# The 50 Worst TV Shows of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191 "2002-07-16T05:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/1 "2002-07-16T05:28:08Z")
The following is the complete list: 1. The Jerry Springer Show (syndicated, 1991-present) 2. My Mother The Car (NBC, 1965-66) 3. XFL (NBC, UPN and TNN, 2001) 4. The Brady Bunch Hour (ABC, 1977) 5. Hogan’s Heroes (CBS, 1965-71) 6. Celebrity Boxing (Fox, 2002-present) 7. AfterMASH (CBS, 1983-84) 8. Cop Rock (ABC, 1990) 9. You’re in the Picture (CBS, 1961) 10. Hee Haw Honeys (syndicated, 1978-79) 11. The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer (UPN, 1998) 12. Hello Larry (NBC, 1979-80) 13. Twenty-One (NBC, 1956-58) 14. Baby Bob (CBS, 2002-present) 15. Manimal (NBC, 1983) 16. The Chevy Chase Show (Fox, 1993) 17. Casablanca (NBC, 1983) 18. The Ugliest Girl in Town (ABC, 1968-69) 19. The P.T.L. Club (syndicated, 1976-87) 20. The Pruitts of Southampton (ABC, 1966-67) 21. Baywatch (NBC and syndicated, 1989-2001) 22. The Powers of Matthew Star (NBC, 1982-83) 23. Sammy and Company (syndicated, 1975-77) 24. One of the Boys (NBC, 1982) 25. Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (Fox, 2000) 26. Life with Lucy (ABC, 1986) 27. Turn-On (ABC, 1969) 28. Supertrain (NBC, 1979) 29. Howard Stern (E!, 1994-present) 30. Unhappily Ever After (WB, 1995-99) 31. Homeboys in Outer Space (UPN, 1996-97) 32. Co-Ed Fever (CBS, 1979) 33. Holmes & Yoyo (ABC, 1976) 34. Alexander the Great (ABC, 1968) 35. Pink Lady…and Jeff (NBC, 1980) 36. The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (NBC, 1979-81) 37. Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (ABC, 1975-76) 38. Hell Town (NBC, 1985) 39. Still the Beaver (Disney Channel, 1985-86) 40. Makin’ It (ABC, 1979) 41. The Tom Green Show (MTV, 1999-2000) 42. The Flying Nun (ABC, 1967-70) 43. Woops! (Fox, 1992) 44. She’s the Sheriff (syndicated, 1987-89) 45. A.K.A. Pablo (ABC, 1984) 46. Me and the Chimp (CBS, 1972) 47. Rango (ABC, 1967) 48. Bless this House (CBS, 1995-96) 49. The Ropers (ABC, 1979-80) 50. Barney & Friends (PBS, 1992-present) My thoughts: In the misguided spinoff genre, I don’t think The Ropers is quite bad enough to make the list–replace it with Enos. Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? has to at least be in the top ten. Barney should be ranked much higher. The PTL Club…why pick on them rather than other fundamentalist talk shows? Is the PTL Club any worse than the 700 Club, Jimmy Swaggart, or Jerry Falwell? Hell, I know they’re scoundrels, but Robert Tilton, Bob Larson, Peter Popoff and Benny Hinn can be pretty fun to watch at times. AfterMASH…talk about an anticlimax, kinda like scheduling a meaningless exhibition game between the Clippers and Warriors the night after an exciting Game 7 in the NBA Finals. The Brady Bunch Hour…if aliens came to Earth and watched that, well, you know what they’d think. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/2 "2002-07-16T06:39:32Z")
There’s another thread about this already. All I can say is, anyone who’d put Barney on this list never saw Teletubbies. A million times worse than Barney. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/3 "2002-07-16T12:28:15Z")
What about – **Here Come the Hathaways!** --ABC show about a family with chimps. So bad, they couldn’t find any sponsors – **Suicide Theater** – I’m still not sure if this is for real, but I found it on a videotape called “TV Turkeys”, and it certainly _looked_ real. Starring deForest Kelley! – \*\* The Robert Downey, Jr. Show \*\* – easily worse than any of the talk shows on their list – **Don Adams’ Screen Test** – audience participation gone mad. – **My Living Doll** – Bob Cummings tries another show, this time with a female robot. This show had no reason to live. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/4 "2002-07-16T13:09:43Z")
A contender in my opinion is the bizarre Waltons family reunion telemovie I saw a few years ago. It seemed to be set in the 1960s and the female Waltons dressed accordingly in patent leather knee high boots, mini skirts and if I remember correctly, some had “Peggy Bundy” hairstyles. The mother was a feminist inspired by Gloria Steinem. Grandpa Walton who, if he was a grandpa in the 1930s would have been real old by the 1960s, was as robust as ever. Nevertheless, I have a great deal of respect for a lot of American television including the Waltons and sometimes even Jerry Springer. A lot of kids are victims of bad parenting. They exist in environments devoid of proper role models. A lot of adults can’t read or don’t read for no fault of their own. When was Eight is Enough not about working out what’s right and what’s not? When was the Beverly Hillbillies not a collection of modern day morality tales? When did John Boy Walton sell his soul to the devil? It all sounds so fatuous, I know, but nevertheless I believe it to be true. And Jerry Springer’s wind up speech isn’t platitudinous. It’s snobbery to think as much. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/5 "2002-07-16T13:14:52Z")
Why is Hogan’s Heroes so high on the list? Do they think it made fun of the Holocaust, or was it because of the way Bob Crane died? From what I recall, After MASH was well done. It was just pointless to do after everybody had said goodbye to the original. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t unwatchable. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/6 "2002-07-16T13:24:01Z")
Any list of bad TV shows that does not include “Small Wonder” is obviously wrong. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/7 "2002-07-16T13:35:24Z")
1. Hogan’s Heroes (CBS, 1965-71) WTF!!! This show is considered a classic. Who the “fudge” had an axe to grind against this goofy little bit of fun? The jokes were funny and the characters memorable. What utter B.S. It is like the anti-Beverly Hillbillies sentiment. Damn the show was number 1, for several years, and I believe when it was cancelled. Another goofy funny show, with memorable characters and clean, funny jokes. I am sooooo 'riled up, I need to go to the cement pond and have a sip of granny’s headache Medicine. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/8 "2002-07-16T13:44:41Z")
Damn! I forgot **Carter Country**. There’s a show you won’t ever see in syndication! ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/9 "2002-07-16T14:41:38Z")
Concerning Hogan’s Heroes From the [CNN Article](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/13/worst.shows.reut/index.html) > [@](#): > > “Hogan’s Heroes,” starring Bob Crane as an American POW outsmarting his Nazi captors (TV Guide apparently found the hit show to be politically incorrect in retrospect). I agree that HH has _no_ business being on this list (especially at _# 5!_). I spent a week down with chicken pox early this year and the daily rerun of Bob Crane and the boys (thanks TV Land!) was the one thing I looked forward to each day. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/10 "2002-07-16T14:44:40Z")
Hogan’s Heroes was made twenty years after WW2. Could we be watching a sitcom based on Serbian atrocities by 2010? If that’s likely then maybe number 5 is too high. If it’s unlikely then No. 1 is not high enough. I watched Hogan’s Heroes as a kid though. I liked it then. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/11 "2002-07-16T14:51:08Z")
Godammit . . . Now I have the theme song from _The Pruitts of Southampton_ stuck in my head . . . “How’d’ya do, how’d’ya do, how’d’ya do, my dear . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/12 "2002-07-16T15:24:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*What about > – \*\* The Robert Downey, Jr. Show \*\* – easily worse than any of the talk shows on their list I think you meant _Morton_ Downey Jr, the bigmouthed chain smoker. Robert Downey is the hooker visiting, drug addict. I’d watch Robert’s show 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/13 "2002-07-16T17:35:13Z")
I just stumbled across a 1960s show in Harlan Ellison’s book **The Glass Teat**. It was called \*\* What’s It All About, World?\*\*. As Ellison describes it, it’s a right-wing satire show, intended as an answer to The Smother Bothers. It starred Dean Jones and , as savaged by Ellison, doesn’t sound terrifically funny. I agree that Ellison’s not the most unbiased viewer, but I was rotting my brain on TV at this yime (February of 1969 – so it wasn’t a summer replacement), and I don’t recall this show, so it can’t have lasted long. **Max** – I always knew I’d mix those two up some day. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/14 "2002-07-16T18:32:08Z")
If there’s one thing everything enjoys, it’s making fun of Nazi incompetence. _Hogan’s Heroes_ really doesn’t belong there. (Keep in mind that I’ve never saw it, nor have I seen many of the programs on this list, but making fun of Nazis is always funny-because Hitler was an idiot.) Let’s see…all the famous flops are there…Cop Rock, My Mother the Car, the XFL, Supertrain, Turn-On (the one-episode wonder), You’re in the Picture (lasted _two_ episodes, but the second was just Jackie Gleason apologizing for the previous week’s show)…most of the list seems reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/15 "2002-07-16T18:38:40Z")
Manimal?!? Manimal!?! MANIMAL??? But he could turn into a panther!!! Or a bird!!! Or a bull!!! I loved that show!!! It was a sad day in kidnergarten when it was cancelled ☹ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/16 "2002-07-16T19:07:51Z")
I’ve looked up **What’s it All About, World** in the book **Total Television** , and it confirms that it only lasted a few episodes, then morphed into the even lamer **Dean Jones Variety Show** before mercifully expiring. Incidentally, Harlan Ellison mentions **Turn-on** in the same articles. He claims that the show was _good_, but that it was cancelled as too radical by nervous TV execs who thought the rubes wouldn’t “get it”. So they put on WIAAW instead. Regarding **Hogan’s Heroes** : I watched it as a kid. It must have been popular, because it lasted several years. One TV Guide even claimed it was popular with ex-POWs. But when I was going to Frad School in Salt Lake they ran the damned show after the news, pre-empting the network shows, which I found annoying. Even worse, I worked mostly with German professors, grad students, and post-docs at the time (one of them had even served as a kid in the German Army!), and I had to try to explain this show to them. A monument to American-German relations it is not. For my money, it can go on the list. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/17 "2002-07-16T19:42:39Z")
When my dad was in the army in the mid 60s there were a number of German officers stationed at Yuma getting NATO training or whatever. They found Hogan’s Heros to be hilarious and loved the show. Just to give a different German reaction to the show from CalMeacham’s. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/18 "2002-07-16T19:53:53Z")
Had they been honest with themselves, I think the editors would have had a harder time trying to name and identify 50 shows in the history TV broadcasting that could be classified as good. The shows that made the list that I had the misfortune of witnessing all sucked… Rating them is like trying to rate what smells worse; a rotting human corpse in a 120 degree apartment or a rotting barrel of fish left out in a Coney Island alleyway for a month. ---
**Author:** ![partly\_warmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@partly\_warmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partly_warmer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/19 "2002-07-16T20:42:10Z")
Buffy, Vampire Slayer: for lousy scripts that could be generated in large part by a computer program, extolling the virtues of ignorant use of the language, and glamorizing teen violence. Hogan’s Heros doesn’t belong on the list. The average lowish quality of humor concealed that quite a number of excellent lines were delivered, and that several of the actors really put their heart into it. I haven’t seen some of these shows recently, but I remember them as being unwatchable: Love, American Style Charlies Angels Many Saturday cartoons Laurence Welk ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/20 "2002-07-16T20:56:05Z")
I really enjoyed how they described AfterMASH in the article: “remember that sinking feeling you’d get when you realized the new episode of MASH was going to be about Father Mulcahy or Klinger?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191.md?page=2)