What Were They Thinking? The Strangest Show Titles That Somehow Got Greenlit
Let’s face it—television is full of surprises. For every prestige drama or heartfelt sitcom, there’s a show with a title so bizarre you can’t help but do a double take. Some sound like fever dreams, others like inside jokes that got wildly out of hand—but all of them somehow made it to air. Whether they were cult hits or spectacular flops, these titles raise the eternal question: who approved this?!
Let’s take a stroll through the weirdest-named shows ever to grace our screens.
"Cop Rock"
Imagine Law & Order…but a musical. That’s basically what Cop Rock tried to be in 1990—a gritty police procedural where characters occasionally broke into full Broadway-style numbers. It was bold, it was strange, and it was spectacularly short-lived. Critics didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or sing along.
What Happened to Cop Rock (1990)? by JoBlo Originals
"Manimal"
Yes, you read that right. Manimal followed a crime-fighting man who could transform into animals. It aired in 1983 and was as cheesy and glorious as it sounds. Despite only lasting eight episodes, its title lives on as a brilliant example of network weirdness.
Manimal (1983). Minimum Episodes, Manimal Effort. by Stam Fine
"My Mother the Car"
How do you pitch a show where a man’s deceased mom is reincarnated as a vintage automobile? Somehow, NBC greenlit this surreal 1965 sitcom. It’s just as bizarre as it sounds, and was once named one of the worst TV shows of all time. But you’ve got to admire the commitment to the bit.
Jerry V. Dyke & My Mother the Car - Pilot, OLDSHOWS506070
"Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?"
This 2000 reality show was exactly what the title said—and somehow even more ridiculous. A mystery millionaire picked a wife from a group of 50 contestants, Bachelor-style, on live TV. The winner later had the marriage annulled, and the millionaire turned out to be not-so-millionaire-ish. Peak early 2000s chaos.
'Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?' Winner on Fleeting Reality TV Fame, Entertainment Tonight
"The Littlest Groom"
Fox really went for broke in 2004 with this dating show starring a little person and a group of similarly-sized suitors. The title? Cringe-inducing. The content? Even worse. It was called out as exploitative, but it’s burned into pop culture memory as a “did that really happen?” moment.
Love Connection: The Littlest Groom's Finale | Absolute Reality, Absolute Reality
"I Wanna Marry 'Harry'"
This 2014 reality show duped American women into thinking they were competing to marry Prince Harry. Spoiler: it was just a red-haired British dude with a vague resemblance. The title had just the right blend of tabloid trashiness and royal confusion to get greenlit—for about four episodes.
"I Wanna Marry Harry": An Unethical Reality TV Nightmare, Atomic Twins
"You’re Whole"
A spoof infomercial from Adult Swim hosted by Michael Ian Black, this show parodied the entire wellness industry. The title? Bizarre and vague, like a meditation podcast gone rogue. “You’re Whole” feels like something a cult leader would whisper—and that’s kind of the point.
You're Whole TV Series Trailer, Fresh Trailers
"Space Ghost Coast to Coast"
This cult favorite reimagined a 1960s superhero cartoon as a surreal talk show. The name was nonsense, the interviews were weirder, and the absurdist humor hit cult status. It also helped launch Adult Swim, proving that a strange title can sometimes signal genius.
Top 10 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Episodes, The Rewind
"The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo"
Everything about this screams ‘70s network energy. It’s long, weirdly specific, and still doesn’t explain what the show is actually about. (It’s a cop comedy, by the way.) But man, does it roll off the tongue in the most baffling way.
MISADVENTURES OF SHERIFF LOBO, THE Ep 1.0
"The PJs"
A stop-motion animated show about a housing project—called The Projects, shortened to The PJs—this Eddie Murphy-backed sitcom aired in the late ‘90s. While the title was clever, it definitely confused viewers unfamiliar with slang. Bonus: it won Emmys despite being wrapped in clay and controversy.
The PJ's Season One Ep. 1-8, Dreams of 1619
"Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"
It’s bleeped, it’s brash, and it’s brilliant. This Kristen Ritter comedy had a name so spicy that networks wouldn’t even print the full thing. The show was wildly underrated, but it gave us one of the most eyebrow-raising titles in prime-time history.
BEST OF CHLOE | DON'T TRUST THE B IN APARTMENT 23 | SEASON 2, Banter
"To Catch a Predator"
This one needs no introduction. The title was direct—and deeply disturbing. Chris Hansen’s sting operation series became cultural shorthand for internet justice. No one’s questioning the content, but man...that title is chillingly blunt.
“I'm Chris Hansen." "No you’re not." "Yes, I am." "No you're not!”, True Crime News
"Naked and Afraid"
The name alone sounds like a nightmare. And that’s basically the premise—two strangers are dumped in the wilderness, fully unclothed, and try to survive. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot. And the name certainly hooks you.
College Survivalists Try to Avoid Flash Floods | Naked and Afraid, Discovery
"Cupcake Wars"
Baking? Peaceful. Cupcakes? Adorable. War? Not so much. But this Food Network competition show leaned all the way in. The title is both ridiculous and completely irresistible.
Cupcake Wars - Intro to Show, Frost Me Gourmet
"MILF Manor"
Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. The reality show featured moms dating younger men—who turn out to be each other’s sons. We’re still processing it. But the title alone deserves a place in the TV Hall of Whaaat?!.
New Series | MILF Manor | TLC, TLC
"Murder, She Baked"
Part mystery, part baking show pun, this Hallmark series somehow made *homicide and muffins* work in the same sentence. It’s a spinoff of Murder, She Wrote, but even cozier and with more pie. The name makes you snort-laugh, but the show is surprisingly earnest.
"Snakes on a Plane: The Series"
Wait, they made a series? They tried. Based loosely on the cult film, it never made it far, but the working title alone got leaked and sent the internet into hysterics. Some titles just aren’t built for TV longevity.
Snakes On A Plane Trailer (2006), KillerCinemadotcom
"Pooch Perfect"
This dog grooming competition was hosted by Rebel Wilson and took puns to a whole new level. Pooch Perfect? It’s cute, absurd, and slightly unsettling when you see the dyed fur jobs. But hey, at least it’s not Fetch Factor.
🐕✨ Rebel Wilson’s Perfect Pooch Show –🎥 Episode: 1 - A Must-Watch for All Dog Lovers! 🐶, AltEd
"The Singing Bee"
A karaoke competition crossed with a spelling bee—it sounds like a boardroom joke, but it aired for four seasons. It’s kind of catchy, kind of confusing, and proof that TV executives were just throwing things at the wall in the 2000s.
CMT's The Singing Bee - Catch the Buzz!, CMT
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