Based on H.G. Wells’ ‘The Invisible Man,’ NBC’s 1976 TV show, ‘Gemini Man,’ had high hopes of success. The story revolved around Sam Casey (Ben Murphy), a secret agent who could become invisible at any time thanks to a special watch he wore. If Casey remained invisible for more than fifteen minutes within a 24-hour period, he would die.
But unfortunately, out of 11 produced episodes, only 5 made it to air after the show was abruptly cancelled. Viewers weren’t impressed by the plot or Casey’s lead role of a semi-superhero.
The P.T.L Club
Best known as 'The Jim and Tammy show' the 1974 TV show 'The P.T.L. Club' was a Christian program hosted by a religious couple; its name stood for "Praise the Lord." Luckily, viewers quickly discovered this show had nothing to do with God and everything to do with scams and money.
The show was basically designed as a scam to steal people's money, and even though it lasted 14 seasons, mainly because it only aired in the Christian PTL satellite network, everything fell apart in the late 1980s. One of the show's hosts, Jim Bakker, was accused of abuse and convicted for fraud and conspiracy.
Lucan
Based on a successful TV movie, 'Lucan' was an adventure series released in 1977 by ABC. A young and handsome Kevin Brophy played Lucan, a young man that had been raised by wolves during the first ten years of his life. After being rescued by a doctor, played by John Randolph, and taught how to live in modern society, Lucan is wrongly accused of a crime and runs away again.
The whole series, which lasted all of 11 episodes, was a cat-and-mouse game between Lucan and the cop that's chasing him, Prentiss. The fact that the boy was raised in the wild certainly gives him some edge to surviving on his own, but even with all that excitement and adventure, the show got dropped after a year.
On Our Own
American sitcom 'On Our Own' followed the lives of two roommates and co-workers who lived in New York and worked at a prestigious advertising agency. The show was shot at CBS studios in New York City, which was a rare occurrence back in the '70s since most shows were shot in Hollywood.
A good cast, including Bess Armstrong, Lynnie Greene, Gretchen Wyler, and Dixie Carter, and an entertaining plot that followed the lives of single working women in New York wasn't enough to guarantee this show a second season. This comedy series was canceled almost a year after its release.
Holmes and Yoyo
Yet another police show, 'Holmes and Yoyo,' barely lasted three months. Released by ABC in September 1976, it was pulled off the air in December of the same year. The story was about Detective Alexander Holmes and his robot partner, who was disguised as a detective called Gregory "Yoyo" Yonovich. The catch was that only very few people actually knew that he was a robot.
Unfortunately, TV Guide claimed it was one of the worst shows ever made, and that was it for 'Holmes and Yoyo.' Low ratings and viewership got the show canceled in no time.