My Mother the Car

 April 5, 1966, the final episode of My Mother the Car aired on NBC. The offbeat sitcom ran for one season from September 14, 1965, to April 5, 1966, producing 30 episodes through United Artists Television.

The series starred Jerry Van Dyke as attorney David Crabtree, who discovers that his deceased mother (voiced by Ann Sothern) has been reincarnated as a 1928 Porter automobile, communicating with him through the car radio. Much of the show’s humor centered on Crabtree’s attempts to keep this secret while fending off a scheming collector determined to obtain the car.

Widely criticized at the time, the show was often cited among television’s worst series—famously ranked near the bottom by TV Guide. Despite this, it reflected the era’s fascination with high-concept “gimmick” sitcoms like Mister Ed and I Dream of Jeannie, and has since gained a nostalgic following among viewers who remember its unique premise.