Not every half-baked television show idea run up the flagpole gets the green light, has a pilot made, or is shuffled off to turnaround limbo. Sometimes the programing wizards have the common sense to strangle the misbegotten infant notion in the cradle. Here are a few that were snuffed out before their time never came:
This Old Souse
A gaggle of plaid-shirted New England presenters attempt to rehabilitate old winos and gutter drunks. Runs twelve weeks, one step per episode.
The Amazing Rat Race
Teams compete playing computer solitaire, delivering memos, taking meetings and avoiding supervisors in an office maze. Extra points awarded for juicy gossip picked up at the water cooler.
MOPS
Camera crews follow the after dark real-life exploits of the night cleaning crew. Petty office larceny and run-ins with sleeping security guards are featured. (Subtitled)
Beer Factor
Contestants vie to see how many beers it will take to get them to do really stupid and dangerous things. Pick a fight with a biker. Make a pass at a gangster's girlfriend. The ultimate challenge: drive home.
Who Wants to be a Web Millionaire?
Contestants start with a million dollars and compete to see who can burn through it all by answering economic questions wrong most consistently.
Extreme Do-over: Home Edition
Home improvement contractors with taste correct the silly home "improvements" perpetrated on the unsuspecting victims of Ty Peddington's maniacal makeovers.
Survivor in Tora Bora
Contestants divided into two tribes the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Contestants aren't voted off but turn each other in for a reward. Challenges include bullet dodging, dust eating and tunnelling out of caved in caverns.
Antiques Backroads Show
Amateur treasure hunters track down hideous pottery and scarey brick-a-brack through the daunting wilds of curio shops and garage sales. How much is it worth... all together, "Wow!"
Westwood Bloopers and Practical Jokes
Hosted by OJ Simpson. Jokes played on crime victims include destroying evidence, confusing testimony, jury tampering, and disappearing witnesses.
copyright Terry Colon, 2006