# 5 worst hit Sit-coms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979 "2006-03-26T18:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/21 "2006-03-26T22:12:01Z")
Good Times Bewitched Charles in Charge Rhoda Friends ---
**Author:** ![LIT123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5daacb/32.png) [@LIT123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LIT123)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/22 "2006-03-26T22:29:23Z")
1. Happy Days 2. That 70’s Show 3. Mash 4. Friends 5. Family Guy ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/23 "2006-03-26T22:30:06Z")
I wholeheartedly agree with “I Love Lucy”, she made me ashamed of being female. I think we must include the subsequent ego-indulgent “The Lucy Show”. Everyone on that show acted like they were performing in a high school skit. I think the sole purpose of that show was for her to have famous guest stars to let everyone know that she had connections. I will add “Yes, Dear” to the mix. I’ve caught that in reruns on some independent channel and could only stand 5 minutes of it. I was shocked to see that it was still running on prime time somewhere, unless they finally got wise and cancelled it. And then there’s King of Queens. I’ve tried to watch it, Leah Remini is cute and funny but every show is the same. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/24 "2006-03-26T22:30:18Z")
I have no rating statistics in front of me to back this up, but I think a lot of the shows that are being posted here were not really _hits_, as specified in the OP. Maybe they survived a few years by treading water in the middle of the pack, but I don’t think that getting renewed for a few years qualifies a show as being a hit. I think you’ll find the most chart-topping garbage aired in the 60s and 70s – crap like Gilliagan’s Island. Personal aside: I totally disagree that \*Malcolm in the Middle \* is a bad show. At first I did not “get” it either. But once you accept it on its own terms, you will see the genius of it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/25 "2006-03-26T22:34:40Z")
This is a hard question to quantify. So much of the writing on sitcoms is predictable and purile. I specifically found “Full House” very annoying and “Roseanne” was grating to me. Most hit comedys also turned to crap after two or three years and then limped along while the network sucked them dry. In my opinion, the bottom of the comedy barrel was the “Yo, me so funny” block on UPN. It was one step above people in blackface in the way it portrayed African-Americans. In defense of “Everybody Loves Raymond”, if you are married it was very funny on occaision. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/26 "2006-03-26T22:40:11Z")
According to Jim (the adventures of a self-centered ass who’s supposed to be charming) Seinfeld Full House Everybody Loves Raymond Yes, Dear Bad comedies from the 60s were stupid but funny; bad comedies from the 80s on were stupid and unfunny. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/27 "2006-03-26T23:12:53Z")
The one with the wacky neighbor. The one with the Jackie Gleasonesque guy with the hot looking wife. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/28 "2006-03-26T23:17:30Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > I have no rating statistics in front of me to back this up, but I think a lot of the shows that are being posted here were not really _hits_, as specified in the OP. Maybe they survived a few years by treading water in the middle of the pack, but I don’t think that getting renewed for a few years qualifies a show as being a hit. > … You have a point but I think most of us figure that anything that lasts a few years must be a hit in some way or it wouldn’t still be around. Look at how many critically acclaimed shows get cancelled without the benefit of so many episodes just because they didn’t blast off the top of the charts. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/29 "2006-03-27T00:26:31Z")
Three’s Company only ever had three plot lines: 1. John Ritter trying to bed his date without her knowing he lives with two babes. 2. John Ritter trying to bed his date while trying not to let the landlords find out he’s not gay. 3. One of the girls trying to bed their date without having some kind of chaos ensue. I never saw the appeal of that show. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/30 "2006-03-27T01:38:44Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. John Ritter trying to bed his date without her knowing he lives with two babes. > > 2. John Ritter trying to bed his date while trying not to let the landlords find out he’s not gay. > > 3. One of the girls trying to bed their date without having some kind of chaos ensue. You forgot 4. Through some sequence of events Larry requires Jack’s help to bed his date. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/31 "2006-03-27T01:45:35Z")
1- Friends. This show is the epitome of all things I hate about network tv. 2- The Gary Shandling Show. 3- Full House. 4- Texas Walker. 5- Practically everything on UPN. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/32 "2006-03-27T02:58:57Z")
Jesus, no one has yet mentioned _Third Rock From the Sun_? The Dope is really slipping these days. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/33 "2006-03-27T03:05:36Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > 4- Texas Walker. Do you mean _Walker, Texas Ranger_? That isn’t even a sitcom! Man, I don’t want to be standing too close to you when the inevitable happens. **BBVLou** backs away slowly… ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/34 "2006-03-27T03:21:09Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > Personal aside: I totally disagree that \*Malcolm in the Middle \* is a bad show. At first I did not “get” it either. But once you accept it on its own terms, you will see the genius of it. Well put. It’s a fantastic show with some great characters. Even if you don’t like it it has more depth and originality than most of the shows on these lists (like Charles in Charge). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/35 "2006-03-27T03:31:57Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > How on earth did it take five whole posts before someone mentioned Full House??! Beats me. I came into the thread specifically to mention Full House. And Saved by the Bell. Both made me ill. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/36 "2006-03-27T05:14:36Z")
The Drew Carey Show The Nanny Good Times The Brady Bunch (does that count?) …All in the Family That last one I hesitate on; I can’t say it’s the “worst,” but it is the Classic Show Everyone Loves that I like the least. I just don’t think it’s aged very well – too preachy, too inconsistent, too self-important – not enough laughs, too many eye-rolls. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/37 "2006-03-27T06:28:27Z")
God, there’s just so much to choose from, but how about Perfect Strangers. Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot make me want to gouge my eyes out to this day… ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/38 "2006-03-27T11:01:39Z")
Friends was not horribly bad. Some of the jokes were well scripted and the delivery was usually well directed. The cast however, was very annoying (the only impression I ever got from Matt LeBlanc was that he appreciates himself way too much) and so was the hype and fanbase the show had. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Piranha_Brothers)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/39 "2006-03-27T11:08:06Z")
Red Dwarf (US) Coupling (US) OK, these projects were quickly abandoned. But even just the idea freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979/40 "2006-03-27T11:57:34Z")
Absolutely Fabulous Kath & Kim Everybody Loves Raymond (I know it’s been mentioned a heap in this thread, but that’s because IT DESERVES IT…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-worst-hit-sit-coms/349979.md?page=3)