As someone who’s spent a good chunk of my life consuming media, I can confidently say that these TV show titles are as far from catchy as a three-legged donkey at a horse race.
Often, it’s wise not to make assumptions about something solely based on its appearance, whether literally or figuratively, but there are instances where a quick judgment can be justified, such as when considering a name. This is true for TV shows just as much as other things, with many lists of the greatest ever featuring traditional, straightforward titles, while some cleverly-named ones are sprinkled in too.
From an alternative perspective, there are numerous television productions with titles that are so odd, off-target, or simply dreadful, it’s astonishing they made it from idea to completion without undergoing a significant name transformation.
H8R
The concept here seems coherent enough: famously derisive celebrities have face-to-face experiences with their biggest naysayers. But not even host Mario Lopez’s ageless dimples should have sold anyone on the SMS-specific title H8R.
Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place
“The ’90s comedy show, ‘Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,’ is unique in that it changed its official title after two seasons to ‘Two Guys and a Girl.’ This shift didn’t introduce any clever abbreviations or acronyms but somehow managed to maintain the same level of cheesiness without going overboard.
S#*! My Dad Says
Whenever TV shows opt for quirky punctuation in their titles, it can be quite irritating. The television adaptation of Justin Halpern’s book based on his social media feeds retained the use of censored profanity, which works fine on paper but makes discussing it awkward, requiring one to first ensure there are no children present before speaking about it.
Jake and the Fatman
In this 1980s crime drama title, I find myself puzzled by the fact that William Conrad’s character, D.A. J.L. McCabe, is referred to as “Fatman” as one combined word, yet the title isn’t “Jake and Fatman.” It seems strange that he’s not being called simply “The Fatman.” Is there a logic gap within these four words?
VR.5
One title trend that got old immediately was adding “2.0” to any kind of product’s remake or upgrade, but I at least understand it. Why Fox’s virtual reality-centered thriller added a decimal point in between an abbreviation and a number is beyond me, though, and I can think of at least 3.5 conversations that should have led to a better title than VR.5.
It’s Like…You Know
ABC’s It’s Like…You Know seemed immediately destined to end up in a DVD box set of shows named after cringe-worthy phrases with miniscule shelf lives along with the (fictiona) projects That Just Happened and Sure Thing. Not! Can you imagine how much combined time could have been saved if we removed all the pauses people had to take during that needless ellipsis?
Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search
After several less significant Coyote Ugly contest series have run their course – including the Unremarkable Coyote Ugly Quest, The Moderately Impressive Coyote Ugly Quest, and the Exceptional Coyote Ugly Quest with Some Restrictions – only then can a title truly claim to be the Grand Finale Coyote Ugy Search. And let’s admit it, “ugly search” sounds as smooth as a misshapen wheel.
Haggis Baggis
TV Title Guideline #39: If your show title immediately conjures up Scottish dishes made from sheep innards, consider revising. And if you must use it, at least avoid having the second word rhyme with the first, as it gives off a vibe of a rejected James Bond antagonist. (Paraphrased)
2ge+her
The television movie and series spinoff titled “2ge+her” by MTV, which is based on a fictional boy band and intentionally poor quality, is something I find amusing despite its humor not always being uproarious. However, if the humor isn’t strong enough to justify copyright protection, it’s time for a name change. For instance, the more straightforward title “2Gether” triggers half as many eye twitches, but there are other options such as “2GE+HER” or “2Ge+Her”, where the eye twitching doesn’t subside.
How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest of Your Life)
This brief 2013 television series seems to be the antithesis of a self-improvement book, and one I wouldn’t mind leaving untouched on the bookshelf. While it excels in sitcom storyline development, by the time you finish discussing it, the end credits are already rolling.
Episodes
In essence, I get that “Episodes” isn’t the worst title out there. However, when David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik conceived this spin-off for Matt LeBlanc, they likely didn’t consider the inconvenience it causes me – having to coexist in a universe where “the newest episode of Episodes” is a phrase. It feels oddly redundant, much like if a book was titled “Chapter of the Book”. Wouldn’t it sound peculiar to ask, “Did you read the latest chapter of the book Chapter of the Book?
Gay, Straight, Or Taken
I would find this dating show more credible if all three aspects in the title fell under a common theme of competing ideas. However, being “taken” and being gay or straight are not comparable concepts. Even when referring to the Liam Neeson movie franchise, they remain distinct. A more straightforward title, although less catchy, would be something like “Gay/Straight & Single/Taken“. This title maintains a logical structure but is somewhat lengthier.
Wild West C.O.W. Boys Of Moo Mesa
A forgotten Saturday morning cartoon series inspired by theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ popularity, but with less successfully descriptive title, Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa boasts a mess of a name. “Wild west cowboys” is redundant, while the fictional location of Moo Mesa doesn’t mean anything to newcomers. And the acroynm just confuses things further, especially after learning that “C.O.W.” stands for “Code of the West.” (Everything is more or less forgiven thanks to the character name Warden Gordon Boredon.)
Canada’s Worst Handyman
In a general sense, I can’t grasp the joy in observing people perform tasks they’re not skilled at. Even if there’s a possibility that certain programming related to this could be entertaining, I’m still unsure. The show “Canada’s Worst Handyman” would probably never surpass other options for me. Perhaps something like “Lithuania’s Worst Contrabassonist”.
Scott Baio Is 45…And Single
Even if I cared about Scott Baio’s romantic life with all of my heart, that wouldn’t outweigh the part of me that thinks TV series should be titled in a way that isn’t irrelevant as fact a year later. We’ll even set aside ellipsis complaints here just to focus on how dumb an exchange it would be to say, “Scott Baio Is 45 ,” and have someone say, “No, he isn’t,” and then respond with, “No, the TV show.” Terrible way to spend a day, that.
Hairy Bikers
The title “Hairy Bikers” might seem a bit misleading depending on the context. If it’s about motorcyclists, it’s fitting, but if it’s about cooking, it could be off-putting. For an alien learning English, they might find it confusing or unappealing due to the name alone. However, Si King and Dave Myers are undeniably talented in their respective fields.
Platypus Man
In the prime of stand-up comedian Richard Jeni’s fame during the early 1990s, he secured his own sitcom on UPN which was inspired by his 1992 HBO special, also titled “Platypus Man”. However, it was a confusion to have two distinct entities both called “Platypus Man”. Moreover, at least one of them should revolve around a bipedal, duck-billed mutant creature.
T.H.E. Cat
In the 1960s, a drama had Robert Loggia portray a character named Thomas Cat, a reformed cat burglar, which might be a bit too whimsical for the title. Despite the many cryptic titles of that time like “Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, it’s surprising and confusing that a name made up of letters from across the alphabet failed to live up to the anticipation created by the abbreviated title T.H.E., which simply stood for his full name Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat. The rest of the alphabet fell short in creating a fitting title, given the high expectations raised by T.H.E..
101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow
If the UK version of the show “101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow” had continued for more episodes than suggested in its title, I might have found the title problematic. Naming a project with a specific limit can be rather foolish, as it may not account for potential growth or expansion. Additionally, I find the term “gameshow” combined as one word to be somewhat nonsensical. There you have it, I’ve expressed my thoughts on the matter.
I Hate My Teenage Daughter
This Jaime Pressly comedy show titled “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” tends to make private thoughts public, leading to awkward moments like when you mistakenly shout out the title instead of whispering it during a conversation with a friend about your late-night viewing, causing embarrassment in social settings such as a fundraiser filled with other parents.
Barry’d Treasure
I’m a pun-lover from day one, but even I wince a little at the title of Barry Weiss’ Storage Wars spinoff. Barry’d Treasure is admittedly spot-on when it comes to describing the show in as few syllables as possible, but I think just calling it Barry’d Treasure would tick all the same boxes, minus “Make audiences kinda hate saying the title.”
Whew!
How on earth do you say this show’s name when discussing it? Is it like the exclamatory “WOO” of Ric Flair, or the exasperated “Wee-oo” after a close call, or maybe we just avoid mentioning it altogether.
Shasta McNasty
Among UPN’s lineup of shows, the one with a questionable title might be best represented by the comedy Shasta McNasty. Regrettably, it could have been salvaged if it centered around gifted scientists working on a solution to reverse climate change that ordinary people could replicate. Unfortunately, it revolves around a three-piece rap-rock band, and Jake Busey appears to embody all of The Offspring.
American Horror Story
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel that Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s “American Horror Story” is the generic supermarket brand compared to more enticing options like “Fruit Spins” or “Marshmallow Magic.” The creation of spinoffs such as “Crime” and “Sports” only adds insult to injury, diluting the unique horror anthology magic that made it so captivating in the first place.
Rubik, The Amazing Cube
Before Barbie became popular, the Rubik’s Cube puzzle toy had already made its mark and was later turned into an animated series. However, unlike being focused on its creator Ernő Rubik, this series revolved around a personified version of the cube itself…and it was even named Rubik! This presents some complications.
What Would Ryan Lochte Do?
Olympian swimmer Ryan Lochte was a legitimate pop culture phenom thanks to the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, and quickly found his way back out of the zeitgeist due to the Lochtegate controversy and later suspension. But for a brief window in 2013, E! aired five less-than-stellar episodes of a show whose title would be used in a far jokier manner years later, What Would Ryan Lochte Do? Hopefully not another TV show.
The Law And Harry McGraw
Redefining the phrase: The television series titled “Murder, She Wrote” showcases an unusual charm in its awkwardness, and the spinoff “The Law and Harry McGraw” by Jerry Orbach seems to be more like a whimsical Dr. Seuss introduction to legal figures instead of a typical serious TV program.
13: Fear is Real
I understand that the number 13 is strongly linked to horror and eerie themes, and expressing something straightforward can sometimes amplify this feeling. However, in terms of impact, “13: Fear Is Real” receives a -13 on a scale from 1-10.
How’s Your Mother in Law?
“A game show titled ‘How’s Your Mother-in-Law?’ that was hosted by Wink Martindale, featuring comedians like Richard Dawson, George Carlin, and Nipsey Russell as defense attorneys sounds incredible. It seems hard to believe that such a comedy stereotype title made it to air.
Farmer Wants a Wife
When it comes to clearly defining its main concept, the show “Farmer Wants a Wife” certainly delivers. However, compared to other shows when it comes to sounding intellectual and using articles before nouns, this rural dating series isn’t particularly remarkable in its genre.
I Want To Work For Diddy
Getting a chance to work alongside a major celebrity might seem like a dream to some people, but something not so dreamlike is the title I Want to Work for Diddy, which sucks as a name even without thinking about Sean “Diddy” Combs becoming embroiled in controversies and legal issues. Like if there was a Jeopardy! ripoff called I Want To Win a Lot of Money for My Trivia Knowledge.
Terriers
A highly praised one-season series, “Terriers,” starring Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, often appears on “Canceled Too Soon” lists. This outstanding neo-noir crime drama serves as a strong argument for TV shows to have catchy titles that somewhat reflect their subject matter. Despite the fact that “Terriers” is about human private investigators, FX advertised it with dog imagery.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-01 21:09