"Coupling"

Another attempt to fill the post-"Friends" void on NBC was this high-profile translation of one of Britain's top-rated sitcoms. Featuring six impossibly handsome, improbably intertwined friends in relationships, the show was attacked for its overtly sexual conversations. And this was before the show actually began! By the time it aired, people found plenty of other reasons to wish for a permanent separation from "Coupling." After only four episodes, the 2003 sitcom, starring Aniston wannabes Rena Sofer and Sonya Walger, was canceled, convincing many that English humor simply wouldn't translate across the pond -- at least until Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute and an "Office" full of paper reams proved otherwise.

"60 Minutes II"

I'm Mike Wallace, I'm Morley Safer, I'm Ed Bradley and I'm Charles Grodin? As the turn of the century was approaching, CBS decided to double its pleasure with this uninspired sequel to its long-running, highly profitable, Sunday evening news program featuring a cast of veterans (Dan Rather, Charlie Rose), newcomers (Lara Logan, Vicki Mabrey) and Andy Rooney-wannabes (Grodin, Jimmy Tingle). Although the Wednesday broadcast lacked a sense of purpose, it managed to stay on the air for more than half a decade, providing ample punch lines for late-night talk-show hosts and everyday folk alike. Then, in September 2004, Dan Rather greeted a predominantly pro-Bush nation with a story about the president's troubles while serving in the Texas Air National Guard. Weeks later, CBS had egg all over its face for reporting doctored documents as facts, and both Rather and "60 Minutes II" would never recover.

"Show Me the Money"

Have you already forgotten this high-profile game show? Or were you one of the millions who simply ignored all the hype? Attempting to cash in on the "Deal or No Deal" formula, "Money" gave us a simple set-up that required no real knowledge of anything, a cheesy title and catchphrase and an even cheesier host. (Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. William Shatner!) However, Captain Kirk's 13 female dancers/card revealers were no match for Howie Mandel's 28 models/briefcase openers and, after a mere three weeks, the Shat hit the fan.

"Surface"

It's amazing to think of all the billboards, commercials and print ads that pummeled relentlessly for this quickly forgotten show. "Surface" (or "Fathom," as it was originally titled) was part of an onslaught of programming greenlit to capitalize on a post-"Lost" environment -- a trend more tolerable to science-fiction themes and open-ended plotlines. ("Heroes" has since proven this true, whereas "Threshold," "Invasion" and a slew of others have not.) "Surface" followed several characters around the world witnessing strange occurrences in and around our oceans: hostile monsters, destroyed lighthouses, pod eggs and, of course, ominous government conspiracies. Fifteen episodes later, a half-hearted, cliffhanger finale stranded "Surface" dead in the water.

"The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best"

Contrary to popular belief, there are apparently very few men who want to spend time with a "virgin" -- or women, or the elderly, or any other demographic, for that matter. Premiering while Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" was hotter than Jessica Biel at a do-it-yourself car wash, Richard Branson's reality show touted him with the modest title of "Rebel Billionaire," featuring a ubiquitous ad campaign that had the eternal grinner jumping out of an airplane. Sixteen camera-friendly wannabes were dragged around the globe for a series of ranks-thinning stunts, and the show's poor ratings made one thing quite clear: Even though the toothy, sandal-wearing Branson had figured out how to sell records, airlines and even cola to the masses, he was a rebel without a clue when it came to selling a TV show.

"LAX"

Why not ask everyone in America to spend an hour each week in a place they usually hate going? That seemed to be the thinking behind this drama, set in Los Angeles' famously crowded airport, and positioned as yet another comeback vehicle for perennial TV star Heather Locklear ("T.J. Hooker," "Dynasty," "Melrose Place," "Spin City"). Paired with the equally resilient Blair Underwood (who somehow hasn't aged since "L.A. Law"), the show was marketed as "24" with sexual tension, but turned out to be more painful than a three-hour layover. After 10 episodes and Jay Leno jokes ("[LAX] is thinking of changing its name to avoid being associated with the show"), it was grounded for good, undoubtedly killing dozens of scripts set in DMV waiting lines, gridlocked highways and dentist's chairs.