In September of 1977, NBC released an American western TV series called ‘The Oregon Trail,’ which they thought would be critically acclaimed and wildly successful. However, the opposite was the case – the show was canceled after a month, with only 7 episodes out of the produced 13 being aired.
The show starred Rod Taylor, a widower that leaves his farm in Illinois in 1842 to reach the Pacific Northwest by taking the Oregon Trail. A cast that included Tony Becker, Darleen Carr, and Andrew Stevens, wasn’t enough to save ‘The Oregon Trail’ from getting the axe.
Hello, Larry
McLean Stevenson was a big celebrity back in the 1970s, mainly after starring on the hit TV show, 'MASH.' But his charisma and acting weren't enough to make the 1979 NBC show 'Hello, Larry' a hit story. The script and production weren't good enough, but the show still somehow managed to last for two seasons.
The main character, Larry Adler, is a radio talk show host who moves to Portland with two teenage daughters. It could've been great, but it was just boring and not funny enough for viewers.
Doc Elliot
Long before 'E.R.' and 'Grey's Anatomy,' there was 'Doc Elliot.' Released in 1973, this medical drama centered around Dr. Benjamin Elliot, played by James Franciscus, and his helper Mags Brimble, portrayed by Neva Patterson. Elliot was a famous New York doctor that decided to leave the city and move to the backwoods of Southern Colorado, where he made house calls by plane or off-road vehicles.
The extravagant cars and airplanes were supposed to draw more viewers to the show, but apparently, it wasn't enough to keep people interested. So, in August of 1974, the show was canceled altogether.
Grady
Even though this spin-off show was starred by famous American actor Whitman Mayo, it couldn't live up to its original show's wild success. 'Grady' was a spin-off of the famous TV show 'Sanford and Son', focusing solely on one of the show's characters, neighbor Grady Wilson.
NBC aired the show in 1975, but low ratings and poor character development caused it to get canceled after just 10 episodes. Undoubtedly, casting wasn't one of the show's problems, as it included not only Whitman Mayo in the lead role but also Joe Morton and Carol Cole. Sadly, 'Grady' didn't make it in the TV world.
Sanford Arms
'Sanford Arms' was another spin-off show released by NBC in an attempt to capitalize on its previous series, 'Sanford and Son.' The new series, released in 1977, followed the story of a widower and his two teenage children while they run a rooming house called the 'Sanford Arms.'
Of course, this all happened after 'Sanford and Son' characters Fred and Lamont moved to Arizona at the end of the show. Unfortunately, 'Sanford Arms' didn't fare too well with audiences, and it got canceled after just 8 episodes, out of which only 4 got aired.