It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time

The Worst TV Shows in History and Other Things I Wrote

By: Bruce Vilanch

Narrated by: Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch is known as a go-to comedy writer for award shows, sitcoms, and top-heavy variety specials, but he has also been responsible for quite a few of the worst shows ever put on television—legendarily bad productions.

Some of his work lives in infamy—The Star Wars Holiday Special, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, Rob Lowe dancing with Snow White at the Oscars, and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. How did these ever seem like a good idea?

Well, everyone has screwed up a few times, or had their work screwed up by others. It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time is a lifetime reflection of what Vilanch has experienced, learned, forgotten, dismissed, and embraced in decades of working in show business, specifically the south forty acres known as comedy. It involves very famous people and people who were not very famous but should have been.

And it explains to the person in the audience who says to himself, once he has gotten his jaw off the floor, “’How did this ever get made?”

Don’t we all want to know?

©2025 Bruce Vilanch (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

voice a little gravelly

enjoy his work especially Paul Lynde special. Got note from late Florence Henderson. I also enjoyed his backstory on CSTM, Ice Pirates and all those other comic tragedies. Allan Carr was a mess, remember being cruised by he and then Bruce Jenner. Those were the days.

Bruce is a fantastic writer and narrator!

I wish the book was longer. I look forward to his next book. I cannot wait.

I watched many of the shows Bruce wrote on !

Bruce’s voice quality during the middle of book was a bit hard to listen to. Should’ve rescheduled Bruce so that his voice could clear up.

Fun

Short but fun. Five stars based on my pure enjoyment of this listen. It probably helps that I actually watched and enjoyed the Star Wars Holiday Special when it was first released.

Pure Bruce...Pure Camp!

If you have ever wondered..."who thought of such a thing?"...this book is for you. Bruce takes us through the craziest things on television and film. The Brady Bunch Comedy Hour...classic camp. The Star Wars Holiday Special...so out there it's hard to forget. I enjoyed this listen as Bruce describes inspiration, key players and good, old-fashioned gossip.