# TV shows that lasted one episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121 "2005-07-25T22:15:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/21 "2005-07-26T06:40:00Z")
There’s a rumor of a sitcom about Hitler, Eva Braun, and their Jewish next-door neighbors called “Heil Honey, I’m Home!” that was yanked after one episode. I would pay _good money_ to see the filmed run of that show. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/22 "2005-07-26T07:11:53Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_shows_canceled_after_one_episode) lists twelve shows that were canceled after one episode: > > Transformers: Zone _Zone_ is a bit of a dicey call, because although only the first episode was ever produced and aired (before Takara decided to cut their losses), the rest of the story was told in Japanese manga and television magazines. It wasn’t so much cancelled as much as it changed media. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/23 "2005-07-26T11:01:58Z")
Circa 1977, the Ten Network in Australia screened a sketch comedy show called “Ratbags” which lasted precisely one episode. mm ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/24 "2005-07-26T12:41:08Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > There’s a rumor of a sitcom about Hitler, Eva Braun, and their Jewish next-door neighbors called “Heil Honey, I’m Home!” that was yanked after one episode. I would pay _good money_ to see the filmed run of that show. It ain’t a rumor. [http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-48,GGLD:en&q=%22Heil+Honey%2C+I%27m+Home%22](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-48,GGLD:en&q=%22Heil+Honey%2C+I%27m+Home%22) ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/25 "2005-07-26T12:46:54Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > It ain’t a rumor. > > [http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-48,GGLD:en&q=%22Heil+Honey%2C+I%27m+Home%22](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-48,GGLD:en&q=%22Heil+Honey%2C+I%27m+Home%22) And oh yes, I so want to see it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/26 "2005-07-26T12:52:45Z")
I wrote material for a Channel 9 show called \*Comedy ???]/i] (warehouse, workshop, co-op or something). Although I was at the making of the show it went one better than the OP and never, as far as I know, aired …not even at 3.22 A.M ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/27 "2005-07-26T14:19:36Z")
[Limozeen: “but they’re in space!”](http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/best_thing) ---
**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:** [July 26, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/28 "2005-07-26T15:01:04Z")
Technically, there were a whole rash of “busted pilots” that aired once and were never seen again. The shows weren’t picked up by the network, but the pilot was broadcast as a cheap filler for summer airtime in the 60s, sometimes under an umbrella title such as “ABC Summer Theater” of “[Vacation Playhouse](http://aa.1asphost.com/CTVA/US/Comedy/VacationPlayhouse.htm).” The listing of Vacation Playhouse gives 21 pilots, only one of which (Glynis) was actually made into a series (another was rebroadcast). ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/29 "2005-07-26T16:10:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Australia’s Naughtiest Home Videos :eek: Tell me, did this show what I _think_ it showed!? What time did it air? 2:00am? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/30 "2005-07-26T16:14:46Z")
It showed in prime time. IIRC at the time the station owner had it taken off the air they were showing footage of a couple caught… er… “coupling” in the background of an otherwise innocent video taken in a park. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/31 "2005-07-26T17:30:04Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > No mention of Party Wagon. Too new? I don’t think it counts. Although I think it was originally announced as a series, it ended up airing as a TV-movie. **Scott Plaid** , if it weren’t for your The Cheat-like posting skills, that show would have been as lost as four-armed Grimace. And if you don’t think that it’s the best thing you’ve ever seen, done, or eaten, then you should have your eyes gouged out, your taste buds burned off, and all your, um, done…removed. ---
**Author:** ![Cynical\_Optimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Cynical\_Optimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cynical_Optimist)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/32 "2005-07-26T17:59:01Z")
I thought _Girlsclub_ lasted one episiode, but Jump The Shark claims it was two. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/33 "2005-07-26T20:23:52Z")
“No Soap, Radio” ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/34 "2005-07-26T21:24:43Z")
I seem to recall hearing about something called the “Tom Swift and Nacy Drew Adventures” that would apparantly have been about the two of them teaming up to solve mysteries. Apparantly, despite getting his name first in the title, Tom Swift didn’t do much in the one episode of the show that was aired. Also, does [Heat Vision and Jack](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363668/) count? Only had one episode (Episode 14, no less) that was never aired. Produced by Ben Stiller and starring Jack Black as a former astronaut (not to mention the Smartest Man Alive) and Owen Wilson as Heat Vision, his talking motorcycle. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/35 "2005-07-26T22:54:50Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I seem to recall hearing about something called the “Tom Swift and Nacy Drew Adventures” that would apparantly have been about the two of them teaming up to solve mysteries. Apparantly, despite getting his name first in the title, Tom Swift didn’t do much in the one episode of the show that was aired. You aren’t thinking of the 1970s era _Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Adventures_ are you? That ran for a full season. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/36 "2005-07-27T13:48:15Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Technically, there were a whole rash of “busted pilots” that aired once and were never seen again. One example I recall is the pilot (and only) episode of _Alexander the Great_, produced in 1964 and shelved… until a few years later when it was aired on an anthology show. During the intervening years, the names of the stars had become a bit better known. A couple of blokes named William Shatner and Adam West… ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/37 "2005-07-27T16:16:50Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > You aren’t thinking of the 1970s era _Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Adventures_ are you? That ran for a full season. Ah, nope. Was thinking of [The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour](http://www.tomswift.info/homepage/tvpilot.html) which aired once. On a Sunday afternoon, with no advertising and only limited coverage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/38 "2005-07-27T19:46:35Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Also, does [Heat Vision and Jack](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363668/) count? Only had one episode (Episode 14, no less) that was never aired. Produced by Ben Stiller and starring Jack Black as a former astronaut (not to mention the Smartest Man Alive) and Owen Wilson as Heat Vision, his talking motorcycle. You forgot to mention that Jack and Heat/Vision are being hunted by “former astronaut and NASA assassin Ron Silver” played by Ron Silver. Ron Silver: If I feel even ONE bullet touch me, I’ll come back there and rip your lungs out of your chest. Although it never aired it is regularly screened as part of the “Other Network” show in LA and New York. It’s a live show where they show unaired pilots and usually have the creators there to talk about them. “Lookswell” was a detective show starring Adam West as a former TV detective whose show gets cancelled and not knowing what to do with himself… becomes a detective. His badge is a ceremonial one given to him by the city and instead of a card he hands out headshots. I thought it was never aired but I heard from a few different people that it aired once. Oh and Conan O’brien was one of the writers. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/39 "2005-07-27T20:07:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The shows weren’t picked up by the network, but the pilot was broadcast as a cheap filler for summer airtime in the 60s, sometimes under an umbrella title such as “ABC Summer Theater” of “[Vacation Playhouse](http://aa.1asphost.com/CTVA/US/Comedy/VacationPlayhouse.htm).” Good lord, how did _these_ not make it into series? **ALFRED OF THE AMAZON** 31 Jul 1967 starring Wally Cox as Alfred, Paul Hartman as Dr. Schwimmer, Mako as Simba, Allan Melvin as Willie, Susan Odin as Jennifer, Leon Askin as Herr Futterman. The exploits of Alfred of the Amazons, a bumbling jungle adventurer and plantation owner who fights injustice in his spare time. **MAGGIE BROWN** 23 Sep 1963 starring Ethel Merman as Maggie Brown, Susan Watson as Jeannie Brown, Walter Burke as McChesney, Roy Roberts as John Farragut, Mark Goddard as Joe Beckett, Marvin Kaplan as Marv. Ethel Merman is Maggie Brown, a South Seas bistro owner, who has to keep 3000 sailors away from her gorgeous 18-year-old daughter. **YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE** 3 Jul 1967 starring Ed Wynn as Prof. Hubert Abernathy, Ethel Waters as Carrie, Kathryn Hays as Betsy Fleming, Andrew Duggan as George Fleming, Andy Devine as Andy, Steve Dunn as Charlie, Jerry Van Dyke as George, Patricia Crowley as Joan, Dwayne Hickman as Lennie. The story of Professor Hubert Abernathy, a scientist who invents a rejuvenation pill that makes people ten years younger - but only for a short time. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121/40 "2005-07-27T23:14:49Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > “Lookswell” was a detective show starring Adam West as a former TV detective whose show gets cancelled and not knowing what to do with himself… becomes a detective. His badge is a ceremonial one given to him by the city and instead of a card he hands out headshots. I thought it was never aired but I heard from a few different people that it aired once. Oh and Conan O’brien was one of the writers. [Lookwell](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196712/) was hilarious. The pilot has aired at least once - [Trio](http://www.triotv.com/bbc/lookwell/) played it on their “Brilliant But Cancelled” segment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lasted-one-episode/314121.md?page=3)