The Lyon's Den, legal drama starring Rob Lowe. Premiered on NBC on September 28, 2003, but although thirteen episodes were produced, only six aired before NBC cancelled the series on November 30, 2003, due to low ratings.
Viva Laughlin (2007) with Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith. Cancelled after 2 episodes.
shareThe Crazy Ones (2013-14) - 22 episodes with Robin Williams
shareThat was the first one I thought of also. That also had Sarah Michelle Gellar in it and I think she would qualify as a "big name" also (although not nearly as big as Robin Williams).
sharei remember this one. it got a lot of attention and it didn't work
shareLife with Lucy (1986). This sitcom was supposed to be Lucille Ball's big comeback to prime time. She even persuaded former co-star Gale Gordon to come out of retirement and join the cast. It was cancelled after only eight episodes.
https://moviechat.org/tt0090473/Life-with-Lucy
Sonny Spoon (1988)
Starred Mario Van Peebles and his real dad Melvin Van Peebles.
Cancelled after 15 episodes...
The "Michael J. Fox Show" (2013-2014). Canceled after one season/22 episodes. I adore Fox, but I tried to watch it and just couldn't do it. It was so hard (and sad, IMO) to watch him in it.
shareNot sure how big the names have to be but all the MASH spin offs failed.
After MASH
WALTER
Speaking of MASH, McLean Stevenson had three or four shows fail after he left the show.
shareYes, I liked the one where he was a DJ and he had the hot chick from Tuff Turf in it. It was a spin off of DiffRent Strokes.
shareThat was Hello, Larry. I was also a fan of Kim Richards and the actress who played the other daughter.
EDIT: Donna Wilkes. I had forgotten her name because she didn't do much after leaving this series.
https://moviechat.org/tt0078623/Hello-Larry
Yep that's the one. Kim Richards became the ultimate 80's girl for me in Tuff Turf. I am surprised that it lasted two seasons it was shown here in off rating season and I don't think I saw more than a couple of eps if that.
Donna also played "Angel" in "Angel" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086896/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_13_act
Another classic looking 80's lady. If I recall correctly in Hello Larry her character was a bit of a wise ass. I might have to look up some eps on Youtube. What do you know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlpSx6goPyM
I just watched the trailer for Angel in that link you posted. Thank you. I forgot how cute she was!
I never thought Hello, Larry was that great of a show. I only watched it because of Kim and Donna.
Yeah, I saw Angel when it came out. When you mentioned Donna hadn't done much since Hello Larry I looked her up on IMDB and was surprised to see she was in Angel, I never made that correlation! She had great legs too!
Back then I was an unusally housebound kid so watched whatever I could find on free to air TV which was the only TV we had in Australia at the time. I like Kim and Donna too which was probably a bonus. Most sitcoms and tv shows back then were pretty average really.
Jimmie Walker tells a Hollywood Squares story about Paul Lynde zinging a MASH alumni show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHf2alDX82E&t=190s
McLean said that when he left MASH he thought people were in love with McLean Stevenson but when his shows bombed he realized they just loved Henry Blake. Not the first actor from a hit show or movie to find that they can't replicate the success in something else.
share