In 1995, the internet was still developing, and if you looked at TV Guide or your local newspaper, you might have seen an advertisement for The WB’s first Sunday night fall lineup. A classic print ad shared on X in July surprised many, showing a collection of smiling stars promoting sitcoms that few people seem to remember. This post gained significant attention, with many users arguing that the marketing poster could not be real and must have been created by artificial intelligence. Some users mentioned not recalling any shows from the 1995 The WB lineup, particularly noting a series named “Simon” as one that seemed entirely fictional.
This moment in entertainment history really did occur. Before The WB became known for shows about teenage struggles and vampires, the network tried many different series to find what would appeal to viewers.
The WB launched after Fox became the fourth major network in the U.S. Warner Bros. Television Studios was already creating dramas and comedies for other networks, but studio leaders decided to create their own channel. When it started in January 1995, its Wednesday night lineup included shows like The Wayans Bros., featuring Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who gained fame from Fox’s In Living Color. It also featured The Parent ‘Hood, a family sitcom from Robert Townsend. Another notable show was Unhappily Ever After, a new comedy co-created by one of the minds behind Married… with Children, featuring a talking stuffed animal heard only by one character, voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait. All these shows ran for five seasons, eventually moving to other nights as The WB grew its programming schedule. The only show that was canceled from this initial lineup was a soap opera parody called Muscle, which began with a murder mystery surrounding Adam West’s character and concluded with all the characters dying. It was canceled before completing its first season, marking the first cancellation for The WB.
Later that year, The WB expanded its programming to Sundays in September, creating a three-hour block that included Pinky and the Brain and reruns of Sister, Sister, featuring the Mowry twins, whom the network picked up after ABC canceled their show. This block was designed to attract viewers with familiar shows alongside new sitcoms. Kirk, starring Kirk Cameron, had a premise similar to Full House, while Simon featured a comedic duo with contrasting personalities. Cleghorne! starred Ellen Cleghorne from Saturday Night Live, and First Time Out was in the style of Friends and Living Single. These shows featured well-known actors like Bateman, Cameron, and Leah Remini. Yet, very few people recall them today, which is why many on social media are skeptical about the legitimacy of the lineup. Among these four shows, only Kirk was renewed, but it was canceled early during its second season. None of the shows had enough episodes to be syndicated, leading them to fade into obscurity, leaving behind only minimal entries on Wikipedia and puzzled social media comments.
This forgotten television lineup is intriguing not just for its existence but also for how it reflects the ever-changing landscape of entertainment.
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Source: Upworthy, by Patrick Hamilton