Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180371
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-18 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD HUFF NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Supertrain." This 1979 NBC series was one of the most expensive mistakes in TV history. An hour-long series set on a high-speed train, "Supertrain" was "Loveboat" on rails with a swimming pool, steam room and gym in its nine cars. The sets cost millions to produce, but the story lines couldn't carry the program. It was canceled after one season.
"Pink Lady." Also from NBC, this comedy/variety series fronted by a Japanese rock duo lasted only about a month in 1980. Pink Lady was a very popular group - popular in Japan, that is. The two women who made up Pink Lady spoke little English, and what they did speak wasn't very entertaining. Comedian Jeff Altman, who co-starred in "Nurses" last season, had the unenviable role of trying to teach the Asian beauties how to survive in America. What he didn't teach them was how quickly a series can be dropped.
"You're in the Picture." The late Jackie Gleason wasn't immune to utter television disaster, as this 1961 fiasco proved. The half-hour game show/comedy program was so terrible that only one episode was aired. Four celebrities stuck their heads through cutouts in a large illustration and were supposed to guess what the total image represented. The show was so awful that Gleason returned the following week and spent the entire half-hour apologizing.
"Turn-On." Another one-shot failure, this one from comedy producer George Schlatter at the height of his success with the ground-breaking comedy "Laugh-In." After its first double-entendre-filled outing on Feb. 5, 1969, many ABC affiliates opted not to carry it again.
"Dolly." Though it ran for a season in 1987-88, ABC's attempt to bring back the variety show format was one of TV's biggest flops. Hosted by country songstress Dolly Parton, who got big bucks and a two-year commitment, "Dolly" simply didn't draw viewers. ABC tinkered with the format and shifted time periods, yet in the end "Dolly" was sent packing, with Parton receiving a healthy buyout.
"Cop Rock." Producer Steven Bochco ("Hill Street Blues") tried to marry a cop drama with a musical in this unusual 1990 series. Often in key courtroom or street scenes the entire cast would break out in song, ruining what could have been a quality drama. For example, a yuppie who had his BMW impounded and was arrested on drug charges broke into "I Want My Beemer Back!" ABC aired the show just four months, before putting it behind bars for good.
"seaQuest DSV" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on WSLS-Channel 10.
by CNB