Top 10 Worst Primetime TV Bombs of 2006

Looking back on 2006 Primetime TV, it's interesting to see that many of the shows which were meant to replace 2005's worst bombs were in fact the worst bombs of 2006. This is in part because primetime 2006, which began this fall, hasn't been very "bomb-filled", but it's also because most of the early 2006 shows were just incredibly bad. There were also some bombs that began in 2005 and died a slow death in 2006. They have been included here, too, in a totally subjective list of the 10 Worst Bombs in Primetime TV in 2006, presented in no particular order.

1. Emily's Reasons Why Not. This show starred Heather Graham, a bona fide movie starlet, I guess, as a woman writing an advice column while also bungling her own personal life. Despite a reportedly massive ad campaign and promise that the set-up was "like Sex And The City" for ABC, viewers had no shortage of reasons why not to watch this show. I think the number one reason was it stunk.

2. Courting Alex. Oh, great, Jenna Elfman's back for more TV wackiness. Remember Dharma and Greg? While plenty of people were probably glad to see a sitcom that centered on a woman instead of a 26-year old, brown-haired, semi-dorky white man (can't they ever at least be blond?), the show was a smashing non-success. I can't say I ever watched it, but that might be because the ads were enough in and of themselves to keep me far, far away.

3. Happy Hour. This FOX sitcom had the distinction of being the first comedy bomb of primetime 2006. Starring a bunch of 20-something white friends trying to figure out life and love as they drink. The show was universally panned, and not just because the premise is played out. Apparently, it just an abysmally unfunny show. 4. Just Legal. Hey, it's the return of Don Johnson. I know what you're thinking, this legal drama(dy) was canned early in '05, not '06. True, but, it did come back briefly in '06, so it counts. I really liked this show which featured Don Johnson as an uncharacteristically losery lawyer who'd turned in his former brilliance for down-and-out-hood. He's turned around by an idealistic, underage legal prodigy who he starts to train. It was like Ally McBeal meets House meets, I don't know, but it was novel and pretty well acted and written, so I was annoyed when it was cancelled. 5. Commander In Chief. This is the mother of all bombs. Started in 2005 with good reviews and great ratings, this Geena Davis vehicle bombed but good in 2006. The show went through a variety of show-runners and cast changes, but never really overcame the main problems which, in my opinion, included softball political writing, boring family stories and a supporting cast that was too small and didn't gel. Anyhow, as bombs go, this wasn't the worst as it did get Davis an Emmy nomination. 6. Love Monkey. Hey, it's the return of Tom Cavanagh. Remember "Ed". This show didn't completely stink. The show got some decent reviews and was really plugged by CBS. Cavanagh was good as a half cynical-half idealistic record exec looking for new talent and, of course, love. But the supporting cast storylines which struggled to make the show more "Male Sex & The City" or, I don't know what, were lame and warmed over and didn't allow the show to ultimately triumph in its not-so-great timeslot. I forget what the timeslot was, but it was not-so-great. 7. The Book of Daniel. There's always a group or two out there complaining there's not enough religion on TV. So, NBC comes out with a show about a minister and his family, and what do these same groups do: boycott. Why? Well, I guess the minister had a drug issue, a gay son, and there was another guy who embezzled. I don't even remember. The show aired Fridays at 10PM which is probably the worst slot to start a show in. But there was some trouble. Apparently, the religious shows certain groups want are supposed to feature people who have no battles with their religion, just everything goes smoothly and they rescue kittens or homeless people or something. 8. Conviction. But, but, but, it's Dick Wolf. And it's about lawyers. Tradition and legacy weren't enough to stop the destruction of this midseason replacement last spring. Perhaps one L&O court drama too many, this show starred Bebe Neuwirth, Kirk Aceveda, Julianne Nicholson and that female firefighter from Third Watch and focused not so much on the crime as on the court stuff. The late Jerry Orbach starred in early episodes. None of it was enough to woo fans over. 9. Four Kings/The Loop/Teachers/Free Ride. I put these shows together in a four-decker bomb sandwich because I couldn't tell you which was which, except, maybe I could distinguish the teachers one since it was in a school and everyone taught. And Four Kings had that red-headed kid from Buffy and a better timeslot than the others. All of these shows were mid-season, early 2006 sitcoms. All of them starred white, brunette, 20-something men and looking for love, doing jobs, hanging with their 'bros, dealing with their fams and KABOOM. 10. 3lbs. This show about a bigtime neurosurgeon and his more down to earth colleague has been floating around TV for a few years, it seems. I think they were going to put it on in '05, but then waited. It was supposed to be midseason this year, but they put it on earlier because Smith tanked (snap, Smith, that should be on the list….) Anyhow, it was supposed to be this big deal with Stanley Tucci and Mark Feuerstein (Good Morning Miami) and it last a whole 3 episodes. Too many medical dramas maybe, bad time slot maybe, but the KABOOM still came for the show.

This second half of 2006 has faired much better than the last half, hasn't it. Sure, some old shows haven't quite been up to snuff: Gilmore Girls, maybe Lost. But other shows have picked up some- like ER and Desperate Housewives and some new shows have become small time hits: Ugly Betty, Jericho, for example. So let's hope there aren't too many misfires in the new year.