space: 90210”) was merely pedantic, manipulative and just plain awful. I got about halfway through the pilot movie before switching off in disgust. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/46 "2016-05-16T22:15:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > In other words, shows that for whatever reason were so bad, they didn’t last very long no matter how much the critics loved them (occasionally). You know - the kind of show that has one wondering, “Did anyone actually watch this before putting it on TV?” > > Here are a few that come to mind: > > Cop Rock (probably the best example) > > \*\*Action (a short-lived series ca. 2000 about some TV producers. Perfectly dreadful) > \*\* > The series based on the Geico cavemen that lasted 2 or 3 episodes Disagree on **Action** , which had Jay Mohr as _movie_ producer Peter Dragon. Ok, it wasn’t perfectly written and had some plot holes, inconsistencies, and a few bits of dialogue that seemed ad-libed (badly). But I thought it was a hilarious yet insightful look at the film industry. It also gave me a much better understanding of what a movie/television producer actually does. ---
**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 16, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/47 "2016-05-16T22:16:02Z")
Other failed attempts at transitioning popular movies to the small screen include: _Animal House_ (“Delta House”, 13 episodes) _Blazing Saddles_ (“Black Bart”, pilot only) _Mother, Jugs & Speed_ (“Mother, Juggs & Speed”, pilot only) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/48 "2016-05-16T22:16:58Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Wasn’t there a series called Ferris Bueller? A spinoff of the movie _Ferris Bueller’s Days Off_. The movie was pretty good, the series, not so much. The series’ biggest problem was that it came out the same time as _Parker Lewis Can’t Lose_, which had a very similar theme but was a better show, all-around. I liked _Cop Rock_. I also liked _Viva Laughlin_, starring Hugh Jackman. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/49 "2016-05-16T22:27:29Z")
I nominate _[Black Tie Affair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tie_Affair_(TV_series))_, a dark comedy about a private detective investigating a rich guy’s murder, starring Bradley Whitford, Kate Capshaw, and Bruce McGill. I thought it was hilarious. They filmed 13 shows and only aired 8. I used to use quotes from the show as my email tags for years. ---
**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 16, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/50 "2016-05-16T22:34:31Z")
In 1979, ABC had the bright idea of genderflipping Fonzie to carry a brand new series. “Katmandu” never got past the pilot. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/51 "2016-05-16T23:01:07Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I’d have tuned in to watch Ann Jillian peel [del]potatoes[/del]! :o FIFY ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/52 "2016-05-16T23:18:20Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Other failed attempts at transitioning popular movies to the small screen include: > > _Animal House_ (“Delta House”, 13 episodes) > … _Delta House_ was ABC’s attempt at small-screening _Animal House._ It at least had the general setting (Faber College 1962) and some of the actors reprising the movie roles (Flounder, Hoover, D-Day, Neidermeyer). It lasted longer than the other networks’ attempts: [ul] [li]NBC: _Brothers & Sisters_, eight episodes, IIRC.[/li][li]CBS: _Co-Ed Fever_, **one episode** [/li][/ul] ---
**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 17, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/53 "2016-05-17T00:11:46Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > FIFY Oh, yes, please! :o :o :o ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/54 "2016-05-17T00:14:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Damn! I’d like to see that! Korman is fucking hilarious. Not here, he wasn’t. Just a refilming of a Fawlty Towers script. Doomed from the start. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/55 "2016-05-17T04:46:11Z")
“Boohbah” and “Teletubbies” were aimed at preschoolers. Heck, I kind of liked watching the Teletubbies, when I was in the right mood. :o ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/56 "2016-05-17T05:20:32Z")
My personal theory is that some of these shows, like _Small Wonder_ lasted because they appealed to kids. I was about, oh, seven or eight when that show as on and I loved it. Now I realize how horrible it was, but not then. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/57 "2016-05-17T10:55:07Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I nominate _The Prisoner, Hogan’s Heros_ and to a lesser extent _Teletubbies_. Two acid-fueled fever dreams and a comedy about a Nazi prison camp. Well, that explains the rarely-seen tubbie, SigHiley. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/58 "2016-05-17T16:22:57Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > “Boohbah” and “Teletubbies” were aimed at preschoolers. > > Heck, I kind of liked watching the Teletubbies, when I was in the right mood. :o Teletubbies is squarely in the center of what toddlers dig- bright colors, silly creatures usually being nice to each other, laughing, playing, dancing, etc… It and “Barney” weren’t made for adults, or even older children- they’re aimed at very small children, without any of the tongue-in-cheek for parents stuff of shows aimed at older children, like say… SpongeBob. So my vote is “very ON the rails” for Teletubbies, but it’s a narrow-gauge railway for toddlers, not adults. ---
**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 17, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/59 "2016-05-17T16:23:47Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > My personal theory is that some of these shows, like _Small Wonder_ lasted because they appealed to kids. I was about, oh, seven or eight when that show as on and I loved it. Now I realize how horrible it was, but not then. I say the same thing about “Silver Spoons”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882/60 "2016-05-17T19:21:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > My personal theory is that some of these shows, like _Small Wonder_ lasted because they appealed to kids. I was about, oh, seven or eight when that show as on and I loved it. Now I realize how horrible it was, but not then. That would probably be my reaction to **My Mother the Car** , if I ever saw it as an adult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-were-never-on-the-rails-to-begin-with/754882.md?page=4)