NBC had really sunk low in the early 1980's. The depths it had sunk to were apparent in 1983 when it greenlit a sitcom about a smart orangutan who was whisked to Washington D.C. to secretly advise the government.
The network had high hopes for the show, which starred the orangutan who had appeared with Clint Eastwood in his 1970's ape pictures. They even licensed toys, games and other merchandise with their new "star."
Mr. Smith made nobody laugh and was quickly canceled along with 7 other shows. It was a veritable bloodbath, but help was on the way when Family Ties gained traction and The Cosby Show was picked up from ABC. This new low would soon become an all-time high.
