Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: An edgy, sardonic show about losers at high school in the '80s, a fresh kind of comedy that might appeal to those real-life freaks and geeks who weren't as cool (or well-dressed) as the characters on Friends.

Why It Didn't Work: NBC didn't do the show any favors by airing it sporadically -- and on Saturday nights. Plus, Judd Apatow's brand of humor wasn't a good fit for NBC's brand of comedy, which included series like Friends and Will & Grace.

# of Episodes on TV: 22

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: A sure-to-succeed combination of star appeal (Wings actor Tim Daly) and the same team who created the original '60s show and the successful Harrison Ford film.

Why It Didn't Work: This hi-tech reboot couldn't compare to CBS' other new fall series -- a little crime drama called CSI. Viewers weren't interested in a story they already knew the ending to; they'd rather watch fresh crimes each week.

# of Episodes on TV: 16

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: A second chance for Freaks and Geeks and its creator Judd Apatow, with the same brand of misfit characters in a new format (half-hour) and new network.

Why It Didn't Work: Despite being comfortably sandwiched between That '70s Show and 24, it just didn't have the same appeal as Apatow's previous show. It's the kind of series that might have found itself after a couple of seasons once the characters had a chance to mature.

# of Episodes on TV: 24

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: It was a way to revitalize the cop show as a unique crime drama with a neat hook: cases shown and solved from the viewpoints of cops, reporters, lawyers, paramedics, and criminals.

Why It Didn't Work: Despite critical acclaim, it bounced around from timeslot to timeslot and just couldn't find an audience for its particular pathology. It was axed only two episodes into its second season.

# of Episodes on TV: 12

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: Every computer nerd and TV addict's dream: a geek-tastic action show about a computer expert who gains superpowers and becomes cool.

Why It Didn't Work: The science fiction-heavy series didn't appeal much to UPN's usual demographic -- women and African-Americans -- and earned even poorer ratings than its sci-fi timeslot companion, UPN's final Star Trek effort, Enterprise.

# of Episodes on TV: 22

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: This story about a future U.S. President premiered in the middle of the 2004 presidential campaigns of President George W. Bush and John Kerry. One week before the first episode aired on the WB, AOL for Broadband subscribers accessed the show 700,000 times online -- huge numbers back then. 

Why It Didn't Work: Its complex, layered plots were too high-minded and serious for the WB, and it would have fared better paired with The West Wing rather than Charmed. Maybe it would've lasted longer if it was called "Jack, Bobby & Teddy."

# of Episodes on TV: 18

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: Oscar-winner Geena Davis as the strong-willed and likeable first female president of the United States, blending politics, feminism, and intrigue.

Why It Didn't Work: It quickly got too caught up in its convoluted conspiracy plotlines and suffered when its showrunner was replaced. Those record-breaking premiere numbers eventually fell, and ABC burned off its final episodes in the summer.

# of Episodes on TV: 22

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: Aaron Sorkin was fresh off the success of The West Wing, and Saturday Night Live was relevant again after the first year of SNL Digital Shorts.

Why It Didn't Work: Before it premiered, NBC changed the show's timeslot to avoid Grey's Anatomy, giving viewers the impression the network didn't fully believe in the series. The politics of TV couldn't compare to the politics of DC, but the show suffered more from the simultaneous premiere of a very similar -- and much funnier -- show on the same network: 30 Rock.

# of Episodes on TV: 22

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: A bubbly dramedy unlike anything else on TV; a fresh, fun take on death and second chances.

Why It Didn't Work: The offbeat nature and vivid colors of the show appealed to a niche audience, but the writers' strike caused its episode order to be slashed. Returning for a 13-episode second season, ABC didn't give the series enough time to establish a larger viewership.

# of Episodes on TV: 17

Why Most Experts Thought It Would Work: An American version of the hit British series, transplanting its characters to the even more appealing Big Apple.

Why It Didn't Work: Seeing the World Trade Center in the New York City skyline lost its novelty and shock value after a few episodes, and an essentially one-season premise didn't outlast its life expectancy.