Programmes which were so bad they were pulled off TV

[Cartman]

We have touched on this in other threads, and two involving Spike Milligan were prematurely canned before the planned run was finished, Curry and Chips and The Melting Pot, in the latter case I think only one episode was ever shown.

I am sure the abysmal Tiswas spin off, OTT, was another. One more I've just remembered was a chat show featuring Peter Cook (s comic hero of mine)called Where do I sit? At the time Cook was drinking very heavily and he turned up for the live show completely bladdered. One of the guests was Kirk Douglas and he was so drunk that instead of asking "how are you?" He came out with " who are you? "

I think it was pulled after two or three episodes

Anyone know any more examples?

[Palmer]

It must be very embarrassing for anyone with a television show to be pulled off so publicly...

I know I wouldn't want to be pulled off for all to see!!!

[Three Litre]

Bruce Forsyth's Big Night lasted more than one episode but only made it to twelve and it was supposed to be a long running alternative to The Generation Game.

[Three Litre]

Apr 11, 2022 10:58:45 GMT Palmer said:

It must be very embarrassing for anyone with a television show to be pulled off so publicly...

I know I wouldn't want to be pulled off for all to see!!!

Yeah, think that would fall foul of the censors!

[Nightfly]

Apr 10, 2022 21:55:54 GMT Cartman said:

I am sure the abysmal Tiswas spin off, OTT, was another. 

Apparently OTT lasted 12 episodes. Though the idea that the large number of adults who watched TISWAS would appreciate an adult version didn't work.

The one that always comes to mind, which I have only seen clips of, is the 1990 BSB series Heil Honey, I'm Home. Neil McCaul played Adolf Hitler as a kind of spoof 1950s American Lucille Ball/Bewitched sitcom type character who crossed swords with his Jewish neighbours. It was meant to be parody and an attempt to make fun of a horrible dictator, but it was seen as going too far and was pulled after the first episode. By all accounts 13 episodes were written, 8 were recorded but only the first one ever shown. I'm all for satire and comedy that pushes the envelope, but some subjects should really be given a wide berth.

[Arthur Pringle]

I can think of 'Heil Honey I'm Home', the sitcom whose pilot episode was shown on BSkyB in 1990. 8 episodes were recorded apparently but it was cancelled after the pilot due to complaints, the show's premise being Adolf Hitler & Eva Braun living next door to a Jewish couple. 

'Win My Wage' was a gameshow which was shown in 'Deal Or No Deal''s slot whilst that programme took a short break, it was terrible & lasted 20 daily episodes. Another Noel Edmonds bomb was 'Cheap Cheap Cheap', a disastrous hybrid of gameshow & sitcom that lasted 30 episodes. Robert Kilroy Silk hosted another gameshow turkey 'Shafted'. 

'The Persuasionists' was a 2010 BBC2 sitcom about an advertising agency starring Iain Lee & Adam Buxton which was panned. I remember watching the first episode & thinking how bad it was. 

Forces TV have just shown 'Trouble In Mind', I think I read that, like 'The Persuasionists', it was moved to a later time slot due to poor ratings. 

Davina McCall had a disastrous BBC1 chat show called 'Davina' in 2006, this was pulled after 8 shows. In fact I wonder why she keeps getting work, the gameshow she hosts 'The Million Pound Drop' ( and 'The £100k Drop' ) is one of the most tedious shows I've seen. 

'Horne And Corden', a showcase for James Corden & Matthew Horne, was famously derided as self indulgent & unfunny causing a huge backlash, it went from being BBC3's highest rated show to losing half its audience. Such was the fallout from this show Horne cut all ties with Corden. 

[Three Litre]

Apr 11, 2022 18:44:44 GMT Nightfly said:

The one that always comes to mind, which I have only seen clips of, is the 1990 BSB series Heil Honey, I'm Home. Neil McCaul played Adolf Hitler as a kind of spoof 1950s American Lucille Ball/Bewitched sitcom type character who crossed swords with his Jewish neighbours. It was meant to be parody and an attempt to make fun of a horrible dictator, but it was seen as going too far and was pulled after the first episode. By all accounts 13 episodes were written, 8 were recorded but only the first one ever shown. I'm all for satire and comedy that pushes the envelope, but some subjects should really be given a wide berth.

Now that sounds like a belter! The sequel good have been called Me and V2, could have been a travel edition, Lets Visit Poland, endless gags there. 

[Cartman]

I tend to associate Davina McCall with rubbish. 

[Nightfly]

Anyone remember Shafted from around 20 years ago hosted by ex-politician Robert Kilroy-Silk ?  It lasted one series. I can't remember the rules but it involved co-operation for the first part between contestants who would build up cash and then some strategy which would lead to the decision by a contestant to "share" or "shaft" their opponent.

Kilroy-Silk would announce Will they share....or shaft? and would make a highly dubious gesture with his arms as he said "shaft".

[Dirty Epic]

I vaguely remember Shafted (Channel 5 wasn't it?) it was launched with a big fanfare then sunk without trace IIRC.

Probably no better or worse than say Pointless/The Chase/Tipping Point etc. probably they got the luck and were right place and time unlike Shafted.