Worst shows in television history

[HuskyHawk]

I can't believe it took me this long to come up with Saved by the Bell. Epically terrible, and I will give this show credit for Elizabeth Berkeley's appearance in Showgirls and Screech's porm career.

The young Tiffani Amber Thiessen was one of the most beautiful girls I'd ever seen. But yes, it was a pretty bad show. It was Saturday mornings I think, not prime time.

@Kolumbo Hanna Montana was actually a great show. My daughter watched it when she was young (perfect age really) and we laughed at it quite a bit. The guy who played her brother was very funny. It was probably the best sitcom of it's time, despite being on the Disney Channel.

 

[Husky25]

Though the show does not meet criteria #3 (perhaps by Nelson's design. Most children's shows are beyond awful), any parent of a child over 5 should agree that Calliou is the worst program in broadcast history.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Though the show does not meet criteria #3 (perhaps by Nelson's design. Most children's shows are beyond awful), any parent of a child over 5 should agree that Calliou is the worst program in broadcast history.

Calliou is so bad that even young kids make fun of it, but Fairly Oddparents and its screaming ilk are worse in my view. They over-stimulate the young viewer while providing caustic, sarcastic shtick that seemingly tries to translate to bad behavior. This makes the awkward, balding, milquetoast kid seem like an ok hang.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

The Strain, cool idea, awful execution

 

[nygblue]

Tom Hanks went on and had a few good roles , but Bosom Buddies was terrible.

 

[Tommyboy]

Under the Dome

Cannot believed I actually watched this for three seasons. Started off promising but then quickly became a train wreck.

 

[J187Money]

This is another one that, while it wasn't good, just was too popular to nominate for suckiest ever. Remember, John Ritter pretending to be gay to room with females was, in the 70s, as close as a weekely sitcom could come to actually portray a gay character. And, notwithstanding the fact that he wasn't, allowed all sorts of homophobic jokes that, outside of Trump Country, wouldn't be laughed at today.

Agreed - at the time - it was must watch (at least for me).

 

[J187Money]

Under the Dome

Cannot believed I actually watched this for three seasons. Started off promising but then quickly became a train wreck.

There were 3 seasons? I kind of liked season 1 but didn't know there were more. Guess I'm glad I didn't watch?

 

[J187Money]

Have to put New Girl and The Mindy Project with 2 Broke Girls. I've given all multiple chances. Can't remember a smile, let alone a laugh.

I also think Blue Bloods deserves a spot on this list. It satisfies all criteria (#4 x 3, with Selleck, Walberg, and Moynahan.). I started watching it because Bridget Moynahan was in that mid-40's sweet spot, but it soon became unbearable. 1 family, 2 NYPD commissioners, 3 highly decorated officers, 1 NYC ADA, all above reproach? In that town? I suppose it is possible, but unlikely.

Agreed on 2 Broke Girls - didn't watch The Mindy Project. Think you are dead wrong on New Girl. I've said it here elsewhere - Jess is probably the worst character on the show, but Winston/Schmit/Nick are great characters. I laugh out loud nearly every episode.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Tom Hanks went on and had a few good roles , but Bosom Buddies was terrible.

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Disagree, it was like watching Mike Trout in AA ball. Lots of sitcom-ness to it, but I enjoyed it - you could tell some of the jokes & Hanks scenes were improvised. Solid B at the time but probably not re-watchable today.

 

[J187Money]

The Strain, cool idea, awful execution

I liked it, other than the last season.

 

[Tommyboy]

There were 3 seasons? I kind of liked season 1 but didn't know there were more. Guess I'm glad I didn't watch?

Yup. I think each one occurred in the summer.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Strain, cool idea, awful execution

I was struggling to come up with something, but this might be it. Only made it through a few episodes before I had to quit.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is another one that, while it wasn't good, just was too popular to nominate for suckiest ever. Remember, John Ritter pretending to be gay to room with females was, in the 70s, as close as a weekely sitcom could come to actually portray a gay character. And, notwithstanding the fact that he wasn't, allowed all sorts of homophobic jokes that, outside of Trump Country, wouldn't be laughed at today.

John Ritter was under-appreciated. He was a very gifted physical comedian, like Carol Burnett. It's a style not seen or used much anymore, because instead reality TV and YouTube just gives us actual idiots to watch. So the writing for Three's Company wasn't great, because the humor mostly didn't come from dialogue.

 

[Rocktheworld]

“Girls” certainly fits all the criteria, and it’s not a simple kids show like a lot of these other responses

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Calliou is so bad that even young kids make fun of it, but Fairly Oddparents and its screaming ilk are worse in my view. They over-stimulate the young viewer while providing caustic, sarcastic shtick that seemingly tries to translate to bad behavior. This makes the awkward, balding, milquetoast kid seem like an ok hang.

Morning kids shows have to be out. Saved by the Bell barely makes the cut.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Agree with a couple other posters, I actually liked New Girl. At times it went too far w/ the quirkiness but it had likable characters and plenty of genuine laughs for me.

 

[Dogdeacon]

John Ritter was under-appreciated. He was a very gifted physical comedian, like Carol Burnett. It's a style not seen or used much anymore, because instead reality TV and YouTube just gives us actual idiots to watch. So the writing for Three's Company wasn't great, because the humor mostly didn't come from dialogue.

Three's Company was really silly & every plot was a misunderstanding that cell phones would undo in 10 seconds, but lots of people watched it. Ritter's comedy is under appreciated sure and he was definitely funny. But c'mon that's not why people watched and if it were on today we'd all take a gander for at least a few minutes.

 

[Purple Stein]

Tom Selleck. Does he do anything but purse his lips, exhale and sigh.

 

[Kolumbo]

 

[Stainmaster]

Calliou is so bad that even young kids make fun of it, but Fairly Oddparents and its screaming ilk are worse in my view. They over-stimulate the young viewer while providing caustic, sarcastic shtick that seemingly tries to translate to bad behavior. This makes the awkward, balding, milquetoast kid seem like an ok hang.

Barney friggin' blew.

 

[TRest]

I have only seen reruns, but 2.5 Men is a bad combination of rote formula and poor writing. If Sheen didn't have a different stunner on the show every week no one would watch.

 

[Dove]

Barney friggin' blew.

He needed the money.

 

[Kolumbo]

I have only seen reruns, but 2.5 Men is a bad combination of rote formula and poor writing. If Sheen didn't have a different stunner on the show every week no one would watch.

I think 2.5 Men was awesome. The way Charlie just tools on his brother, good stuff. Not a show for the masses, which is a plus, but certainly not a bad show. The stunners work.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Have to put New Girl and The Mindy Project with 2 Broke Girls. I've given all multiple chances. Can't remember a smile, let alone a laugh.

I also think Blue Bloods deserves a spot on this list. It satisfies all criteria (#4 x 3, with Selleck, Walberg, and Moynahan.). I started watching it because Bridget Moynahan was in that mid-40's sweet spot, but it soon became unbearable. 1 family, 2 NYPD commissioners, 3 highly decorated officers, 1 NYC ADA, all above reproach? In that town? I suppose it is possible, but unlikely.

Blue Bloods is tough to watch. This show cycles through every cop show cliche in every episode I that I have seen. The fact that it is a hit definitely warrants discussion, although I don't think the show is truly terrible as much as it is mediocre.

 

[Kolumbo]

Blue Bloods is tough to watch. This show cycles through every cop show cliche in every episode I that I have seen. The fact that it is a hit definitely warrants discussion, although I don't think the show is truly terrible as much as it is mediocre.

Is it better than Magnum P.I.? Someone I know has two boxers (not Dobermans but same idea) and every time I see them, I can't help but think "Zues, Apollo."

 

[Deepster]

Calliou is so bad that even young kids make fun of it, but Fairly Oddparents and its screaming ilk are worse in my view. They over-stimulate the young viewer while providing caustic, sarcastic shtick that seemingly tries to translate to bad behavior. This makes the awkward, balding, milquetoast kid seem like an ok hang.

I would think kids shows deserve their own category, good and bad (and I'll argue iCarly is one of the better sitcoms of any genre in the last 20 years).

That being said, Caillou is possibly the worst program ever aired in the history of television.

 

[Fishy]

I would think kids shows deserve their own category, good and bad (and I'll argue iCarly is one of the better sitcoms of any genre in the last 20 years).

That being said, Caillou is possibly the worst program ever aired in the history of television.

Caillou is abysmal.

As is Franklin and the show I hated the most when the kid was a baby, Little Bear. The orchestra music in that stupid show made me want to kill someone.

 

[auggie22]

Any show produced by Chuck Lorre is terrible. 2.5 men, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother. All terrible.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Caillou is abysmal.

As is Franklin and the show I hated the most when the kid was a baby, Little Bear. The orchestra music in that stupid show made me want to kill someone.

Little Bear sucked badly.

The Fresh Beat Band is still the worst live action, kids show ever produced that ran 3 seasons or more. There are 62 episodes of this garbage. The premise of a bunch of teenagers acting as role models to young kids is flawed. The fact that there were literally "mini me's" of the leads among the young extras is creepy. The casting was terrible, with the entire cast in their late 20's. The redhead had such little talent that she must have been blackmailing one of the producers to be in front of a camera. They couldn't sing or dance, and the music was terrible.

I would go between homicidal rage and inconsolable anguish when I watched this show because it was so terrible, which is why I finally banned it.