It been a long time since i last posted here. But what is the very worst television season ever in history. This dont have to be by facts.

Take your pick from at least as far back as 1993 forward.

Take your pick from at least as far back as 1993 forward.

I'll go farther back than that. I'd say take your pick from 1977 and forward.

Believe it or not, in the early 1960's TV was already described as being a vast wasteland. That's very hard to believe and I dispute that considering all the quality shows that were on during that time. The decline actually started in the late 1960's, although a fair number of programs were still worthwhile up till the late 1970's. Starting about 1977 is when TV and other forms of entertainment went downhill pretty fast.

Worst season(s) would be 1990 to the present.and it keeps getting worse and worse and worse.they should burn and set fire to every show made after 1990.

:( I absolutely agree with you. Tv really went down the tubes after 1990. But I do like Seinfeld!Worst season(s) would be 1990 to the present.and it keeps getting worse and worse and worse.they should burn and set fire to every show made after 1990.

I think there have been MANY good shows in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. But I think the worst couple years for TV were the early 80s - the 70s hits were dying away while the early 80s shows weren't on yet or struggling to find an audience

I think there have been MANY good shows in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. But I think the worst couple years for TV were the early 80s - the 70s hits were dying away while the early 80s shows weren't on yet or struggling to find an audience

I have to say this past decase was the worst, with legions of quality Programming replaced with cheaply-produced "Unscripted" Programming, combined with the increased number of Commercials to the point of INSANITY! :( :mad: :angryfire

I have to say this past decase was the worst, with legions of quality Programming replaced with cheaply-produced "Unscripted" Programming, combined with the increased number of Commercials to the point of INSANITY! :( :mad: :angryfire

Yeah but there have been many quality shows on the air - not just on broadcast network but there's been a real boom in quality cable shows on networks like AMC, TNT, USA, etc. Yeah there's been lots of unscripted programming but there's still plenty of quality shows on

Lets say you guys could be heading any one of the major networks, what would you put on it? Would you put on game shows, sitcoms, family programming etc. ? If you were in charge, how would you change the television landscape?

Maybe its just me but it seems lately that the next season is worse than the previous one,to me its been like that for years and i dont see next season being any differant

Worst season(s) would be 1990 to the present.and it keeps getting worse and worse and worse.they should burn and set fire to every show made after 1990.

Also, I wish these damn kids would get off my lawn. Now please excuse me while I go take a shot of prune juice.

I'd have to say the rot started in the early-to-mid 90s, with the rise of shows like Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond, and the ending of hits like Cheers, Married... with Children and Home Improvement.

It's really gotten awful since the start of the millennium though, with all the "reality" shows, over-saturation of crime dramas and unfunny "sitcoms", that being said, my favourite show from the 2000s is My Name Is Earl, which is proof that there are diamonds in the rough.

I'd have to say the rot started in the early-to-mid 90s, with the rise of shows like Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond, and the ending of hits like Cheers, Married... with Children and Home Improvement.

It's really gotten awful since the start of the millennium though, with all the "reality" shows, over-saturation of crime dramas and unfunny "sitcoms", that being said, my favourite show from the 2000s is My Name Is Earl, which is proof that there are diamonds in the rough.

IMO the decline began in 1999 when the Game Show Who wants to be a Millionaire made its debut on ABC. Alas, it was on the first of a long line of "unscripted" Programs that would come on, replacing one quality program after another. :( At the same time, The Networks began "Shortening" the length of their programs by increasing the number of Advertisments in them. In 2004 Commercials for three new products were aired during the Super Bowl (I'm certain CBS was DELUGED with irate phone calls about these Ads even BEFORE that infamous Halftime Show Fiasco), and when one of these was advertised ON A CHILDREN'S SHOW in 2006 I decided I had enough, so I cut the cord and now seek my Entertainment through other means.:( :mad: :angryfire

IMO the decline began in 1999 when the Game Show Who wants to be a Millionaire made its debut on ABC. Alas, it was on the first of a long line of "unscripted" Programs that would come on, replacing one quality program after another. :( At the same time, The Networks began "Shortening" the length of their programs by increasing the number of Advertisments in them. In 2004 Commercials for three new products were aired during the Super Bowl (I'm certain CBS was DELUGED with irate phone calls about these Ads even BEFORE that infamous Halftime Show Fiasco), and when one of these was advertised ON A CHILDREN'S SHOW in 2006 I decided I had enough, so I cut the cord and now seek my Entertainment through other means.:( :mad: :angryfire
WWTBAM because it wasn't aired once a week like previous ganeshows but multiple times thus cutting down on other shows. The big one though was in 2000 with the birth of Survivor. That brought in the cheap reality era and tv has been going down hill ever since.

Now there are good shows out there but you really have to look for them and most of them are dramas. Very few sitcoms are very funny anymore IMO. I use the DVR quite alot to set my own schedules. With reality dominating the networks, it's hard to watch anything live anymore.

Now there are good shows out there but you really have to look for them and most of them are dramas. Very few sitcoms are very funny anymore IMO. I use the DVR quite alot to set my own schedules. With reality dominating the networks, it's hard to watch anything live anymore.

There are a handful of decent shows still out there, however there are so few of them I don't see a reason to have a DVR to record them. (Besides you have to pay a fee to use a DVR). If there is a show I desire to watch, I'll wait for it to come out on DVD before I'll watch it.

BTW five will get you ten the Final Seasons of Friday Night Lights and Smallville will probably be on some Retailer's Loss-Leader List on the "National Day of Insanity" this November!:lol: :crazy: :happyface :rotflmao: :rofl: :bouncers party:

Worst season(s) would be 1990 to the present.and it keeps getting worse and worse and worse.they should burn and set fire to every show made after 1990.

Gotta agree with that.
Modern network television is geared toward the ABSOLUTE lowest common denominator. I cannot imagine people actually rushing home to see this garbage let alone get it on DVD to watch it all the time.
"Reality" shows do not require paying union salaries to actors because they are not considered actors. They are cheaply produced and are exploitive.
Creativity is not harnessed, so shows are geared to people who are easily amused.
In the 90s I swam the Atlantic to find quality programs from England.
The last intelligent, well written and acted series on American TV I watched was "Nero Wolfe" back in 2001. That was ten years ago. I have not seen anything similar since.

Gotta agree with that.
Modern network television is geared toward the ABSOLUTE lowest common denominator. I cannot imagine people actually rushing home to see this garbage let alone get it on DVD to watch it all the time.
"Reality" shows do not require paying union salaries to actors because they are not considered actors. They are cheaply produced and are exploitive.
Creativity is not harnessed, so shows are geared to people who are easily amused.
In the 90s I swam the Atlantic to find quality programs from England.
The last intelligent, well written and acted series on American TV I watched was "Nero Wolfe" back in 2001. That was ten years ago. I have not seen anything similar since.
How is reality television the "ABSOULUTE lowest common denominator"? Sorry I like to sit down and enjoy reality shows once in awhile, but that doesn't make them bad television. I don't understand all the hate for reality shows when there are a lot of good ones out there (Survivor, Undercover Boss, Hell's Kitchen, Keeping up with the Kardashians, etc.).

Sorry America doesn't create "creative" television, but they are producing what Americans want to see. Just because the television show may be not be "intelligent" in your mind, that doesn't make the viewer less smart. Sometimes we just want to laugh at other people and forget about all the problems in the world.

I'll go farther back than that. I'd say take your pick from 1977 and forward.

Believe it or not, in the early 1960's TV was already described as being a vast wasteland. That's very hard to believe and I dispute that considering all the quality shows that were on during that time. The decline actually started in the late 1960's, although a fair number of programs were still worthwhile up till the late 1970's. Starting about 1977 is when TV and other forms of entertainment went downhill pretty fast.




I will go even further than that. Starting with 1973 forward.

This is a very subjective question but for me, I'd say around the early 80's things started to really go downhill.

Yes, you still have had little pockets of quality but by and large the golden eras of television were over; the post war family focused, Norman Rockwell shows from the 50's, the more fantasy based, escapist shows from the 60's and the more realistic, issue tinged shows from the 70's were over and nothing really replaced them on a large scale. Most of the shows from the 80's onward were made by people who GREW UP watching classic shows and tried to emulate their tactics for success. For me, that's a mistake; they should have been simply reflecting life and not tried to copy the great shows of the past.

And yes, the advent of cable TV and DVDs and VCRs made all the networks try to go cheaper so the reality phase set in, which not only set back the quality of shows but also probably subtracted dozens of IQ points for those who were unfortunate enough to follow them.

I really wonder if there's ever going to be a Renaissance for TV. Stuff keeps getting made cheaper and cheaper and hitting that lowest common denominator; we have shows that entirely geared around ridiculing and debasing other "real" people now. It's not very far from the "bread and circuses' of the Roman Empire, or maybe more accurately, the sideshows at the old carnivals.

I want to hope for better things, but nothing I'm seeing is really making me have reason to.

For me, the last five years of television have been pretty bad, with this past season being the ABSOLUTE WORST. I used to love television. I barely watch more than two or three shows a week these days. It's a shame.

for me, it's probably from 2004 onwards. i rarely watch today's shows any more. besides, all my favourite shows were ones that used to air on TV but not nowadays.

There are a handful of decent shows still out there, however there are so few of them I don't see a reason to have a DVR to record them. (Besides you have to pay a fee to use a DVR). If there is a show I desire to watch, I'll wait for it to come out on DVD before I'll watch it.

BTW five will get you ten the Final Seasons of Friday Night Lights and Smallville will probably be on some Retailer's Loss-Leader List on the "National Day of Insanity" this November!:lol: :crazy: :happyface :rotflmao: :rofl: :bouncers party:

I don't understand - you're not willing to pay the fee for DVR but ARE willing to spend prob upwards of 30 or 40 dollars on a show you would have never seen before (and therefore may not like) to avoid the DVR fees??? Am I not understanding something?

I don't understand - you're not willing to pay the fee for DVR but ARE willing to spend prob upwards of 30 or 40 dollars on a show you would have never seen before (and therefore may not like) to avoid the DVR fees??? Am I not understanding something?

I'm also not paying over $100.00 a Month to watch any program that's stuffed full of Advertisments for something I'm either not interested in purchasing or wouldn't buy from that particular outfit because not only are they NOT the cheapest providers, but their Ads INSULT Me!:( :mad: :angryfire

I also don't purchase any sets as soon as they come out. I wait until they make their way into a store's "Bargain Bin" before I pick them up. On the "National Day of Insanity" I can sometime get entire series for less than $10.00 (And I'm not talking about "One Season Wonders" either)! :D

This past weekend I went out "Garage Sailing", in two days I picked up Two COMPLETE TV Series and 13 Movies for the wallet-busting price of $6.50!!! :happyface

I'm also not paying over $100.00 a Month to watch any program that's stuffed full of Advertisments for something I'm either not interested in purchasing or wouldn't buy from that particular outfit because not only are they NOT the cheapest providers, but their Ads INSULT Me!:( :mad: :angryfire

I also don't purchase any sets as soon as they come out. I wait until they make their way into a store's "Bargain Bin" before I pick them up. On the "National Day of Insanity" I can sometime get entire series for less than $10.00 (And I'm not talking about "One Season Wonders" either)! :D

What series have you got for < $10.00?

What series have you got for < $10.00?


Too Numerous to list the all, but they include:

Nearly all of the Mill Creek releases

The Addam's Family

Banacek

Galactica 1980

The Brady Bunch

Branded

Dasterdly and Muttleys Flying Machines

F-Troop

Fireball XL 5

Flash Gordon (Animated)

Gilligan's Island

I Spy

The Jetsons

Johnny Quest

The Outer Limits

The Partridge Family

The Rat Patrol

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (Animated)

Stingray

Supercar

Wonder Woman

To name but a few.

Some of these I have gotten with Gift Cards given to me by Car Dealers, Others were found while "Garage Sailing" (People who do these sales often price their goods to SELL, so DVDs can often be had for PENNIES on the Dollar!) :D

I'd have to say from 2006/2007 onward. There are very few shows left that I'll actually sit down and watch. Most times I won't even tune into a network unless they have sports on.

I would take my pick for the worst television season as one from 2003-04 and forward. Who wants to blame American Idol for a consecutive streak as #1 show for seven straight seasons. I predicted that the streak would stop at six seasons, but it reigned again for a 7. No decent show is going to get in the top 10 spots in the annual Nielsen ratings. Face it, FOX is a stupid network with a reality show reigning as #1 for seven straight seasons, animated sitcoms that will not end (such as The Simpsons, which needs to end this decade), and the only watchable shows are House, Bones, Fringe, and Glee.

Sorry, most TV shows were not great pre-1970. The exemptions would be arguably The Andy Griffith Show, The Honeymooners, Dick Van Dyke, Gunsmoke (ok, Bonanza) and the Beverly Hillbillies. Some would put Green Acres in the same league.

In the early 1970's, especially at CBS, were doing away with their 60's fare and moving towards more modern and adult like shows. To me this was a Golden Age with a lot of excellent programming. By the late 1970's, a lot of the popular shows were running out of steam, although they were still doing well in the ratings (MASH, All in the Family, Carol Burnett). The shows they tried to replace them with more or less floundered over time. Then NBC came out with their great shows (Cheers, Night Court, St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, and yes, even Cosby).

Actually, for me, 1970-1990 shows were my favorite, albiet dated.

Television is much different now than it was even the 1990's. In 1990, there was cable TV, but what was mostly shown on these stations were reruns of old syndicated programs (which was great). Now many of these cable outlets put out their own programming. Think of how many shows you like or liked and are/were popular that were not on the Big 4 networks?

So for me, TV has gotten much better than it was back in the old days. There are so many, many more choices out there and it is an open market with satellite, internet, HD and all that.

1950-1980- Three commercial networks, NBC, CBS, ABC, plus a boring PBS channel (well by 1975 everywhere). Probably in NYC and other big cities, there were other choices, but usually in Spanish. What was cool back in the day was that there was more local programming, which has died in the 21st Century. But basically, TV sucked. Usually it was "nothing on, nothing on, nothing on."

1980-1995 Four networks and cable. Much better selection, although there were a lot of reruns, but more local programming. VCR's came into being which opened a new market for the movies, video rental and porn.

1995-2005 The dawn of the internet, Netflix etc.

2005-now Video on Demand, watch shows when you want, cable, satellite, hell you can watch TV stations in Uzbekistan if you want. TV's that hang off the wall. Video sound systems. Computer/Tv uplinks, advanced video games, HD. If you got the cash for your toys.

Sorry, most TV shows were not great pre-1970. The exemptions would be arguably The Andy Griffith Show, The Honeymooners, Dick Van Dyke, Gunsmoke (ok, Bonanza) and the Beverly Hillbillies. Some would put Green Acres in the same league.

In the early 1970's, especially at CBS, were doing away with their 60's fare and moving towards more modern and adult like shows. To me this was a Golden Age with a lot of excellent programming. By the late 1970's, a lot of the popular shows were running out of steam, although they were still doing well in the ratings (MASH, All in the Family, Carol Burnett). The shows they tried to replace them with more or less floundered over time. Then NBC came out with their great shows (Cheers, Night Court, St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, and yes, even Cosby).

Actually, for me, 1970-1990 shows were my favorite, albiet dated.

Television is much different now than it was even the 1990's. In 1990, there was cable TV, but what was mostly shown on these stations were reruns of old syndicated programs (which was great). Now many of these cable outlets put out their own programming. Think of how many shows you like or liked and are/were popular that were not on the Big 4 networks?

So for me, TV has gotten much better than it was back in the old days. There are so many, many more choices out there and it is an open market with satellite, internet, HD and all that.

1950-1980- Three commercial networks, NBC, CBS, ABC, plus a boring PBS channel (well by 1975 everywhere). Probably in NYC and other big cities, there were other choices, but usually in Spanish. What was cool back in the day was that there was more local programming, which has died in the 21st Century. But basically, TV sucked. Usually it was "nothing on, nothing on, nothing on."

1980-1995 Four networks and cable. Much better selection, although there were a lot of reruns, but more local programming. VCR's came into being which opened a new market for the movies, video rental and porn.

1995-2005 The dawn of the internet, Netflix etc.

2005-now Video on Demand, watch shows when you want, cable, satellite, hell you can watch TV stations in Uzbekistan if you want. TV's that hang off the wall. Video sound systems. Computer/Tv uplinks, advanced video games, HD. If you got the cash for your toys.

1990s The Digital Video Disk (That's DVD for those of you in Rio Linda!):D, makes its debut. These disks, which are the same size as the Compact Disk, can hold as much as six hours of Programming. Entire TV Shows can be placed in a Package that's no bigger than a VHS Case. For those who yearn for "The Golden Age", those TV Shows you yearned to watch are now available on these disks. However, some studios refuse to release Certain Shows due to B:censored:t such as "Ownership Issues", "Music Rights" and "Political Correctness". However, if you do want those Shows, they can be had from "Other Sources".:crazy: :lol: :happyface :rofl: :rotflmao:

Sorry, most TV shows were not great pre-1970. The exemptions would be arguably The Andy Griffith Show, The Honeymooners, Dick Van Dyke, Gunsmoke (ok, Bonanza) and the Beverly Hillbillies. Some would put Green Acres in the same league.

In the early 1970's, especially at CBS, were doing away with their 60's fare and moving towards more modern and adult like shows. To me this was a Golden Age with a lot of excellent programming. By the late 1970's, a lot of the popular shows were running out of steam, although they were still doing well in the ratings (MASH, All in the Family, Carol Burnett). The shows they tried to replace them with more or less floundered over time. Then NBC came out with their great shows (Cheers, Night Court, St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, and yes, even Cosby).

Actually, for me, 1970-1990 shows were my favorite, albiet dated.

Television is much different now than it was even the 1990's. In 1990, there was cable TV, but what was mostly shown on these stations were reruns of old syndicated programs (which was great). Now many of these cable outlets put out their own programming. Think of how many shows you like or liked and are/were popular that were not on the Big 4 networks?

So for me, TV has gotten much better than it was back in the old days. There are so many, many more choices out there and it is an open market with satellite, internet, HD and all that.

1950-1980- Three commercial networks, NBC, CBS, ABC, plus a boring PBS channel (well by 1975 everywhere). Probably in NYC and other big cities, there were other choices, but usually in Spanish. What was cool back in the day was that there was more local programming, which has died in the 21st Century. But basically, TV sucked. Usually it was "nothing on, nothing on, nothing on."

1980-1995 Four networks and cable. Much better selection, although there were a lot of reruns, but more local programming. VCR's came into being which opened a new market for the movies, video rental and porn.

1995-2005 The dawn of the internet, Netflix etc.

2005-now Video on Demand, watch shows when you want, cable, satellite, hell you can watch TV stations in Uzbekistan if you want. TV's that hang off the wall. Video sound systems. Computer/Tv uplinks, advanced video games, HD. If you got the cash for your toys.
IMO TV was in it's golden age from the 1950's until about 1994 when Friends came out. I never could stand that show. It's true there was only 3 networks back then but the quality was high. They had a wide variety of shows to watch of all genres. Even most of the one season wonder shows I enjoyed. It's not the same today with all the cheap reality crap and tabloid shows that the networks try to pass for entertainment. Yes there are more channels but as for choices, I don't see it. I watch maybe 10 cable channels. There are some good shows on some of those channels like FX and USA and even AMC but the channels as a whole have deteriorated. Although I like Breaking Bad and some of the other AMC original programs, the rest of the channel is pure crap. Most of their movies are not classics. The same can be said for USA and FX. The Sleuth Channel which I get is nothing more than reruns of USA shows. That's a waste. Most of the cable channels just look alike. As for the networks, there is a reason their audience has been going down over the last few years. The best thing about the modern era is the DVR which allows people to watch what they want to watch at a time they want to watch it.

TV started to go downhill when color became the norm, around 1965 or so. But there were still a lot of good programs on in the 60s and most of the 70s. I would say the death of quality TV came about when MTM Productions went out of business as they were pretty much the last purveyor of good programs. There may have been the odd good show to slip on over the last 2 decades but most, like Brooklyn Bridge, did not last for very long. Best thing about the 80s was the explosion of cable and in their desperation for cheap product they resurrected all of these really hard to find short run shows which had not aired since being canceled. But that ended by 1990 as well. Two worst words for cable networks: ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING.

Yikes, we have got some real old prunes on this board haha

Seriously, there were classic shows in the 50s and 60s, but there were many bad shows too. Same goes today. There are some real quality shows on network tv and cable to go with the many duds that come each and every year. It's always been that way.

1990s The Digital Video Disk (That's DVD for those of you in Rio Linda!):D, makes its debut. These disks, which are the same size as the Compact Disk, can hold as much as six hours of Programming. Entire TV Shows can be placed in a Package that's no bigger than a VHS Case. For those who yearn for "The Golden Age", those TV Shows you yearned to watch are now available on these disks. However, some studios refuse to release Certain Shows due to B:censored:t such as "Ownership Issues", "Music Rights" and "Political Correctness". However, if you do want those Shows, they can be had from "Other Sources".:crazy: :lol: :happyface :rofl: :rotflmao:You hit the nail right on the head. I mean you cant buy shows on DVDs because of what I put in bold, tv channels dont show classic tv and even when they do, its all chopped up with pop up ads etc. I mean watching classic tv uncut, w/o any pop ups etc. isnt too much to ask, is it??

TV started to go downhill when color became the norm, around 1965 or so. But there were still a lot of good programs on in the 60s and most of the 70s.

I pretty much agree with you. I would also say the quality of TV shows began a slow decline when color took over, the decline was put in motion starting with the 1967-68 season. But the majority of shows were still worthwhile for another 10 years or so. To me, TV started going downhill quickly in the late 70's, around 1977. That downward spiral goes for other forms of entertainment also.

I don't like serial family guy
Its all seasons are worst...

Yikes, we have got some real old prunes on this board haha

Seriously, there were classic shows in the 50s and 60s, but there were many bad shows too. Same goes today. There are some real quality shows on network tv and cable to go with the many duds that come each and every year. It's always been that way.

:thanks:

Seriously, there were classic shows in the 50s and 60s, but there were many bad shows too. Same goes today. There are some real quality shows on network tv and cable to go with the many duds that come each and every year. It's always been that way.

Many of those "Bad" Shows made then WOULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND what is laughingly passed off as "Programming" these days!:lol:

^^^^Very true. The only relatively modern shows I watch are a few sitcoms/Britcoms made in the UK,for some reason the BBC has not sunk as low as American television has.

Seriously, there were classic shows in the 50s and 60s, but there were many bad shows too. Same goes today. There are some real quality shows on network tv and cable to go with the many duds that come each and every year. It's always been that way.
It has not always been that way. Sure there were always a few bad shows,but there were alot more good-excellent shows. --As far as modern television or what passes for television goes,most of it is junk,maybe they have a viewable show or 2 ,but that is it.

Many of those "Bad" Shows made then WOULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND what is laughingly passed off as "Programming" these days!:lol:

:yeahthat

Many of those "Bad" Shows made then WOULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND what is laughingly passed off as "Programming" these days!:lol:
You can say that again. If only I had a VCR back then. :lol: I can name the current great shows on network tv on one hand. :lol:

What I liked about tv back then was the variety of genre's you had. You had Sitcoms, Westerns, Variety Shows, Family Dramas, Cop and Detective Shows, Medical shows, Science Fiction Shows and yes even some reality. The difference was that Real People and That's Incredible didn't ridicule you and the one that did, Candid Camera was all done in fun. :lol: All that's mainly on today are cheap reality shows and crime dramas. Just about every show I watch is a crime drama because that's the only genre left that I like. But even most of them aren't as good as the ones in the past.

Any transitional period where there were a lot of unsuccessful shows unloaded at once. 1998, 2003-2005 comes to mind, there were a lot of shows in those years that only ran for two seasons at the most. I suppose I can add 2009 and 2010, too. We ended up with a lot of Lost wannabes like Harper's Island and Happy Town.