# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/61 "2005-03-07T19:01:00Z")
Anything — _ **anything** _ — produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/62 "2005-03-07T19:12:16Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Another vote for\*\* My Mother the Car.\*\* Although I have to confess that I was young enough when it came out that I enjoyed it. > > How many votes for **The Flying Nun**? I was going to nominate TFN. Both were just aweful. > [@](#): > > Or that whacky **Hogan’s Heros**? Come on… that show had some good laughs! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/63 "2005-03-07T19:50:35Z")
I also vote for Flying Nun. What the hell was that? Also, The Patty Duke Show - The same person plays 2 characters? C’mon. Gilligan’s Island - Gee, what plot should we have this week? I know - they try to get off the island. Bewitched - They guy’s wife is a witch (albeit a really _hot_ witch). Nope, that premise sure isn’t gonna ever get stale. :rolleyes: The Munsters - Need I say more? ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/64 "2005-03-07T20:21:52Z")
The premise of a talking horse (Mr. Ed) is pretty stupid. Ever wonder how they got Mr. Ed to talk? [See what Cecil has to say.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_029) ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/65 "2005-03-07T20:36:00Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **Small Wonder.** I hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated hated this TV show. Quirky inventor creates robot girl who, in all appearances was an eight year old girl, who was always malfunctioning. Invented presumably for the purposes of lawful pedophilia. Stupid. _Dr. Slump_ (anime inspired by an Akira Toriyama–more famously known for _Dragon Ball_–comic) did this premise so much better. Of the bits and pieces I’ve seen, it’s pure wild madcap humor. And talking poo. You can’t beat talking poo. (And no, I am not making that up.) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/66 "2005-03-07T20:38:52Z")
How did we get this far in the thread without one person mentioning **Manimal**!?!? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/67 "2005-03-07T21:35:47Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > The premise of a talking horse (Mr. Ed) is pretty stupid. > > Ever wonder how they got Mr. Ed to talk? [See what Cecil has to say.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_029) That was based on the successful series of Francis the Talking Mule movies. I disagree that game shows have a stupid premise. Their real premise is: in the US, there is a population of people so eager for fame that they will undergo any level of abasement and ridicule and insult to score money or the hot babe/guy. This premise appears to be right on. My vote goes to _My Mother the Car_. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/68 "2005-03-07T21:37:32Z")
There have been too many over the years to be able to come up with the very stupidest. Two of my nominees have been mentioned, _My Mother, the Car_ and _The Flying Nun_ and then I’ll add _Car 54, Where Are You?_. I know there are more but I’ve successfully blocked them from memory. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/69 "2005-03-07T21:45:06Z")
Along the lines of _Murder She Wrote_ is _Hart to Hart_. I don’t care how rich you are, if a friend gets murdered every week, you’re gonna run out of friends. And to prove what a total geek I am… That comment on _My Two Dad_ about the DNA. No, they did have DNA testing back then. In fact, it was the plot of one of the episodes. They got tested, but the daughter talked them into looking at the results because she thought of both of them as their real dad. Awwww… ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/70 "2005-03-07T22:00:34Z")
> [@Jet Jaguar](#): > > I would love to have sat in on the pitch meeting for _Hogan’s Heroes_. > > “Okay, here’s our idea. The show is set in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. The prisoners also secretly sabotage the German war effort. Occasionally they will have to kill to accomplish these missions. Oh yeah, it’s a comedy…” Stan Freberg did some satiric commercials for the show using his principle, “more honesty than the client had in mind.” They ran a lot like that! [http://freberg.8m.com/Ads/hogans.html](http://freberg.8m.com/Ads/hogans.html) > [@](#): > > FREBERG: Where does the show take place? > > CRANE: In a Nazi prisoner of war camp in Germany. > > FREBERG: Always a good situation comedy locale. What are some of the amusing ingredients? > > CRANE: Oh, German police dogs… machine guns… the Gestapo… > > FREBERG: Just a few of the laugh-provoking elements to be seen this fall on Hogan’s Heroes, Friday nights on CBS. Shall we say, "If you liked World War II, you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes? > > CRANE: No, let’s not say that, no. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/71 "2005-03-07T23:01:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > There is a biiiiig difference between all these other defective detectives and Blind Justice. The other detectives were private eyes. You can do anything you want in your private life. You want to be a quarduple amputee basketball player? Go on and try. > > But this blind guy is a who fought to get his job back ON THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE FORCE. > > Apparently, he gets his badge and gun back because he signs a waiver. Bzzzzt. I’m sorry, that’s incorrect. Ironside also remained on the police force. But thanks for playing. We have some lovely parting gifts for you. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/72 "2005-03-07T23:05:24Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I’m sure there was at least one detective who used ESP, but I can’t remember right now. Isn’t there a show on now called “The Medium” about a woman with ESP? I have no idea about the show, but I’m sure she uses her power for good, which would mean solving crimes is probably part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/73 "2005-03-08T00:07:09Z")
> [@Jet Jaguar](#): > > I would love to have sat in on the pitch meeting for _Hogan’s Heroes_. > > “Okay, here’s our idea. The show is set in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. The prisoners also secretly sabotage the German war effort. Occasionally they will have to kill to accomplish these missions. Oh yeah, it’s a comedy…” And we’ll have the bulk of the Germans played by Jews who escaped/survived by the Holocaust, heck, we’ll even have one of the prisoners played by a guy who spent time in the camps! I mean, gee, if guys who suffered at the hands of the Nazi’s don’t have a problem portraying the Nazis as a bunch of buffoons, then people will find the show funny, right? They’ll get the fact that the Nazis are being mocked as a way of lessening their power, won’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/74 "2005-03-08T00:16:08Z")
And, best of all, this whole series is a rip-off of _Stalag 17_! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/75 "2005-03-08T00:23:45Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Bzzzzt. I’m sorry, that’s incorrect. Ironside also remained on the police force. > > But thanks for playing. We have some lovely parting gifts for you. Yeah, but was he blind? Huh? There’s nothing stupid about giving a paraplegic a gun-- but a blind man? That’s just the stupidest thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/76 "2005-03-08T00:52:32Z")
[The blind should always be armed with collapsible billy clubs.](http://www.omelete.com.br/imagens/cinema/news/demolidor/matt_foggy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/77 "2005-03-08T01:04:06Z")
To be fair, _Hogan’s Heroes_ may have had a silly premise, but it was a funny and successful show. ---
**Author:** ![Peyton\_Farquhar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Peyton\_Farquhar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peyton_Farquhar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/78 "2005-03-08T01:27:07Z")
Does anyone remember that David Letterman sketch from the first or second year of his on-after-Carson show on NBC? His kid is going upstairs to watch his favorite show and Dad (Dave), in his easy chair with the paper, says “you’d better hurry! You wouldn’t want to miss a single action-packed minute”, before noticing the shocking headline “_VOYAGERS_ CANCELLED (To be replaced by better program)”. He runs upstairs to break the news gently to his son, but the kid isn’t having any, and runs away. Dave runs after him and finally finds him moping in the woods, and gives his talk. “I know how you feel–I felt the same way when they cancelled _The Six-Million Dollar Man_. But eventually, \*The Fall Guy \* came along. And I think I grew from the experience.” Finally, there’s a happy ending when Dave shows the next edition of the paper, heralding NBC’s exciting new shows _Mr. Smith_ and _Manimal_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/79 "2005-03-08T01:47:43Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Apparently, he gets his badge and gun back because he signs a waiver. _He_ signs a waiver? How the hell does he know what he signed? Maybe he signed a promissory note donating 75% of his salary to the Mayor’s chief of Staff. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/80 "2005-03-08T01:51:32Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _He_ signs a waiver? How the hell does he know what he signed? Maybe he signed a promissory note donating 75% of his salary to the Mayor’s chief of Staff. And what about the citizens of New York City? I don’t think any of them signed a waiver and lemme tell ya, the cops who can see have a bad habit of shooting just anybody. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=5)