Big Name Star Doesn't Translate To a Successful Show

[milwaukee_dave]

Julie Andrews was one of the biggest stars on the planet and her variety show tanked.

Andrews also had a sitcom that ran in summer 1992 on ABC. The network clearly knew it had a bomb on its hands, airing it with virtually no promotion and burying it in a graveyard Saturday time slot.

As a shameless plug, I wrote an article on this very topic late last year. Of course, it's subjective. Here's a link to my piece: http://listosaur.com/entertainment/10-stars-who-headlined-failed-tv-series.html?tmpl=component

 

[Tim L]

Burt Reynolds at the end his career

Reynolds had unsuccessful "starring" shows, Hawk and Dan August.  He was co-star on NBC's "Riverboat" but left midseason of the first year..

His last show, "Evening Shade" had a decent four season run (1990-94).  Unless there were other shows afterwards I have forgotten about, I think that's a very good run..

 

[skippercollector]

Rock Hudson, Macmillan & Wife and Dynasty, yes
Elizabeth Taylor, General Hospital, sort of (she played Miklos' wife during the Luke-and-Laura-save-the-world-from-freezing-to-death episodes)
Whoopi Goldberg, Baghdad Hotel and Whoopi, no; Star Trek: The Next Generation and The View, yes
Doris Day, The Doris Day Show and Doris Day's Best Friends, yes

I don't know if Bruce Davison counts or not. He's a character actor who's been in a bazillion theatrical movies, TV movies and TV series guest roles. He had a syndicated series called Harry and the Hendersons (based on the movie about the family which brings home Bigfoot) that ran for two years.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Judy Garland had a variety show (I believe on CBS) that didn't last too long.

There is a story that Garland wanted to cancel a show that was sheduled to air shortly after JFK was killed but the network brass told her they wanted the show to go on anyways.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Bob Newhart had a variety show that failed in the 60's, but then had his two hits, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart. But then in his last two shows, Bob lasted only about a season and a half, and George and Leo only lasted one season.

 

[LKellerIII]

Bob Newhart had a variety show that failed in the 60's, but then had his two hits, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart. But then in his last two shows, Bob lasted only about a season and a half, and George and Leo only lasted one season.

Newhart never starred in a film that I'm aware of, though he probably appeared as a cast member in a few.

My nomination for this category: Chevy Chase. A success in TV (in an ensemble), followed by success in comedy films for more than a decade, followed by abject failure in his TV talk show. Of course, that tanked more because of his own lack of ability, than anything wrong with the format or concept.

I guess you could call his current role as a cast member of Community a success - but again - that's as a member of an ensemble, in which he has a fairly minor role.

 

[onairb]

Bob Newhart had a variety show that failed in the 60's, but then had his two hits, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart. But then in his last two shows, Bob lasted only about a season and a half, and George and Leo only lasted one season.

Newhart never starred in a film that I'm aware of, though he probably appeared as a cast member in a few.

Newhart co-starred with Dick Van Dyke in 1971's 'Cold Turkey', and starred as the President of the US in 'First Family'(1980);both 'cult' favorites.

 

[MCarney]

Judy Garland had a variety show (I believe on CBS) that didn't last too long.

There is a story that Garland wanted to cancel a show that was sheduled to air shortly after JFK was killed but the network brass told her they wanted the show to go on anyways.

True. She turned it into a tribute. The show had several problems (besides Judy's personal issues) - it was videotaped, which curtailed foreign sales in markets that didn't use tape; James Aubrey, head of programming at CBS didn't like the show and it was put against "Bonanza"; formats and producers were changed several times.

 

[landtuna]

Newhart co-starred with Dick Van Dyke in 1971's 'Cold Turkey', ...

'Cold Turkey' is one of the funniest comedies of all time. Newhart plays the tobacco marketing guy who tries to cause the town to violate its smoking ban.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Newhart never starred in a film that I'm aware of, though he probably appeared as a cast member in a few.

The early 60's war flick "Hell Is For Heroes"...He was sort of comic relief, playing a radio operator, a role which basically gave him an excuse to do a phone bit. And, of course, as Will Ferrell's elf dad in "Elf".

 

[Ultimajock]

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