Madness string 21692

Random mermaid
I've done far stranger, for far more questionable of reasons. Like the time I robbed a 7-11 at gunpoint for a pack of gum because a drunk told me he'd tell the world who I was if I didn't, and when I seemed interested in who he thought he was, he said he'd tell me if I did it. Except then he was gone when I got back, so I just returned the gum and fenced the gun and made a tidy 200 dollars.
Police Squad!, made by the guys who did Airplane! and widely considered pound for pound one of the funniest TV shows that's ever aired. But it failed because it required audiences to actually pay close attention to the quickfire gags and fast dialogue. Led to ABC's president memorably saying it was cancelled because 'the viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it'.