# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/81 "2005-03-08T02:12:23Z")
> [@AndyPolley](#): > > The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer. > > That’s all I got. You beat me to it. DAMN! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/82 "2005-03-08T02:19:24Z")
> [@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. I too cast my vote for **My Mother the Car**. Not only did I watch it back in the day, but for some reason the theme song was burned into my brain. I can still sing it. To which **elfbabe** will attest, to her great chagrin. _but believe it or not my mother dear decided she’d come back as a car she’s my very own guiding star! A 1928 Porter, that’s my mother dear!_ \<\< **THUD** \>\> Ow! **elfbabe** , cut that out!! ---
**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 8, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/83 "2005-03-08T02:27:41Z")
Yes, yes, yes, **My Mother The Car** , **The Flying Nun** and **I Dream of Jeannie** are all worthy contestants. But there was an Australian show entirely told from the PoV of a pet dog … someone help me here … ---
**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, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/84 "2005-03-08T02:29:55Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Also, The Patty Duke Show - The same person plays 2 characters? C’mon. That’s not what’s dumb about The Patty Duke Show. What’s really dumb is that the same person plays identical cousins. What kind of screwed up family tree is that? The kind that don’t branch out, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/85 "2005-03-08T02:46:43Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > How did we get this far in the thread without one person mentioning **Manimal**!?!? 😕 Good question. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a [winner](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085898/). ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/86 "2005-03-08T03:30:06Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > 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… I think that’s the exact opposite of what happened… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/87 "2005-03-08T03:33:59Z")
> [@Big\_Norse](#): > > 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. I’ve liked the episodes I’ve seen of it so far. I loved it when a defense attorney put her on the stand and tried to make her look like a schizophrenic in order to get the probable cause for a weapon search thrown out: “They’re talking to you right now, aren’t they?” ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/88 "2005-03-08T03:53:50Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > I can still sing it. To which **elfbabe** will attest, to her great chagrin. Hah, I saw when I was searching for your posts that you had mentioned **My Mother the Car** , and I came in here SPECIFICALLY to tell everyone that you sing that song. :mad: ---
**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, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/89 "2005-03-08T04:08:58Z")
> [@buns3000](#): > > Good question. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a [winner](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085898/). WHAT? Oh, hell no… I PROTEST. There is no fucking way “Manimal” is a worse premise than ANY of the six shows I cited. And I didn’t even get to the truly VINTAGE block of crap like “BJ and the Bear,” “Automan,” “Man From Atlantis,” “Enos,” “Joanie Loves Chachi” and “Battle of the Network Stars!” … man, I watched a disturbing amount of shitty TV as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/90 "2005-03-08T04:29:58Z")
“Let’s make a new Star Trek!” “But, we’ve already got one running.” “Yeah, but that one is on a space ship that moves from place to place. Let’s make one where everybody is stuck in one place. That way, we can bore the viewers into expecting lame-o shows for 5 years so that when we actually add the action and diversity we should’ve had in the first place, all the newbie Trekkers will think we’re geniuses.” “Brilliant! You sure people won’t think it’s a rip off of Babylon 5?” “What do we care? And a little while down the road, we’ll make a Lost In Space version of Star Trek, starring bimbos and hack actors.” “Brilliant! I’ll be sure to invite my friends Berman and Bragga to come help us out a little bit after a while. Those guys are genius.” “Genius!” ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/91 "2005-03-08T04:42:08Z")
**The Magician** was another of the mid 1970s shows with a weird premise. Bill Bixby played a stage magician who used his talents to rescue kidnapped damsels, solve crimes, etc. **Banacek** was based on the idea that some people went to incredible lengths to steal things or kidnap people with remarkable complexity. The series pretty much just used these plots to show George Peppard acting cool and wearing really scary 1970s style clothing. And has **Supertrain** made the list? ---
**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 8, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/92 "2005-03-08T04:43:13Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Yes, yes, yes, **My Mother The Car** , **The Flying Nun** and **I Dream of Jeannie** are all worthy contestants. But there was an Australian show entirely told from the PoV of a pet dog … someone help me here … Got it! [The Bob Morrison Show](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216456/combined). Some user comments from IMDB: "Yes, this television gem could only have been thought up from where else but Down Under. Bob Morrison was the name of the dog. I forget what breed it was, but I remember that it was white. And when I say that this dog ‘talks’, I mean that Bob Morrison ‘thinks his thoughts aloud’ so that everyone can hear it. For example, someone would do or say something stupid to him and he would just sit there and look at that person with his big brown puppy dog eyes while a ‘voice over’ would talk his thought aloud (usually some dry witty snap) and the laugh track would go off hysterically. Bob Morrison was no Marmaduke. No, this dog had more personality than the dull cast members grouped together" So good it was cancelled within its first series. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/93 "2005-03-08T04:55:31Z")
Ok… This was a show, and it was shown on a TV. Does it count? Read this box First: The name of the Show was “Hit the buzzer, win a cookie.” Then this one: Ok ok but it WAS on Garfield’s (The Cat) TV from time to time, in the cartoon. “Zzzt… Thats right, you hit the buzzer, you win a cookie!” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/94 "2005-03-08T05:04:48Z")
> [@Big\_Norse](#): > > 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. There was a show in the early 70’s called _The Girl With Something Extra_ about a young lady with ESP. Her new husband doesn’t have ESP. It didn’t last long. Haj ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/95 "2005-03-08T05:08:02Z")
Wasn’t there some sort of Bionic Boy idea kicked around? Or was that a parody? “There’s been an accident in the womb. We can rebuild him. Faster. stronger, brattier…” ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/96 "2005-03-08T05:18:24Z")
**Robot Chicken** There used to be this show I would whatch when I was a young’n. It was a British show (I think). I can’t remeber what I was called but the premise was; this cuople living in the middle of suburbia was bound and determined to “live off the land” So all the food they ate had to be grown in their little back yard, they to wash clothes by hand ect… Plus they had these snoby neighbors that absolutely HATED them because of all this. Does anybody know what show I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/97 "2005-03-08T05:22:29Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > **Robot Chicken** > > There used to be this show I would whatch when I was a young’n. It was a British show (I think). I can’t remeber what I was called but the premise was; this cuople living in the middle of suburbia was bound and determined to “live off the land” So all the food they ate had to be grown in their little back yard, they to wash clothes by hand ect… Plus they had these snoby neighbors that absolutely HATED them because of all this. > > Does anybody know what show I’m talking about? Don’t know the name, but I’ve seen it. The self sufficient wife was way too hot for that premise. What a honey. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/98 "2005-03-08T05:37:05Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > The whole Seinfeldian premise of “a show about nothing” was a riff on this. You could make a successful sitcom and it didn’t even need to be _about_ anything, as long as it was funny. That always really bothered me when the show was on the air. It was about a comedian and how he finds material in his everyday life, how’s that not something? That’s a more complicated premise than say, The Cosby Show, the premise of which is that there’s this family, see? And that’s it. _That’s_ a show about nothing. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/99 "2005-03-08T05:43:55Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > **Robot Chicken** > > There used to be this show I would whatch when I was a young’n. It was a British show (I think). I can’t remeber what I was called but the premise was; this cuople living in the middle of suburbia was bound and determined to “live off the land” So all the food they ate had to be grown in their little back yard, they to wash clothes by hand ect… Plus they had these snoby neighbors that absolutely HATED them because of all this. > > Does anybody know what show I’m talking about? [The Good Life](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075511/). ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303/100 "2005-03-08T06:32:49Z")
So many contenders: [My Mother The Car](http://www.tvtome.com/MyMothertheCar/) [Automan](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-1921/) [Manimal](http://www.tvtome.com/Manimal/) [Knight Rider](http://www.tvtome.com/KnightRider/) [Team Knight Rider](http://www.tvtome.com/TeamKnightRider/) [Baywatch](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-115/) [Baywatch Nights](http://www.tvtome.com/BaywatchNights/) [Starlost](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-4869/) [The Adventures of Skippy](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-9715/) [Second Hundred Years](http://www.tvtome.com/SecondHundredYears/) [Tucker’s Witch](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-3306/Tuckers_Witch/) [My Favorite Martian](http://www.tvtome.com/MyFavoriteMartian/) --which I’ll admit to loving to this day [VIP](http://www.tvtome.com/VIP/) [It’s About Time](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-6357/) and too many others. It’s important to remember in this discussion that bad premises can make really good and successful shows and great premises can make terrible shows. Thank goodness there’s no shortage of either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-stupidest-premise-for-a-tv-show-ever/293303.md?page=6)