10 TV Shows Too Big To Fail (That Did It Anyway)

7. Viva Laughlin

Why It Was 'Too Big'

The kind of show you look back on and wonder how it ever happened in the first place, there was a belief that Viva Laughlin would be a real success for CBS. Although a couple of years before Glee would prove the worth in a musical TV series, this had its genesis in popular BBC series Blackpool, taking the story to the even more glamorous heights of Nevada. CBS pumped millions into the show, giving it a big marketing push at the Tonys and with its first episode costing an estimated $6.8m. Its ambition was clear to see, including the fact that its cast featured Hugh Jackman, who had only a year prior starred in an X-Men film.

Why It Failed Anyway

Despite its ambition, and some actually decent musical numbers, nothing else about Viva Laughlin really worked. The story, dialogue, and performances were all rather terrible, even leading The New York Times to ask "is it the worst show in the history of television?" It was such a bomb that CBS cancelled it after just two of a planned eight episodes, not even airing other produced instalments.