The Kallikaks

Before this show was shown on television, my parents and I (still at home at the time) had the opportunity to be part of a home test audience for it. It was one of the worst, if not THE worst, show I had ever seen, even allowing for the trial version being something of a rough cut. We so advised the testing organization making it very clear that we thought it was an awful program that should not be released for sheer lack of quality and expressed clearly our opinion that it was not just a bad episode but essentially a stillborn project to the root. One might also consider the hick stereotypes as offensive as well, but that was not our point, our point was that it was simply bad. We took into account that this is a country that bestowed success upon the likes of The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres.

It went on to be shown in prime time. The show that went on was not substantially different from the test version. Our estimate was completely vindicated by its very short run. Very gratifying I suppose, but I would have not have been surprised it it had run for years like other bits of garbage have.

The show has competition for the top (that is, bottom) spot but will remain on my short list of most terrible attempts at entertainment forever.