GET A GLIMPSE OF THE BEST OF THE WORST TELEVISION SHOWS, ON ABC'S "THE BEST TV SHOWS THAT NEVER WERE"

An all-new one-hour special celebrates the most unusual, outrageous and bizarre unsold pilots for TV series that never were, on "The Best TV Shows That Never Were," airing MONDAY, AUGUST 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET ), on the ABC Television Network.

For every television series that makes it onto the small screen each year, there are hundreds that don't make the grade. "The Best TV Shows That Never Were" pays tribute to those pilots that didn't get sold, showcasing outrageously funny clips from every possible genre, including sci-fi, comedy, drama and crime shows.

Highlights include stars such as Dennis Franz, Tom Selleck, Linda Hamilton, Keanu Reeves, Stockard Channing, Marg Helgenberger and the late Robert Urich in pilots that barely hint at the success these actors would later enjoy. Even the titles speak for themselves: "Ethel is an Elephant," "Fuzzbucket," "Poochinski," "Wishman," "A Dog's Life" and "The Ultimate Importer."

Steve Gerbson, Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin are all executive producers of the special, which was directed by Gerbson and written by Goldberg & Rabkin. "The Best TV Shows That Never Were" is based on the book "Unsold Television Pilots," written by Lee Goldberg. This special is produced by Steve Gerbson Productions and Triax Multiproducts International.

This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.