Top 10 Worst First Seasons of TV Shows
#10: “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2005-)
Top 20 Funniest It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Moments
The “It’s Always Sunny” gang has been up to their hilariously deplorable actions for about two decades. But their first season is surprisingly timid compared to their later antics. The characters don’t go all in with their selfish habits just yet. As a result, the episodes aren't as daring and uninhibited with their comedy. The more anthological format doesn’t tie things together well either. And most importantly, the most gaping hole here is the absence of Danny DeVito’s Frank Reynolds. He sadly doesn’t come in blasting until season 2. While the first season sets a great platform for “It’s Always Sunny” to build on, it definitely isn’t the best showcase of the gang.
#9: “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2013-20)
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was the first live-action show set in the world of the MCU. Unfortunately, that potential strength turned into a weakness. The first season of the superhero show was bogged down by ties with the films. Although the show clearly wanted to expand the universe with original stories, it was forced to incorporate the events of the movies into its show. Ironically, everything vastly improved after “Winter Soldier” revealed HYDRA was inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. The devastating reveal caused the main characters, and by extension, the show to make big changes to the weekly formula. Thankfully, fans embraced the much improved program from season 2 onwards.
#8: “American Dad!” (2005-)
Every American Horror Story Season, Ranked from Worst to Best
Fans of the series associate “American Dad!” with its surreal approach to humor. But the debut season is mainly about gross-out comedy. Building on the success of “Family Guy,” “American Dad!” initially became more of the same. The first season has similar cutaway gags and cringe humor that leaves little to separate the two shows. It also sticks every character with a stereotypical personality. That flaw led to formulaic episodes where it’s easy to predict the jokes before they’re delivered. With just seven episodes in the season, the opening seems to be more experimental rather than a representation of the comedy that “American Dad!” excels at today.
#7: “Doctor Who” (1963-89; 2005-)
Rick Sanchez vs The Doctor
After over a decade in hiatus, the “Doctor Who” revival did a good job at reeling in new and old fans. The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler’s adventures brought viewers up to speed with the universe’s lore. However, it paled in comparison to following seasons that had more episodic arcs and running themes. The Ninth Doctor’s sole season feels sorely lacking in both areas. Additionally, it doesn’t really land on a proper tone either. It goes back and forth between comedy and seriousness almost at random. There’s quite a strange contrast between things like scary Daleks and farting aliens. Overall, the show’s revival is mainly a reintroduction to The Doctor that doesn’t have as much depth in terms of storytelling or character quality.
#6: “Legends of Tomorrow” (2016-22)
In the first episode of DC’s “Legends of Tomorrow”, heroes and villains from different Arrowverse shows were asked to join a team that would travel across time to stop a big bad. This sounded like a setup for a fun and wild ride through different time periods. However, the show’s first season goes for a melodramatic approach instead. All the ingredients for an engaging story are hidden under a mountain of filler episodes and forced conflicts within the group. It didn’t help that dull characters like Hawkgirl and Hawkman hogged the spotlight. Fortunately, the Legends got much more fun and goofier after this point. The tone becomes so much lighter that it’s hard to believe the first bunch of the episodes came from the same show.
#5: “Seinfeld” (1989-98)
Top 10 Times George Had the Worst Luck on Seinfeld
It’s hard to imagine “Seinfeld” ever struggling. But the “Show About Nothing” had a hard time when it started. Jerry isn’t very sarcastic, George isn’t a neurotic loser, Elaine isn’t really a part of the group, and Kramer knocks before entering Jerry’s apartment! The series became popular for putting quirky characters in hilariously mundane situations like waiting at a restaurant. Unfortunately, the first season sees Jerry as an everyman whose friends aren’t the wacky and eccentric people they eventually became. With jokes that are more awkward than funny, the season is saddled with genre cliches. Larry David’s creative “no hugging, no learning” approach from the second season finally elevated “Seinfeld'' to its now-legendary status.
#4: “The Simpsons” (1989-)
Top 10 Worst Final Seasons of TV Shows
When you think of “The Simpsons,” you think of an ensemble cast with distinct personalities and roles to play. But in the first season, it’s pretty much all about Bart and his various pranks. Although other family members appear in each episode, they’re just there to witness Bart’s latest antics. Homer, whom fans know as the bumbling but loving father, comes across more mean-spirited than anything else. Sure, it’s still funny, but its flaws are hard to overlook. The bigger problem is the animation. Most of the character models are clunky. On top of that, the sound quality just isn't as good. This animated sitcom luckily found its spark once the animation evolved and everyone received equal importance.
#3: “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-94)
Star Trek Actors: Where Are They Now?
“The Next Generation” lasted twice as long as the flagship series and arguably gained greater acclaim. However, Jean-Luc Picard and his crew weren’t at their best when the series began. The first season felt like a retread from stories Captain Kirk’s gang went through. This wasn't bad if you were unfamiliar with the original show. But for long-term fans, it was more of the same. Picard himself wasn’t the most sympathetic or likable in the first season. The addition of controversial episodes that haven’t aged well also killed most of its replay value. The second season picked up the slack by fleshing out the characters much better. That trend thankfully continued until the end of the show’s run.
#2: “The Office” (2005-13)
Top 30 Exact Moments That Killed TV Shows
This popular comic series definitely suffered from an identity crisis in its debut. The American version of “The Office” doesn’t stray too far from Ricky Gervais’s original. In a short time, it became clear that the goodwill of that program just wouldn’t be enough. While flashes of brilliance are present, the show wasn’t as riotously funny or quirky as it got. Additionally, Steve Carell’s Michael Scott gained criticism for being a lackluster representation of Gervais’s David Brent. Everything picked up in the sixth and last episode of the season when the actors were given control over their characters. However, that great outing wasn’t enough to make the first season at Dunder Mifflin into must-see-TV.
#1: “Parks and Recreation” (2009-15; 2020)
Top 10 Most Hilarious Parks and Recreation Moments
It’s easy to tell that this show was originally designed as an “Office” spin-off. Originally, the show leaned heavily on a mockumentary-style and really awkward comedy. But since it lacked the huge roster and relatively recognizable names “The Office'' had, it was a harder sell. Leslie Knope and her crew also came off as a bit flat. In the second season, a cast shuffle allowed for the addition of strong characters like Ben and Chris. Leslie also got more confident and much quirkier. But best of all, the show found a sweet balance between silly comedy and true sincerity. Fans should rewatch the first season only to notice the many improvements the show made to its “Parks and Rec” department.
