The Best and Worst Decade for Television - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 12-26-2018, 08:43 PM

What was the best and worst decade for American television (live-action, western cartoons and anime altogether) respectively?

Edward216 · 12-27-2018, 04:11 AM

The current decade is definitely the worst. As for the best I'm not sure, 70s or 80s maybe.

Ed.

Crusinforabrusin · 12-27-2018, 06:34 AM

The 2010s are awful for Televesion. So many dreary and negative shows.

As for the best decade , I'd go with the 60s

PhoenixAcres · 12-27-2018, 09:18 PM

Best is probably 60s. They had creative and funny sitcoms if nothing else.

Worst is maybe 00s. From what I've seen they're mostly bland and cringey.

Haven't seen much of 10s shows but maybe I should. They're saying it's a new golden age but I'm not so sure.

tlc38tlc38 · 12-27-2018, 09:20 PM

Because I was a child/teenager in the 90s, that to me is the best decade.

Worst us definitely the current state that we’re in.

1960'sTVfan · 12-27-2018, 09:27 PM

In my opinion, by a wide margin the best decade for TV was the 1960's. I don't like every show from that decade, but I like the majority of them.

Worst decade? I'd say just about everything from the 1980's and forward.

AMackII · 12-28-2018, 02:48 AM

Best: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s & 1990s

Worst: 2000s & 2010s

UMFaninMD · 12-28-2018, 08:17 PM

Best: Late 60's through early 90's

Worst: 2000's through now. There's hardly anything on TV these days I don't want to watch. Current British TV seems a lot more appealing.

Lorimar Television · 01-01-2019, 03:25 AM

I like a lot of current programming, I think 2000-2009 was the worst. The 1980s/ 90s was the best though.

Steve_uk · 01-01-2019, 05:14 AM

I'd be interested to compare the ratings for popular shows in pre-satellite dish and pre-internet days to now, where the choice has been so diffused that there doesn't seem to be one primary focus of an evening. As for the quality of shows it was definitely superior in the 1960s and 1970s to the diet of drivel we are offered nowadays.

LUNCH · 01-01-2019, 01:12 PM

Best: the 1960s and 1970s. The worst is easily the 2000s and 2010s.Really most TV made over the past 20 years or so is unwatchable.

Impressions · 01-01-2019, 03:27 PM

I think each decade had their worst and their best shows, and I know 99% of this board is going to say that the current decade is the worst for TV shows, but I'll have to disagree as the quality has actually gone up, especially with shows that are original to streaming services. They have cinematic quality to them. That was hard to come by prior to streaming and satellite services like HBO. However, TV has definitely gotten darker, there's more shows about murder and crime than I can stand! So yeah, 2010s is not my favorite decade, but definitely not the worst, and there's more variety to choose from compared to oh say, the 20th century.

My favorite decade for TV was the 1970s, the shows were really on the cutting edge, innovative, fresh, and they really hit a stride in this decade, mainly because of Norman Lear and Aaron Spelling. My least favorite decade would have to be the 1960s, a lot of these shows I thought were too wholesome, too silly or too out there, or just plain hokey (rural shows, mostly). I know that's a lot of generalizing, but that's just my opinion.

bgva · 01-02-2019, 07:15 PM

Best: 1980s or 90s. Shows started becoming edgier without being over-the-top. Leaning more towards 80s.

Worst: 2000s, at least by network standards. There were a lot of really generic, cookie-cutter shows in the first half of the decade, mainly sitcoms. I think this was the decade where cable started putting out better quality, esp. networks like HBO.

Coffeecup · 01-02-2019, 08:05 PM

I'm surprised no one said the 1950's. I realize it was the early years and production might have been limited but there were many fine shows. Being a baby boomer, I hardly look at tv programs from the last 25 years and from what people are saying, I haven't missed much.

Christopher · 01-03-2019, 11:12 AM

Best decade would probably be the 80's and 90's for me. There were so many shows I grew up with from those times.

Worst decade is this one. I used to have so many shows to watch years ago. Now Supernatural and Mom are the only two shows I'm interested in seeing. Everything else isn't appealing to me. Mainly because a lot of shows get prematurely canceled these days without a chance to build an audience.

12-26-2018, 08:43 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,621	The Best and Worst Decade for Television What was the best and worst decade for American television (live-action, western cartoons and anime altogether) respectively?

12-27-2018, 04:11 AM	#2
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,634	The current decade is definitely the worst. As for the best I'm not sure, 70s or 80s maybe. Ed.
	Last edited by Edward216; 12-27-2018 at 10:43 PM.

12-27-2018, 09:20 PM	#5
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	Because I was a child/teenager in the 90s, that to me is the best decade. Worst us definitely the current state that we’re in.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

01-01-2019, 03:25 AM	#9
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	I like a lot of current programming, I think 2000-2009 was the worst. The 1980s/ 90s was the best though.
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

12-27-2018, 06:34 AM	#3
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	The 2010s are awful for Televesion. So many dreary and negative shows. As for the best decade , I'd go with the 60s

12-27-2018, 09:18 PM	#4
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Best is probably 60s. They had creative and funny sitcoms if nothing else. Worst is maybe 00s. From what I've seen they're mostly bland and cringey. Haven't seen much of 10s shows but maybe I should. They're saying it's a new golden age but I'm not so sure.

12-27-2018, 09:27 PM	#6
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,081	In my opinion, by a wide margin the best decade for TV was the 1960's. I don't like every show from that decade, but I like the majority of them. Worst decade? I'd say just about everything from the 1980's and forward.

12-28-2018, 02:48 AM	#7
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,215	Best: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s & 1990s Worst: 2000s & 2010s

12-28-2018, 08:17 PM	#8
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Best: Late 60's through early 90's Worst: 2000's through now. There's hardly anything on TV these days I don't want to watch. Current British TV seems a lot more appealing.

01-01-2019, 05:14 AM	#10
Steve_uk Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 29, 2012 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 5,803	I'd be interested to compare the ratings for popular shows in pre-satellite dish and pre-internet days to now, where the choice has been so diffused that there doesn't seem to be one primary focus of an evening. As for the quality of shows it was definitely superior in the 1960s and 1970s to the diet of drivel we are offered nowadays.

01-01-2019, 01:12 PM	#11
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Best: the 1960s and 1970s. The worst is easily the 2000s and 2010s.Really most TV made over the past 20 years or so is unwatchable.

01-01-2019, 03:27 PM	#12
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	I think each decade had their worst and their best shows, and I know 99% of this board is going to say that the current decade is the worst for TV shows, but I'll have to disagree as the quality has actually gone up, especially with shows that are original to streaming services. They have cinematic quality to them. That was hard to come by prior to streaming and satellite services like HBO. However, TV has definitely gotten darker, there's more shows about murder and crime than I can stand! So yeah, 2010s is not my favorite decade, but definitely not the worst, and there's more variety to choose from compared to oh say, the 20th century. My favorite decade for TV was the 1970s, the shows were really on the cutting edge, innovative, fresh, and they really hit a stride in this decade, mainly because of Norman Lear and Aaron Spelling. My least favorite decade would have to be the 1960s, a lot of these shows I thought were too wholesome, too silly or too out there, or just plain hokey (rural shows, mostly). I know that's a lot of generalizing, but that's just my opinion.

01-02-2019, 07:15 PM	#13
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	Best: 1980s or 90s. Shows started becoming edgier without being over-the-top. Leaning more towards 80s. Worst: 2000s, at least by network standards. There were a lot of really generic, cookie-cutter shows in the first half of the decade, mainly sitcoms. I think this was the decade where cable started putting out better quality, esp. networks like HBO.

01-02-2019, 08:05 PM	#14
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	I'm surprised no one said the 1950's. I realize it was the early years and production might have been limited but there were many fine shows. Being a baby boomer, I hardly look at tv programs from the last 25 years and from what people are saying, I haven't missed much.

01-03-2019, 11:12 AM	#15
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	Best decade would probably be the 80's and 90's for me. There were so many shows I grew up with from those times. Worst decade is this one. I used to have so many shows to watch years ago. Now Supernatural and Mom are the only two shows I'm interested in seeing. Everything else isn't appealing to me. Mainly because a lot of shows get prematurely canceled these days without a chance to build an audience.