posted on August 22, 2001 10:32:27 PM new
In your opinion, what's the worst TV show ever.
For me, it's got to be Three's Company. I don't think it's funny and it has rather stupid story lines. I didn't like it when first aired and can't stand it now. How about you?
posted on August 22, 2001 11:09:57 PM new
So many vie for the title "Worst TV Show"... *one* of the worst would have to be "It's About Time" (about two astronauts who land in the stone age...don't ask). Another would be one that was on a few years ago called "Thunder Alley": I tuned in when it came on because Ed Asner was in it, but soon tuned it out again because of the bratty kid characters who constantly did bad things, & the mother character who constantly berated the grandfather character (Asner) for daring to discipline them (we were to believe that the kids were just misunderstood angels being harassed by a curmudgeon...the fact that they were all living in *his* house apparently had no bearing). Can you tell that I absolutely hated the show?
posted on August 22, 2001 11:28:29 PM new
Oh Jacko! In years to come, Love Boat and Fantasy Island will be appreciated as late 20th century art forms.
I watched this awful, awful thing called "The Downer Channel" a couple weeks ago. High school students could have done a better job. It amazed me to discover that Steve Martin's name was on it as "executive producer."
But as for all-time awful:
Mama's Family.
Night Court.
C.H.I.P.s
Son of the Beach.
posted on August 22, 2001 11:45:42 PM new
"Lawrence Welk"
My grandmother loved that show, and it was torture for me.
Did you know "Lawrence Welk" beat out Sid Caesar's show? Sid Ceasar (maybe the finest TV comedy show) had Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Neil Simon as writers and that elevator music show beat him out.
posted on August 22, 2001 11:47:49 PM new
Another bad (though popular) one is "Who Wants To be a Millionaire." The show is almost mesmerizing, it is so horribly bad! It's an incredibly embarrassing show, when you think that it is being beamed around the world. You watch in disbelief as people sweat, strain, ask the audience, call an "expert", etc. in order to answer simple questions--and as often as not, they end up missing them anyway.
posted on August 23, 2001 12:00:00 AM new
The success and ratings of "Who Wants To be a Millionaire" may be proof that the dumbing of America is complete.
I watched enough of that to be totally amazed at how cornball it was. It makes commercials look like Shakespear.
posted on August 23, 2001 12:12:33 AM newThe success and ratings of "Who Wants To be a Millionaire" may be proof that the dumbing of America is complete.
No, that would actually be those segments that Leno runs. You know, the ones where he stops pedestrians & asks them questions about US history, current events, etc.? Absolutely stunning--you have to doublecheck that the people he's talking to aren't drooling & wearing Depends, they're so moronic. Really makes you wonder about school curriculum. Too many *college* students they question (& they're not immigrants, folks) don't know the basic facts of their country's history, world affairs, basic English definitions & spelling, the law, or just plain daily facts of life!
And that show's viewed in other countries as well...
posted on August 23, 2001 05:36:24 AM new
Well, are we talking about shows that we thought were really bad when we first watched them, or those we now look back and wonder why they were ever made? I was still a young pup when Love Boat and Fantasy Island were on the air, and I watched them every week. When I see them now in reruns, however, they cause actual physical pain. For that matter, one of my all-time favorite cartoons as a kid was "Speed Racer", but when I saw it again as an adult [MTV used to show episodes when I was in college] I wanted to vomit it was so bad.
Night Court was one of the funniest shows on television at the time it was made, in my opinion. Of course, seeing as how I love old Godzilla movies, my taste in entertainment is probably a little suspect....
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "My Mother the Car" yet.
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on August 23, 2001 06:10:08 AM new
Okay, now you've done it!!!! You have mentioned "My Mother the Car" dammit!! Now I won't sleep for weeks again, trying to forget that show.
posted on August 23, 2001 06:26:21 AM new
I can't believe no one has mentioned Jerry Springer. Talk about the dumbing down of America. I spent a good portion of last year bedridden from a back injury and then the surgery to correct the problem. I was amazed at how many times a day that show ran on half a dozen different channels. Then you've got Maury, Montel, Sally and all the others. AACCKK!!!
posted on August 23, 2001 06:55:55 AM new
Loved Night Court. Some of the humor was so subtle, obtuse, or dark it must have passed right over the heads of some viewers.
My nominee for worst show is a tie between Melrose Place and Sex in The City. Saw Step by Step a few times too and that was incredibly bad. Survivor and the other "reality TV" shows are incredibly boring to me. I didn't care for Seinfeld either for various reasons.
X-Files is one of the best TV shows I've ever seen.
posted on August 23, 2001 08:24:03 AM new
Well, "Saved By the Bell" did have one thing going for it -- Tiffany Amber Thiessen. Or would that be considered two things?
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on August 23, 2001 09:35:15 AM new
If you haven't been there, this site is definitely worth a visit - basically summarizes when and why certain sitcoms and other shows "jumped the shark" - it's addicting.
http://www.jumpedtheshark.com
Last night I happened to catch a few minutes of a later episode of "Rosanne", one from after they won the lottery. I was completely repelled. In the early years, it was one of my favorite shows (yes, I do realize it was stereotyping and degrading to some) - but I loved the humor and casting. How it could have slid so far down?
Others... well, I never could stomach that Erkle fella.
South Park - for some reason, talking turds just don't do it for me
Beevus/Butthead - anytime body functions are used for humor, I cringe.... was in constant cringe mode the one episode I viewed
Dr. Smith and Eddie Haskell gave me nightmares as a child. I didn't think folks could really be conniving and two-faced. Ah, the innocence of youth.
Rosie
*There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on August 23, 2001 10:31:27 AM new
Speed Racer - Our sons watched that when they were young too.
Hard to pick just one that was the worst as if I watched it once and didn't care for it I never watched it again. So it's hard to remember *all* the names of programs I haven't cared for.
Anything that was similar to Beevus/Butthead, Jerry Springer, etc. would qualify.
posted on August 23, 2001 09:44:04 PM new
You know, most of the Shows that are Listed I STILL LIKE (except a few). I LOVE MAMA'S Family!!! Yes, I Liked Cop Rock!! Lawrence Welk,yes I hated having my Father force it on me Saturday Night's, BUT it grew on me!! The worst show for Me though, Yes my Contrarian views will Ring TRUE, That God-Awful SURVIVOR..Folks I Just Don't Buy it, it STINKS!!
posted on August 23, 2001 09:53:27 PM new
I've got another one. Someone else mentioned it also. It's the Dukes of Hazzard. Now let's talk about the dumbing of America. In the late 1980's, this show was always in the top 10 ratings. Now let's recall...........
The 2 cousins/brothers, (maybe related in both ways) race around the hills of their neck of the woods out running the brainless idiot of a sherrif. The sherrif doesn't usually know the difference between the gas and the brake pedal on his car. His boss, Boss Hogs, (looked like one and ate like one) owned everything in the county and could outsmart everyone except Uncle Jesse.
Of the hour of the brilliant masterpiece, about 30 minutes went into repeated scenes of car chases.
A real gut busting hour of zany fun!!! Hopefully, we have recovered from this.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:09:37 PM new
How about...Manimal
Where a man turned into an animal so he could solve crimes in the disguise of whatever animal he chose to be.
Think it lasted abour 6 weeks, whatever, it was on too long.
posted on August 23, 2001 10:40:47 PM new
Over Here, U.S. ( That I can think of right off)
The Sonny and Cher show
Gilligan's Island
Newly Wed & Dating game(s)
Victoria's Closet
Over There: (UK)
The Eurovision Song Contest
(Much "La-la-ding-ding-diddy-diddy-ping-ping"-ing refrains...to overcome the language -barriers!) AAArgh!!
The Test Match (Cricket)
It's a Knockout ( A G*-Awful "team game" show involving groups from different counties( or even countries!) competing in humiliating "sports": usually involving mud, spewed food/drink, ridiculous obstacle courses that showed ladies' knickers, getting wet, falling down etc. often utilising circus-like clothing and props.
Lady Sarah Ferguson appeared in it once, ostensibly "for Charity".
posted on August 23, 2001 10:57:07 PM new
How about Lost in Space. The Robinsons crashland their space ship various space planets and are targeted by space monsters. The bumbling Dr. Smith, who is afraid of his own shadow, makes problems for everyone. This at the expense of the safety of the others on the ship.
posted on August 24, 2001 01:20:35 AM new
What most people don't realize or remember about Dr. Smith is that in the first few episodes of Lost In Space, he was a real badass. A traitorous, homicidal enemy agent bent on making sure the whole Robinson family, kids and all, was killed shortly after liftoff. In fact, it was while he was programming the Robot to go on a killing spree that he accidentally got trapped aboard the Jupiter 2. The Robot went berserk as planned and while the Robinsons escaped with their lives the Robot nevertheless managed to destroy their navigational system, sending the ship spinning out of control across the galaxy, hopelessly lost in space.
Unfortunately somebody at the network got the idea of Dr. Smith into a mincing ninny shortly thereafter, and the rest, alas, is history.
In defense of Barney, the Teletubbies, etc.: They may be annoying to adults, but they make a lot of little kids happy. Pity adult TV shows can't generate as much joy.
And as for Star Trek being called "starwars wannabes," need I point out that Star Trek preceded Star Wars by a full decade?
[ edited by jumpinjacko on Aug 22, 2001 11:12 PM ]
