# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Koffing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Koffing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koffing)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/41 "2002-07-17T22:05:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krisfer the Cat \* > \*\*DragonballZ and all its wannabees > > predictable story lines (kill Goku… that will be a surprise)\*\* There’re DBZ wannabes? Anyway, they actually did kill Goku. Just so you know. ---
**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 17, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/42 "2002-07-17T22:20:06Z")
I have this vague memory of a TV show called “Mama Malone”, about a middle-aged Italian mother with her own TV cooking show, that was pretty awful. Didn’t last long, but while it did, it reeked. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/43 "2002-07-17T22:52:12Z")
Seeing as how a lot of TV Guide’s 50 worst have the characteristics of controversy and superficial shock appeal, I can’t help but think that if this list were made 10 years ago, _The Simpsons_ would be on it. Those crude Bart-centered early episodes sure ruffled a lot of feathers and it was before the show’s brilliance was apparent to most, especially to the audience this list was meant to appeal to. ---
**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 18, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/44 "2002-07-18T01:01:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Who can forget the wacky, loveable Colonel Klink (Werner Klemperor-the ironic thing was that he was Jewish-and his father (the famous conductor) was a refugee from Nazi germany). Or loveable Sergeant Schultz (“I know nothing”). So what if Bob Crane met his end ina rather kinky way…the show was funny! \*\* That was true for me in the 1960s too but since then and especially recently (thanks mainly to the Internet) I’ve been exposed to Holocaust imagery that has left me changed forever. I was just so ignorant of so many things and Hogan’s Heroes possibly contributed to that ignorance. I don’t understand for one moment how Jewish people became involved with the programme and how they justified their involvement. Laughter is everything but not everything needs to be laughed at. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/45 "2002-07-18T01:26:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Any list of bad TV shows that does not include “Small Wonder” is obviously wrong. \*\* Here here. Not to mention: “The Charmings” “Hi Honey, I’m Home” “Time of Your Life”-that craptastic show with Jennifer Love Screwitt “Nearly Departed” “Jennifer Slept Here”-I remember that show! Shit, I was just a little kid…all I remember is the theme song…weird. How did Bob Crane die in a kinky way? The IMDB just says he was found murdered? “Rags to Riches”-I loved that show as a kid-it was set during the Kennedy administration-because they had that one episode about the Cuban Missile Crisis, IIRC. I used to pretend to be one of the orphans and sing along. _shut up_ I believe Tisha Campbell was on that show (from “Martin”-which should be on the list) And dammit, I LOVE “Mama’s Family”. I want to be just like Thelma Harper when I get old-only with a much better wardrobe. I want to be a bitchy old shrew! ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/46 "2002-07-18T03:20:50Z")
My grandfather spent WWII in a German labor camp, and he loves _Hogan’s Heroes_. I first saw the show when I was little, and I was surprised to see him laughing at it considering how some things like documentaries and certain movies about that time upset him. When I asked my mom about it, she said it was one of his favorite shows during it’s original run. I don’t think it’s a great show, but IMO it doesn’t deserve a place on this list. Where’s: _We’ve Got It Maid Madame’s Place Boy Meets World The Magic Hour Kids Incorporated It’s A Living The Cindy Margolis Show_ Any one of these shows was worse than most of the shows I recognize on this list (far too many for my own good). ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/47 "2002-07-18T03:34:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Any list of bad TV shows that does not include “Small Wonder” is obviously wrong. \*\* Small Wonder should be on this list 50 times. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/48 "2002-07-18T04:21:18Z")
_We’ve Got It Made_ should be there. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/49 "2002-07-18T05:17:39Z")
I hate **Hogan’s Heros** , but it doesn’t belong on this list at all. It was an okay television show from the reruns I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/50 "2002-07-18T06:12:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*33. Holmes & Yoyo (ABC, 1976) > 35. Pink Lady…and Jeff (NBC, 1980) > I _liked_ these. ☹ \*\* I don’t think there were more than 4 or 5 “Pink Lady and Jeff” episodes. I wonder if it even registered in the Nielsens toward the end of its run. As for **What’s It All About World?** , it was produced by the same people who worked on the Smothers Brothers Show and the Smothers Brothers made a guest appearance on it, so I wonder how conservative it really was. It was 1969 though and the country was moving a bit rightward. ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/51 "2002-07-18T06:16:05Z")
I suppose this list is really addressing long-running (or at least meant to be long-running) shows. However, someone has to mention the infamous _Star Wars Holiday Special_, a show so mind-bendingly awful that, should you be unfortunate enough to see it for yourself, you will not believe it was ever actually broadcast. I just don’t see the problem with “Hogan’s Heroes” It’s part of a tradition stretching back to the war itself of poking fun at Hitler and the Nazis. We often forget that laughter is one of the best responses to a group that seeks to inspire fear. I think Hogan’s Heroes has probably had a beneficial effect even today. People take the threat of violence posed by Neo Nazis seriously. However, they don’t take Neo Nazis seriously. Most people think of them as pathetic posturing ninnies. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/52 "2002-07-18T07:24:57Z")
1. The Brady Bunch Hour (ABC, 1977) How could they have left off _The Brady Bunch_ and _The Brady Brides?_ Hell, anything with the word _Brady_ in its title should be in the top ten! And let’s not get into _The Partridge Family_! ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/53 "2002-07-18T14:11:23Z")
At least the Partridge Family didn’t have a reunion. ---
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/54 "2002-07-18T16:03:33Z")
Isn’t it a little unfair to judge a 1960’s TV Show (Hogan’s Hero’s, Flying Nun) by 2002 standards? There was no soch term as “politically incorrect” when these shows first aired. Let’s get a couple of copies of TV Guide from the same era and see how they stack up! Reshuffle the list, take out Hogan’s Hero’s, add Small Wonder and everyone will be happy! While we’re at it, add any TV show that featured Bob Saget! Drollman! Over 200 posts with a spelling mistake! ---
**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 18, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/55 "2002-07-18T16:13:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Isn’t it a little unfair to judge a 1960’s TV Show (Hogan’s Hero’s, Flying Nun) by 2002 standards? Actually, the same standards were used when it first came out. Have a look at the satire of it that appeared in **Mad** magazine at the time. Hogan’s Heroes wasn’t _awful_. In terms of writing, production values, acting, etc. it really doesn’t belong on the list. See some of the others I’ve listed above. There are, I suspect, a huge number of other shows that could be added, but the writers just weren’t familiar enough with them. How about **The New Show** , an attempt to create another kind of Saturday Night Live? It starred John Candy and IIRC, Mike Nesmith, and, IMHO, was awful. (Rod Serling JR. (John Candy) presents “Twilight Zonettes”!) ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/56 "2002-07-18T17:07:52Z")
How could they leave out **Joanie Loves Chachi** and **Charles in Charge**? Scott Baio has much to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191/57 "2002-07-18T17:08:59Z")
The list should be “shows we don’t like and are easy targets to pick on”. Jerry Springer and Howard Stern know their audience and cater to it very well. And they’re much easier to pick on because they are risque. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-worst-tv-shows-of-all-time/119191.md?page=2)