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Most Overrated tv shows ever - Television Hate thread
- Thread starter TheMasterOfOrion
- Start date
Friends
Seinfeld
Cheers
Family Guy
South Park
ER
Will and Grace
Saving Grace
I would say Lost but I don't think it's overrated these days. I think enough people see it for the rather boring meandering mess that it is.
Oh, there are more, but those are at the top of the list.
Seinfeld
Cheers
Family Guy
South Park
ER
Will and Grace
Saving Grace
I would say Lost but I don't think it's overrated these days. I think enough people see it for the rather boring meandering mess that it is.
Oh, there are more, but those are at the top of the list.
How can something be overrated if no one watches it? The difference between the two shows is that Chuck is written by actual nerds and BBT is written by people who have to look up all their geek references online. Which is why all their characters are cartoon stereotypes and none of their references have any context. Chuck is the real deal. BBT is the the pretender. Man I hate Chuck Lorre.
I could call something that doesn't appeal to me "overrated". But that woudln't be honest. Because it's not supposed to appeal to me. Like Desperate Housewives. Or I could call something that is universally disliked "overrated", like Andromeda, but something can't be even rated if people don't like it. So I'll go with shows that are supposed to appeal to me that just don't:
The Original Doctor Who: I went back and tried to watch some of this show. I just couldn't. It was awful. This is supposed to be a classic Sci-Fi show? Really? Because I thought I was watching a Land of The Lost rerun. Whatever decent writting it may have potentially had, was undercut by those awful production values. I've seen High School plays that were put on better. I get the nostalgia factor, but this show makes Star Trek TOS look like The Matrix. Scratch that. It makes Lost In Space look like The Matrix.
Stargate: The K-Mart Star Trek. It's Farascape and Babylon 5 for people who think Voyager was too intellegent. Where do I start? The acting is awful and the characters are generic. Jack O'Neil isn't nearly as funny as his fans think he is. There's not a hint of originality to it. Which is why every planet looks like Colorado. Every plot or concept I've seen somewhere else first and I've seen it done better The writing is cookie cutter and predictable. And does anyone really think The US Government would be as benevolent and competent in real life if they got their hands on something like that as they are in the show?
South Park: When they're just being stupid and silly I like them. When they constantly use their show as a forum to express political opinions I could just as easily get on Rush Limbaugh if I wanted to, that is when I lose interest.
Firefly: Great show. But it's not the end-all-be-all of Sci Fi. Alot of people think that sadly. And the only reason it's still so loved is because it's idiot creator, Joss Whedon, didn't have a chance to screw it up like everything else he does. So unlike Buffy and Angel fans, FF fans should consider themselves lucky.
Battlestar Galactica: A good show out of the gate, that fell victim to a nihilistic creator who was bound and determined to show humans as the worst creatures in the universe because he was tired of writing Utopian Star Trek shows. Congrats Ron Moore.
The Office: The original is the epitome of dry, British humor that I just don't get. The American one is the epitome of unconmfortably awkward, American humor that I just don't get.
Alias: One episode of Chuck will completely destroy any good opinion of this show some might have. It did it to me.
My only quibble with Chuck is they never show the Large Mart anymore.
I will agree with you here. Now, I thought Firefly was great and lots of fun. One day, however, I caught the end of one episode of Angel. The show had never appealed to me, but I was curious as to the rest of this particular episode so I looked it up on Wikipedia. Well, 30 minutes later I had the rundown on both Angel and Buffy. Yikes! I see now how Firefly could have gone, and I'm now glad it ended when it did, as an intact show. That's how I will enjoy it.
Little Britain
At first I found it funny but it got annoying quick, the two reasons I put up with it are Tom Baker and Anthony Stewart Head
At first I found it funny but it got annoying quick, the two reasons I put up with it are Tom Baker and Anthony Stewart Head
I don't know, I'd have to disagree with that. My boyfriend, for instance, is working on his PhD in Physics right now and absolutely loves Big Bang Theory because of all the science references. He is always laughing along to all the sciencey jokes that go way over my head. And he knows his stuff. So I'd say it's the "real deal." We never really got into Chuck on the other hand.
Ok, fair enough. I don't know any science geeks so that very may well be the case. All the ones I do know are gamer geeks like Morgan and Chuck. Still, the way they present the nerds on BBT as social retards is annoying and generic and stereotypical. I thought that Revenge of The Nerds cliche went out with Kevin Smith movies. That Chuck Lorre. So full of originality and creativity.
I'd also like to throw in Smallville to that list. Granted I've only seen a handfull of episodes over the years. But what I saw was very generic and very Buffy-lite. The two leads, Clark and Lana, were two of the worst actors I've ever seen. It was like a contest to see who could be more uncharismatic and wooden. Granted, I'm not a huge Superman fan to being with. But I was not impressed.
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I think the reason the show resonates so well with the science folk is that the stereotypes are sadly true.
Looking at who my boyfriend works with, sadly all of the characters, or at least portions of them, can be found. However, I do get annoyed at how they present Penny sometimes. She is very much the stereotypical ditzy blonde and that can be annoying. At least the other stereotyped characters get to be intelligent.Agree about Smallville. What's strange about the show is that so many women I know that totally aren't into scifi are in love with the show. My roommates in college would never miss an episode. I'm also kind of surprised that it's still on the air. It just seems...well, overrated.
This is my question as well, where the criteria for "overrated" are concerned.
Is Stargate really overrated? Just because a show is more popular than one might think its quality "deserves" doesn't mean that its audience in general holds it in unrealistically high regard. Most people I know who like the Stargate shows just think they're fun, and that's a whole 'nother matter than "rating" based on any sense of quality. Otherwise we could call Gilligan's Island or Happy Days the most overrated shows in history, and I don't think that's viable.
I'd think that to be overrated a show would first have to be held up as an exemplar of excellence by a significant percentage of its fans. For example, although I don't agree that Firefly is overrated I can certainly see why someone else might put it on their list - people who really like the show consider it something magnificient in all respects.
One show comes immediately to mind whenever overrated TV shows are discussed. The Prisoner.
While it is no doubt true that the show was underrated in its own time; in the years since it has acquired a litany of acclaim and veneration far out of proportion to its actual importance, quality or contribution to television. In fact, whenever The Prisoner is made the topic of any discussion in various internet forums, it seems that invariably one or more individuals in the discussion will flat-out proclaim it “the greatest TV series ever made.”
Uh . . . no. The Prisoner was a series with a unique, novel premise which gave us a few pretty cool episodes over its (deliberately) short run before running dry of original ideas at the tail end and culminating in a nonsensical mess of a finale. Hardly a candidate for "the best TV series ever made". It can't even be justly considered in the top ten shows of the 1960's. Probably not even the top 25. Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me with a straight face that The Prisoner was a superior program to the likes of Playhouse 90 or Naked City? Seriously, just think for a second about what you’re saying.
There are those who will invariably assume that when one considers something “overrated”, that equates to dislike or total dismissal. Quite the contrary, The series is definitely a cut above the ordinary in its originality, was slightly ahead of its time, and its best episodes are both entertaining and thought-provoking. But it was ultimately undone by its own obliquity, and lack of consistency from episode to episode (in some episodes, number 6's fellow incarcerates are brainwashed, docile sheep loyal to the authorities, while in others they are every bit as rebellious as he is and eager to aid him in escape plans and schemes against the village rulers) in addition to its inability to decide whether it wanted to be a realistic action drama or a surrealistic allegory.
And while a television show which chose the latter approach might seem on the surface to be revolutionary, being dense and symbolic in and of itself does not automatically equal genius. Not to mention the fact that the symbolism in the show wasn't always that sophisticated to begin with (yeah, yeah, I get it, we are all 'prisoners' in society - woo, how deep).
Again I want to reiterate that in spite of my criticisms, the series is still very much worthwhile, perhaps even essential, viewing. But I can't help thinking that the people who proclaim it as "the greatest series of all time" are being a bit self-congratulatory. They are basically viewing themselves as saying: "Look, here's this oddball series which was unheralded in its own time and which has all these really cool avant-garde episodes full of deep allegory and symbolism. And I'm one of the few people who gets it! Look how clever I am!"
Television history is full of numerous examples of programs which featured strong lead characters who developed over time; which told compelling and memorable stories, which commented on the human condition, which featured unforgettable scenes and lines of dialogue. The Prisoner was a pretty nifty little series for what it was, but anyone who calls it was “the best television series ever” does so at the risk of being considered a fatuous ignoramus of the first order.
While it is no doubt true that the show was underrated in its own time; in the years since it has acquired a litany of acclaim and veneration far out of proportion to its actual importance, quality or contribution to television. In fact, whenever The Prisoner is made the topic of any discussion in various internet forums, it seems that invariably one or more individuals in the discussion will flat-out proclaim it “the greatest TV series ever made.”
Uh . . . no. The Prisoner was a series with a unique, novel premise which gave us a few pretty cool episodes over its (deliberately) short run before running dry of original ideas at the tail end and culminating in a nonsensical mess of a finale. Hardly a candidate for "the best TV series ever made". It can't even be justly considered in the top ten shows of the 1960's. Probably not even the top 25. Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me with a straight face that The Prisoner was a superior program to the likes of Playhouse 90 or Naked City? Seriously, just think for a second about what you’re saying.
There are those who will invariably assume that when one considers something “overrated”, that equates to dislike or total dismissal. Quite the contrary, The series is definitely a cut above the ordinary in its originality, was slightly ahead of its time, and its best episodes are both entertaining and thought-provoking. But it was ultimately undone by its own obliquity, and lack of consistency from episode to episode (in some episodes, number 6's fellow incarcerates are brainwashed, docile sheep loyal to the authorities, while in others they are every bit as rebellious as he is and eager to aid him in escape plans and schemes against the village rulers) in addition to its inability to decide whether it wanted to be a realistic action drama or a surrealistic allegory.
And while a television show which chose the latter approach might seem on the surface to be revolutionary, being dense and symbolic in and of itself does not automatically equal genius. Not to mention the fact that the symbolism in the show wasn't always that sophisticated to begin with (yeah, yeah, I get it, we are all 'prisoners' in society - woo, how deep).
Again I want to reiterate that in spite of my criticisms, the series is still very much worthwhile, perhaps even essential, viewing. But I can't help thinking that the people who proclaim it as "the greatest series of all time" are being a bit self-congratulatory. They are basically viewing themselves as saying: "Look, here's this oddball series which was unheralded in its own time and which has all these really cool avant-garde episodes full of deep allegory and symbolism. And I'm one of the few people who gets it! Look how clever I am!"
Television history is full of numerous examples of programs which featured strong lead characters who developed over time; which told compelling and memorable stories, which commented on the human condition, which featured unforgettable scenes and lines of dialogue. The Prisoner was a pretty nifty little series for what it was, but anyone who calls it was “the best television series ever” does so at the risk of being considered a fatuous ignoramus of the first order.
House
I adore Hugh Laurie since i first saw him in Blackadder ages ago so i was very happy for him to have such a hit show.
When i finally have gotten around to start it i barely made it through the first half of the first season.
It's not House the character.. he's hilarious and Laurie plays him so well but everything else quickly got on my nerves.
There's a medical mystery that has everyone go
at first, then House has an epiphany near the end and solves the whole thing.. rinse and repeat. The supporting cast was also annoying to no end.
Sadly the character alone couldn't support the show for me so i left
Lost
Lost myself during season 3 i think.. an awesome first season but then got so convoluted and self-important that it turned me off.
To top it.. i vividly remember interviews with the producers and writers who claimed that it all could be explained naturally and that there were no supernatural stuff in Lost. Yeah.. time travel can be explained as natural occuring!
(another show where they run out of ideas how to write themselves out of a dead end and piss on their own original idea for the show)
24
Awesome first season which was fresh and new only to be almost copied 1:1 in later seasons.. just switch out some minor details and you have the plot for every season right there.
I adore Hugh Laurie since i first saw him in Blackadder ages ago so i was very happy for him to have such a hit show.
When i finally have gotten around to start it i barely made it through the first half of the first season.
It's not House the character.. he's hilarious and Laurie plays him so well but everything else quickly got on my nerves.
There's a medical mystery that has everyone go
at first, then House has an epiphany near the end and solves the whole thing.. rinse and repeat. The supporting cast was also annoying to no end.Sadly the character alone couldn't support the show for me so i left
Lost
Lost myself during season 3 i think.. an awesome first season but then got so convoluted and self-important that it turned me off.
To top it.. i vividly remember interviews with the producers and writers who claimed that it all could be explained naturally and that there were no supernatural stuff in Lost. Yeah.. time travel can be explained as natural occuring!
(another show where they run out of ideas how to write themselves out of a dead end and piss on their own original idea for the show)24
Awesome first season which was fresh and new only to be almost copied 1:1 in later seasons.. just switch out some minor details and you have the plot for every season right there.
House - You know, I simply do not get the love for this show. I've tired to watch a few episodes here and there, and cannot understand the appeal when the whole point is for the title character to act like "I'm God because I save lives and that entitles me to act like a completely unlikeable asshole and treat every other human being like they are nothing more than inconveniences to my perfect awesomeness" in EVERY FREAKING EPISODE!
Home Improvement - Let me sum this show up for you, warning spoilers ahead: Tim is a complete imbecile because he is a man. Jill is perfect because she is a woman. There, you never have to watch a single episode.
Everyone Loves Raymond - I could go on for hours about the misandric, man-hating, abuse-is-okay-when-it's-done-to-a-man crap this show put out week after week after week after week.
Family Guy - I'm sorry, but was this show supposed to be funny? I have literally watched entire episodes of this crap and never once cracked a smile, let alone laughed. I simply don't find stuff like Peter groaning in pain from a scraped knee for 45 seconds funny. Also, is stuff like "Hey the old neighbor is a pedophile, and that means he likes to have sex with underage boys" supposed to be funny? Because I just find it downright disturbing.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - I actually loved this show when it first came out. But I grew to loathe it when it stopped being about the crimes, like the original Law & Order was, and about the characters. I'd rather watch a cop show that deals with how the cop works the case, not how the case works the cop. And that is essentially all this show is anymore. Let me sum up every episode for you, warning spoilers ahead - every week the cops work a new case which they allow to utterly gnaw away at their souls to the point where they are perfectly willing to run roughshod over everyone's (and I do mean EVERYONE'S, even innocent bystanders') constitutional rights in order to solve the case. I cannot tell you the amount of crimes these cops have committed, all in the pursuit of "justice," only to face absolutely no punishment because their captain just sweeps all of their misdeeds under the rug while we're expected to cheer them all on.
The most glaring example is one episode where they literally destroy an innocent man's life simply because he was accused of raping an underage girl - and I mean destroy in the fact that they go so far as to cheer about the fact that other prison inmates murdered him for being a child molester, even though the only "evidence" against him was her word. When it later is revealed that the woman is in fact in her late twenties and made the whole thing up so she could sue the man's employer, the cops act like they did absolutely nothing wrong. Seriously, W...T...F!?!?!?!?
But the most overrated show in history is....
Babylon 5 - Yes, I'm serious. The overall story is simply, amazingly good. However, the acting, with a few notable expectations, is mediocre at best, and a lot of times simply abysmal. The set and costume design are second-rate. The dialogue is atrocious. And, let's face it, the special effects have NOT aged well. In the end, it still manages to be a mostly enjoyable show, but from the hype it gets, you would think it's the greatest thing ever produced by human civilization.
Home Improvement - Let me sum this show up for you, warning spoilers ahead: Tim is a complete imbecile because he is a man. Jill is perfect because she is a woman. There, you never have to watch a single episode.
Everyone Loves Raymond - I could go on for hours about the misandric, man-hating, abuse-is-okay-when-it's-done-to-a-man crap this show put out week after week after week after week.
Family Guy - I'm sorry, but was this show supposed to be funny? I have literally watched entire episodes of this crap and never once cracked a smile, let alone laughed. I simply don't find stuff like Peter groaning in pain from a scraped knee for 45 seconds funny. Also, is stuff like "Hey the old neighbor is a pedophile, and that means he likes to have sex with underage boys" supposed to be funny? Because I just find it downright disturbing.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - I actually loved this show when it first came out. But I grew to loathe it when it stopped being about the crimes, like the original Law & Order was, and about the characters. I'd rather watch a cop show that deals with how the cop works the case, not how the case works the cop. And that is essentially all this show is anymore. Let me sum up every episode for you, warning spoilers ahead - every week the cops work a new case which they allow to utterly gnaw away at their souls to the point where they are perfectly willing to run roughshod over everyone's (and I do mean EVERYONE'S, even innocent bystanders') constitutional rights in order to solve the case. I cannot tell you the amount of crimes these cops have committed, all in the pursuit of "justice," only to face absolutely no punishment because their captain just sweeps all of their misdeeds under the rug while we're expected to cheer them all on.
The most glaring example is one episode where they literally destroy an innocent man's life simply because he was accused of raping an underage girl - and I mean destroy in the fact that they go so far as to cheer about the fact that other prison inmates murdered him for being a child molester, even though the only "evidence" against him was her word. When it later is revealed that the woman is in fact in her late twenties and made the whole thing up so she could sue the man's employer, the cops act like they did absolutely nothing wrong. Seriously, W...T...F!?!?!?!?But the most overrated show in history is....
Babylon 5 - Yes, I'm serious. The overall story is simply, amazingly good. However, the acting, with a few notable expectations, is mediocre at best, and a lot of times simply abysmal. The set and costume design are second-rate. The dialogue is atrocious. And, let's face it, the special effects have NOT aged well. In the end, it still manages to be a mostly enjoyable show, but from the hype it gets, you would think it's the greatest thing ever produced by human civilization.
Quick, get the plants I think we can defend the board.
I don't agree with that, Jill seemed to think she was perfect at times, but the writer's never portrayed her as perfect, quite often when she wouldn't allow Tim something he actually proved her wrong by the end of the episode (after blowing up various things, which made Jill's initial reactions understandable). There were also episodes were Jill flat out admitted she was wrong.
On the other hand she and Tim truly loved each other and I could see why they're married, It's not like Everybody loves Raymond, where Debra didn't even seem to like Ray after a few seasons.
Yeah, I disagree with that too. I haven't seen the show in many years, but the way I remember it, while fucking up often and being badly educated, Tim was a competent mechanic too and always open-minded.
Btw. I also read one of Tim Allen's books some time ago (don't remember the title) which was very anti-feminism/pro-machismo (actually that pretty much the whole point of the book), which makes this argument kind of ironic too.
Btw. I also read one of Tim Allen's books some time ago (don't remember the title) which was very anti-feminism/pro-machismo (actually that pretty much the whole point of the book), which makes this argument kind of ironic too.