Jay North was famous for causing trouble—both on and off the screen—as the beloved prankster Dennis Mitchell in the hit series Dennis the Menace. As a child star, he shot to fame faster than he grew up. In the end, the only thing he menaced was himself—until he escaped it all.

It would be fun to claim that Bob Saget had a secret double life. And it’s partly true—he did have a double life, but he made no secret about it. Some days you’d get the nice dad character who was full of hugs and appeared on Full House and America’s Funniest Videos. On other days there’d be Saget the stand-up comedian, with a shocking, curse-filled set that could make your toes curl.

TV history is full of shows that stumbled out of the gate. Some were canceled before they had a chance to find their audience, while others were just too strange for prime time. But the beauty of television is that stories don’t always end when the credits roll for the last time. Thanks to reruns, DVDs, streaming, and fiercely loyal fans, many so-called “flops” have been resurrected as cult classics. Here’s a look at 20 shows that bombed at first but eventually claimed their rightful spot in TV legend.

Every NES player remembers that one game that broke controllers and nerves alike. These demanded sharp memory, steady hands, and endless retries. Only the stubborn pushed through and kept going.

Before arenas, tours, and fame, there were tiny stages and hopeful beginnings. Some stories sound almost ordinary, while others feel like sparks waiting to ignite. Either way, each step carved the path to stardom.

We all love to imagine Hollywood magic as carefully rehearsed and flawlessly executed, but the truth can be messier. Real injuries have sneaked onto the screen, making the line between acting and reality feel razor-thin.