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What are some of the dumbest TV shows you've watched from the past? Should have left in the past.
For me, "Diagnoses Murder" was one of the dumbest.
Doctor Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) was not only a physician, but a surgeon (once in a while I remember him operating) and investigator (homicides), alongside his son. Amazing how he got the time! And, the credentials! It has to be one of the dumbest shows ever on TV.
Alf--dumb.
Sure there are tons more, but these are the ones that come to mind right now.
How about "My mother the car". I think Jerry Van Dyke was the star of that one (could be wrong). Fortunately I was too young to remember much about that show, other than it was really stupid
What are some of the dumbest TV shows you've watched from the past? Should have left in the past.
For me, "Diagnoses Murder" was one of the dumbest.
Doctor Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) was not only a physician, but a surgeon (once in a while I remember him operating) and investigator (homicides), alongside his son. Amazing how he got the time! And, the credentials! It has to be one of the dumbest shows ever on TV.
Alf--dumb.
Sure there are tons more, but these are the ones that come to mind right now.
What was odd about it? He was Chief of Surgery and his son was a police lieutenant. Dr. Sloan was a police consultant as well. There are actually physicians that do this in the real world.
Diagnosis Murder was similar to Matlock (and to a lesser extent, Murder, She Wrote) in its premise and in its execution. Dick Van Dyke, like Matlock's Andy Griffith and MSW's Angela Lansbury, was/is an icon of TV and films, and some producers decided to develop a crime/mystery show around him, trading on his high visibility among older viewers. I've only seen a few episodes of Diagnosis, but it seemed much like a lot of "formula" shows that are not especially inspired, but not awful or "stupid", either.
I'd say 'concept' shows like Manimal or Cop Rock would be more likely to be branded "stupid" simply because there was nothing like them in TV (and for good reason) and people did not stick around to watch them. There was a particularly memorable (not in a good way) show on NBC in the mid-1980s called Mr. Smith which featured a talking orangutan in the title role. "Stupid" is so open to interpretation that I guess it means little, but I guess when people vote with the remote (that is, tune to something else) it's not a vote of confidence.
Small Wonder was really dumb. That town had to be full of idiots for them to believe she was a real girl. No one questions why she wore the same outfit every day and spoke like a robot.
Murder She Wrote demanded that viewers embrace an incredibly absurd premise....that this one tiny town in Maine has a homicide rate of around 50 %....the other 50% being the killers. Further, despite the weekly slaughter, the same inept police personnel remained in their jobs, even though they always required the intervention of an elderly mystery writer to solve the crime for them.
The only break Cabot Cove ever got was when Ms. Fletcher was traveling. The murderers would politely wait for her return before resuming their misdeeds. However, Cabot Cove's good fortune would be misfortune for those at Ms. Fletcher's destination, because she would no sooner arrive, than someone in her orbit would be killed. Sometimes she didn't even have to arrive, the murder would take place aboard whatever means of transportation she was using. All of these road crimes would also baffle the local law, again necessitating Fletcher doing their job for them.
How about "My mother the car". I think Jerry Van Dyke was the star of that one (could be wrong). Fortunately I was too young to remember much about that show, other than it was really stupid
I had a feeling someone would mention this right off the bat . When I was a kid and watched it.. I loved it! Haven't seen an episode since so I'm sure I would hate it as an adult but as a kid.. it was the bomb (or.. as we said back then.. boss) to have a talking car. Which now that I think about it... may have led to the premise for Herbie the Love Bug.
I agree with:
Small Wonder
The Cavemen
Murder She Wrote - Mrs. Fletcher had thousands of nieces and nephews too. I would be afraid to be related to her or a friend of hers because I would either be murdered if a friend, or accused of murder if a relative. I kept waiting for someone the conk her over the head.
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. When I was a kid and watched it.. I loved it! Haven't seen an episode since so I'm sure I would hate it as an adult but as a kid.. it was the bomb (or.. as we said back then.. boss) to have a talking car. Which now that I think about it... may have led to the premise for Herbie the Love Bug.
