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My Mother The Car

S

STU1NYRF

Guest
Greetings,

"My Mother The Car" is widely considered one of the worst shows ever broadcast on network television. It was cancelled after one season, I believe 1965-66. Can anyone tell me how many viewers tuned in to watch this show on a weekly basis? (I was one of them.) How would that total compare to current shows that are considered hits, such as "The Sopranos," "The Simpsons" and "Desparate Housewives?" How many viewers, these 40 years later when there are so many more homes with televisions, do these hit shows get each week?<P ID="signature">______________
Stu Dolgon</P>
 
Stu,

I also watched it. I guess I don't count since I was only 8 years old at the time. But I also don't think that it ruined the career of Jerry Van Dyke.
 
> Greetings,
>
> "My Mother The Car" is widely considered one of the worst
> shows ever broadcast on network television. It was
> cancelled after one season, I believe 1965-66. Can anyone
> tell me how many viewers tuned in to watch this show on a
> weekly basis? (I was one of them.)

Well, I was another one. I think we're now tied with the audience of some of the "new" shows that last about 3 episodes before they're pulled.

I freely admit I'm a sitcom junkie, but I also had a thing for Ann So(u)thern :)
 
> Stu,
>
> I also watched it. I guess I don't count since I was only 8
> years old at the time. But I also don't think that it ruined
> the career of Jerry Van Dyke.


The show has been on the old Trio Cable Channel in the last couple years. I also watched it when I was younger. Even now I don't think it was all that bad. Worst you could say is that it was somewhat bland, but no worse than most of the sitcoms of that day..
 
I think it was so bad simply because it didn't even TRY to be funny. I mean it's tragic to see actors trying a bit, and it is failing but when neither the actors nor the material is the least bit funny, it's tragic.In an interview I think Ann Sothern says it all. She said something to the jist of She said "I'm what's called a working actress. I have to work to make a living and I don't always get to choose the best roles. But it's work."And that seems to be the attitude of everyone connected with the show. No one thought it was funny from the get go. No one put any effort into trying to make it even mildly amusing.It was just plain old boring
 
Yeah, I watched it and still remember the lyrics of the themesong. But My Mother The Car was, supposedly, NBC's answerto CBS's Mr. Ed. The talking-horse premise is just as absurd,but I think it worked for two reasons: one, the horse wasappealing in his own right; two, who's wondered whattheir pets would say if they could talk? (Answer to questiontwo, I have, but never gave a thought to a car that couldtalk--no, I didn't care much for Knight Rider, either.)Ann Sothern was far better as Susie McNamara and KatyO'Connor on her two 1950s sitcoms.
 
Lucky for JVD, "Coach" eventually came along -- he was born to play Luther. :)"My Mother the Car" was the inspiration for a great parody on "SCTV," in the episodes where a Russian satellite is cutting in on SCTV's broadcasts. One of the Russian shows is "Tibor's Tractor" in which a peasant's tractor starts talking to him and turns out to be the reincarnation of Khrushchev!!
 
bpatrick said:
Yeah, I watched it and still remember the lyrics of the themesong. But My Mother The Car was, supposedly, NBC's answerto CBS's Mr. Ed. The talking-horse premise is just as absurd,but I think it worked for two reasons: one, the horse wasappealing in his own right; two, who's wondered whattheir pets would say if they could talk?
Click to expand...
Mr Ed was insane for one reason and one reason alone. And Wilber was it. No heterosexual male in the ENTIRE WORLD, would be spending all his time with a horse if he had a wife that looked like Wilbur's wife Carol
 
Stanislav said:
Lucky for JVD, "Coach" eventually came along -- he was born to play Luther. :)"My Mother the Car" was the inspiration for a great parody on "SCTV," in the episodes where a Russian satellite is cutting in on SCTV's broadcasts. One of the Russian shows is "Tibor's Tractor" in which a peasant's tractor starts talking to him and turns out to be the reincarnation of Khrushchev!!
Click to expand...
"You fool! Love you can find anywhere. But does she have a backhoe?"
 
Mark said:
Mr Ed was insane for one reason and one reason alone. And Wilber was it. No heterosexual male in the ENTIRE WORLD, would be spending all his time with a horse if he had a wife that looked like Wilbur's wife Carol
Click to expand...
I've heard that one before, and I don't disagree, but I'll stick by what I said.
 
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