2006: American Inventor
Coasting off the mega success of the beloved American Idol, creators decided to keep the ball rolling with the seemingly promising reality series American Inventor. The show turned out to be a total failure when viewers discovered that it was more about the judges mean comments than the innovators themselves. Not to mention that it also seemed to a complete rip-off the show Million Dollar Power.
The show was also heavily criticized for showcasing some terribly unoriginal inventions, case in point- season 2 winner, firefighter Greg Chavez, who won for his fire suppression system for Christmas trees called the Guardian Angel. Houston Chronicle described this shoe as a bloated disappointment that spends more time on the judges than the inventors and their inventions.”
2006: Modern Men
Modern Men was a sitcom about three single men and lifelong friends. Unsuccessful romantically speaking, they decide to hire a life coach to help them with their love lives. The show seemed to cater to the young woman's fantasy that young men are just as deeply concerned about their love lives and future spouses as they are. While there are some humorous moments, just moments, the rest of the series was pretty dull and unimaginative, and the characters were more like stereotypes and caricatures of men than real men. (Not) surprisingly, the show's mediocrity wasn't enough to keep their 14-25 year old female audience engaged.
When the time came for The WB (its broadcaster) and UPN to merge and form The CW, Modern Men got booted after 7 episodes.
2018: Alex, Inc.
The last show on our list, Alex, Inc. is actually based on Alex Blumber’s acclaimed podcast, “StartUp”. In the series, Blumber's sir name is changed to Schuman, and Alex Schuman, played by Zach Braff. A radio journalist, husband, and father of two, who (quite irresponsibly) quits his job to start his own company.
We all love seeing Zack Braff's return to the sitcom world for the first time since Scrubs. And this time, as an actor, producer, and director, but unfortunately the Alex, Inc "comedy" series wasn't very relatable, and nothing to tell your friends about. To the surprise of no one, ABC canceled the show a week before its season finale aired.
2000: Big Brother
A breakthrough idea perhaps when it first came out, but almost 20 years later, this show is as stale as heck. Year after year, the same shenanigans take place. The multiple affairs, the breakdowns and all the human drama you can imagine between 16 bored strangers living together in a made-for-TV house.
If you're into this show, you have to have a ton of patience for any drama to evolve. According to Variety magazine TV critics, this show is basically playing out like a bad college flashback.
2015: Sex Box
Originally a British series that failed miserably, this American adaptation (why?) involves exactly what the title says. Sex Box, you guessed it, is about contestants having sex in a box. The shows invites various couples of all statuses and orientations to have sex in a box on TV and then step out to discuss it. If you're going to make a show about such a topic, then perhaps go one step further and show it! This series failed to be entertaining and racy and sort just seemed redundant.
Why Americans adapted this show is a mystery. Critics have called it embarrassing, cringy and even pointless. No real insight into human relationships and all together, quite unnecessary.