# What's the worst long-running TV show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614 "2006-06-13T21:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/21 "2006-06-14T00:19:43Z")
King of Queens=total crap Has Yes, Dear been on more than 4 seasons? If so: Yes, Dear=total crap ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/22 "2006-06-14T00:22:42Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Pardon me? FRIENDS? Did you NOT NOTICE THE THREE HOT CHICKS? Much is forgiven with hot chicks. … …/QUOTE] I quite agree with this. However, I have yet to see three hot chicks on that show. 😕 And Schwimmer’s character … just never mind. Gawd, what a worthless POS. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/23 "2006-06-14T00:31:55Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] I’d say the subject line’s pretty clear. A couple of criteria I’m sure everyone will start ignoring by post 5: 1. By “long-running” I mean lasting four or more seasons. 2. Try to restrict yourself to shows that sucked for more than half their run. F’instance, I think the last three seasons of _The West Wing_ were vomitous trash, but the four Sorkin years outweigh them, so it’s out. Likewise, don’t list _Star Trek: Voyager_ unless you think it blew chunks even before Seven of Nine was introduced . 3. No reality series. They all suck, just in different ways. 😛 My nominations: **Worst long-lasting drama: _Seventh Heaven_.** Oddly enough I liked this show some years back. The mom was cute, the elder daughter was clearly an incipient hottie, and Simon & Ruthie were funny as hell. But as it’s grown older it’s grown duller and preachier and oh-my-god it sucks. The acting couldn’t be more wooden if they replaced Stephen Collins with Treebeard. Jessica Biel has done nothing wiser in her life than running far, far away from it. \*\* Worst long-lasting action-adventure series: _Charmed_ \*\* They regularly show Alyssa Milanoa and Rose McGowan half-naked. Not even that helps. \*\* Wost long-lasting sitcom: _Family Matters_ \*\* Originally planned to be shown exclusively on the television network of Hell. Satan refused; he said the damned souls had already suffered enough. Anybody else? [/QUOTE] My only change to this list is substituting Bonanza for Charmed. It both lasted longer and sucked harder – really hard to believe I know and I watched both to the bitter end. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/24 "2006-06-14T00:32:47Z")
Oh, look. Another thread were people can dribble out their pet peeves and attack each other’s choices. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/25 "2006-06-14T00:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=Cerowyn] Oh, look. Another thread were people can dribble out their pet peeves and attack each other’s choices. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Err, the same could be said of everyother thread on SD (aside from the PIT). Just sayin’. =\ Nominating **Will & Grace**. Jokes about homosexual stereotypes are only funny one so many times, people. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/26 "2006-06-14T00:38:24Z")
MAMA’S FAMILY. I think I win. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/27 "2006-06-14T00:50:10Z")
[QUOTE=Hamadryad] MAMA’S FAMILY. I think I win. [/QUOTE] Seconded. You win. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/28 "2006-06-14T00:53:59Z")
What about Cops? Nothing like showcasing the misery of toothless guys without shirts and crazy dirty poor people. Now that’s entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/29 "2006-06-14T00:55:24Z")
**Home Improvement**. Why, oh, _why_ was this show so popular. There are no redeemable qualities here. Zip, zilch, nada. **Mama’s Family** takes the cake though. **Grace Under Fire** is another honerable mention, however. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/30 "2006-06-14T01:05:00Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] Seriously, who wants to watch the selfish antics of totally self absorbed cretins? Not I. [/QUOTE] Seriously? No one. Who wants to _laugh_ at the antics of self absorbed cretins?..tis the very essence of comedy. (And maybe note they have something in commen with them…when Seinfeld got the social satire right…well that’s why I liked it.) And (being once again the essence of comedy) I liked that I didn’t have to like them. Unlike Friends or Everybody Love Raymond or…most sitcom from the beginning of time. Where I’m being asked to consider horrible people as _likeable_. Groucho Marx never tryed to be likeable. And I love him 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/31 "2006-06-14T01:10:11Z")
Has CSI: Miami been on long enough to qualify? And I second the nomination for Seventh Heaven – although it is a good way to shorten visits to the family… "Oh, you are not only going to try and conduct a conversation with the television on, but you are going to leave it on \*\*that \*\* station. Ummmm, buh bye. (dis)Honourable mentions: NYPD Blue, and all the Law and Order franchises. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/32 "2006-06-14T01:20:53Z")
[QUOTE=Clockwork And Candy] Nominating **Will & Grace**. Jokes about homosexual stereotypes are only funny one so many times, people. [/QUOTE] The only season of the show that I actually liked was the second - which was almost universally villified by their fanbase. Huh. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/33 "2006-06-14T01:26:27Z")
[QUOTE=bagkitty] Has CSI: Miami been on long enough to qualify? ,. [/QUOTE] Just my opinion, but I I don’t think so. However, when **it is on long enough,** please, please, let us revisit this thread! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/34 "2006-06-14T01:30:00Z")
I’d say **Seinfeld** , but it did have some good moments. Having just been forced to sit through my first entire episode of **Full House** , it’s clearly the worst. I know everyone thinks the Olsen twins are cute, but hasn’t anyone noticed that they were the worst child actors since Larry Matthews? You can actually see that they have to cut to do a one-shot because they can’t say a line in response to anyone elses. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/35 "2006-06-14T01:57:04Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Pardon me? FRIENDS? Did you NOT NOTICE THE THREE HOT CHICKS? Much is forgiven with hot chicks. [/QUOTE] OK, I admit that I’m hardly the go to guy on the topic of hot chicks, but considering that you dismiss Charmed in your OP on the basis of La Milano and La Gowen not being hot enough, you have me seriously confused. Hot and frequently half-naked Milano and Gowen (and Combs and Doherty for that matter) isn’t enough to save Charmed, but hot and rarely-if-ever half-naked Aniston, Cox and Kudrow is enough to save Friends? Of course the correct answer is that both Charmed and Friends sucked fetid donkey rectums, but I still don’t understand your math. But for pure unadulterated suck, I give you _What’s Happening!_ plus _What’s Happening Now!_, and _Gimme a Break!_. But especially GaB. Horrendous, and launched not one but two Lawrence brothers on an unsuspecting world. And I really hated _The Cosby Show_ too. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/36 "2006-06-14T02:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=betenoir] Seriously? No one. Who wants to _laugh_ at the antics of self absorbed cretins?..tis the very essence of comedy. . [/QUOTE] To me, if it ain’t funny, it ain’t comedy. Essence or not. I don’t laugh at or with Seinfeld characters. Because I don’t find it funny. You guys can go ahead and like it if you want. Some of my best friends do. But you will not be able to talk me into liking it. Taste is taste, verdad? ;j \<------- modifying smiley so no one takes this as a harsh criticism of their personal tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/37 "2006-06-14T02:47:39Z")
[QUOTE=Hamadryad] MAMA’S FAMILY. I think I win. [/QUOTE] Damn you. Damn you to hell. **DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!** I had almost completely managed to wipe that show from my memory. Now I have to start all over. You win, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/38 "2006-06-14T02:52:16Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] OK, I admit that I’m hardly the go to guy on the topic of hot chicks, but considering that you dismiss Charmed in your OP on the basis of La Milano and La Gowen not being hot enough, you have me seriously confused. [/quote] Who said I was being logical? Actually I’m quite satisfied that Milano, Gowan, Combs, & Doherty were all quite hot, and even hotter than the non-Kudrow _Friends_ girls. But the writing is so utterly horrid that I can’t forgive the the show. Plus the fact that it outlasted both \*Angel \* & \*Buffy \* annoys me. > [@](#): > > Of course the correct answer is that both Charmed and Friends sucked fetid donkey rectums, but I still don’t understand your math. YMMV, of course. I thought Friends was pretty funny, particularly the gay subtext of Chandler/Joey & lesbian subtext of Rachel/Monica. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/39 "2006-06-14T02:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=bagkitty] Has CSI: Miami been on long enough to qualify? [/QUOTE] [Dramatically takes off sunglasses] It just wrapped up its fourth season. [Dramatically puts sunglasses back on] It does, therefore, qualify. [Dramatically takes off sunglasses again] ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614/40 "2006-06-14T02:56:08Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] [Dramatically takes off sunglasses] It just wrapped up its fourth season. [Dramatically puts sunglasses back on] It does, therefore, qualify. [Dramatically takes off sunglasses again] [/QUOTE] Let me think. On the one hand, it has the pretentious lead actor, the utterly ridiculous science, and the complete waste of Khandi Alexander’s talents. On the other hand, there’s Emily Proctor’s weekly inappropriate boobage. No, now that I see that in print, that’s actually the same hand. It’s not as bad as \*Charmed \* or _7th Heaven_, but it’s still sucky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-long-running-tv-show/360614.md?page=3)