Casting beloved Dick Van Dyke to star in a show of his own seemed like a sure bet. His show had it all–comedy sketches, singing, and even dancing. It seemed like there’s no way this show would ever fail. But, the show had some pretty big competitors to beat, and even Dick Van Dyke wasn’t enough to do that.
The production only lasted for 12 episodes, which was unexpected with such a big star attached. Despite only airing from September to December of 1976, the show won an Emmy, but audiences just did not connect, and the show was canceled.
The Swiss Family Robinson
'The Swiss Family Robinson' first aired on April 15, 1975. It was an adventure series that lasted for one season between 1975 to 1976. The show was based on a novel by the same name and starred Martin Milner as a man who was stranded on an island along with his wife and two young children.
Sadly, due to scheduling problems, some episodes aired as many as four times, which didn't really help keep viewers interested. The show only had 26 episodes, with the final one airing on April 4, 1976. 'The Swiss Family Robinson' was never renewed for a second season.
Amy Prentiss
'Amy Prentiss' starred Jessica Walter as the title character. The show followed Amy, a police investigator who is suddenly promoted to be Chief of Detectives after the death of the previous chief. Amy also had a teenage daughter played by the young Helen Hunt. The show was a spinoff of the show 'Ironside.'
Despite its unique premise, the show was canceled after only three episodes airing between December 1974 and February 1975. Each episode lasted two whole hours, which might have been the reason audiences had a hard time following the show.
The Snoop Sisters
'The Snoop Sisters' only lasted for four 90-minute episodes. It starred Mildred Natwick and Helen Hayes as retired sisters who try to solve mysteries. Wistfully, the show's four episodes were aired over the span of two years, which made it difficult for audiences to follow or care about the show.
This NBC mystery program ended up being canceled, partly because of a controversy that it sparked when Alice cooper, a popular rock star, appeared on the show. The episode he appeared in was titled 'The Devil Made Me Do It,' and you can guess audiences didn't like that one bit.
The Sixth Sense
'The Sixth Sense' was a 1972 ABC show that followed bizarre stories about ghosts and ESPs. The show did last longer than many others on this list, with two seasons -- the first one had 13 episodes, and the second one had 12.
But, despite its spooky premise, the show just didn't hold up. Even guest appearances from stars like Joan Crawford, Stephanie Powers, and Steve Forrest couldn't really save the show. It ran for two months and was canceled in December of 1972.