Longest running yet most forgotten (or forgettable) TV Show?

Cafe Society
1

This is a pretty subjective question, but what do you think the show that is both the most forgettable or forgotten and also the longest running?

To try and be objective about this, consider things like how it scored in ratings when it was aired, whether or not it’s still in syndication (or if it ever was), did it ever win any prestigious awards, have all of the actors been more or less forgotten, etc.

Let’s try to limit it to shows that actually ran for a good length of time, if we can.
To start us off I’m going to go with Wings, originally on NBC from 1990 to 1997. Easily overshadowed by other popular shows from the same time period such as Seinfeld, and Friends. According to the Wikipedia page it never cracked #18 overall in the ratings, never won any major awards, the principle cast barely went on to do anything else, and yet this show ran for EIGHT seasons. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone mention it in the past several years. I barely recall the show myself, to be honest. And, according to Wikipedia it can be seen on ReelzChannel (never even heard of that channel myself) so it is in syndication still… somewhere, but only just barely.
So, what are your nominations and why?

2

Just Shoot Me ran for seven seasons & all I can really remember is the “Slow Donnie” episode featuring David Cross.

3

Medical Center. At the time it went off the air in 1976, it was the longest running medical show of all time (ER has surpassed it). But it never caught on in syndication; note how sparse the Wikipedia entry is for a show that ran seven seasons.

4

“7th Heaven” ran 11 years, and I don’t think it made much of a dent at all in the TV ratings.

5

You think Tony Shalhoub and Tim Daly “barely went on to do anything else”?

6

Drew Carey Show
Season Years Rank Rating
Season 1 1995–1996 #48 10.1
Season 2 1996–1997 #18 11.5
Season 3 1997–1998 #16 11.1
Season 4 1998–1999 #14 9.9
Season 5 1999–2000 #24 9.5
Season 6 2000–2001 #41 8.2
Season 7 2001–2002 #57 5.9
Season 8 2002–2003 (last half over the summer) #119 3.3
Season 9 2004 (summer only) #150 3.1

7

English comedy series Last of the Summer Wine ran from 1973 until 2010, and while it was never completely terrible, it was always pretty much of a bland, inoffensive cipher of a show, something only your would grandmother actually look forward to.

8

Pretty much any daytime soap opera.

9

I bet many people remember this show in terms of characters, plot and songs.

10

Did Kate leave after season 5, and was Winfred-Lauder bought by the tech company?

11

Christa Miller left after season 7 and the the tech company was introduced in season 8. Season 9 was really strange. The first season was released on DVD, but the rest have been held up because of the music rights.

12

JAG. Ten seasons, had a rather famous spinoff in NCIS that overtook it in popularity so much that I think it drowned its memory out.

13

According to Jim had a reputation for being mediocrity incarnate, but it lasted eight seasons.

14

Ok, that has to be the winner.

15

Malcolm in the Middle was never exactly unknown, but it always seemed to be one of those “Oh, is that still on?” shows. It lasted quite a while.

And I would argue that The Simpsons, while it started off as being a major hit and cultural influence, has sunk into a similar status. I haven’t heard anyone talking about the latest episode in years.

16

How about Knot’s Landing? It ran for fourteen seasons, but it doesn’t seem to have worked its way into pop culture the same way Dallas has. It doesn’t even have a proper DVD release.

17

Not to mention Thomas Haden Church, who has since been nominated for an Oscar.

18

And yet the local PBS station (KTCA in Minneapolis) is still showing it. I’ve never bothered to watch it; it looks too “talky”.

19

***Seventh Heaven ***ran 11 seasons- did anyone notice?

20

Nobody but Maserschmidt.