# I PREFER crap TV! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118 "2010-04-14T20:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/21 "2010-04-15T21:24:34Z")
I’d like to add Judge Judy. I hadn’t seen it in years - but I caught an episode yesterday & its still a classic! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/22 "2010-04-15T22:07:27Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Nothing comes crappier than _Hoarding_. I’m mesmerized by the show: the squalor, the depth of self-denial by the hoarder, the frustration of the relatives . . . and yet I’m simultaneously repulsed to the point of nausea. Oh, god. Yes, Hoarding. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/23 "2010-04-16T00:35:12Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Oh, yeah, I like _Holmes on Homes_ on HGTV. Some poor homeowner gets a ream-job by a crappy home improver, and Holmes comes along to fix it all up proper. As he criticizes the bad work, he’s snarky enough to qualify as a charter member Doper. Now, _that_ would be awesome! > [@teela\_brown](#): > > Nothing comes crappier than _Hoarding_. I’m mesmerized by the show: the squalor, the depth of self-denial by the hoarder, the frustration of the relatives . . . and yet I’m simultaneously repulsed to the point of nausea. You’re not alone. I just can’t quite seem to believe that these people live in the houses they live in. > [@maplekiwi](#): > > I’d like to add Judge Judy. I hadn’t seen it in years - but I caught an episode yesterday & its still a classic! Oh, yeah - I love it when she snaps people into line. My crap tv faves - “Say Yes To The Dress,” “Rich Bride/Poor Bride,” some of the house-hunting or house-flipping shows, and “L.A. Ink.” “L.A. Ink” is mysteriously fascinating for me, since I have zero interest in tattoos - it’s like I keep waiting for them to quit being such assholes, and they just never stop being assholes. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/24 "2010-04-16T00:48:32Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Here in the Netherlands, there are a couple of programs detailing the traffic cops following speeding cars & asshole drivers. And this isn’t your spectacular American show with high speed chases and crashes and guns. Just some guys in a police car stopping drivers, talking to them condescendingly and handing out tickets, with a voice over explaining the relevant details of the traffic laws. This literally made me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes. And yet I’d watch it too! For me: The Price is Right…I actually enjoy screaming at the tv: “The Libman Wonder Mop is TEN DOLLARS! IDIOT! You have NO BUSINESS being there!” Do I win? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/25 "2010-04-16T01:10:15Z")
I have a friend who thinks the height of television perfection was in the 60s and 70s and everything since has been downhill. It must be scary inside his head. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/26 "2010-04-16T03:40:49Z")
_Married With Children_ and _Beavis and Butthead_. Especially the latter. I know, it’s stupid, it’s gross, it’s juvenile – but it never fails to make me giggle hysterically. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/27 "2010-04-16T04:27:46Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Here in the Netherlands, there are a couple of programs detailing the traffic cops following speeding cars & asshole drivers. And this isn’t your spectacular American show with high speed chases and crashes and guns. Just some guys in a police car stopping drivers, talking to them condescendingly and handing out tickets, with a voice over explaining the relevant details of the traffic laws. > > I don’t know why I watch it; I don’t own a car, I don’t like cops and I don’t even have a drivers’ license. Yet I have to watch it if I see it’s on. That’s no fun. The US versions of that type of show usually have the pulled over driver either swearing incessantly, drawing a weapon, or both. Sometimes it’s a woman who tries putting on her charms to get out of the ticket. Mostly it backfires, as State Troopers are usually humorless types that don’t put up with that type of bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/28 "2010-04-16T04:42:12Z")
Any made-for-the-Syfy-Channel movie. Pirhanas. Alligators. Snakes. Avian flu. Cannibals. Like an awful, fake, waxy Hostess chocolate glazed Donette, sometimes that’s what you find yourself craving. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/29 "2010-04-16T05:14:14Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Here in the Netherlands, there are a couple of programs detailing the traffic cops following speeding cars & asshole drivers. And this isn’t your spectacular American show with high speed chases and crashes and guns. Just some guys in a police car stopping drivers, talking to them condescendingly and handing out tickets, with a voice over explaining the relevant details of the traffic laws. > > I don’t know why I watch it; I don’t own a car, I don’t like cops and I don’t even have a drivers’ license. Yet I have to watch it if I see it’s on. We have a couple of similar shows in the U.S. [Speeders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeders) airs on TruTV and just consists of police officers sitting in their cars with their radar guns and pulling over violators. The officers then collect the driver’s license, registration, and insurance and run the driver’s information to see if there are any warrants. Most of the time, they issue a simple ticket or warning if the driver’s information is in order. Sometimes, they’ll make an arrest for DUI or for an expired license, but that’s as dramatic as it gets. Everyone complies with the police, no one flees, or resists the officers, and in a few minutes the driver is usually on his way. Just everyday routine. There is also a spin-off called [Speeders Fight Back](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeders_Fight_Back), which follows the ticketed drivers into court, should they choose to have their case heard by a judge. The judge almost always uphold the tickets. Very rarely does the driver win his case. A third show here is called [Parking Wars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_Wars). It takes place in Philadelphia, and usually follows three groups of enforcement agents; the ones who issue tickets to illegally parked cars, the crew that boots cars for having too many unpaid tickets, and the people at the impound yard where people whose cars were towed go to get their vehicles back, usually after providing proof of insurance and paying all applicable fines and fees. No high speed chase, crashes, guns, or K-9 units. Just your average Joe’s dealings with traffic enforcement officers. ---
**Author:** ![Goblin\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Goblin\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goblin_Queen)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/30 "2010-04-16T12:17:58Z")
I want to add another vote for all the NCIS, etc. shows. There are also about a dozen types of Law and Order that seem to be shown all in a row. My roommate and I would watch those while eating lunch and pretending to study. The only one we didn’t watch was Special Victims Unit, because someone getting raped with a broomstick doesn’t go well with reheated pasta. When SVU came on we would switch to Scooby Doo. Those were the shows I would watch only with her, but it was fun to add our commentary to all the odd/disturbing things that were happening. She coined the term “Pringles shows” for all the Law and Orders/NCIS things, because like one usually ends up eating more Pringles than intended, we ended up watching more of these shows than we intended. When I’m on my own and choosing crap TV, I go straight for that redubbed Japanese game show, it was on Spike and they called it Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC). I can feel my brain cells dying and my age regressing as I watch it…so much potty humor. I think what keeps me watching is the fact that all the weird stuff I can see happening was on a legitimate TV show in the first place, and the wildly inappropriate dubs actually make sense. Also, I will watch any sort of “True Story of a Haunting in Whatevertown, USA”. The better ones are more effective to me than Paranormal Activity was. I will also look for anything presented in a documentary sort of way regarding “UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis” (as Janine in Ghostbusters said). Also the End of the World. I really don’t know why…I just find that sort of thing a lot of fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![hankhill911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@hankhill911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hankhill911)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/31 "2010-04-16T13:14:59Z")
For every brilliant show like The Office, Mad Men or the Wire, you have to get a fix of bargain basement crapola. My fave is Millionaire Matchmaker…a tacky woman in LA has a dating service for repugnant, arrogant millionaires and sets them up with gold-diggers…highly entertaining… Also, Wife Swap—the original British version is a bit better…but the American one is great too… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/32 "2010-04-16T16:20:32Z")
> [@Goblin\_Queen](#): > > \She coined the term “Pringles shows” for all the Law and Orders/NCIS things, because like one usually ends up eating more Pringles than intended, we ended up watching more of these shows than we intended. That’s a perfect term for them - I want to turn the tv off and go to bed, but people acting like idiots - so…fascinating… > [@](#): > > When I’m on my own and choosing crap TV, I go straight for that redubbed Japanese game show, it was on Spike and they called it Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC). I can feel my brain cells dying and my age regressing as I watch it…so much potty humor. I think what keeps me watching is the fact that all the weird stuff I can see happening was on a legitimate TV show in the first place, and the wildly inappropriate dubs actually make sense.\ This is one of my husband’s favourite shows. Captain Tenneal and Babaganoosh - hee hee. “I like pie!” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/33 "2010-04-16T18:09:50Z")
_Intervention_ is captivating. I don’t know that it even necessarily qualifies as crap TV. It is expertly produced; you really get a window into the people’s lives, you find yourself being understanding and even sympathetic to some horrible, messed-up people, and it’s devastating when they don’t succeed. On a crappier level, I am totally into the police-video shows. I could watch car chases and DUI arrests all day, if Mrs. Tildrum would permit. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/34 "2010-04-17T00:30:07Z")
A lot of shows mentioned are NOT crap TV at all, IMO. I consider things like Jerry Springer and Maury Povitch crap TV - they have some minor shameful entertainment value, but they show mankind at its worst. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/35 "2010-04-17T07:49:21Z")
IDK what qualifies as truly crappy besides fake reality shows? Other than Real Housewives / The Hills, every show has it’s good bits and it’s crappy bits. Gossip Girl probably qualifies, and I enjoy that. Nitro Circus and UFC are pure testosterone, but I enjoy them for that. UFC and Spartacus and Blue Mountain State are pure homoeroticism masquerading as heterosexual shows and I love them. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/36 "2010-04-17T13:36:28Z")
I find it interesting that someone up thread mentioned Pawn Stars and Pickers as crap TV… but I doubt anyone would mention the PBS series Antiques Roadshow in this category. But if you think about it they really are all the same show. Find some odd/old stuff and see what it is worth. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/37 "2010-04-17T14:55:45Z")
Has anyone mentioned **Operation Repo** yet? I was able to give it up when I learned it was reenacted stupidity rather than actual stupidity. In another thread I recently admitted to watching **Toddlers & Tiaras**. Like **Tom Tildrum** I watch **Intervention**. Lately I’ve taken to only watching some recorded format and fast forwarding through the most painful parts. My husband and I watch together and try and guess in the first few moments which Interventionist will show up. Another show I like that isn’t breaking any ground or likely to win any emmys is **Ruby & the Rockits** It’s aimed (I think) at the Hannah Montana demographic, but for some reason I find it charming. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/38 "2010-04-17T15:14:04Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > Like **Tom Tildrum** I watch **Intervention**. Lately I’ve taken to only watching some recorded format and fast forwarding through the most painful parts. My husband and I watch together and try and guess in the first few moments which Interventionist will show up. All of those interventionists are seriously badass. We’ve been glad to see Jeff back. Apparently he fell off the wagon for a while. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/39 "2010-04-17T20:15:03Z")
**Nash Bridges** when it was on reruns. Man, was it bad - Don Johnson is so INSANELY full of himself - but the SO and I _adore_ it. We also like **House Hunters & House Hunters International** , but DVR a bunch and only watch maybe 1/5, the other 4/5 either have people with too low of a budget for us to care or make comments like “ohhhh, the fridge comes with this house? Well well well, it’s at the top of our list then” :rolleyes:. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118/40 "2010-04-17T23:14:00Z")
The Soup. I consider it crap due to the production values. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-prefer-crap-tv/536118.md?page=3)