Mid-August is truly the Summer doldrums for the TV landscape and this week’s three new shows across two different decades are all the cheapest shows to produce — reality series. One was a clip show with a guy who was hosting a clip show on another network; one was a semi-scripted bowling competition; and one was a prank show. Were any of these shows memorable? You tell us.
1951
- No new series debuted in 1951.
1961
- No new series debuted in 1961.
1971
- No new series debuted in 1971.
1981
- No new series debuted in 1981.
1991
August 17 – Best of the Worst
- Host: Greg Kinnear
- Synopsis: A lighthearted celebration of the worst elements of life—the worst movies, the worst places to get married, the worst museums, the worst airline food, and the worst Elvis impersonators being only a few of the ‘worst’ examples.
- Network: FOX
- Broadcast History: Episode count unknown, last broadcast on January 24, 1992
- Trivia: The show finished dead last in the ratings, Number 98 of 98 shows.
2001
August 19 – Let’s Bowl
- Cast: Steve Sedahl, Rich Kronfeld, Drew Jansen, Amanda Brewer, Lisa Bartholomew, Matt Sarazine, Bill Devlin
- Synopsis: Contestants bowl against each other to settle disputes and win nearly worthless prizes.
- Network: Comedy Central
- Broadcast History: One season, 20 episodes, last broadcast on May 5, 2002
- Trivia: Described as a cross between The People’s Court and Bowling for Dollars. The series began in the mid-1990s, airing locally on three different stations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. In 1998, the show was also broadcast in Reno, NV, Madison, WI and Chicago, IL. Mystery Science Theater 3000 writer and star Michael J. Nelson was a writer on the show.
August 21 – Ultimate Revenge
- Host: Ryan Seacrest
- Cast: Karel, Kelli Mandruk, Darcy Donavan, Kevin Indio Copeland, Robert R. Shafer, Marc Summers, Nick Vallelonga, Rob Van Dam, Hilary Bettis, Paul Preston, Katie Rowe
- Synopsis: A reality TV program about fulfilling the fantasy of anyone who wants to seek revenge on their nearest and dearest.
- Network: The New TNN
- Broadcast History: The show was broadcast from August 21, 2001 to an unknown date in 2003.
2011
- No new series debuted in 2011.