View Full Version : Worst sitcom casts
I got inspired to do this after seeing separate threads about the worst sitcom actors and actresses. I also got inspired after seeing a post (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4931011&postcount=20) relating to the "human" cast of ALF.
When I bring up the subject of "worst casts" for a sitcom, this isn't necessarily purely or simply a direct indictment on the show (e.g. the writing and what not) in general. What I mean is, which cast overall (meaning that not one person is singled out), had the worst chemistry, comedic timing, and/or overall stage and screen presence?
This is not worst for me. But I want to know good sitcom for 2014. Think concealed money in your relationship might be a sign that your wife is having an affair? Watch for these signs and open the lines of conversation.
-----SPAM ALERT (See above quote)-----
Elton. you might want to think about getting back on your yellow brick road before we all get up and kick your ALF!
HauntedThunderman94 09-10-2014, 03:20 PM The cast of Still Standing and Yes Dear. Just awful
How about the cast of Diff'rent Strokes?
Did they all end up in jail at the same time or does it just seem that way?
vampirevsrobot 09-11-2014, 05:31 AM I got inspired to do this after seeing separate threads about the worst sitcom actors and actresses. I also got inspired after seeing a post (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4931011&postcount=20) relating to the "human" cast of ALF.
When I bring up the subject of "worst casts" for a sitcom, this isn't necessarily purely or simply a direct indictment on the show (e.g. the writing and what not) in general. What I mean is, which cast overall (meaning that not one person is singled out), had the worst chemistry, comedic timing, and/or overall stage and screen presence?
I honestly don't think it's ALF. I found it interesting, so I decided to post it.
He does kinda/sorta say nice things (or tried to) about Max Wright; probably because he's:
1. The only noticeable actor of the bunch
or
2. Became an executive producer in charge of a cast that truly hated working on the show and made things very difficult.
But without Max (Willie) Wright or the Tanner family, ALF really is "Project ALF" or "Alf's hit talk show", in my opinion.
Either way...
I'm sure there's lots of bad casting, lots of controversial (long running) shows and lots of easy (short running) shows that people could easily add.
I'll make a safe bet somewhere in the middle and go with "Blossom".
bmasters9 09-11-2014, 08:03 AM Some of the worst to me:
Friends
Seinfeld
Raymond
Two and a Half Men
Wawwie 09-11-2014, 08:39 AM Small Wonder
vampirevsrobot 09-11-2014, 08:43 AM Friends
Seinfeld
Raymond
Two and a Half Men[/I]
**EDIT**
These were your pick for the worst [sitcom cast] of all time?
Really, ???
SitcomsOffline 09-11-2014, 04:11 PM Some of the worst to me:
Friends
Seinfeld
Raymond
Two and a Half Men
Can you explain why you chose these shows?
Many people would say the shows you listed have some of the best ensemble casts of any shows...
Top 5 WORST Sitcom Casts EVER (http://nostalgiarush.blogspot.com/2019/09/top-5-worst-sitcom-casts-ever.html)
One rule is that these have to be the primary cast for the bulk of the run, we all know shows can often start with a cast member who suddenly vanishes once creators realize the character isn’t working. The other rule is this has to be a show that was on for awhile, say five years at least.
#5. Mad About You
The winner of the most solid worst supporting cast ever. This show was all about Paul and Jamie…and man was it hard to include anyone one in that mix. It wasn’t soo bad in the early years but as the show went on the supporting cast kept changing. First Ira replaced Shelby. Then Mark and Fran vanished. Then Paul’s parents became main cast members even though that NEVER made sense. Paul’s sister was added while Jamie’s sister disappeared and her mother stuck around, played by Carol Burnett for some reason. and it was just crazy. The show tried to fill in the voids but overall, it failed. If a good solid supporting casts helps keep a series alive, then I guess we know why this series has kind of faded away.
#4. Barney Miller
Yeah I can just feel the pitch forks and torches being taken out for this one. Just opinion here guys. But honestly most of the cast here never did anything for me. Ok Ron Glass is delightful in everything he’s in and Abe Vigoda is always charming. Steve Landesberg is funny to. But the others… I’m not lying when I saw the characters were a part of the reason I never got into this show.
#3. Gimme A Break
I think one of the reasons this show hasn’t lived on vert long is because of the horrible cast. Nell Carter was amazing but man the three girls were boring and stilted. We had Kari Michelson as the flirty one, Lauri Hendler was the brain, and Lara Jill Miller was the baby except she outgrew that. The girls were so boring they had to bring in Thelma Hopkins and Joey Lawrence to help out, and eventually the three were all dropped and the series barely noticed.
#2. 2 Broke Girls
I’ve watched a lot of episodes of this show and it took me a loonng time to get behind the supporting cast in it. The leads, Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings , were fine but man were the others awful. They were all over the top stereotypes and almost never felt like real people. Even Jennifer Cooldige who in her first appearance was fine but once she became a regular she became another stereotype like the others. I think it was trying to be like Friends but they felt like real people. These characters felt like cartoon characters. To be fair the writing was hardly stellar.
#1. Small Wonder
Yeah why do we keep coming back to this show? Dick Christie was stiff, Marla Pennington was a cliché. Jerry Supiran was a cute kid but couldn’t act. Sure Tiffany Brissette was great, but that was about it. And finally the Brindells who, as I mentioned before, were so stereotypical they didn’t feel like real people half the time. And yet, the show had a healthy run and is adored by fans. WEIRD. All of these actors had short lived careers and moved on to other things in their lives. Tiffany is a nurse! And don’t get me wrong, I was a fan too and admit to even liking a few episodes. But man, was the cheese in this show thick!!
RetroGuy2000 01-15-2022, 12:16 AM I never had a problem with the cast of Gimme a Break, and thought the three girls were terrific. They certainly were better than what replaced them, which was so bad it only lasted one season.
Small Wonder was achingly awful. The cast, I think, did their best with some awful material. I don't think the terrible scripts and cheesy premise were their fault. The horror at watching the "parents" lock their little girl in a closet each night (or had their son do it) turned this cheesy sitcom into bizarre nightmare fuel.
Two Broke Girls was so foul-mouthed I couldn't watch more than one or two episodes. It was like a bunch of sailors wrote the show.
Mad About You was okay, but I always got the feeling in real life that Helen Hunt was a bitch. Then the Internet confirmed that belief. Can't watch it now.
GentlemanJim 01-15-2022, 01:04 AM I can't say that I disagree with you about any of these other than Barney Miller. Part of what makes that show work is the disfunctional nature of some of the characters, and the way their peers deal with it.
It's kind of a prelude to the type of self deprecating humor Seinfeld exploited a couple decades later.
I can't say that I disagree with you about any of these other than Barney Miller. Part of what makes that show work is the dysfunctional nature of some of the characters, and the way their peers deal with it.
It's kind of a prelude to the type of self deprecating humor Seinfeld exploited a couple decades later.
The problem with placing Barney Miller on that list is that are you speaking about the cast (https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barney-miller-rocks/532048/62) as a whole or merely the post (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125231/http://www.jumptheshark.com/b/barneymiller.htm)-Abe Vigoda and/or Jack Soo years?
icecream 01-15-2022, 01:50 PM Cavemen
Rodney
How to Be a Gentleman
The Last Man on Earth
Community
Parks and Recreation
30 Rock- Tina Fey has never been funny.
Mr. Mayor- Besides Kyla Kenedy, rest of the supporting cast is dreadful. It is far from Ted Danson's best role either.
The Hogan Family
Small Wonder- I like the show some but it is a weak cast.
Webster
Single Parents
Bless This Mess
The Tortellis- I have not seen this but am basing it on their Cheers appearances.
Bernie Mac
2 Broke Girls- Beth Behrs is a lot better on The Neighborhood.
Call Your Mother
The Moodys
Good Morning, World
It's About Time
Lotsa Luck!
Alice
Evening Shade- Newhart had the cast to pull off small town comedy. Evening Shade did not.
Mad About You had a great cast once they replaced Tommy Hinkley with John Pankow. But I do wish Steven Wright appeared in more than five episodes.
Was Maude another show that had a weak supporting cast? In other words, they may have nothing to do except to feed Bea Arthur brief straight lines, and sometimes she even stole those. It was a show where literally, the job of the supporting cast was to just stand there silent while Bea Arthur set up her own jokes.
stevea 01-24-2022, 09:19 AM Post 10 - I'm getting sick of these attacks on Small Wonder LOL...
king of comedy 01-24-2022, 09:22 AM Top 5 WORST Sitcom Casts EVER (http://nostalgiarush.blogspot.com/2019/09/top-5-worst-sitcom-casts-ever.html)
I didn't see 2 Broke Girls or Mad about you but I agree with on the others. Especially Small Wonder. It's so painful to look at now.
GentlemanJim 01-24-2022, 11:40 AM or merely the post (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125231/http://www.jumptheshark.com/b/barneymiller.htm)-Abe Vigoda and/or Jack Soo years?
Framing it from that perspective, I'd be tempted to place M.A.S.H. on the list, as well.
RetroGuy2000 01-24-2022, 11:49 AM Post 10 - I'm getting sick of these attacks on Small Wonder LOL...
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
king of comedy 01-24-2022, 12:17 PM Framing it from that perspective, I'd be tempted to place M.A.S.H. on the list, as well.
M.A.S.H. ? Really? Who didn't you like on the show?
Chocolate Moose 01-24-2022, 02:31 PM I think some of these casts were supposed to be diverse, hence their ... symmetry was not forthcoming.
GentlemanJim 01-25-2022, 06:24 AM M.A.S.H. ? Really? Who didn't you like on the show?
The comment was a specifically targeted response to another poster's comments about disappointments resulting from casting changes.
I like Harry Morgan, but his Sherman Potter character was a let down from the character he replaced.
BJ Hunnicut was a little too warm and fuzzy for my tastes. And while Winchester had his charms, he just didn't fill the boots of Frank Burns.
Those are all my constructive replies to your challenge. On a deeper level, once M.A.S.H. became The Alan Alda show, it really started to lose it's edge.
GentlemanJim 01-25-2022, 06:33 AM Hawkeye made a good anti-hero type facet to a bigger story. Once he became the focus point, it became painfully obvious that he was no Elliot Gould, and his attempts to channel that persona were labored and impotent.
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