Worst TV show of all time

[Mr. B]

Big Brother (any flavor)

 

[kitkat]

I am fully prepared for the onslaught of people throwing things at me but.....

Friends

I mean, seriously, what a TERRIBLE show!!

 

[Australis]

^ You won't get me to throw things at you that way!

Some funny lines, but damn the characters irritated.

 

[Neroon]

That irritation with "Friends" seemed to grow with the latter seasons, making me think it lasted past its prime. It never seemed to grab me, either. I didn't exactly hate it, and it did last long enough that it's awfully hard to call it "worst of all time". With the way networks cancel shows so quickly, an awful lot of people had to enjoy it on some level.

Other than Jennifer Anniston's chest.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I'm gonna have to say the new Brave and the Bold Batman cartoon.

 

[siskokid888]

Sorry, my friend, you are at least somewhat wrong. Gilligan was deliberately written with the world we know or knew in microcosm, with all classes and types somewhat represented. Even the name of the boat was a backhanded homage to an FCC Chairman named Minow, who coined the term 'vast wasteland', when it came to TV. If you'll notice on the show, its often the conflicts generated by conflicting goals driven by the different backgrounds of the characters that wreck things as much as Gilligan's stupidity. The other six knew that, if they killed Gilligan (or just kept him tied up or otherwise incapicitated), they'd soon turn on each other.

But, if you want to watch what is sometimes referred to as a 'Dark Gilligan's Island', watch the Toho non-G classic 'Matango', aka 'Attack Of The Mushroom People'.

I've heard that analysis before. My problem with it is that the humor in "Gilligan's Island" was never clever or tongue in cheek - it was just stupid. "Green Acres" had much more clever humor and self awareness then "Gilligan" ever did. I will track down "Matango" to check it out.

 

[siskokid888]

Other than Jennifer Anniston's chest.

Was there another reason to watch that show?

 

[Swarles Barkley]

Two words: Full House.

 

[Gojirob]

Sorry, my friend, you are at least somewhat wrong. Gilligan was deliberately written with the world we know or knew in microcosm, with all classes and types somewhat represented. Even the name of the boat was a backhanded homage to an FCC Chairman named Minow, who coined the term 'vast wasteland', when it came to TV. If you'll notice on the show, its often the conflicts generated by conflicting goals driven by the different backgrounds of the characters that wreck things as much as Gilligan's stupidity. The other six knew that, if they killed Gilligan (or just kept him tied up or otherwise incapicitated), they'd soon turn on each other.

But, if you want to watch what is sometimes referred to as a 'Dark Gilligan's Island', watch the Toho non-G classic 'Matango', aka 'Attack Of The Mushroom People'.

I've heard that analysis before. My problem with it is that the humor in "Gilligan's Island" was never clever or tongue in cheek - it was just stupid. "Green Acres" had much more clever humor and self awareness then "Gilligan" ever did. I will track down "Matango" to check it out.

Oh, I groaned at it, to be sure. But I always had fun. There were deeper levels to Green Acres, sometimes so surreal as to make me think Paul Henning and his writers were hitting Granny's Moonshine. The Simpsons admits its debt to GA, and I think its not too much of a stretch to say both Newhart shows owe it something, too.

'Matango' is currently available. It even comes in a 3 pack which sometimes sells for as little as 19.99, along with 'Varan The Unbelievable' and 'The Mysterians'. All three are dual-language discs.

 

[Neroon]

Gilligan's Island was never intended to be deep social commentary, was it? It succeeded at providing some goofy, silly laughs during times when we needed them a great deal. There was some underlying "analysis" but in the end it was a way to relax and have fun without taxing your brain.

Okay ... so I tuned in to see Tina Louise because of my great weakness for redheads.

 

[aladinsane]

Probably not the worst, as there are surely many shows that only lasted a few episodes they were so bad, but my all-time least favorite show is The Brady Bunch. That show brings so much pain to me. My sister used to love it and with only one television it turned me into an avid reader it was so painful.

 

[exodus]

How could you not like "All IN The Family"?

Norman Lear was a head of his time and changed the face of TV forever.
He and Gene Roddenberry did the same things by bringing "taboo" topics such as bigotry to life thru entertainment as using it as a mirror of the social goings on in America during a time of change.

Yeah, yeah, whatever...to me, growing up in the early 80's, it was irritating 70's crap starring actors I didn't like.

Never liked Barney Miller, either.

Or Sports Night.

Not saying they were the worst shows ever, but I'd takethe brainlessness of Green Acres or Gilligans Island over them. Maybe I think sitcoms are supposed to be stupid.

That's too bad.

I guess we now know who helped make "Full House" a hit show.

 

[QuasarVM]

My vote goes to (the Japanese TV series) Spectreman.

If not Spectreman, then pick any one of your garden-variety police/courtroom dramas.

Any of those would also suffice.

 

[jamestyler]

I mentioned this in another thread... but Cosby.

It was based on Britcom One Foot in the Grave, only it took anything funny and entertaining out of it.

 

[AJBryant]

The "successful sitcom" I've always hated was Seinfeld.

There's not a single redeeming character in there. They're all hyper neurotic, lying, manipulative... every bad character trait I can think of. I wouldn't associate with anyone like them, and I had no interest in wasting my time watching people I couldn't care about.

This has been transplanted today to "New Adventures of Old Christine." Julia Luis-Dreyfuss is playing herself (or, maybe, her Seinfeld character -- I don't know) again. A bundle of neuroses and a total inability for self-reflection. GOD I hate that show and that woman.


T.

 

[Gojirob]

I mentioned this in another thread... but Cosby.

It was based on Britcom One Foot in the Grave, only it took anything funny and entertaining out of it.

Phylicia Rashad : (arms folded and shaking her head) Oh, you did NOT just say that!

Great idea, Cos--bring back the TV wife who belittled you at every turn to--once again belittle you at every turn!

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Other than Jennifer Anniston's chest.

Was there another reason to watch that show?

Courtney Cox's legs.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

How about the American version of Red Dwarf?

Even if it did have Robert Llewelyn. I mean, what's the fucking point?

It even managed to make Terry Farrell look bad...no, even she doesn't look good in a 'cat' suit. Not like on this show, anyway. If she had played the Cat the same way, and with the same look, that Danny John-Jules did (I can *definitely* see her wearing snappy suits and running around going "Hey...how am I lookin'?" ), then there'd be something there..

 

[mr.peany]

Two words: Full House.

You take that back!!!!

Nothing with Uncle Jessie can be bad!

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I mentioned this in another thread... but Cosby.

It was based on Britcom One Foot in the Grave, only it took anything funny and entertaining out of it.

Phylicia Rashad : (arms folded and shaking her head) Oh, you did NOT just say that!

Great idea, Cos--bring back the TV wife who belittled you at every turn to--once again belittle you at every turn!

Belittled him? I didn't see it that way at all. They were depicted as a loving couple who were constantly flirting with each other.