Smallscreen News

TV Guide Network brings the Blunders, Sunday Feb. 28

By April MacIntyre Feb 23, 2010, 16:22 GMT

US actor Paul Giamatti. EPA/PAUL BUCK

TV Guide Network has dug up the biggest blunders in TV history.

"25 Biggest TV Blunders" is a one hour television special that premieres Sunday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

On the eve of Jay Leno's return as host of "The Tonight Show," TV Guide Network will premiere a one-hour television special "25 Biggest TV Blunders" that counts down the television decisions that left everyone scratching their heads in disbelief.

From failed talk shows to bad TV remakes to stars who turned down hit roles, TV Guide Network will chronicle the biggest "what were they thinking?" moments in television history.

The one-hour special will go back in time and ask questions the fans want to know:

Did Brian Dunkelman's refusal to return to "American Idol" after season one kill his TV career? 

How could Janet Jackson's wardrobe accidentally "malfunction" on live TV? 

Whose decision was it to erase old "The Tonight Show" episodes with Johnny Carson to save tape stock?

And will viewers follow when Jay Leno returns to "The Tonight Show" on March 1?

Viewers must tune-in to find out which shows and stars made the list and which TV blunder will be ranked #1.

TV Guide will rank order the biggest TV bombs, including:

-- Stars Who Turned Down Hit Roles: Paul Shaffer never returned a call offering him the role of George Costanza in "Seinfeld," Paul Giamatti turned down the role of Michael Scott in "The Office," but the biggest blunder was Dana Delany turning down the role of Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City."

-- Quiz Show scandal of the '50's: Herb Stempel's scripted loss on the game show "Twenty-One" was a huge scandal that caused Congress to pass a law in 1960 to ensure game shows were legitimate.

-- Losing Leading Ladies: Contract disputes prompted Suzanne Somers from "Three"s Company" and Farrah Fawcett from "Charlie's Angels" to leave their roles and the once-hit-shows never recovered.

-- Nipple Gate: Janet Jackson’s "wardrobe malfunction" at the Superbowl during her performance with Justin Timberlake caused legal hearings and the involvement of the FCC.

-- Roseanne’s Ninth Season: Once America's favorite family, the relatable and hard-working Conner family won the lottery and abandoned the main concept of the show... along with its audience.