10 TV Shows That Should Never Have Made It Past The Pilot

8. Thanks (1999), 6 episodes

Thanks Okay, clearly historical sitcoms are a bad idea. But that didn't stop someone from trying again! Only this time they ditched the whole Civil War/slavery/Lincoln-as-sex-fiend bit and instead thought, "Puritans! That's what America will laugh at!" The result was Thanks, which was once allegedly given a two-word review: "No thanks." I think there was actually some decent potential here, but it was lost in all the dross and stupidity. Had it been done in a very limited, Blackadder-esque style where each season was a different era, and the seasons were short, it might have succeeded. Instead we got this, and how anyone thought this series would have any sort of legs is beyond me.
Contributor

Chris Swanson is a freelance writer and blogger based in Phoenix, Arizona, where winter happens to other people. His blog is at wilybadger.wordpress.com