# What are the five worst television shows of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833 "2009-07-22T06:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/81 "2009-07-23T23:03:56Z")
Daddio, sitcom that starred Michael Chiklis. The Tracy Morgan Show. Whoopi. Any of those shows would make Small Wonder look like Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/82 "2009-07-23T23:18:01Z")
Two awful stand outs from my college years: [That’s My Bush!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That%27s_My_Bush!) [Let’s Bowl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Bowl) ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/83 "2009-07-23T23:33:30Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Darn you. Just when I thought I had recovered the neurons, and now… > > \*…decided to come back, > As a car. > > She’s my very own - guiding star. > > A 1928 Porter. > That’s my mother dear…\* > > Regards, > Shodan She helps me through everything I do And I’m so glad she’s here. Hey! What’s everybody staring at?!? “You’re scooching away, children. Don’t make me tell you about the scooching again.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/84 "2009-07-23T23:44:56Z")
As for children’s shows, anyone remember Rugrats: All Growed Up? _Animal Cops: Detroit_. The name is misleading; while they are in Detroit, they lack police powers. As a result, they can’t really do very much about the animal abuse they encounter. Does “Channel One” count as a TV show? I remember getting in trouble for reading _National Geographic_ during “Channel One” time in high school. _Greatest American Hero_; though I’ve never actually seen it, I’ve certainly heard about it. Twenty-eight years later, my mother is still complaining about having to “drop everything” so Dad could see this show. And on behalf of my late grandfather, I’d like to nominate _Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C._ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/85 "2009-07-24T00:38:47Z")
**Arrested Development** ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/86 "2009-07-24T00:56:07Z")
Just watch The Soup for a weekly roundup of suckitude of monumental proportions. Kendra? (Fill in the blank) of Love? Kardashians? Take your pick, because if it’s on The Soup, it sucks. (But man, it’s funny!) ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/87 "2009-07-24T02:32:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Were you not a member of our fighting forces, and known to me as a man of honor, I would have no choice but to slap you with a trout for saying that. [Cop Rock’s creation was proof of the existence of God, and its cancelling evidence that she or he was pissed with us. You know I respect you, **Skald** , and I look forward to your posts, but c’mon. _Cop Rock_ was someone’s attempt to do something different with television. The only program that could pull that off consistently was Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The rest of the world wants their TV to be the same thing that has worked in the past. Hell, look at the world appeal of _Baywatch_. Hot bodies, bouncing breasts, and moronic dialogue, none of which was found on _Cop Rock_. Hell, I’d give _Hacks_ a thumbs up before _Cop Rock_. But as usual, YMMV. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/88 "2009-07-24T02:49:34Z")
**Me And The Chimp** (he should’a stayed on **That Girl…** ) **We Got It Maid** (made **Three’s Company** look clever.:smack:) **One In A Million** (Shirley from **What’s Happening** does **Solid Gold Cadillac**. Ecch) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/89 "2009-07-24T02:55:24Z")
Several years back, _TV Guide_ called _The Brady Bunch Variety Hour_ the worst TV show ever. Having seen a small clip of it, I’m inclined to agree. _The Simpsons_ did an excellent parody of it in the “Simpsons Spin-off Showcase” episode. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/90 "2009-07-24T02:56:20Z")
This Cracked article on 6 shows canceled after one episode may be relevant: > **[Mercy Kill: 6 Shows (Thankfully) Canceled After One Episode](https://www.cracked.com/article_15651_mercy-kill-6-shows-thankfully-canceled-after-one-episode.html)** > > Some TV shows are cut down before their time, and never really get a fair shot (We are artistically obligated to mention Arrested Development at this point). Other shows live long past their time (According to Jim will be entering into it's seventh... ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/91 "2009-07-24T03:04:07Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Children’s programming takes the worst categories IMO: > > “ **Barney** ” - it’s not the obnoxious purple dinosaur that disturbed me the most. Ah, it was okay. I don’t remember the purple dude, but Abe Vigoda was pretty good in it. I didn’t care for that Wojo guy though. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/92 "2009-07-24T05:45:51Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I still don’t think that quite approaches the number of shots/reuse ratio of the original _Battlestar Galactica_’s Cylon Raider footage. > > Speaking of which, how can I possibly be the first person to nominate _Galactica 1980_? You nominate something that **does not exist**. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/93 "2009-07-24T06:10:37Z")
> [@breezman](#): > > The Taco Bell Dana Carvey Show (from which Taco Bell prompty removed their name) Heresy! Any show that opens with Bill Clinton breastfeeding a puppy and introduces the world to the Ambiguously Gay Duo has earned my respect. As far as the sponsor thing goes, that was a planned joke about selling out, in which each show had a different title sponsor from the Pepsi family. The second episode was the Mug Root Beer Dana Carvey Show if memory serves. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/94 "2009-07-24T06:40:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Arrested Development** Pistols at dawn, sir. Tobias Fünke: Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist. Tobias Fünke: No, no, it’s pronounced a-nal-ra-pist. Buster: It wasn’t really the pronunciation that bothered me. Gob: [talking about his new boat] The Seaward. Michael: You’re not getting a boat. Gob: [doing rock, paper, scissors] One, two, three. Michael: You’re not gonna do it… [does rock] Michael: . Gob: Paper covers rock. Michael: Fine, but rock sinks boat. Lucille: [entering room] Michael. Michael: Just a minute mom. [to GOB] Michael: . Get rid of the Seaward. Lucille: I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/95 "2009-07-24T10:37:22Z")
I don’t know if these are the worst, but they are very disappointing. Spaceballs the Animated Series. Each episode is a pop culture parody done unfunny. A shame, too, in that it stars Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga, Joan Rivers. Bob and Doug (McKenzie) the animated series. Stars Dave Thomas. Rick Moranis is retired. Such potential wasted. Caught Strange Brew the other day and it still holds up. This one is terribly lame. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/96 "2009-07-24T12:07:27Z")
This is like going to a garbage dump and having someone tell you to pick out the five most disgusting things there. Off the top of my head: **Suddenly Susan** **Maury** **Whatever soap opera that always seemed to be on when I turn the TV on in the middle of the day, that involved some sort of witch and her midget sidekick** **Thanks** - This was short lived sitcom involving 17th century Puritan family. On the one hand, at least it wasn’t sitcom number 137 about a dumb fat guy married to an attractive woman, but on the other hand, it was painfully unfunny. And, a dark horse: **Corner Gas**. Sorry, it just isn’t funny. I know Canadians seem to like it, but they also willingly live in Canada so their taste is obviously questionable. I’m sure those aren’t the five all time worst, or even the five worst that I’ve seen, they’re just the first that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/97 "2009-07-24T13:05:47Z")
Survivor Jerry Springer The Bachelor MTV Real World All soap operas ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/98 "2009-07-24T13:24:37Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > She helps me through everything I do > And I’m so glad she’s here. > > Hey! What’s everybody staring at?!? > > “You’re scooching away, children. Don’t make me tell you about the scooching again.” > 😃 After you die, and come back as a car, I am going to sell your parts for scrap. And then maybe that song will be out of my head forever. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/99 "2009-07-24T15:13:08Z")
> [@thwartme](#): > > “[The Trouble With Tracy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFLEvAhSTwQ)”. I’m guessing many, many Canadian dopers will back me up on this. > > And I’ll also step in to defend the Dana Carvey show. At times, [it was awesome](http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/29431/detail/). > > thwartme Entirely worth the pain for the revelation that George Harrison had killed a man once…(the show, that is, not that particular clip) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833/100 "2009-07-24T15:24:02Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Out of memory error. Went off in 1960 and has not, mercifully, been rerun. Not true. There was another run in the late 60s. I recall watching this a couple of times as a kid. Even as a small child I found it annoying, and also recall a Mad Magazine parody of the show. The problem with this question is that there is so much bad television and so many channels these days that most of us never stop to take notice of the stuff. In the olden days, there were far fewer options, so most everyone would have seen even one or two bad eps. I remember summer reruns, every year on TBS, that was a steady diet of Gilligan’s Island, Hazel, Father Knows Best and the Little Rascals. There just weren’t a lot of options, so we watched Gilligan not get off the island a thousand times. Now we’d have 100 other channels of bad stuff to choose from. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-five-worst-television-shows-of-all-time/503833.md?page=6)