Top 10 Worst Sitcoms EVER
We can see the situation, but where's the comedy? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Worst Sitcoms of All Time.
For this list, we'll be trudging through the situation comedies panned by many due to suffering from unrelatable characters, uninteresting/distasteful situations, or jokes that aren't worthy of the laugh track. We'll only be covering the live-action comedies, so animated sitcoms are ruled out.
#10: “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” (2011-12)
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Kicking off our list is both a bad sitcom, and a lesson about parenting. Single mothers Nikki and Annie have inadvertently turned their teenage daughters into their worst nightmare – a pair of spoiled, popular monsters. A domestic satire like this sounds good on paper… but ultimately flops in execution. The characters are unbelievable and unsympathetic – even the ones we’re SUPPOSED to sympathize with, and it’s difficult to truly get invested in ANY of them. The writing is completely toothless, with the premise feeling more like a setup for feeble punch lines. Fortunately, plummeting ratings finally ended the show, and we all learn a valuable lesson – DON’T be Annie or Nikki, and discipline your children.
#9: “Homeboys in Outer Space” (1996-97)
A sci-fi parody sitcom CAN be hilarious if done right… if only UPN knew that when they greenlit this. Flex and Darryl Bell star as the fun-loving Tyberius and the straight-laced Morris – two 23rd century astronauts traveling through the cosmos in their winged car. The series boasts some memorable guest star appearances, but not so much humor – mostly relying on rather forced sci-fi references and racial stereotyping. Following a long line of low ratings and criticism – including protests from the NAACP – the show was cancelled and rightfully forgotten in the black void of space.
#8: “Marvin Marvin” (2012-13)
Since a sitcom for YouTube veteran Lucas Cruikshank didn’t work the first time, Nickelodeon decided to try again. This time, they tried their hand at a “Mork & Mindy” rip-off where Lucas plays Marvin – an alien taken in by a human family and trying to fit in disguised as a teenager… except he makes Invader Zim look more subtle. There’s probably a deeper meaning of how you shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself… but said moral, along with the supporting cast, are drowned out by Marvin’s quirky overacting and heavy reliance on gross-out humor. Thankfully, both the series and Lucas’ time at the network had run out, burying this mess for good.
#7: “Mulaney” (2014-15)
It’s not uncommon for standup comedians to land their own sitcoms as fictional versions of themselves. While some thrive like “Seinfeld,” others like “Mulaney”… not so much. To better explain, comedian John Mulaney portrays himself being hired to work for a comic legend while trying to make time for his roommates – a wound-up trainer and a fellow standup comic. What ultimately dooms this sitcom is how dated it all feels – it follows a similar formula to other 90s sitcoms and comes off as a “Seinfeld” rip-off. With nothing new to offer, you’d be better off like Motif and binge-watching “Friends” instead of one episode of this mediocre program.
#6: “Dog with a Blog” (2012-15)
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In recent years, Disney’s had a reputation for producing horrible teen/tween sitcoms - and this is just one example. This blight of a series follows three step-siblings adjusting to life as a new family, and living with a talking dog named Stan, who runs his own blog… because, of course he can. While there is a heartwarming feeling with the dog bringing the family closer together, the sentiments feel cheesier than intended – especially when mixed with the hokey acting, unimaginative writing, annoying characters, and generous amount of clichéd jokes. As you probably guessed it, Disney screwed the pooch with this show – pun intended, but at least it was given a fitting ending.
#5: “2 Broke Girls” (2011-17)
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Have you ever wondered how something so promising could go so wrong? Well, you won’t keep wondering for long once you’ve watched “2 Broke Girls.” As the title suggests, the series follows two women from different backgrounds – one from a working-class family and the other from a defamed rich family - working together as waitresses to help finance their dream job. Unfortunately, any potential the series had was quickly swept away in the final product – all thanks to a combination of lame and obvious jokes, rather tasteless racist stereotypes, and a heavy reliance on sexual humor. After a six-year run, CBS finally put it to rest, and television feels much richer without it.
#4: “Joey” (2004-06)
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There’s a lesson to be learned about giving a beloved TV character their own spin-off – make sure they can pull off the leading man. After the finale of “Friends,” our favorite dim-witted ladies’ man, Joey Tribbiani, moved on to Los Angeles to focus on his acting career. Longtime “Friends” fans loved Joey and his chemistry with the rest of the gang, but now he’s on his own and down-on-his-luck - making the experience feel empty. While the premiere had successful ratings, it was all downhill from there – and trying to compete with “American Idol” didn’t help either. The series concluded after two seasons, but Matt LeBlanc’s not out of the sitcom game yet.
#3: “Heil Honey I'm Home!” (1990)
Britain has boasted its fair share of vulgar comedies… but this was just in poor taste. The premise for this disaster is basically “The Honeymooners” meets the Third Reich – Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun as a typical sitcom couple with dull Jewish neighbors. Obviously a controversial topic, the series was designed as a spoof of the idea that anything and everything could be a sitcom… even having the GERMAN characters speak with Brooklyn accents. Even with corny jokes and clichéd sitcom characters, you can’t just overlook HITLER being the protagonist. Thus, the series was pulled after one pilot episode. It’s for the best anyway, as there are far better ways to parody the Nazi leader.
#2: “Fred: The Show” (2012)
Be careful of what you adapt to TV from the Internet. It could be something great and hilarious… or it could be “Fred: The Show.” That’s right, someone over at Nickelodeon greenlit three TV movies and a sitcom for Lucas Cruikshank’s character/YouTube “sensation,” Fred Figglehorn. Not unlike the web videos, the series follows Fred’s misadventures while he talks to us… and SHRIEKS at us. His annoying behavior and aggravating voice wore thin on critics’ nerves, and ratings plummeted until “Fred” was finally put to rest after one season. Thankfully, after this and “Marvin Marvin,” Lucas cut ties with Nickelodeon and retired the Fred character… and we couldn’t be happier. Before we unveil the worst of the worst, here are a few dishonorable mentions. “That '80s Show” (2002) “Harry and the Hendersons” (1991-93) “Work It” (2012-13)
#1: “My Mother the Car” (1965-66)
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We’ve labeled this the worst show of all time, and its reputation lives on as the worst sitcom. The series follows attorney David Crabtree as he buys a 1928 Porter… that ends up being the reincarnation of his departed mother. For the rest of the series, David tries to protect his mother from a shifty car collector fresh out of a silent film. There have been plenty of gimmick-y sitcoms over the years, but this one takes the cake – the concept is ridiculous, the characters are unrelatable… and the whole thing didn’t stand a chance with the critics. Luckily, the crew moved onto more acclaimed projects, but it’s hard to forget something this unreal.
