Hope springs eternal each fall. At least in TV land it does.

We’re nearing that time again, with every last new series deemed a must-see mega-hit until Nielsen Media Research’s grim reaper ratings say otherwise.

Shows with big names attached take the hardest falls. So let’s revisit 10 monumental flops whose big buildups and budgets went for naught.

10. South of Sunset (1993) — One and done. CBS thought it could turn Glen Frey of The Eagles into a wisecracking, up-against-it Los Angeles private eye named Cody McMahon. But the opening night ratings were subterranean, prompting the network to let the sun set on Frey’s acting ambitions after just a single episode.

9. Bette (2000) — “The Divine Miss M” starred as a thinly disguised caricature of herself in a lame-o sitcom in which her 12-year-old daughter Rose was played in the first episode only by Lindsay Lohan. Cripes, even then she apparently was difficult. CBS called off all Bettes five months later after audience levels drooped despite big-name guest appearances by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Tony Danza, Dolly Parton and Danny DeVito.

8. The Michael Richards Show (2000) — First to launch a post-Seinfeld series, Richards bombed as hapless L.A. detective Vic Nardozza in a comedy series that was worked and reworked to no avail before NBC somehow saw fit to air it. Also going down with the ship were co-stars William Devane and Tim Meadows in his first post-Saturday Night Live effort to branch out.

Talking horses? Offspring with secret lives as music stars? Spinoffs featuring characters who weren’t all that well-loved in the show that introduced them?

Paring dubious TV moments to a list of 25 all-time stinkers couldn’t have been an easy task, but the Chicago Tribune did its best.

Here’s a sampling:

You’re in the Picture (1961): Started as a Jackie Gleason quiz show, then became a talk show for the rest of its short run.

My Mother the Car (1965-66): Star Jerry Van Dyke’s mother reincarnated as a talking automobile.

Mr. T. and Tina (1976): Starring the mohawked former Rocky villain.

Manimal (1983): Man who could morph into animal form to fight crime.

Life With Lucy (1986): Lucille Ball’s last stab at a network series.

Cop Rock (1990): Police who broke into song on the job.

The Jerry Springer Show (1991 to present): Lowbrow theater of embarrassment.

XFL (2001): An unsucessful blend of pro football and wrestling-style sideshows.

To see the rest, visit ChicagoTribune.com.