# Are you entertained? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-entertained/1009617 "2024-11-03T16:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 23
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-entertained/1009617/23 "2024-11-05T19:02:49Z")
My general rule is three episodes to convince me that’s it’s not a complete waste of time, and the rest of the first season to convince me that it’s any good. (Also, a laugh track is an _instant_ dealbreaker. Like, join the 21st century already.) Some notable recent failures and near-failures: [Son of Zorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-zorn-the-complete-series/983656) - I’ve railed on this plenty long enough, so in brief: right wing pandering was an unbelievably horrific idea, really hard on the eyes and ears, gets decent **very** late into the run but on the whole a colossal misfire and I’m not surprised it’s almost completely forgotten today. [The Muppets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muppets-new-show-on-abc/732209) - Although I disliked the highly nasty tone it started with, I saw enough potential here to stick out the season; it mainly looked like the producers just needed to start listening to the right people. I would’ve watched a second season, but I understand why the ratings weren’t there and wasn’t upset over ABC’s decision.to ax it. Bless This Mess - Gave up after the third episode. Fish-out-of-water stories usually just don’t click for me, and I could never understand what was so funny, or compelling, or endearing, or relatable about this couple’s travails. The Last Man on Earth - Pretty much dead on arrival; just far too repulsive to keep going. Final straw was the main character committing to what he _thought_ was the only surviving women, and JUST THEN this complete bombshell…arrrggrgll. [Krapopolis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-look-back-at-krapopolis-season-1/1004080/4) - A resoundingly middling reaction from nearly everyone, myself included. After watching most of the first season, my reaction was that while it’s very forced and full of unlikable characters, it at least makes an _effort_ to be funny, which is a lot more than I can say for most of its competition. This show’s existence doesn’t anger me, but neither am I compelled to keep watching. Our Kind of People - I put on every episode but could scarcely pay attention. I don’t know why. I was a big fan of Empire, so the machinations of rich minorities should’ve grabbed me, and this just didn’t. I scarcely remember any of the plotlines other than a power grab for the main company. Quantum Leap - I wouldn’t exactly say I _disliked_ this one, but this was one of those experiences where I kept asking myself when it was going to get better. My main beef was what I call the Reverse Kenny McCormick Problem, i.e. Dr. Ben Song absolutely _had_ to survive no matter how unbelievable it was, and after a while I just stopped caring. Much like Alf, if someone made a movie wrapping everything up, I’d gladly watch it. And a show that _did_ entertain me from beginning to end: [The Good Place](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545). This one got _everything_ right. The writing was crisp, the acting was stellar, the visual effects were amazing, the humor was on point, and, most impressively, I cared about _every one_ of these characters (even the fascist jerk!). Gotham, despite a few uncomfortable moments, captured the dark spirit of a crime-ridden Gotham City the way Zack Snyder never could, and Empire was a fantastic hard-hitting drama before Jussie Smollett’s arrest derailed everything. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-entertained/1009617)._