The new reality TV show, “50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy,” has such an “in-your-face” title that viewers feel they have to watch it to see if it lives up to their “hyped-up” expectations.
It has prompted us to conduct an informal survey and review of other TV program titles that are uniquely eye-catching and provocative.
For instance, “Two and a Half Men” initially appears to be perplexing and unlikely—until we find out that its “half” part refers to the boy who lives with the two men in the show.
The sitcom is about a hedonistic man, his uptight brother who lives with him after his divorce and the brother’s young son.
A controversy involving its original star, Charlie Sheen, led to the show being revamped, and Sheen was replaced by Ashton Kutcher.
“Six Feet Under” got viewers interested and “hooked,” because its title subtly and wittily intimated that it had something to do with the mortuary trade.
“Twin Peaks” got a lot of advance buzz because viewers “sexily” speculated about what those mountains or hills really signified.
“Brideplasty” tickled viewers’ fancy because it succinctly semaphored the fact that it was about brides being given a cosmetic and surgical makeover, so they could look beautiful on their wedding day.
“Armed & Famous” was in a league all its own, because it featured stars and starlets who agreed to undergo training to become law-enforcement officers. They got assigned to cases involving real crimes and criminals—until things got to be too dangerous for the celebs to handle!
As for “Boy Meets Boy,” the enticingly titled show was a “reality” dating tilt that put a gay spin on “hetero” shows like “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”
Compellingly titled in its own right was “Who Wants to Marry a US Citizen,” an informative program that attracted viewers who wanted to learn about the legal ways to do what its title promised.
Sounding more like a private joke, “Hide and Sikh” was the title of a game show for Indians!
“Monkey on Your Back” was a TV competition that required contestants to perform a number of tasks—with an ape in tow!
Other unusual TV shows include the sketch comedy series, “Tim and Eric—Awesome Show, Great Job!” and “My Strange Addiction,” which was avidly viewed by people who had fetishes of their own that they wanted to get rid of or transcend.
Featured “addicts” included a young man who avoided getting involved with people, and instead pursued “relationships” with blow-up pool toys!
More: “Bad Dads” helped single mothers hunt down the deadbeat fathers of their offspring, to force them to live up to their responsibilities—or bust!
And “Pink Lady” featured two Japanese singers who didn’t understand English or American culture. So, they made all sorts of “funny” mistakes, even as a resident “translator” tried to help them figure things out—but ended up only adding to the ostensibly “hilarious” conclusion!