1. Fastest Cancellations in Television History
Television networks waste no time in cancelling shows with abysmal ratings. TV is
all about bringing in advertising revenue. If few people tune-in to watch a show,
advertisers are quick to spend their money elsewhere.
The list of TV Shows to suffer quick cancellations is endless. A few do stand out
from the crowd by getting the network axe at lightning speed after making it to the
ai r.
1. "Turn-On" (1969): ABC network officials were so alarmed by the racy content
of this "Laugh-In" clone that they made the decision to cancel the show halfway
through the broadcast of the debut episode.
2. "Garbage Pail Kids" (1987): CBS executives felt the heat from parental groups
after giving the green light to this series based on the popular '80s trading cards.
Advertisers pulled out over concerns that it glorified violence in the same manner
as the trading cards and the show bit the dust soon after.
3. "The Mike O’Malley Show" (1999): NBC pulled this series about a 30 year
old hockey fan making major life changes after only two episodes. A new pilot
episode was taped after the original pilot received scathing critical reviews.
4. "Liza and David" (2002): Control freak antics from David Gest derailed this
VH1 reality series with his then-wife Liza Minnelli before it ever aired an episode.
Gest cancelled shoots at the last minute, screamed at film crews who did not wear
surgical booties on set and locked Minnelli in their apartment.
5. "Dot Comedy" (2002): This show was built around the concept later
popularized by YouTube of showcasing funny videos popping up on the internet.
Problem is few viewers found the ABC show funny enough to actually tune in. It
lasted just one episode.
6. "Emily’s Reasons Why Not" (2006): Rule no. 1 for TV shows is never pick up
a show without seeing a pilot episode first. ABC did it with this sitcom starring
Heather Graham as a single career woman who uses a list making system to
determine who she dates. One unfunny and poorly rated episode later, the show
was history.
7. "Secret Talents of the Stars" (2008): Hoping to cash in on the "Dancing with

2. the Stars" success, CBS launched this competition show showcasing unknown
talents of washed up B-list stars. Viewers voted on who was the most talented
celebrity. It aired one episode before CBS pulled the plug a day later.
8. "Rosie Live" (2008): Rosie O' Donnell has a penchant for burning through talk
shows and magazines in short periods of time. This NBC variety show, which TV
Guide described as "dead on arrival," is her most notable failure. Meant to
showcase O' Donnell's singing and comedic talents, it lasted a single episode.
9. "Osbournes: Reloaded" (2009): FOX dumped this variety show hosted by the
Osbournes after one episode when several network affiliates moved it to an early
morning time slot or refused to air it altogether citing concerns over the
inappropriate content in many of the show's sketches.