The 50 lowest-rated TV shows of the last 50 years

- IMDB user rating: 4.5
- Votes: 1,846

ABC's morning show "Good Morning America" vies for the most-watched morning show week after week. As popular as the show is, fans often complain about everything from anchor Michael Strahan to biased reporting.

- IMDB user rating: 3.6
- Votes: 462

"The Brady Bunch" went off the air in 1974, but the family decided to keep on moving with a show that featured them singing, dancing, and performing comedy skits. Everyone returned for the ill-fated comedy/musical extravaganza except for the original Jan Brady, who was recast. While the family gave it the old Brady try, even luring big-name special guests like Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett, the show only lasted nine episodes before the Brady Bunch faded off into sitcom syndication.

- IMDB user rating: 6.2
- Votes: 12,114

1977 was an epic year for TV, with an amazing primetime lineup that included "The Carol Burnett Show," "Family," "Welcome Back, Kotter," and "Wonder Woman." "The Love Boat" featured the adventures of the crew of a cruise ship and its many guests, who were often played by famous television and movie stars. While this Aaron Spelling show was fun, the plotlines were predictable and often foolish, and the stories tied up too neatly.

- IMDB user rating: 5.9
- Votes: 939

A team of superheroes fights off villains in this late 1970s animated series created by Stan Lee. Viewers felt the show was cheesy and disliked H.E.R.B.I.E., a robot that was the replacement for the Human Torch, who appeared in the 1967 version of "The Fantastic Four."

- IMDB user rating: 5.6
- Votes: 423

"Mrs. Columbo" was a spinoff of the successful detective show "Columbo." The creators and stars of the original series were not impressed with the haphazard way this one was thrown together, though. Peter Falk (the original "Columbo") called the series spinoff "disgraceful." Kate Columbo (Kate Mulgrew), a reporter who solved crimes, was married to the detective though he was never seen, just as she had never been seen in "Columbo." The series title was changed three times: to "Kate Columbo," Kate the Detective," and "Kate Loves a Mystery." Eventually, Mrs. Columbo was said to have divorced her husband, though the shoddy backstory didn't matter as the series was canceled after just 13 episodes.

- IMDB user rating: 4.5
- Votes: 327

Based on the 1973 film "Westworld" and predating the popular HBO series by several decades, "Beyond Westworld" was produced by CBS but lasted only a few episodes before being canceled. The show starred James Wainwright and Jim McMullan as opposing forces in a power struggle over life-like robots threatening to take over the world.

- IMDB user rating: 3.5
- Votes: 2,547

"Entertainment Tonight" premiered on Sept. 14, 1981, and naysayers wondered how they could possibly fill 30 minutes each night with news focused solely on the entertainment industry. Long-time host John Tesh said that in the early years of the show, "Nobody would admit they watched it." The show crossed its 10,000th episode milestone in 2020.

- IMDB user rating: 3.6
- Votes: 332

"Today" is Australia's longest-running morning news and infotainment show, and has been rocked by scandals involving its rotation of hosts over the years. These scandals caused ratings to suffer, particularly as the show competes with another Australian breakfast news program called "Sunrise."

- IMDB user rating: 4.4
- Votes: 346

This long-running talk show featured a host known just as much for her red-framed glasses as she was for her no-nonsense attitude. A competitor to Phil Donahue's self-titled talk show, Raphael's format was more tabloid than journalism-focused—a programming decision Raphael also disliked. Many viewers questioned whether the show was staged and criticized the sensational content and fights between guests.

- IMDB user rating: 4.4
- Votes: 1,478

A young Demi Moore appeared in this television series about an aging ninja who searches for his daughter with the help of his young apprentice. Lee Van Cleef, one of the show's stars, was known for his portrayal as the villain of many spaghetti Westerns, and many viewers had a hard time seeing him as a ninja. There was also little chemistry between co-stars Van Cleef and Timothy Van Patten, which may have contributed to the series' cancellation after one season.

- IMDB user rating: 4.7
- Votes: 8,622

This BBC soap opera is still on television, though many have wondered how such a thing is possible. Based in Walford, a fictional district in London's East End, the unbelievable plotlines and formulaic soap opera tropes have grown old. Even faithful fans have grown tired of the recycled romances and predictability.

- IMDB user rating: 5.1
- Votes: 5,231

Airing for 25 years, Oprah's talk show featured celebrity guest appearances ranging from Michael Jackson to Tom Cruise. While the show was highly-awarded, it also courted controversy due to its platforming of polarizing figures like Dr. Oz and anti-vax advocates like Jenny McCarthy. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" ended its run in 2011.

- IMDB user rating: 3.4
- Votes: 7,895

Two families' stories unfold in Los Angeles in the world of high fashion in this American soap opera. While the show remains on television after more than 30 years, fans have expressed gripes with the dragging and preposterous storylines, even by soap opera standards, and many have stopped watching.

- IMDB user rating: 3.4
- Votes: 278

"Garbage Pail Kids" was an animated show about a group of kids with—you guessed it—garbage-related names and appearances. Inspired by the trading cards of the same name, the show never saw the light of day in the U.S. after many complained about its gross and inappropriate humor. It did circulate outside the U.S., however, where it picked up a cult following.

- IMDB user rating: 2.7
- Votes: 622

This Irish soap opera chronicles the lives of the residents in the town of Carrigstown. Though it is one of the most-watched television shows in Ireland, many viewers find it laughable and an amateur effort in terms of production. Bad acting, regurgitated storylines, and subpar writing make it hard to understand this series' staying power.

- IMDB user rating: 5.5
- Votes: 1,120

The British equivalent of "America's Funniest Home Videos," "You've Been Framed!" is a viewer-sourced series where audiences can send in humorous home movies to be featured on the show. Despite the departures of many hosts, the show is still running today.

- IMDB user rating: 3.7
- Votes: 4,463

"The Jerry Springer Show," which aired for 27 years, was a sensational talk show where guests often shared the most outrageous stories. Often fights erupted with the host or show security intervening. Many believed that producers encouraged guests to lie and staged and provoked the on-air fight, but none of that could stop people from tuning in daily to see what new disaster might erupt.

- IMDB user rating: 3.8
- Votes: 9,774

"I love you. You love me. We're a happy family," and so began the adventures of dopey, talking purple dinosaur Barney. His sidekick Baby Bop and their group of friends sang, danced, and completed art projects. Though kids seemed to dig Barney, others disliked him and weren't afraid to show it. Some even started an "I Hate Barney Secret Society."

- IMDB user rating: 3.9
- Votes: 2,126

While it lasted two seasons longer than its predecessor, "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" never garnered the same success or love that the original did. Perhaps using recycled storylines and simply swapping out the cast, wasn't enough to make this series memorable. The series was rebooted in 2000 but was canceled after two seasons.

- IMDB user rating: 5.3
- Votes: 2,113

Two ex-Navy SEALs and their high-tech speedboat, Thunder, go on mercenary missions. Hulk Hogan was one of the leads, though the series only lasted for one season. It received a 38% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, in part due to Hogan's less-than-stellar acting skills.

- IMDB user rating: 3.8
- Votes: 1,470

This short-lived "Baywatch" spinoff never reached the same level as the original nor had the ratings, and it only lasted two seasons. It featured lead lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) moonlighting at night as a private investigator. Even guest appearances by "Baywatch" regulars like Yasmine Bleeth, Michael Newman, Alexandra Paul, and Billy Warlock weren't enough to save this series.

- IMDB user rating: 3.3
- Votes: 4,218

Host Bill O'Reilly has a reputation as a staunch conservative—and his show, which featured political commentary and interviews, reflected his views. Critics of the show thought it was biased and that O'Reilly was often rude. Fox canceled O'Reilly in 2017 when sexual harassment allegations came to light.

- IMDB user rating: 2.5
- Votes: 8,406

A panel of women discusses news, celebrities, politics, and other relevant topics on this daytime talk show that has been on the air for more than 25 seasons. "The View" has had its share of controversies; many viewers agree that each host shift negatively impacts the show's quality.

- IMDB user rating: 3.1
- Votes: 2,266

"Fox and Friends" is the Fox network's morning news show. A conservative-leaning show, many viewers have called it biased and one-sided.

- IMDB user rating: 2.2
- Votes: 1,301

"Loose Women" is a British talk show hosted by four women. It delves into news, politics, and celebrity gossip. It has had a rotating panel of presenters over its two-decade-plus run. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show is still on today.

- IMDB user rating: 4.2
- Votes: 6,849

This children's show featured Dora, a 7-year-old Latina girl, exploring the jungle with the help of a backpack and her pet monkey, Boots, and without the guidance of her parents. The annoying singing and monotony of Dora's jungle missions made it difficult for parents to enjoy watching it with their kids. The show was still a huge success and enjoyed many iterations, including a 2019 movie.

- IMDB user rating: 4.4
- Votes: 1,220

Celebrities spend time in the Big Brother house while viewers watch their every move and evict them one by one. Reality stars, actors, Olympians, and singers have appeared on the show, which has quite the guest list. Many viewers complain that not only are the episodes staged but that the celebrities are either has-beens or pseudo-celebrities.

- IMDB user rating: 3.1
- Votes: 1,296

After his success on MTV's "Total Request Live," NBC gave Carson Daly his own late-night talk show. Originally done in a traditional talk show format with celebrity interviews, things changed in 2009 when Daly took to the streets and filmed interviews and performances at different Los Angeles locations. Upon the show's cancelation after 18 seasons, many fans were surprised that the show was still on the air or that Daly had a show at all.

- IMDB user rating: 3.2
- Votes: 1,136

This British reality show features a group of celebrities who must complete challenges in the great outdoors to survive. Viewers vote on who stays, who goes, and ultimately choose a winner. The show has weathered scandals related to allegations of animal cruelty, bullying, and more.

- IMDB user rating: 4.3
- Votes: 4,769

This television singing competition involves contestants trying to impress judges as they sing popular cover songs. Simon Cowell created the show's U.K. and U.S. iterations; the latter aired in 2011. Many fans have grown tired of the same old thing, and Cowell announced a hiatus for the reality series in 2020 to make some changes.

- IMDB user rating: 1.8
- Votes: 3,129

MTV rolled out this series about kids who were turning 16 and planning lavish and outrageous celebrations, often with the help of wealthy parents. Time magazine critic Ana Marie Cox wrote, "Their blingy flings are not celebrations of accomplishment; they're celebrations of self." The kids in the series were seen as greedy, self-centered, and privileged, which made it difficult for audiences to watch.

- IMDB user rating: 3.4
- Votes: 6,141

Tyler Perry's slapstick sitcom is one of the longest-running sitcoms with a majority-Black cast and was renewed in 2020 after its initial end in 2012. The show deals with themes of substance use disorder but has been criticized for treating the dark subject matter with too much humor.

- IMDB user rating: 2.3
- Votes: 2,209

Two very different cousins are forced to live together in this Filipino American animated comedy. The only two seasons of the show aired four years apart in 2007 and 2011. Many viewers were disappointed in the animation and didn't find the series funny.

- IMDB user rating: 2.0
- Votes: 1,570

Lasting only two seasons, "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" was a reality competition show in which people vied for the title of Paris Hilton's best friend. Only months after the end of the first season, Hilton claimed the winner and she were no longer friends.

- IMDB user rating: 1.7
- Votes: 3,645

"Toddlers and Tiaras" features children competing in beauty pageants and receiving harsh criticism, not only from the beauty pageant world but from the parents who allowed their children to compete. Children tanned, wore hair extensions, and even practiced elaborate dance and singing routines, much to the disgust and dismay of viewers everywhere. The series also stirred up quite a bit of controversy.

- IMDB user rating: 2.9
- Votes: 1,998

Sheen Estevez, Jimmy Neutron's friend, ends up on another planet in this animated series that aired on Nickelodeon. Writing for Screenrant, Shaurya Thapa called the show "an embarrassingly cringe-inducing show filled with unnecessary gags." Fans felt the same way, and the show was canceled after one season.

- IMDB user rating: 2.0
- Votes: 2,170

This animated show about a group of inept detectives was originally pitched to Adult Swim, but when it didn't take the show, a few updates were made, and it went to Cartoon Network. In an opinion piece for Variety, Brian Lowry wrote that "The Problem Solverz" was "being bizarre simply for its own sake." Viewers must have agreed because it was canceled after two seasons.

- IMDB user rating: 1.7
- Votes: 2,052

Starring Lucas Cruikshank, this series featured the adventures of a boy with a very high-pitched voice. Many critics and viewers thought it was one of the worst shows on television and lasted only a season on Nickelodeon. Based on a viral YouTube series, the show did manage to gain enough interest for a movie obviously titled "Fred: The Movie."

- IMDB user rating: 1.6
- Votes: 1,059

Anita Sarkeesian deconstructs video game tropes as they relate to females in this YouTube web series. The series, funded via a Kickstarter campaign, began a journey for Sarkeesian into the dark depths of cybermobs. She became a target for online harassment—including vandalizing her Wikipedia page and YouTube comment sections and posting private information about her. Two seasons of the show were produced.

- IMDB user rating: 2.6
- Votes: 3,618

The idea of this animated Nickelodeon series was simple: Two ducks drive around in a van delivering bread to other ducks. While television critic Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times gave it a favorable review, fans never seemed to connect with the show, and it was canceled after two seasons.

- IMDB user rating: 3.0
- Votes: 1,139

British television sitcom, "I Live With Models," follows a male hand model and his adventures living with three women models in Miami. Two seasons aired on Comedy Central UK, though the second aired two years after the first.

- IMDB user rating: 2.9
- Votes: 5,084

A boy named Ben discovers a device that allows him to turn into 10 different alien species. This animated action-adventure series is a reboot loosely based on the original that aired in 2005. The original had a much higher user ranking on IMDb, and many fans feel the new series does not live up to its predecessor.

- IMDB user rating: 3.4
- Votes: 1,181

The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner crew, Kylie got her own separate reality television show in 2017 after launching the makeup brand that ultimately made her the youngest self-made billionaire in 2019. Despite the notorious shenanigans of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," critics panned "Life of Kylie" for being less fun and more controlled.

- IMDB user rating: 1.6
- Votes: 1,083

Hosted by ex-MMA fighter Brendan Schaub, "Below the Belt" is a talk show combining combat sports commentary with entertainment and pop culture. Schaub is known for his controversial guests like anti-vax podcaster Joe Rogan and his unfiltered sense of humor.

- IMDB user rating: 1.4
- Votes: 7,478

Canadian YouTuber and comedian Lilly Singh hosts her own late-night talk show on NBC. While many are thrilled to see a woman of Indian descent hosting a late-night show on a major network, many viewers are put off by jokes they see as racist and unfunny. The show ended after two years on NBC.

- IMDB user rating: 1.0
- Votes: 2,642

The story of four teenagers volunteering in a prestigious program at Attaway General Hospital first aired on YouTube and then streamed on Hulu, Roku, and others. The show features many popular TikTok stars, which may be part of the reason for the harsh response from viewers who complain not only about the terrible writing but about the awful acting as well.

- IMDB user rating: 1.4
- Votes: 1,931

One of the first original series on the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, "High Guardian Spice" is an animated series about four girls training to become their city's magical defenders. Praised for its representative slate of LGBTQ+ characters, the show was nevertheless panned by critics, who called it unambitious and boring.

- IMDB user rating: 1.9
- Votes: 3,022

"Hype House" is a reality television show which follows a group of young TikTok content creators living together in L.A. Highlighting the stress of maintaining and growing internet fame, the show has received mostly negative reviews, with some critics going so far as to call it depressing.

-IMDB user rating: 1.0
-Votes: 6,381

Created by Director X, the Canadian Global TV series "Robyn Hood" retells the classic story of Robin Hood, following Robyn Loxley (Jessye Romeo) and her masked hip-hop group The Hood as they fight against corruption in New Nottingham. Director X has said the series was a victim of "rating-bombing" due to its race- and gender-flipped protagonist, and while plenty of negative reviews do comment on the politics of "Robyn Hood," other viewers blame the show's sub-par writing for its low ratings.

-IMDb user rating: 1.1
-Votes: 1,200

Following a gay couple and their nonbinary child, "The New Norm" debuted on social media platform X in June 2024, billed as an animated comedy that would "Make America funny again." Perhaps unsurprisingly, the anti-woke cartoon failed to live up to this promise—critic Gareth Roberts called the script "excruciating" and the series as a whole "flesh-creepingly awful."