# What was the stupidest premise for a TV show ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303 "2005-03-07T03:22:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/181 "2005-03-10T03:08:26Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > There is no way this is worse than [attempting to bring a bowdlerized _Blazing Saddles_ to the small screen](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121113/combined). Dear Og, that is painful to watch. You think that’s bad? They tried to base a TV sitom on the 1972 film \*What’s Up, Doc?" – [http://imdb.com/title/tt0184172/](http://imdb.com/title/tt0184172/) – and without Barbara Streisand. I don’t think the second episode was ever aired. I hope it wasn’t. I remember a sitcom about a WWII submarine, with female nurses traveling along with it. It patrols the seas, putting women at risk in a manner inconceivable in the 1940s. Also, it’s painted pink, because the Japanese did a strafing run while it was in port being repainted, the cans of pink primer paint on the deck were punctured and ran out, and they never get a chance to repaint . . . can’t remember the title. But it was really dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/182 "2005-03-10T03:14:09Z")
You’re thinking of [Operation Petticoat](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076503/combined), which BION was based on a Blake Edwards film of the same name with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/183 "2005-03-10T05:19:50Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > Could I be the only one to remember _It’s About Time_, a silly Sherwood Schwartz comedy of the 60’s? Here’s a stupid premise for you: two astronauts in their capsule get entangled in some sort of space-time continuum dipsy-doodle and end up in prehistorical times. It starred, IIRC, Imogene Coca and Joe E. Ross as grotesque cavemen. Oy, what a stupid show. And I was ten years old at the time and _liked_ stupid shows! Back in message [100](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5922565&postcount=100) it was briefly mentioned. It’s about time It’s about space It’s about strange people In the strangest place. . .[Listen](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/Links/linkid=14744) ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/184 "2005-03-10T07:13:25Z")
Oh come on! Am I the only one thinking of Martial Law?!?! The premise was that there was a highly mobile and agile fat guy who was good at karate (kung fu?). Fit him into a cop series, and there you go! That show was nothing without that guy. But it was kind of awesome. I remember seeing it in Spain long after it had been cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/185 "2005-03-10T14:36:54Z")
The only thing I can come up with that’s even close to “Heil Honey, I’m Home” is [“Woops!”](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0103583/), a sitcom from the early days of the Fox network. Premise: someone accidentally starts a nuclear war. Basically, all of humanity is dead, except for a handful of people in a farmhouse. Sounds like quite a recipe for hilarity, no? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/186 "2005-03-10T15:54:29Z")
While not defending the premise of _Woops!_, let me just state that I liked the show. Yeah, it wasn’t “Gold, Jerry! Gold!” But it was entertaining to me at the time. And the “homecoming queen” girl was hot. And I see that Evan Handler was in it. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/187 "2005-03-10T16:01:45Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > _The Simpsons_ once showed a fictional TV series that seems disturbingly plausible as an actual show: Police Cops. > > IIRC, the pilot was an action-adventure police show featuring a heroic detective named Homer Simpson. But when the regular series aired, the premise had been changed to a comedy: Det. Simpson had been brain damaged due to gross negligence by the police department. In order to avoid millions of dollars of legal liability, the brass had to cover it’s mistake by keeping Det. Simpson on the force as an active detective until he reached retirement age. Simpson himself was too demented to realize how damaged he was. His partner was assigned basicly to serve as his baby sitter and conduct the actual investigations assigned to the pair. So that’s where they got the idea for “Monk.” ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/188 "2005-03-10T16:14:40Z")
_Women in Prison_ ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/189 "2005-03-10T16:46:05Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > So that’s where they got the idea for “Monk.” Adrian Monk isn’t on the force anymore, and his OCD is tame compared to Homer Simpson’s gross stupidity. Besides, Monk can actually _solve_ cases. “Simpson! Where were you?” “I was supervising the Guns for Toys program.” “That’s Toys for Guns!” “Uh-oh Spaghetti-Os!” ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/190 "2005-03-10T16:51:50Z")
I once heard that one of the networks was going to put on a show with a handful of bland, inoffensive people that would summarize the events of the day. Like that’d work. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 10, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/191 "2005-03-10T16:57:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] [li] **Game Shows** : Deserves a category of its own in that some premises are unworkable, dull or insipid. Jackie Gleason’s one-episode _You’re In the Picture_ qualifies, as it was so bad Gleason appeared in the timeslot the following week to apologize…[/li][/QUOTE] Well, give the man credit – plenty of people have laid eggs and not had the grace or good sense to admit, much less apologize for, their fiascoes. (The first example that comes to mind are Rick Berman interviews in which he states that he just doesn’t understand why _ST: Nemesis_ and _Enterprise_ tanked.) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/192 "2005-03-10T16:59:59Z")
And the origin of _Police Cops_ was even stupider. According to producers who met with the real Homer Simpson (who became so offended by the dumb character that shared his name he later changed his name to Max Power), the original plan was described as _Titanic_ meets _Frasier_. But ABC already had a project like that in development with Annie Potts, and it scared the hell out of them. So they decided to do a cop show called _Badge Patrol_. Believing no one wanted to see a show about giant badges with guns, they decided to make a show about the people _behind_ the badge. Police…cops…_Police Cops_. Of course, this is only one of the many shows that Springfieldian producers have clogged our airwaves with, which also includes, but is not limited to, the following: _Ethnic Mismatch Comedy #644 MTC: Monkey Trauma Center Law & Order: Elevator Inspectors Unit The IRS Presents: Hershel Krustovski’s Clown-Related Entertainment Show Handle With Care_ (Star Troy McClure explains, “I play Jack Handle, a retired cop who shares an apartment with a retired criminal. We’re the original Odd Couple!”) ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/193 "2005-03-10T18:55:35Z")
What about the one with Amish people with super powers. C’mon! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/194 "2005-03-10T19:04:55Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Adrian Monk isn’t on the force anymore, and his OCD is tame compared to Homer Simpson’s gross stupidity. Besides, Monk can actually _solve_ cases. _Monk_ is an example of a really bizarre premise that actually ended up being a great show. That is, until they fired the second-most important cast member and ruined it. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/195 "2005-03-10T19:07:21Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > You’re thinking of [Operation Petticoat](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076503/combined), which BION was based on a Blake Edwards film of the same name with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. Not only that, but that movie was based on an event that really happened. There was a sub that was painted pink for a short time during WWII. It was painted pink for the same reason as in the movie. They only had pink to use for primer and before they had a chance to put on the final coat, they were attacked and had to leave quickly. Of course, they painted it grey the first chance they got. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/196 "2005-03-10T20:02:47Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > _Monk_ is an example of a really bizarre premise that actually ended up being a great show. That is, until they fired the second-most important cast member and ruined it. They got rid of Captain Stottlemeyer? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/197 "2005-03-10T21:21:15Z")
If we are allowed to mention fictional shows (mentioned on other shows), I present this bit seen on Dinosaurs: \ is a Widower with 7 interracial children. He marries a ghost with 7 interracial children of her own. Just watch the sparks fly when mother-in-law moves in! It’s all “Way Too Complicated” Brian ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/198 "2005-03-10T21:32:35Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > They got rid of Captain Stottlemeyer? Oh please. Stottlemeyer’s great, but he was 4th most important at best. His character is basically the straight-man for Randy’s gaffes. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/199 "2005-03-10T22:32:26Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > Not only that, but that movie was based on an event that really happened. There was a sub that was painted pink for a short time during WWII. It was painted pink for the same reason as in the movie. They only had pink to use for primer and before they had a chance to put on the final coat, they were attacked and had to leave quickly. Of course, they painted it grey the first chance they got. But did they take a bunch of nurses along while patrolling for Japanese battleships? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/200 "2005-03-10T22:35:25Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > _Women in Prison_ From [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092485/:](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092485/:) > [@](#): > > WiP was an attempt to create a sitcom with unique and fun character interaction; shows like M_A_S\*H and Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi all were premier examples of this kind of dynamic. I can’t fault WiP’s producers and actresses for trying, but the show never got off the ground. > > All of the characters were cliched; there was the tough old butch, the fresh young innocent, the tarty prostitute, the no-nonsense guard. The dialogue never rose above the quality of, say, a syndicated sitcom like She’s the Sheriff, and production values made this look like it was filmed in a gymnasium with paperboard tubes for prison bars. Hmmm . . . suppose, instead of a sitcom, they made a realistic, gritty, female-prisoners version of _Oz?_ Worst TV idea ever, or best? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=11)