Television's Shortest-Lived and Worst Comedy Ever! : 'My Mother, the Car'

We all know that television screenwriters occassionally have a major flop in their life that goes belly-up just because of ratings and audience approval. But, from what I have learned about the short-lived comedy, 'My Mother, The Car' starring Jerry Van Dyke, I began to become just slightly more appreciative of what I have to watch today, as the idea of a man speaking to a car (with it answering back) that was in fact his long-departed mother reincarnated for some strange reason just creeped me out!

The series first aired on NBC on September 8th, 1965, and then was quickly escorted off of the airwaves in late 1966 due to simple non-interest and the ratings. The story centered around attroney David Crabtree (*played by Jerry Van Dyke), who was on the prowl to find a new car for his family. Just like it always was in the sixties, it was the ever popular station wagon. But, after David hears a strange voice eminating from the car radio of an old beat-up 1928 Porter, he decides to buy this car instead of the wagon and then has the car restored, taking it home as the family's new vehicle. But, what David did not know was that the voice emanating from the radio was that of his dearly departed mother (*voiced by Ann Sothern), who had returned from the Great Beyond and was now reincarnated in the old jalopy. But all is not well, as Dave has a conniving evil villain on his tail that wants the car, the evil Capt. Manzini (*played by Avery Screiber), who is looking to make the car part of his own personal collection.

Now, why the heck was the series produced and then pulled just as so soon? Historical sources say that the series was created due to simply the success of other shows that the network had made, such as 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' and 'Bewitched', and merely decided to give this show a try in order to gain the same success. But, what they had not planned on was running into some other TV Land heavies that were in competition with it, such as 'Gunsmoke' and 'Combat', which were way ahead of it in the ratings game during that time period and had major followings. So, in November of 1966, the series was cancelled and never heard from again.

'My Mother, The Car' has now been classified as the 'lemon of television' by those who are television historians and experts, but is still talked about as a matter of television trivia in those same circles.

I had never thought that one show would have been considered an eyesore on TV as this one has, but the next question is whatever came of Jerry Van Dyke? Jerry had went on to other television shows after that (*one seasoners, sadly) such as 'Accidental Family', which aired in 1967 where he was cast as a nightclub comedian, and 'The Headmaster', a drama which aired in 1970 where he played opposite Andy Griffith as a physical education coach. He had been offered a role on 'The Bob Newhart Show' in the 1980's as the role of his idiotic neighbor, George Utley, but was turned down after the role was given to Tom Poston (*who also starred alongside Newhart in the long-running series of the same name from the late 1980's-early 1990's.)

It was not until the 1990's when Jerry was able to get some real head-way and make a name for himself and put the memory of being the star of television's 'worst show ever' and star opposite Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, and former 50's one-hit wonder songstress, Shelley Fabares in the ABC hit series, 'Coach'. Now, Van Dyke has retired to Arkansas and is currently a cattle rancher.

So, while we all think that TV could not get any worse from having to watch another model wannabe try to get in good with Tyra Banks, just think what it would be like having to go to work every day and have to spend it entirely talking to an inanimate object and pretend that it's your mother! Move over, 'Mama's Family', or you may just get run over!