20 TV Shows We Can't Believe Existed

From iconic train wrecks to more recent fails, Team TVLine has assembled 20 of television's most ludicrous scripted programs, spanning more than five decades. And while it shouldn't shock you that Pamela Anderson starred in two of the series on our list, you might be surprised to hear that neither show is Baywatch.

With each new list comes a new set of rules: For this round-up, we're sticking with live-action, scripted series. (Let's be honest, there's no shortage of ludicrous material out there, so cartoons, game shows and reality dumpster fires all deserve their own lists.)

Cop Rock (ABC, 1990)

Have you ever watched a police procedural and thought, "There should be more musical numbers in this"? Steven Bochco did, enlisting the likes of Randy Newman to compose songs for this unholy marriage of juries and jazz hands.

Cleopatra 2525 (Syndicated, 2000–2001)

When her breast augmentation surgery goes awry, a stripper is frozen for 525 years, eventually waking in a new world where she must battle the flying robots that now control Earth. (And before you ask, the answer is yes. That is Gina Torres as the leader of the rebellion.)

Cavemen (ABC, 2007)

They can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance, but can they support their own half-hour comedy series? Not even with Nick Kroll's help, apparently. Besides, if the answer was yes, Flo would have her own show by now.

BH90210 (Fox, 2019)

In this way-too-meta reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210, the show's original cast members play exaggerated versions of themselves as they attempt to get a reboot of their classic series off the ground.

Dog With a Blog (Disney Channel, 2012–2015)

Talking dogs have been staples of Disney entertainment for decades, but as far as we know, this was the first time a four-legged friend ventured into the world of online publishing.

Manimal (NBC, 1983)

The wealthy, young and handsome Dr. Jonathan Chase is harboring an incredible secret: he can transform into any animal! (But usually just a hawk or a panther.)

My Mother the Car (NBC, 1965–1966)

As its title suggests, this single-camera comedy is about a man whose mother dies, only to be rein-car-nated as an antique automobile.

The Patty Duke Show (ABC, 1963-1966)

Duke stars as identical twin cousins, one of whom is from Scotland for some reason, living in the least-believable representation of Brooklyn Heights ever to be captured on film. What's more, a third identical cousin eventually shows up!

$#*! My Dad Says (CBS, 2010–2011)

Word to the wise: If you're going to base an entire sitcom around a Twitter feed, don't.

V.I.P. (Syndicated, 1998–2002)

A sexy hot dog stand worker (played by Pamela Anderson Lee) is plucked from obscurity to work for an elite Los Angeles bodyguard agency. The danger is as big as her outfits are small.

Stacked (Fox, 2005–2006)

Get it? It's called Stacked because Pamela Anderson's character has large breasts and works in a bookstore.

Small Wonder (Syndicated, 1985–1989)

An engineer and his wife attempt to pass off his latest creation — an android known as a Voice Input Child Identicant (aka V.I.C.I.) — as their new, adopted daughter Vicki.

Woops! (Fox, 1992)

Often compared to a post-apocalyptic Gilligan's Island, this multi-cam comedy follows the survivors of a global nuclear holocaust. Now living in an abandoned farmhouse, they have to work together to survive and re-establish civilization. LOLZ?

What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage (Fox, 2019–?)

A scripted after show for a drama series that doesn't actually exist is the very definition of Peak TV.

Work It (ABC, 2012)

After determining that women have an advantage over men in the workplace (uh...), a pair of laid-off GM plant workers disguise themselves as women to land jobs as pharmaceutical reps. What could possibly go right?

Teen Angel (ABC, 1997–1998)

When a teenage boy eats a six-month-old hamburger from under his friend's bed, he dies, instantly being reborn as his bestie's new guardian angel. Furthermore, the new angel is guided by God's cousin, a floating head named... Rod.

Too Close to Home (TLC, 2016–2017)

This primetime soap — created, executive-produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry — begins as a Scandal-inspired drama about a presidential affair, then quickly pivots to being about a trailer park in Alabama where nearly every named character under the age of 18 is a product of forced incest.

Herman's Head (Fox, 1991–1994)

The four competing aspects of a magazine fact-checker's psyche are brought to life via over-the-top characters named Angel, Animal, Wimp and Genius.

Mr. Smith (NBC, 1983)

After ingesting an experimental mixture to increase human intelligence, an orangutan named Cha Cha is renamed Mr. Smith and hired as a political adviser.

Passions (NBC and DirecTV, 1999–2008)

With storylines about witches, mermaids and portals to hell — plus the occasional musical parody for good measure — this legendary cult hit was impossible to take seriously, even for a daytime soap opera.