"Undercover Boss" is this year's entrant in what is considered one of broadcast TV's plum time slots -- immediately afterthe Super Bowl. Airing an unfamiliar show as the Super Bowl lead-out (as they say in the TV biz) is a throwback of sorts. Since 1999, the networks have played it safe, preferring to put on new episodes of well-established series (like last year's one-hour "Office").
You can't blame the networks for being more conservative. The strategy of airing new shows in that time slot has had decidedly mixed results:
HITS
1983: "The A-Team" (NBC) -- The cartoonlike action hour would become one of the decade's biggest smashes.
1988: "The Wonder Years" (ABC) -- This baby boomer's look back at his suburban adolescence would become a top-10 show.
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1993: "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC) -- Would go on to become one of TV's best cop dramas.
1999: "The Family Guy" (Fox) -- The long, strange journey of the Griffin family began here.
MISSES
1979: "Brothers and Sisters" (NBC) -- It may share the title of the current family drama, but this comedy was one of three lame network attempts to do a TV version of "Animal House."
1985: "MacGruder and Loud" (ABC) -- Two cops (John Getz, Kathryn Harrold) are secretly married to each other. Let's hope their marriage lasted longer than this show.
1986: "The Last Precinct" (NBC) -- Adam West starred in this forgettable sitcom that tried to copy the sensibility of "Police Academy."
1987: "Hard Copy" (CBS) -- Drama set at a hard-hitting Los Angeles newspaper. (Imagine that!)
1990: "Grand Slam" (CBS) -- Rival bounty hunters (John Schneider, Paul Rodriguez) go into business together.
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1994: "The Good Life" (NBC) -- Forgotten sitcom starring comedian John Caponera (although Drew Carey had a large supporting role).
1995: "Extreme" (NBC) -- In this adventure drama, James Brolin played the leader of a wilderness rescue group.
IN-BETWEEN
1984: "Airwolf" (CBS) -- Jan-Michael Vincent starred in this drama, but the real star was the titular high-tech helicopter.
1991: "Davis Rules" (ABC) -- Single dad (Randy Quaid) lived with his three kids and immature father (Jonathan Winters).
