# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/121 "2001-05-13T03:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*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. \*\* I don’t believe “redneck” is a slur. My stepfather and a great many of his friends used redneck to describe themselves. I use it merely as a descriptive term, roughly equivilant to describing someone from New England as a Yankee, or a conservative white southerner as a Boll Weavil. And you are the one equating the term redneck with being ignorant, not me. However, since the sentence offended you, I will rephrase it. This was just one of many reasons why I could never understand what my mother saw in this _pickup drivin’, tobacco chewin’, cowboy boot wearin’, Jack Daniels and ice tea drinkin’, Hee Haw lovin’, John Wayne worshipin’, chained wallet carryin’, shaved head, tatooed_ neanderthal. Offensive word deleted, problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![aurelian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@aurelian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurelian)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/122 "2001-05-13T07:20:28Z")
Do cartoons count? (Land of the Lost, if I remember right, was made as a cartoon _and_ a live-action show) If so, I definitely have to nominate some of the crappy cartoons of the early eighties–Jem, anyone? Or (and I’ll surely inspire wrath with this one) Scooby Doo? Or Nickelodeon’s Today’s Special? C’mon! The creepy mannequin that would come to life? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/123 "2001-05-13T07:24:40Z")
“Land of the Lost” was a live action show only (most fans remember the 74-77 version and discount the crappy 1990 “sequal”). You are probably remembering a 1970s cartoon of similar concept entitled, IIRC, “Valley of The Dinosaurs.” Sir ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/124 "2001-05-13T07:34:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*Family Matters. Steve Urkel was not funny. Nothing else about the show was a ridiculous caricature, so why was it suddenly okay to put him in? > > Full House. UGH! This show was even worse than most for solving complex family problems in 7 1/2 minutes. \*\* You’ve named my top two right there! Gah! I can’t watch more than 30 seconds of either one without becoming violent. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/125 "2001-05-13T08:22:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hastur \* > \*\* > 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. \*\* HOW DARE YOU!!! You insulted MacGuyver!!! :::throws down her glove:::: ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/126 "2001-05-13T08:58:25Z")
Hey, **Asia K. Hale,** I didn’t really like _The Nanny_ either. But I still love Fran Drescher. Maybe it has something to do with sweaters. Anyway, > [@](#): > > _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?** I’m glad you remembered _Quantum Leap._ That’s a personal favorite of mine. Back to the bad stuff: _Automan._ Aaaaaack! And don’t forget _Manimal._ So, who was your favorite character from _Buck Rogers?_ I’m partial to Wilma Dearing, but I realize that some people like Hawk, while others like the Trabor. My goodness, why did I watch that? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2001, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/127 "2001-05-14T02:14:56Z")
I can’t believe no one’s mention **VIP** or whatever Pamela Anderson’s TV series is called. Ugh! Then there’s **Malcolm in the Middle** I have yet to meet anyone who likes that show. Let’s face it, whomever called TV a “vast wasteland” was being very kind. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/128 "2001-05-14T03:28:56Z")
_ **BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER** _ ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/129 "2001-05-14T21:56:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > Then there’s **Malcolm in the Middle** I have yet to meet anyone who likes that show. I like it. It takes all the cliches of crappy family shows like _Full House_ and _Cosby_ turns them on their ear with an inept father, a dictatorial mother and three kids you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley (Malcom being the exception). IOW, it’s more like real life than nearly every other sitcom. It’s the perfect companion to _The Simpsons._ ---
**Author:** ![berdollos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@berdollos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/berdollos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/130 "2001-05-16T13:24:26Z")
Mr. Ed remember the awful introductory tune Chuck Baris and the “Gong Show” ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/131 "2001-05-16T19:02:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > **Then there’s Malcolm in the Middle I have yet to meet anyone who likes that show.** Oh. My. God. Blasphemer! Malcolm in the Middle is pure brilliance, end to end. I’ve yet to meet anyone that _doesn’t_ like it. That two-hour block of shows on Fox - Futurama, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and Malcolm is what we refer to as The Shows in my home. For instance, “We’re going to be over at Mom’s for dinner - make sure you tape The Shows.” There’s never any question In fact, besides Cubs games, “Whose Line Is It Anyway”, and the occasional “Tom and Jerry”, the only shows I try to watch. There’s other good stuff (West Wing, Law & Order, etc.) but those are the ones I go out of my way to watch. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/132 "2001-05-17T02:44:33Z")
At risk of getting severely flamed… Seinfeld I have never seen any other show that _every_ single fucking actor/actress whines worse than a 3 year old. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/133 "2001-05-17T04:19:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bernse \* > \*\*At risk of getting severely flamed… > > Seinfeld > > I have never seen any other show that _every_ single fucking actor/actress whines worse than a 3 year old.\*\* Amen, brother. The only way you could get me to watch that swill is to guarantee that all the characters will be bludgeoned to death before the first commercial break. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/134 "2001-05-17T04:26:59Z")
Good Lord, people, nearly any sit-com you can remember is bad. I’m with Askia K. Hale on Amos and Andy, though. As a radio show it was pretty funny, but as television it was just plain embarrassing. For a slight high-jack (having nothing to do with red necks) Bonanza, dubbed in German, was a big hit in the Fatherland. All the Americans in the Green Ghetto would tune in to German TV just to hear this line: ``` HOSS: Was ist loss, Kline Joe? ``` The whole housing area would go up in laughter every time. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/135 "2001-05-17T05:49:20Z")
Malcome in the middle is one of the BEST shows on TV!!! Hastur, almost all of the shows you list are very entertaining and fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/136 "2001-05-18T01:56:32Z")
Survivor. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/137 "2001-05-18T02:33:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by berdollos \* > \*\*Chuck Baris and the “Gong Show” \*\* You heathen! The absolute pinnacle of ‘70’s ludicrosity. Any show that will broadcast (mostly) The Popsicle Twins gets airtime at my place. Snag a copy of Barris’ “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: An Unauthorized Autobiography” sometime (if you can find one). Positively hysterical. The story of the woman with the fang is classic. Plus, he was a hitman for the CIA! No, really! Well, he _says_ he was, anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/138 "2001-05-18T07:36:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > > \*\*Family Matters. Steve Urkel was not funny. Nothing else about the show was a ridiculous caricature, so why was it suddenly okay to put him in? > > > > Full House. UGH! This show was even worse than most for solving complex family problems in 7 1/2 minutes. \*\* > > You’ve named my top two right there! Gah! I can’t watch more than 30 seconds of either one without becoming violent. \*\* I used to watch these shows when I was younger but now they make me cringe. I don’t see how my parents could stand to watch them with me. Not only did the Tanners solve every problem within half an hour, no one ever seemed to move out of that house. Uncle Joey moved to the basement, Uncle Jessie and his family moved into the attic-that house was like a clown car! ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/139 "2001-05-18T18:30:05Z")
I have an aunt and uncle, both nearly 70, who watch _Full House_ reruns to this day. I love 'em anyway. [sub]My aunt and uncle, I mean.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Corky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Corky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corky)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038/140 "2001-05-19T09:19:22Z")
Why would anybody watch a crap series more than once to get to the point of detesting it? The remote control should ensure that you don’t actually watch these programmes beyond the point of annoyance and or boredom [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-popular-television-show-in-history/64038.md?page=8)