# The worst popular television show in history? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038 "2001-05-02T03:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![sleepyhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@sleepyhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleepyhead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/101 "2001-05-06T18:52:47Z")
Didn’t TBS put together a half hour show of their “Monkey Shorts” about two years ago? Boy was that a bad show right? I mean who would want to watch a bunch of monkeys for a half hour? (Sleepyhead casually offers before sneaking away.) [sub] what? it wasn’t me! Surely a network exec. wouldn’t base big decisions like that on the advice of a drunken fool she met at a cocktail party would she? Surely they use all sorts of complex market research right?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/102 "2001-05-07T00:08:53Z")
Funny, funny thread. I agree that LAND OF THE LOST was superior children’s entertainment and should be stricken from the nominations. Forget SMALL WONDER, ALF and even CHARLES IN CHARGE. The absolutely worst popular TV show would be AMOS N ANDY – Top 20 hit in its day – but today seen as a show so horrifically cliched in its stereotypical depiction of African-Americans that 47 years after its debut, it’s STILL banned on TV. I’ve seen videos of the show – trust me – unless you’re exactly the insecure bigoted racist that finds this crap appealing, its not even worth the minutes of your life to watch it to get a opinion. Since AMOS N ANDY? I never got HOGAN’S HEROES. I just can’t get past the ‘barrelful of laughs from a POW camp’ premise. Or THE WHITE SHADOW. The only redeeming aspect of THE TRACY ULLMAN SHOW were first, sketchy SIMPSONS shorts. And speaking of THE SIMPSONS… Ned just painted his houseguest to look just like his dead wife. Now THAT’S comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/103 "2001-05-07T01:21:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Askia K. Hale \* > **The absolutely worst popular TV show would be AMOS N ANDY – Top 20 hit in its day – but today seen as a show so horrifically cliched in its stereotypical depiction of African-Americans that 47 years after its debut, it’s STILL banned on TV. I’ve seen videos of the show – trust me – unless you’re exactly the insecure bigoted racist that finds this crap appealing, its not even worth the minutes of your life to watch it to get a opinion.** I dunno. I’ve never seen Amos 'N Andy, of course, but you seem to be using a different definition of “bad” here, the same way that one might proclaim that _Birth of a Nation_ or _Triumph of the Will_ were among the “worst” movies of all time rather than (as is generally agreed) among the best. The ideas behind a work of art might appear to be horrific from our modern perspective, but does that diminish them as art? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/104 "2001-05-07T01:32:17Z")
Family Feud Card Sharks Tic Tac Dough Jokers Wild Price is Right Wheel of Fortune Just about any game show EXCEPT the old Match Game BJ & The Bear Buck Rogers in the 25th Century How is it that something is so cheesy that it’s bad, while shows like this are sooooo cheesy, they’re cool? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/105 "2001-05-07T02:00:04Z")
Gilligan’s Island because it was popular despite being bad. It was one of the first series to switch to colour and the only show in its time slot to be broadcast in colour. It was watched not because it was funny but because it was in colour, and because of the lead-in factor during the pre-remote era. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/106 "2001-05-07T02:08:26Z")
I’m saying AMOS N ANDY is bad because it’s cheesy AND racist (so was the movie with Sam Jackson and Nic Cage, IMHYUCO, but perhaps that was the point). I agree that while I am probably using a different definition of “bad” in this instance, it doesn’t invalidate my opinion. There’s only so many times we can say TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT sucks. As far as terrible game shows go, I humbly submit BOWLING FOR DOLLARS. Bowling… bowling… bowling! Oh, a gutterball. Too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/107 "2001-05-07T14:28:00Z")
A friend of mine wants me to put a vote in for “Charles in Charge.” Remember? The theme song was done by the Go-Gos. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/108 "2001-05-07T21:35:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balance \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > > Other than _Star Trek, The Twilight Zone_, and the original _The Outer Limits,_ has there ever been a good science fiction TV series? > > Yes. It’s called “Babylon 5”, and it’s about the only reason to have the Sci-Fi Channel. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? 😃 \*\* Er, uh, yeah. :o (I only used to watch that show EVERY FUCKING WEEK!!! I even talked to the creator J. Michael Stracyzinski before the show premiered. And only a true Babylonian can spell his last name from memory!) Later, I also remembered _Quantum Leap_. (I don’t consider _The X-Files_ to be science fiction. While it’s an excellent show and primarily about aliens visiting the Earth, it has too many incidents of magic to be called science-fiction. For just one example, the episode where M&S meet a real, live, grant-3-wishes genie. I’m sure my fellow fans can think of many other such episodes.) ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/109 "2001-05-12T07:04:56Z")
\*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Number Six_ > Oh brother. :rolleyes: Stepfather #1 referred to himself as a redneck. Frequently. Proudly. Is Jeff Foxworthy being racist when he refers to himself and people like him as rednecks? > > The redneck reference was intended to show that he was himself a rural southerner, and saw this show as a positive representation of people like him. > \*\* Some people are too stupid to know when they are being held up to ridicule, but that doesn’t make it okay to ridicule them. I’m sure some black people thought “Amos 'n Andy” was hilarious, but try finding anyone who does now. I’m going to get off my high horse now. I just wanted to point out that ALL slams based on race, creed, geographic origin, religion, or socio-economic status make anyone who uses them sound ignorant themselves. I just think it should be avoided on the Boards. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/110 "2001-05-12T08:49:50Z")
Lizard said > [@](#): > > Some people are too stupid to know when they are being held up to ridicule, but that doesn’t make it okay to ridicule them and > [@](#): > > You can dislike someone for being ignorant. You can dislike someone for being uneducated. You seem to be contradicting yourself here. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/111 "2001-05-12T09:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Laverne and Shirley was set in Milwaukee, WI. > > Was it? I remember reading in John Updike’s novel _Memories of the Ford Adminstration_ where he mentioned overhearing “the Minneapolis imbroglios of Laverne and Shirley.” > > I don’t even watch TV. I just read books. I don’t even know what-all you’re talking about here. \*\* Laverne and Shirley was set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I saw the building that once had the Welcome to Milwaukee sign every day on my way to work. It moved to California in later seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/112 "2001-05-12T09:53:49Z")
Hated **Home Improvement**. Pure crap. Suzanne Somers should be punished for crimes against humanity for **She’s The Sheriff, Step By Step** , and her role in **Three’s Company.** Joey Lawrence should be punished next for **Gimme A Break and Blossom**. **The Love Boat** was unwatchable in all its tv incarnations. Bad actions shows of the 80’s: **MacGyver, A-Team, Matt Houston, Bring Em Back Alive, Whiz Kids, Simon and Simon, Magnum PI, Tales of the Gold Monkey, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King.** So much crap, so many reruns. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/113 "2001-05-12T14:54:42Z")
But **Hastur** , who could forget that brilliant scene in **Blossom** with Joey Lawrence teaching Mr.T. how to say “whoaa!” and Mr.T. teaching Joey how to say “I pity the fool!” art at its finest! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_tAsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@Don\_tAsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_tAsk)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/114 "2001-05-12T15:09:54Z")
The Lucy shows. I don’t think there could ever be anything more annoying than her, though the Brady Bunch comes in a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/115 "2001-05-12T19:46:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > \*\*Lizard said > > > [@](#): > > > > Some people are too stupid to know when they are being held up to ridicule, but that doesn’t make it okay to ridicule them > > and > > > [@](#): > > > > You can dislike someone for being ignorant. You can dislike someone for being uneducated. > > You seem to be contradicting yourself here. \*\* No, I’m not. There is a difference between _believing_ someone is a certain way, and using a slur to describe them that other people find insulting. Maybe your stepfather was truly ignorant. So call him ignorant. Don’t use a word like “redneck” that indirectly disparages a whole lifestyle and class of people. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/116 "2001-05-12T20:14:08Z")
(Thuddingly obvious TV show occurs to me after reading earlier post about how so-called ‘annoying’ Lucille Ball was…) Fran Drescher and Co. on _The Nanny._ Gods. Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, _horrible_ show, made infinitely worse by Drescher’s shrill, nasal, nosebleed-inducing, eighth-grade educated New Yorkish whine and some Conservative TV group endorsing it as ‘positive family entertainment.’ Much, much worse than ‘Bewitched’ and I hated that show. I’d rather have an unnecessary unanesthasized vasectomy than to hear, “Ohhhhhhhhhh, Mistauh SHEFF-FIEEEEEEEEELD!!!” Gah. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/117 "2001-05-12T23:02:38Z")
**Askia K. Hale** , quit beatin’ around the bush and tell us how you really feel. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amedeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Amedeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amedeus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/118 "2001-05-13T00:12:32Z")
Farscape… ::shudders:: ---
**Author:** ![Amedeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Amedeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amedeus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/119 "2001-05-13T00:32:07Z")
Oops, and one can’t forget that show with Hulk Hogan… **Thunder in Paradise**. Truely terrible in the way Hercules and Xena are. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/120 "2001-05-13T00:40:28Z")
There are a lot of votes for Love Boat, which I have to agree with. But even worse was Fantasy Island. They stole the whole “guest star” premise and made it even worse with the fantasies come true thing. One of the most frightening things of my childhood was hearing Tattoo (what kind of name is that anyway?) scream Da plane! Da plane! I shudder just thinking about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038.md?page=7)