# Worst concept for a TV special or series ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011 "2011-01-01T01:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/1 "2011-01-01T01:44:18Z")
The Discovery Channel has decided to… cancel?.. delay? a program “re-enacting” Michael Jackson’s autopsy. [Story here](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101231/ap_en_tv/us_michael_jackson_autopsy_show). This was apparently not to be part of a larger concept about his death, or celebrity drug abuse – the title of the program is “Michael Jackson’s Autopsy”. One of the ads purportedly showed a covered body on a gurney, with on sequin gloved hand peeking out from under the cover. This strikes me as one of the worst TV show ideas I can ever recall hearing about since a previous Discovery Channel series called “Impaled”. Yes, people being impaled on stuff, and surviving it, was the theme. Other nominees? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/2 "2011-01-01T02:22:24Z")
[All too easy…](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Holiday_Special) ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/3 "2011-01-01T02:23:22Z")
Singing cops?? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/4 "2011-01-01T02:35:50Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > [All too easy…](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Holiday_Special) That may be the worst TV show ever aired, but the concept for it is not all that terrible. Terrible, mind you, but not crazy terrible. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/5 "2011-01-01T03:15:19Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > [All too easy…](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Holiday_Special) Yeah that’s what immediately came to mind for me too, although, I have to wonder, retrospectively, if it counts, having read past the title and into the OP’s actual example. I think what we are looking for is not just things which were horribly executed, but for which the actual concept itself was inherently inane. I mean, I could conceive, theoretically, of there being some Star Wars Holiday Special which did not suck or which was even awesome. And in fact, at the very least, it did contain the first appearance of Boba Fett and Chewbacca’s family, and the first ever TV depiction of cyberporn, and it concocted a minimally sci-fi stand in for “holiday” rather than succumbing to actual Earth related holiday tropes. But it’s hard to imagine a “Michael Jackson autopsy recreation” being anything but horrific merely from the title alone. I mean. Unless. The Robot Chicken people did it. And they probably will now. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/6 "2011-01-01T04:39:07Z")
The O.J. Simpson TV special “[If I Did It](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230838,00.html)” was a mighty bad idea. Apparently many folks agreed, since it was not aired. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/7 "2011-01-01T05:08:18Z")
> [@labtrash](#): > > Singing cops?? If you’re referring to _Cop Rock_, I must take exception, because that show was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/8 "2011-01-01T05:14:33Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > If you’re referring to _Cop Rock_, I must take exception, because that show was awesome. -ly bad. You left off part of your post. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/9 "2011-01-01T05:50:17Z")
How about a comedy set in a Nazi P.O.W. camp? Hogan’s Heroes really did suck. Some people allegedly have fond memories of it, but I challenge the notion that they are people. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/10 "2011-01-01T06:37:17Z")
> [@labtrash](#): > > Singing cops?? _Cop Rock_ was no more terrible in concept than any other musical, which admittedly is a genre I despise. So I do have sympathy. > [@pinkfreud](#): > > The O.J. Simpson TV special “[If I Did It](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230838,00.html)” was a mighty bad idea. Apparently many folks agreed, since it was not aired. Ok, now we’re talking. I forgot about this steamer, and it has made it to the finalists. > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > How about a comedy set in a Nazi P.O.W. camp? > > Hogan’s Heroes really did suck. Some people allegedly have fond memories of it, but I challenge the notion that they are people. I hadn’t considered this one, which truly is an awful concept. But I actually loved this show when I was a kid. So I’m gonna add it to the finalists, but I feel bad doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/11 "2011-01-01T06:49:53Z")
Amateurs, all. I expected not to be the first to mention “Heil Honey, I’m Home” about the Hitler family and their Jewish neighbors. Cancelled, unsurprisingly. British. Yes, this really happened. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/12 "2011-01-01T07:27:26Z")
I’m young enough that I only remember of few snippets of [My Mother the Car](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_the_Car), but if it’s not based on the worst concept of any series, it’s certainly one of the most bizaare. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/13 "2011-01-01T14:03:40Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > How about a comedy set in a Nazi P.O.W. camp? > > Hogan’s Heroes really did suck. Some people allegedly have fond memories of it, but I challenge the notion that they are people. No, it didn’t suck. It was a pretty funny show. My dad, a WWII vet AND former POW, loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/14 "2011-01-01T14:07:55Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Amateurs, all. I expected not to be the first to mention “Heil Honey, I’m Home” about the Hitler family and their Jewish neighbors. Cancelled, unsurprisingly. British. Yes, this really happened. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/15 "2011-01-01T14:14:45Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > No, it didn’t suck. It was a pretty funny show. My dad, a WWII vet AND former POW, loved it. Amen. Actually a very clever show, especially on the meta level as most of the Nazis were played by Jewish actors. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/16 "2011-01-01T14:15:36Z")
Some bad stuff here but if the show [The Swan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_(TV_series)) had a face, I would punch it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/17 "2011-01-01T14:51:38Z")
I dimly recall a pilot in the late 70s, with the entire cast wear dog costumes. For grownups, in primetime, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/18 "2011-01-01T15:49:16Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Some bad stuff here but if the show [The Swan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_(TV_series)) had a face, I would punch it. They took it to the next level with the IIRC now airing “Brideoplasty”. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/19 "2011-01-01T16:01:57Z")
Worst series idea [Heil Honey I’m Home!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heil_Honey_I%27m_Home!) > [@](#): > > The show centres on fictionalised versions of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, who live next door to a Jewish couple, Arny and Rosa Goldenstein. The show’s plot is centred on Hitler’s inability to get along with his neighbours. for a special how about the recently shot but never to be aired [Michael Jackson Special](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12101423) > [@](#): > > The Discovery Channel television network has said it will not air a re-enactment of Michael Jackson’s autopsy, amid concerns the programme was distasteful. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011/20 "2011-01-01T17:28:25Z")
I nominate “Embarrassing Medical Conditions”. This particular show means that even if you have no intentions of EVER watching it, you can channel surf while eating your dinner and delight in a full screen shot of a hairy haemorrhoid-clustered arse. With a British accent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-concept-for-a-tv-special-or-series-ever/566011.md?page=2)