15 TV Guide Ads Teasing Shows That Flopped
Numerous potential television programs have failed and burned up faster than a paper airplane in a windstorm throughout the history of the medium. To create anticipation for their next series, networks used to spend a lot of money on glitzy ads when TV Guide was the bible of television programming.
These advertisements, which frequently used complex taglines and dramatic graphics to draw attention on the magazine rack, promised viewers everything from innovative humor to pioneering drama. Unfortunately, flashy advertising couldn’t save many of these shows from becoming spectacular failures.
Here is a list of 15 TV Guide ads that hyped television series destined for cancellation.
My Mother the Car
NBC’s 1965 sitcom about a man whose deceased mother returns as a 1928 Porter automobile received one of the most enthusiastic TV Guide campaigns of its era. The advertisement featured Jerry Van Dyke grinning next to the anthropomorphic vehicle with copy that read ‘The most unusual family comedy ever conceived!’
The show’s premise was so bizarre that even the most creative advertising couldn’t make it appealing to mainstream audiences, and it was cancelled after just one season.
Supertrain
This 1979 NBC disaster masqueraded as a luxury train drama, complete with TV Guide ads showing a sleek locomotive racing across scenic landscapes. The marketing materials boasted about the show’s massive budget and promised viewers ‘television’s most expensive adventure.’
What they didn’t mention was that the series would become one of the costliest flops in TV history, burning through millions of dollars while attracting virtually no viewers.
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Manimal
The TV Guide ads for this 1983 NBC series featured dramatic close-ups of a man transforming into various animals, accompanied by taglines like ‘He’s not just a man… he’s every animal!’ The concept was so outlandish that the advertisements themselves became more memorable than the actual show.
Despite the eye-catching visuals and mysterious tone of the marketing campaign, audiences weren’t interested in watching a crime fighter who could shapeshift into panthers and hawks.
Pink Lady and Jeff
NBC’s 1980 variety show received a massive TV Guide advertising push, featuring the Japanese pop duo Pink Lady alongside comedian Jeff Altman in colorful, disco-era layouts. The ads promised ‘the most exciting musical variety hour on television’ and highlighted the duo’s international appeal.
However, the language barrier between the hosts and the confusing format made the show unwatchable, leading to cancellation after just six episodes.
Cop Rock
Steven Bochco’s 1990 musical police drama got the full TV Guide treatment with ads showing tough cops breaking into song against urban backdrops. The marketing emphasized the show’s unique blend of crime drama and Broadway-style musical numbers, calling it ‘television like you’ve never seen before.’
While that tagline was technically accurate, viewers weren’t ready for police officers solving crimes through choreographed dance sequences, and the show lasted only 11 episodes.
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The Jerry Springer Show (Original Talk Show Format)
Before becoming a circus of outrageous guests, Jerry Springer’s show launched in 1991 as a serious political talk program, complete with dignified TV Guide advertisements. The early marketing materials featured Springer in professional attire discussing important social issues, promising viewers ‘intelligent conversation about the topics that matter.’
This highbrow approach failed miserably, forcing the show to reinvent itself as the chaotic spectacle it eventually became.
Viva Laughlin
CBS’s 2007 musical dramedy received elaborate TV Guide spreads featuring the cast of this Las Vegas-set series mid-song and dance. The advertisements promised a sophisticated blend of drama and music, comparing it to successful Broadway productions.
Unfortunately, viewers found the random musical interludes jarring and unnecessary, leading to cancellation after just two episodes aired.
Emily’s Reasons Why Not
This 2006 ABC sitcom starring Heather Graham received significant TV Guide promotion, with ads showcasing Graham’s comedic timing and romantic mishaps. The marketing campaign positioned the show as the next ‘Friends’ or ‘Will & Grace,’ promising viewers a fresh take on single life in the city.
Despite the optimistic advertising, the show was so poorly received that ABC pulled it from the schedule after broadcasting only one episode.
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The Lone Gunmen
The X-Files spinoff received extensive TV Guide coverage in 2001, with mysterious advertisements featuring the three conspiracy theorist characters in dramatic poses. The marketing materials emphasized the show’s connection to the popular parent series and promised viewers the truth behind the truth.
However, without Mulder and Scully to anchor the stories, audiences weren’t interested in following these quirky side characters on their adventures.
Cavemen
Based on the popular GEICO commercials, this 2007 ABC sitcom was heavily promoted in TV Guide with ads showing the caveman characters navigating modern life. The marketing campaign tried to expand the simple commercial concept into a full sitcom premise, promising viewers ‘evolution has never been this funny.’
The transition from 30-second spots to 30-minute episodes proved impossible, and the show was cancelled after 13 episodes.
Work It
ABC’s 2012 cross-dressing workplace comedy received colorful TV Guide advertisements showing two men dressed as women trying to land jobs during the recession. The marketing materials attempted to position the show as harmless workplace humor, emphasizing the lengths people would go to find employment.
However, critics and audiences found the premise offensive and outdated, leading to cancellation after just two episodes.
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The Playboy Club
NBC’s 2011 period drama set in a 1960s Playboy Club received glossy TV Guide spreads featuring the cast in vintage costumes and club settings. The advertisements promised viewers a sophisticated look at changing social attitudes and women’s liberation, comparing it to successful period dramas like ‘Mad Men.’
Despite the polished marketing and high production values, the show failed to find an audience and was cancelled after three episodes.
Happy Town
This 2010 ABC mystery series received mysterious TV Guide ads featuring the small-town cast with taglines like ‘Some secrets are worth keeping… others will destroy you.’ The marketing campaign tried to capture the eerie atmosphere of successful shows like ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Lost.’
Unfortunately, the convoluted plot and unlikeable characters couldn’t live up to the intriguing advertisements, and the show was cancelled after eight episodes.
The Event
NBC’s 2010 conspiracy thriller received massive TV Guide promotion with cryptic advertisements showing dramatic scenes and the tagline ‘What is The Event?’ The marketing campaign generated significant buzz by keeping the show’s central mystery completely secret.
However, when viewers finally tuned in, they discovered a confusing mess of time jumps and alien conspiracies that made no sense, leading to cancellation after one season.
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FlashForward
This 2009 ABC science fiction series got extensive TV Guide coverage with ads showing the global catastrophe that causes everyone to experience visions of their future. The marketing materials compared the show to ‘Lost’ and promised viewers a mind-bending mystery that would keep them guessing.
Despite the ambitious premise and impressive special effects featured in the advertisements, the show couldn’t maintain viewer interest and was cancelled after one season.
When Hype Meets Reality
These failed series remind us that even the most compelling advertisements can’t save a fundamentally flawed television show. TV Guide’s colorful spreads and dramatic taglines created expectations that these programs simply couldn’t meet, proving that substance matters more than style in the entertainment business.
The gap between marketing promises and actual content delivery became a cautionary tale for networks investing heavily in promotion without ensuring quality programming. While these shows may have flopped, their ambitious TV Guide campaigns remain fascinating artifacts of television history, showcasing the eternal optimism of network executives and the power of creative advertising to generate excitement for even the most doomed projects.
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