# Worst TV Shows, or-Why we call it The Idiot Box **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559 "2013-03-21T18:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/141 "2013-03-23T15:16:40Z")
Let’s see if [this list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sitcoms_notable_for_negative_reception) jogs anyone’s memories. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/142 "2013-03-23T17:48:14Z")
Yeah, we’re talking shows that are _MST3K_ calibur. And technically, you don’t even have to hate them – some of these shows I liked when I was a kid. But you know they’re crap. Thanks for the list, **Czarcasm**. _She’s the Sheriff_. I vaguely remember that stinker. Tee hee, a sexy blond cop with big boobs! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/143 "2013-03-23T22:15:18Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Most of you need to thank God fasting that you are too young to have seen [The Smothers Brothers Show](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smothers_Brothers_Show). No, it’s not the one where they sang “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy”. It’s the one before that, where Tommy Smothers comes back to earth after drowning. As an angel. That show, and Tori, are things Aaron Spelling is going to answer for if there is justice in the afterlife. I’m way too young for the original run, but Nick At Nite aired it for a while back when they actually used to air classic B&W shows instead of stuff that was just on the air a few years ago. I don’t remember it being that bad. I also don’t remember it being that good. I mostly remember it as being forgettable. > [@FriarTed](#): > > OK, how many of us have fond memories of at least two shows that someone else has named? Oh, way more than two. Probably something like half (if you only count shows I’ve actually seen). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/144 "2013-03-23T22:52:33Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > OK, how many of us have fond memories of at least two shows that someone else has named? I liked \*Nearly Departed \*and _ALF_. Mind you, I was a lot younger at the time. Maybe I wouldn’t like them so much now. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/145 "2013-03-23T23:16:48Z")
The end of the civil war was near when quiet accidentily, a hero who sneezed abruptly seized retreat and turned it to victory. His Medal of Honor greatly pleased his proud little family group, while pinning it on some blood was shed and so they became, F TROOP. Where indian fights are colorful sights and nobody takes a lickin’, where paleface and redskin both turn chicken… The Indians in F Troop were the Fukorwy, and Ken Berry used to fall down a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/146 "2013-03-23T23:24:30Z")
> [@slowlearner](#): > > The end of the civil war was near when quiet accidentily, a hero who sneezed abruptly seized retreat and turned it to victory. > His Medal of Honor greatly pleased his proud little family group, while pinning it on some blood was shed and so they became, F TROOP. > Where indian fights are colorful sights and nobody takes a lickin’, where paleface and redskin both turn chicken… > The Indians in F Troop were the Fukorwy, and Ken Berry used to fall down a lot. Correction, the Indians were the Hekawi. The show also starred Melody Patterson, who I had it bad for in those days. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/147 "2013-03-24T04:18:24Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > OK, how many of us have fond memories of at least two shows that someone else has named? I know I do. We didn’t have a TV in the house when I was growing up so if I got to see any TV, it was magical and riveting. Even\*\* Hee Haw \*\*at Nana’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/148 "2013-03-24T05:53:40Z")
How could I have forgotten the utterly dreadful but astoundingly popular _24_, which lasted 7 or 8 years. I dunno if it was the worst spy show ever, but I think it was the worst I ever saw. I actually learned to appreciate it as a farce comedy, imagining everyone dressed as clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/149 "2013-03-24T06:47:42Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I certainly remember watching the first couple of episodes of the **Chevy Chase Show** and being horrified. I recall a specific sketch where Chevy went to go put his hands in the cement outside that Chinese Theater, and fell in. I cringed. Wikipedia says it lasted for five weeks \ I came in here to post this. What an embarrassing travesty for everyone involved. My cringe-worthy memory of this show involves Chevy saying something vaguely obscene or off-color on air. This got him an off-air reprimand from one of the producers. I missed the episode where he uttered whatever it was that got him in trouble, so I don’t remember what it was specifically that he said. What I did see was the next night’s episode, when Chevy decides to call the producer at home, live on air. He wasn’t angry with her, but he did want to make a joke out of arguing the innocence of whatever it was he said. The producer was not amused _at all_, explained to Chevy that foul language is not OK, told Chevy to hang up the phone and never to call her at home again, and then ended the call short after only a minute. I guess Chevy had counted on the call lasting for a good five minutes or so. So there was this horribly embarrassing dead time which Chevy has nothing to fill with, after just being reprimanded _again_ by the same producer in less than 48 hours. The sheepish expression on his face and his lame attempt at brushing the incident off was very, very, very cringe-inducing. Never have I ever felt so sorry for someone on live TV. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/150 "2013-03-24T08:31:16Z")
[_Clutch Cargo_!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MHg1-mpcUY) ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/151 "2013-03-24T09:17:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > How could I have forgotten the utterly dreadful but astoundingly popular _24_, which lasted 7 or 8 years. I dunno if it was the worst spy show ever, but I think it was the worst I ever saw. I actually learned to appreciate it as a farce comedy, imagining everyone dressed as clowns. Come on now, who has never had one of those days when you have to deactivate a nuclear bomb set off by a former lover while worrying about your daughter getting lost in a forest and having to fend off a cougar? It happens all the time! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/152 "2013-03-24T09:34:47Z")
Hell, the nuclear bombs became so tiring that now I just drive the other way. But the torture is always fun! ---
**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:** [March 24, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/153 "2013-03-24T17:30:54Z")
“Jennifer Slept Here” Ann Jillian as the ghost of a movie star who was run over by an ice cream truck, (again, only the teen boy could see her), getting into stupid situations. What is it with the ghosts that only one person can see? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/154 "2013-03-24T18:31:13Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Correction, the Indians were the Hekawi. . Yes. They got their name by accident - they told someone “We’re lost. Where the heck are we?” but were misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/155 "2013-03-24T19:30:03Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t remember that show at all. Also, the mom was pretty cute. Also, I think she’s dead. At least if I’m reading IMDB right. Inspired me to look her up. [Not a happy story](http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/n_10282/). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/156 "2013-03-25T01:08:32Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Correction, the Indians were the Hekawi. The show also starred Melody Patterson, who I had it bad for in those days. Trivia: Melody Patterson lied about her age to get the role of Wrangler Jane. She was only 16 at the time, i.e., not of legal age. IIRC correctly, she ended up marrying James MacArthur, aka Danny “Danno” Williams. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/157 "2013-03-25T03:30:57Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > There was one, after “Car 54 Where Are You”, called “It’s About Time” (I can still hear the theme song in my ear). It starred Joe E Ross (another candidate for the thread about performers with middle initials) as a caveman; I think Imogene Coca was his wife. It actually aired 26 episodes (one full season, in those days). I’m not sure how many I watched, but it sings through history as one of the worst wastes of time (at least before reality TV) ever broadcast. > > [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QebFI-3zMO0)’s the pilot, complete with dinosaurs and cavemen existing at the same time, for those who have nothing better to do. I had nothing better to do. That’s how I know the pilot was directed by RICHARD DONNER! I guess everybody starts somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/158 "2013-03-25T04:10:24Z")
I think it’s well-regarded by critics, but I remember disliking “That’s My Bush!,” a Comedy Central parody of the Bush presidency from Matt Parker and Trey Stone. My dislike had nothing to do with political beliefs, I just didn’t think it was funny. I believe the show died fast after September 11, 2001. ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/159 "2013-03-25T04:13:32Z")
Ugh, I also remember a show called Mr. Merlin, which aired when I was about 7 years old. Merlin the Wizard owns an auto garage and is looking for the next King Arthur, who will be able to pull a crow bar from a cement block or something. I’m sure it was total dreck. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559/160 "2013-03-25T22:10:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I second these comments. The thread isn’t “shows I didn’t like,” it’s about shows that are really bad. See, I’d say the same thing about Family Matters and The Big Bang Theory. (Surprised no one tried Full House, Everybody Loves Raymond, or one I actually hate: Two and Half Men) I get not liking them, but they weren’t/aren’t actually bad. They are, at the very least, well put together. A lot of these other shows were absolute crap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-tv-shows-or-why-we-call-it-the-idiot-box/653559.md?page=9)