re: Worst hit shows of all-time - popular shows that were terrible

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Jersey Shore easily.

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This. But it was watchable in its horror.

Tits never hurt. Even when you can smell them through the tv.

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60 Minutes was the #1 show from 91-94.

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Still the best show on television.

The Office
The Walking Dead
Eastbound and Down
American Dad
King of Queens

In order for something to be extremely popular, it likely has to sand down its rough edges so it can appeal to the widest range of people. So, the most popular anything is likely to be sort of bland and inoffensive.

That said, it also has to be well-made and generally entertaining. Most really popular shows/movies/albums are at least good, or more accurately, well-made. They just don't take a lot of risks as rule, which makes them bland.

But sometimes I'm in the mood for that. Friends is hardly groundbreaking television, but it's a comforting watch. And after a long day, I don't always want to be challenged. friends is great at what it is trying to do, which is be the TV equivalent of a warm blanket. I like warm blankets.

Two and a Half Men is just awful though. That one I don't get. Not only is it not funny, it's mean-spirited. I feel like I need a shower after watching it. I don't see how it works as a relaxing, non-challenging entertainment. Maybe we're just meaner as a culture, and I missed the meeting.

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Cagney and Lacy? Blossom?


Never watched it.

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Those are quite a bit older than the others you listed.

Blossom- early 90's- never watched it, but it was about a quirky 12 or 13 yr old girl, and I believe it was before the massive wave of Disney shows aimed at those. As a male, I'm sure I would have not found it appealing... but it has a market.

Cagney and Lacey- this ran the length of the 80's. I can't call it a "bad" show. It was a fairly gritty police drama, with a touch of tough female (not necessarily feminism) influence.
Tyne Daly played a rookie cop who partnered with Clint Eastwood in The Enforcer (1976). Her character got killed in the movie... but she came across well. She struggled with some of the physical stuff, but she was a grinder and as toughminded as any male cop, and ol' Dirty Harry came to respect her for her efforts.
Cagney and Lacey was basically a recreation of that character, paired with Sharon Gless' also-tough female cop. Unlike today's female cops in shows, they weren't pretty, they were fairly butch. But I don't think they were gay, they were a an attempt to be fairly realistic about the type of woman who could throw a punk across a car hood if need be (and that's what the job required).

I hate to admit it, but I never liked Jerry Seinfeld. I would lie when others brought it up, but I never could get into the show. The characters just seemed like bad caricature. I dunno, I always felt like I was missing something.

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According to Jim

Had almost 200 episodes...seriously just garbage.

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I remember when Drew Carey limped along on ABC's schedule, fulfilling their contractual requirements long after the show had died. It was 2004 and the public had no idea that new episodes were popping up to fill in ABC's programming dead zones.

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The office

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and

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Friends

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hate both these shows and everyone that thinks they are good.