# TV Shows that apparently, you're the only person ever to watch **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383 "2004-02-27T00:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/41 "2004-02-27T04:47:53Z")
I loved a sketch comedy show that Fox had in it’s first called The Edge. Lets look at the cast. Julie Brown Jennifer Aniston Wayne Knight Alan Ruck Ok and some other people you don’t know. They only made 13 episodes but I really liked them. I wish they’d come out on a DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/42 "2004-02-27T04:52:37Z")
The [NBC Follies](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0069613/combined). It was a variety program that had no “official” host, but Sammy Davis, jr. was in every program. I don’t think it lasted a complete season, but I think I saw every episode that aired. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/43 "2004-02-27T04:56:53Z")
I remember Empty Nest, if you’re thinking of the same show I am (Richard Mulligan as a pediatrician whose adult daughters come back home). I watched it all the time when it ran on NBC with “The Golden Girls” (another fond favorite that most people probably DO know!). I would probably still watch EN if I knew where to find the reruns. I’m surprised that people don’t remember it, because it had a good run. NewsRadio was a great show also. Phil’s death was such a senseless loss. ☹ I also watched “The Edge”, and remember seeing Wayne Knight - but Jennifer Aniston didn’t make an impression for some reason. I also watched “It’s Like, You Know” a few times but I felt it was missing the magic of Seinfeld. After Seinfeld, I felt like the cast and producers needed to accept that they had peaked and it was all downhill from here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/44 "2004-02-27T04:56:58Z")
I remember most of these (_Empty Nest_ had Kristy McNichol on it, with whom I was in love when she was on _Family_). Anyone remember _The Kids from C.A.P.E.R._? Five “kids” (although they always looked in their 20s to me) who comprised The Civilian Authority for the Protection of Everyone, Regardless. They lived in some funky apartment and rescued people every week from nefarious bad-doers (I remember one hapless waif was named “Dunga Gin” because she wore dungarees and her name was Ginny). Their secret weapon? One of the guys would always go crazy if someone said the word “banana.” There was also usually some faux-music-video sequence. Mindless Saturday morning fun. I also liked _Nichols_ with James Garner in his pre-Rockford days. That didn’t last very long. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/45 "2004-02-27T05:01:17Z")
I think it was Jeff Bridges and maybe Helen Slater (?) that had a thirty minute program called either _United States_ or _These United States_. It was about marriage and was mostly a tightly scripted dialog. Sharp stuff! It had some ghastly time slot like 8:30 CST on a Wednesday night. This would have been early 1980’s. It lasted maybe 6-10 episodes. Anyone here old enough to remember Miss Frances and _Ding Dong School_? I didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/46 "2004-02-27T05:29:45Z")
Ones I remember well: _The Great Space Coaster_ Apparently others in my neighborhood also knew, since I was often taunted with shouts of “Speed Reader! Speed Reader!” (one of the characters on the show) when I’d read before class. _Empty Nest_ I don’t know if it was a spin-off, but it was in the same “universe” as _The Golden Girls_ and there were frequent crossovers. _Sitting Ducks_ This is on every day on the Cartoon Network in Japan. I had no idea it was an ‘unknown’ show. _The Edge_ This show was great. My personal theory on why it got cancelled was that they may a few too many harsh jokes about Aaron and Tori Spelling (this was when 90210 was in full swing) and Aaron had the show squashed. My own unknown favorite: _Probe_ An arrogant former child prodigy (and current genius), played by Parker Stevenson, solves science-related mysteries. As a junior high student hooked on science and sci-fi, this show was gold. I don’t think it lasted half a season. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/47 "2004-02-27T05:44:32Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > I doubt it. I don’t think that any of the affiliates we were picking up in our neck of the woods (Southeast MO) had the cash to produce cel animation, even if they farmed it out to the cheapest pack of slaves in Korea. Who is driving? Bear is driving! How can this be? > > NewsRadio: Big fan. A&E was playing it in the daytime (at least in Summer 2002). I occaisonally do the “Cigarette?” gag. Pull out the pack, say “Cigarette”, and when your mark accepts or declines, say “I was talking to the cigarette. Cigarette, prepare to pleasure me!” > > Duckman: Again, big fan. > > Empty Nest: Watched it all the time. My paternal grandmother insisted on it when it was on. I vaguely remember spin-offs regarding it, but I’m not sure if it spawned a spin-off or was one itself. > > Man. That opened up the gate. > > NBC: Dear John; Nurses. > CBS: Doctor Doctor > FOX: The Edge (sketch comedy featuring some of Bill Plympton’s animation) Southeast MO, you say? Was this show on KBSI-23 FOX by any chance? Because I think I remember it if so. Love NewsRadio. Wish the DVD set would show back up on the release calendar. Also watched Duckman, Empty Nest (I was young, and we only had 4 channels), and I remember Dear John (with Judd Hirsch) and Nurses (with Paco the orderly). ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/48 "2004-02-27T05:45:59Z")
I thought I was the only one to remember quite a few of these shows. Here’s a few others (forgive me if i’m a bit sketchy on the details: some of these date back to the days when I couldn’t even tie my shoes) _Matt Hudson_ : _A Magnum, PI_ like show, I think it came on one summer in Magnum P.I.'s regular timeslot. _Out of This World_: A story about a girl and her mom who came from another planet and communicated with people back home through some sort of crystal(?) (or maybe only the girl or only the mom was from another planet. Lasted at least 2-3 years. _Nowhere Man_: This one was about a photojournalist whose identity was erased because he recorded an execution in some foreign country. I mean, his family and most of his friends were brainwashed into acting like they didn’t know him, he winds up briefly getting locked into a mental hospital. “They” are still pursuing him because he has the only copy of the negatives. In a later episode, it looks like his wife is starting to break away from the mind control, but it was just another ploy. The season (which, sadly turned out to be the _series_) finale set up a really weird twist (yeah, thanks for leaving us hanging, Paramount [size=1]Jerks[/size=1] ---
**Author:** ![PucksRaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecd19e/32.png) [@PucksRaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PucksRaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/49 "2004-02-27T05:49:31Z")
I loved **The Charmings**! Somewhere I have their Christmas episode. On Beta. Still my all time favorite Christmas themed TV episode. I was also a fan of Duckman. And a remember watching **Herman’s Head** a few times. My offerings: **Time Traxx** - Sci-fi show about a detective who was sent from the future to capture fugitives who had used time travel to escape from their crimes. I can still quote the opening narration of this show. Starred Dale Midkiff, who I found very adorable. He was in Pet Semetary and some tv movies. Also, a kids show called **Todays Special** that I think was from Canada about a manequin in a department store that comes to life at night. There was also a talking puppet mouse. My memories are hazy. ---
**Author:** ![Kkrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Kkrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kkrose)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/50 "2004-02-27T05:56:41Z")
> [@Angel Heart](#): > > _Out of This World_: A story about a girl and her mom who came from another planet and communicated with people back home through some sort of crystal(?) (or maybe only the girl or only the mom was from another planet. Lasted at least 2-3 years. My sisters and I used to watch that show all the time after school, I think we were probably around ten or so. In fact I distinctly remember my sister crying for probably an hour when she found they were no longer showing it on TV. I also remember watching a show called_My Two Dads_ also watched in my earlier preteen years, about a girl whose mom died and left her to two guys, because she didn’t know which one was the father. They all lived together in an apartment. Kind of a wierd storyline, considering how easily a paternity test could have been done. I also believe Paul Reiser was one of the dads pre-_Mad About You_ ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/51 "2004-02-27T06:06:58Z")
> [@International Playboy](#): > > Later in the 70s, there was another show, whose name escapes me, but the host would link one thing after another, starting from and (I think) returning to the main topic at the end of the show. This was done at a rather rapid pace. I think he may have played a guitar as he narrated the show. Just tried to see if I could find it at [Yesterdayland.com](http://Yesterdayland.com) and looks like that site doesn’t exist anymore. I think the show you’re talking about was called “Make A Wish” and it was hosted by Tom Chapin–Harry Chapin’s brother, I think. Does anyone else remember a show called “Hot Dog”? It was kid’s show that explained how things are made. I remember how they showed baseball bats being manufactured and how toothpaste is put into tubes. They had various celebrities on the show like Jonathon Winters and Joanne Worley. I thought it was pretty cool at the time. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/52 "2004-02-27T06:24:13Z")
And I nearly forgot _The Powers that Be_. It didn’t even show in its primetime slot in Boston (they put on Cosby re-runs instead.) About a senator’s family, his son-in-law is a congressman. His wife and daughter are Washington wives. The first time I remember seeing David Hyde Pierce in anything. It was flat out histerical. I’d love to see that on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Survivor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Survivor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survivor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/53 "2004-02-27T06:32:50Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > And I nearly forgot _The Powers that Be_. It didn’t even show in its primetime slot in Boston (they put on Cosby re-runs instead.) About a senator’s family, his son-in-law is a congressman. His wife and daughter are Washington wives. The first time I remember seeing David Hyde Pierce in anything. > > It was flat out histerical. I’d love to see that on DVD. I absolutely LOVED The Powers That Be… I’d love to see that show on DVD too… I think the Senator was the lead from Dynasty if I remember correctly… There’s another show I used to watch that was on in the early 80’s I think… I have no idea what it was called any more, but there was a group of actors who took an old movie every week and dubbed in totally crazy dialogue… I remember taping it every week on my Beta VCR, and watching with a few friends until we could quote every line… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/54 "2004-02-27T06:47:04Z")
> [@Survivor](#): > > I absolutely LOVED The Powers That Be… I’d love to see that show on DVD too… I think the Senator was the lead from Dynasty if I remember correctly… > > There’s another show I used to watch that was on in the early 80’s I think… I have no idea what it was called any more, but there was a group of actors who took an old movie every week and dubbed in totally crazy dialogue… > > I remember taping it every week on my Beta VCR, and watching with a few friends until we could quote every line… 😃 [Fractured Flickers](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056756/)? It was made in the '60s but did run for a while in '80s, at least in L.A. Featured some of the same voices as Rocky & Bullwinkle. A regular trademark was showing a cheering crowd and having one lone, wimpy “yay”. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/55 "2004-02-27T06:55:09Z")
> [@KSO](#): > > _The Young Riders_, at least, I think that’s what it was called. Yes, I remember _The Young Riders_ very fondly. It was on around the time that the movie _Young Guns_ was popular. All my girlfriends in early high school swooned over the guys in that show. Amazing. I haven’t thought of that show in years, and two days ago I was sorting through some old video tapes and found some episodes of the show. Now, here, it’s mentioned again… Strange… To add a new show that I am certain no one else has seen : _Nearly Departed_. I think it only lasted about two episodes. It starred Eric Idle as a ghost who inhabited a home that a new family had just moved into. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/56 "2004-02-27T06:56:50Z")
> [@Guy Incognito](#): > > Does anyone else remember a show called “Hot Dog”? It was kid’s show that explained how things are made. I remember how they showed baseball bats being manufactured and how toothpaste is put into tubes. They had various celebrities on the show like Jonathon Winters and Joanne Worley. I thought it was pretty cool at the time. That does sound pretty cool. I remember a show called “Dusty’s Treehouse”. I never cared much for Dusty or his little puppet friends, but each episode included a short film from a box factory or some place, like a mini documentary. Didn’t CBS used to have a mini-program called “60 seconds” on Saturday mornings? ---
**Author:** ![soulburnz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@soulburnz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulburnz)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/57 "2004-02-27T06:58:30Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > I have fond memories of that little series from my childhood. Practically as a ritual, I would have a cup of _Betty Crocker Mug-O-Lunch_ macaroni and cheese along with it. > > Which has **also** since been discontinued. :mad: OMG ! I was just talking about the Mug-O-Lunch earlier this week at work. I couldn’t remember the damn name… thank you ! I was talking about the good blobs of cheese in it… and how they don’t make it anymore. Anyone for the **Drak Pak**? My sister and I would always say “Bad toad…” to each other and smack each other with a flyswatter if one was near. For years I would ask people if anyone else remembered it - nada… I finally found the name of it on some website devoted to old cartoons. The Toad was basically an Igor type lab assistant… I think. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/58 "2004-02-27T07:04:27Z")
I remember quite a few of these. A couple I haven’t seen mentioned so far are; [_Cold Feet_](http://imdb.com/title/tt0209582/), a remake of a UK show of the same name, which I actually thought was great, but apparently no one else did, as it didn’t even last an entire season, and [_Sports Night_](http://imdb.com/title/tt0165961/), a truly outstanding show that didn’t get near the recognition or longevity that it deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/59 "2004-02-27T07:10:54Z")
Two of the same era: Ann Jillian’s _Jennifer Slept Here_ and a show about a talking orangutan, _Mr. Smith_. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383/60 "2004-02-27T07:13:39Z")
For the Plympton fans, have a peek at his [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687739/) entry. The guy’s done a lot more than just a couple shorts. His film _I Married a Strange Person!_ ran on umm… Cinemax? Showtime? One of the pay movie stations just recently. And MTV used to play the hell out of _Plymptoons_ a bunch of years back, when Liquid Television was hot. That one was nice because it included his shorts _How To Kiss_ and _Your Face_. **Herman’s Head** used to keep Mrs. Skeezix and I in tears every damn week. Anyone recall the name of the thankfully short lived show that ran right after it for a while? It was something about seven people (or at least I think it was seven, for some reason) stuck in a bomb shelter after the apocalyptic end of civilization? And being in that time slot, it was ostensibly a sit-com. Can’t _imagine_ why it tanked as fast as it did… (Honestly, what programming genius greenlit that thing as a comedy?) “This is Gary Gnu signing off. No guh-news is good guh-news.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-apparently-youre-the-only-person-ever-to-watch/231383.md?page=4)