51.

Name that Commie (1954, DuMont)

With game shows all the rage before the quiz show scandals that hit in the late fifties, it was only natural that a "topical" series would be developed. This show used a celebrity panel of "stars" such as Arlene Francis to identify which one of three assembled guests was actually a communist. Adding to the paranoid, red-baiting atmosphere were the testimonials from the alleged commie's friends, family, and neighbors. There was no "official" connection with law enforcement or government agencies, but it is believed that authorities regularly monitored the show and made life difficult for those outed as "reds." Most of the people involved in this show would rather forget it. To this day it is hard to get anyone to talk on record about this shameful reflection of red menace hysteria.

52.

Newhart, Bob (1979, NBC)

Even the legends take some missteps every now and then. Bob Newhart has been in some of our most beloved sitcoms, such as The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, but in this show he decided to throw fans a curve ball. Inverting the name was meant to be symbolic of the "new" Newhart in this series. Bob's deadpan style was brilliant as ever, but audiences just weren't ready to accept him as the owner of an adult video store. And still aren't, we'd wager.

53.

The Little Untouchables (1964-66, ABC)

Which is more appalling-the fact that ABC decided to build a shockingly violent children's cartoon around "junior" versions of gangsters like Al Capone and Frank Nitti, or the fact that the network tried to justify it as "educational programming" to the FCC? The heavy slingshot fire that was the series hallmark thrilled youngsters but incensed parents. By the time the series creators shifted to have Lil' Al Capone join forces with Lil' Elliott Ness in second grade, the momentum was gone, and the show quietly faded away.

54.

Dr. Mike Brown, Attorney-at-Law (1980, NBC)

Supposed programming genius Fred Silverman had a lot of great ideas, but combining doctor and lawyer shows was not one of them. Well, cop/lawyer shows have worked, but usually each character is ONE OR THE OTHER. And even Quincy didn't actually practice law. Mike Brown had a thriving criminal defense firm that he led by day, then somehow found time to practice surgery at night. Uh, we already had a guy like that with his own show in the fifties-it was called Superman. Not even a young Bruce Boxleitner in his first major series lead role could carry this mess.

55.

Hardly Working (1988, FOX)

Not to be confused with the Jerry Lewis movie of the same name (after all, this stinker made that flick look like a classic) this early FOX sitcom set new standards for tastelessness. The network touted the "groundbreaking" premise of a workplace comedy featuring only mentally challenged actors. Fox insisted audiences would laugh with them, but critics believed the idea was to laugh at them. You know what? Nobody laughed, period.

56.

My 3 Sons in Space (1973, CBS)

On paper, sending beloved TV icons into outer space seems like a great way to extend a franchise and maybe open up some new storylines. This move was too late to save this particular aging sitcom, though. The sketchiness of the premise (Just how did they get such a primo moon base plot on the Douglas salary?) was matched only by the tasteless gimmick of killing off the beloved Uncle Charley character and then resurrecting him as a "floating head" who lived on to watch over the ever-expanding extended brood. This tripe made I Dream of Jeannie look like gritty realism.

57.

Cowboys vs. Injuns (1958, ABC)

It's often described as the most politically incorrect Western ever, and that is saying something. Even by late-fifties standards, the saga of "Injun' Killer" Dan Taylor and his band of cowboys who rounded up and indiscriminately slaughtered grunting Native Americans was seen as simply too offensive. The reason, of course, was the hurtful, simplistic, one-dimensional caricature of Asian chef Ling Ho.

58.

That's a Rap (Syndicated, 1986-87)

Made at the height of the rap craze-the "cheesy white people think they can rap" craze, that is-this show attempted to make news "cool" by featuring "journalists" summarizing the main events of the week in inane raps that had even less cred than Rappin' Ronnie. Was this aimed at youths? Urbanites? It did bring diverse audiences together in a way-they all rejected it equally. Did anyone really become more informed by listening to Byron Allen rap about the Iran-Contra Affair?

59.

Michael Moore's Crap in a Bag (1997, Bravo)

As if TV Nation weren't enough to drive viewers away, Moore took his anti-corporate ravings to cable but apparently forgot to bring his imagination. Instead of conceiving clever stunts to annoy the power brokers he despises, Moore used this vanity project to film himself leaving paper bags containing excrement on the doorsteps of CEOs and other big-shot businessmen, lighting it, and running. He would be entitled to indulge in a juvenile prank without any redeeming social commentary every now and then, of course, but 4 or 5 times per show? Every week? Moore arrogantly excused his show's failure on the fact that viewers were confused by the title and thought it was just HIM crapping in a bag. Could it be that nobody found it entertaining?

60.

Wednesday Night Cockfights (1961-1962, CBS)

Apparently the nation needed one more night of combat entertainment to tide them over between roller derby and professional wrestling. This brutal weekly display of fowl play drew decent ratings but the good times soon turned into angry protests. Angry viewers could not tolerate the fact that these birds were fighting to the death…in fixed fights. A wave of protest spread concerning the senseless cruelty that was being inflicted on innocent, unsuspecting sports bettors, many of whom suffered significant losses as their bird was maimed in a crooked bout. An overhaul of the National Cockfighting Commission eventually led to a revamped, even more brutal show in 1963, but viewer interest was gone.