Some of my wife’s affectionate names for shows I watch:
“That Stupid Crab Show” - Deadliest Catch
“Jessica Car Show” - Top Gear, due to the theme song
“Doctor Whatever” - Doctor Who
“Pawn Shop” - Pawn Stars, Hardcore Pawn, American Pickers…I don’t think she knows they’re different shows
Because, if Jack and Karen were the main characters, they wouldn’t have been allowed to be that wacky. Up until recently, the main characters very often had to play it safe.
Plus, it kept people from complaining about what a flaming stereotype Jack was by having the main gay character be Straight Gay (trope).
For some reason, my father, in his heavy Polish-accented English, insisted on calling it “Crazy Cook” instead of “The Frugal Gourmet” when I was growing up. To this day, I have to stutter to get the correct name when referring to that show.
All in the Family is Archie.
Tonight Show is Jay.
Late Show is Dave.
Late Late Show is Craig.
Whose Line is it Anyway? is Whose Line?
Joan of Arcadia was Joan.
CSI is occasionally Grissom, though just as often CSI.
I second Whose Line. I hardly ever use the full title. Also, Mystery Science Theater 3000 is usually just “Guys watching bad movies”, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is always “SVU”.
In our house, House is Dr. House MD, thanks to my wife. (From Québec, that’s what the french-dubbed version is called there.)
When I was a kid, any soap opera my mom or sisters were into, I called by the name of the popular character. So Young & the Restless was ‘Victor’, and General Hospital was “Luke and Laura”.
Do you say S-V-U or “Sevhu?” We opt for the latter.
I don’t actually watch that show, but when I refer to it, I call it SUV. 
:eek: I didn’t know that. I didn’t get cable until 1999, and I’ve always known it as Beast Wars. I’ll have to quiz my friends who did have cable.
I have done that by accident many a many time myself.