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'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Sitcom Has Us Thinking Of 'Other' Grungy Possibilities

Since CBS is developing a comedy named for the Nirvana hit, 'Bigger Than the Sound' has a few programming suggestions for the network.

Earlier this week, in yet another of their, uh, inspired programming decisions (see: "$#*! My Dad Says," "NCIS Los Angeles"), CBS revealed plans to develop "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a comedy about "an 18-year-old budding entrepreneur who forgoes Harvard ... to launch a multibillion-dollar Internet company from his garage with the assistance of his sister, best friend and his 1990s indie-rock parents."

And while there's plenty about the show that's sure to make any music fan curl up and cry ("1990s indie-rock parents"?!?), today (October 24), we're gonna focus on its title, which co-opts Nirvana's signature, generation-defining smash in an act that ranks somewhere between Bobby Flay jumping on the cutting board in Kitchen Stadium and Rick James' treatment of your couch.

To be fair, the Hollywood Reporter (who broke news of the show) cautions that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a "working title" -- one that, given the amount of guff CBS has already gotten about it, we're sure they'll change -- but we're still trying to understand how anyone at the network thought this would be a good idea in the first place. Especially since there are plenty of other other grunge songs they could have chosen to develop instead. Because if the networks really are hell-bent on mining the '90s Grunge era, why stop now?

Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike": Quite possibly the least-funny sitcom of all time, about a group of political protestors -- and best friends -- slowly starving to death in an NYC apartment none of them could afford in real life. Sample dialogue: "I'm Hungry." "Me too."

Toadies' "Possum Kingdom": A family moves from the big city to a fiefdom governed entirely by possums. Hilarity ensues.

Alice in Chains' "Rooster": Multi-camera comedy about a quirky Southern family with a nutty Vietnam-vet uncle who still thinks we're at war. You won't believe what happens when a Korean family moves in down the block!

Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage": Entire show takes place inside an actual rusty cage.

Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick": Guy meets girl, girl has infectious disease. Can their love survive? A new look at modern romance from the creators of "How I Met Your Mother."

Hole's "Doll Parts": High-powered female exec loses her fortune, is forced to move in with her estranged daughter and her fiancé. Would sort of be a cross between "All in the Family" (with Courtney Love as Archie Bunker) and Love's actual life.

Melvins' "Night Goat": By day, he's a mild-mannered petting-zoo animal ... by night, he's Night Goat, scourge of evildoers everywhere. Imagine the merchandising potential.

L7's "Pretend We're Dead": In order to be accepted at an elite prep school, four girls take advantage of a little-known "corpse clause," which gives them a free scholarship so long as they are actually dead. Will they be able to fool the headmaster? Tune in to see!

Stone Temple Pilots' "Plush": Is a carbon-copy of every other popular sitcom currently on television.

What do you think of CBS' musically inspired sitcom premise? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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