Lowest-rated TV show released the year you were born

Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions Maybe you know what television shows aired the year you were born. But do you know what kind of show it would need to be to snag the bottom of the ranks? Maybe it’s subpar acting, unbelievable plotlines, amateur production value, horrible writing, sensationalism, or perhaps it’s new concepts audiences are not yet ready for at the time. Ratings are a mysterious game, as this list will show. Stacker analyzed IMDb data on English-language TV shows and ranked the lowest-rated for each year. To qualify, the show had to have an IMDb user rating and a premiere date in the year given. For shows before 1990, a minimum threshold of 250 votes was used. For shows past 1990, the minimum vote threshold was 1,000. Data were included from IMDb from 1951 up through Jan. 23, 2022. No genre was spared, from television talk shows to animated series, this list includes a reality television empire based around the antics of a celebrity Hollywood family, an early sci-fi anthology, a silly sitcom about a talking car, and a British soap opera (or several!). Some shows aired for one season, while others remained on TV for decades. Many started off on the right foot and derailed somewhere along the way; others had a rocky start and improved, becoming cultural forces whose legacy is still tangible today. Keep reading to see which of your favorite shows (or the shows you loved to hate) made the top slot for one of the last 72 years. You may also like: Major TV debuts from the year you were born 1951: Tales of Tomorrow George F. Foley Productions – IMDB user rating: 7.1 – Votes: 385 Referred to as “the granddaddy of all the television science fiction” by “The Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling, “Tales of Tomorrow” was among the first science fiction anthology series. Famous for its adaptations of classic sci-fi stories like “Frankenstein,” the show evolved from the collaboration of science fiction greats, including Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury. 1952: Today NBC News – IMDB user rating: 4.6 – Votes: 2,250 “Today, Jan. 14, 1952. 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.” These words marked the beginnings of morning television in the United States, and the “Today” show included interviews, news, weather reports, and human interest stories. Initially, viewers were a bit taken aback by the idea of watching television in the morning during the time reserved for eating breakfast and preparing for the day, though it appears Americans have adjusted. 1953: ABC World News Tonight ABC News – IMDB user rating: 5.8 – Votes: 362 This long-running network evening news program has had several anchors and many different titles since its debut. Despite the dwindling power of the three big networks due to the rise of cable in the 2000s, ABC News continues to offer coverage of top events nationally and globally, now anchored by David Muir. 1954: The Secret Storm CBS – IMDB user rating: 5.2 – Votes: 261 This soap opera ran for 20 years and followed the life and misfortunes of the unlucky Ames family. Eventually, the series was canceled by CBS and replaced by the celebrity game show “Tattletales.” 1955: This Is Your Life Thames Television International – IMDB user rating: 6.6 – Votes: 277 “This Is Your Life” was a British documentary series inspired by the American series of the same name. The show followed the host, often in disguise, as he surprised celebrities and regular people with details about their lives. They would then sit down in the studio where the subject was treated to guest appearances by various people from their lives. The show ran for 43 seasons. You may also like: When 20 popular shows jumped the shark 1956: As the World Turns Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) – IMDB user rating: 6.2 – Votes: 2,132 Soap operas were a popular form of entertainment in the 1950s when “As the World Turns” premiered. The show was created by Irna Phillips (who also created “Another World” and “Guiding Light”) and focused on two families in the fictional town of Oakdale, somewhere in the Midwest. Like many soap operas, the plotlines were often less than believable, and in the show’s later years, many fans lost interest, saying the show’s quality suffered. 1957: The Thin Man Clarington Productions – IMDB user rating: 7.1 – Votes: 260 This short-lived mystery series was based on the Dashiell Hammett novel of the same name, originally published in Redbook magazine in December 1933. It featured an ex-private detective and his wife, who together solve mysteries and get dragged into various hijinks. “The Thin Man” was the first television show produced by the iconic Hollywood production company MGM. 1958: Blue Peter British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – IMDB user rating: 6.5 – Votes: 564 “Blue Peter” is the longest-running children’s show in the world. The British series is considered by many to be far more than a television show. Throughout the past several years though, many viewers and critics feel the once-popular show has lost its luster. 1959: Clutch Cargo Cambria Studios Productions – IMDB user rating: 5.5 – Votes: 256 “Clutch Cargo” is an animated series that follows an adventurer, his sidekick, and his dog as they travel the world. In animation history, the show is remembered for pioneering the Syncro-Vox animation technique, in which actors’ lips were superimposed on the animated character drawings to simulate talking and movement on a budget. While innovative, the effect of the animation was uncanny and unconvincing–even for the time. 1960: Coronation Street Granada Television – IMDB user rating: 5.6 – Votes: 5,613 According to “The Guinness Book of World Records,” this British show is the longest-running television soap opera. It tells the story of a group of working-class people living in Manchester, England. The show was only supposed to air for 13 weeks but has since well exceeded expectations. You may also like: 50 best Netflix original series 1961: The Joey Bishop Show Bellmar Enterprises – IMDB user rating: 6.5 – Votes: 336 “The Joey Bishop Show” starred Joey Bishop as Joey Barnes, a TV talk show host in New York City. Some fans felt the humor fell flat and the show, a spinoff of “The Danny Thomas Show,” shifted networks going from being aired in color on NBC to black and white on CBS. In the early 1960s, the airwaves were saturated with similar sitcoms. 1962: Wally Gator Hanna-Barbera Productions – IMDB user rating: 6.3 – Votes: 664 This Hanna-Barbera show featured the adventures of an animated alligator. Though many people enjoyed Hanna-Barbera cartoons in the 1960s, Wally featured very similar plots from one episode to the next and was never one of the most popular cartoons from the collection. 1963: General Hospital Cinema Vehicles – IMDB user rating: 6.5 – Votes: 5,121 Still in production today, “General Hospital” holds a Guinness World Record for being one of the longest-running soap operas in history–in 2022, the show’s 15,000th episode aired. 1964: Crossroads Associated Television (ATV) – IMDB user rating: 4.1 – Votes: 366 This British soap opera focused on a motel owner, her staff, and her children. While it aired until 1988, the budget remained slender throughout the length of the show and affected how many episodes ran each week. 1965: My Mother the Car Cottage Industries Inc. – IMDB user rating: 4.6 – Votes: 712 A man’s mother is reincarnated as a 1928 Porter automobile and hilarity ensues–or so that’s what NBC hoped would happen with “My Mother the Car.” Instead, the show starring Jerry Van Dyke ran for just one season and 30 episodes before being canceled. Apparently, the idea of a man’s dead mother speaking to him through a car radio was too much for audiences. You may also like: 50 famous firsts from TV history 1966: The 700 Club Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) – IMDB user rating: 1.7 – Votes: 952 This Christian talk show starred Pat Robertson and aired on his own Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Terry Heaton, a longtime producer for CBN, wrote a book about his relationship with Robertson, the network, and “The 700 Club.” In an interview with Vox, Heaton said, “I just want to get it on the record that I participated in something that has turned out to be pretty bad.” The show remains on the air, though Robertson is often mired in controversy, most recently for his relationship with Donald Trump. 1967: Donahue WBBM – IMDB user rating: 6.3 – Votes: 383 Phil Donahue changed daytime talk shows with “Donahue” in 1967 by allowing and encouraging audience participation, and his show was unlike anything on television at the time. Donahue was not afraid of controversial topics, which may have alienated some viewers. Many also blamed the talk show host for the rise of so-called trashy TV. 1968: Mayberry R.F.D. RFD Productions – IMDB user rating: 5.9 – Votes: 736 “Mayberry R.F.D.” brought viewers back to Mayberry when “The Andy Griffith Show” went off the air after eight seasons. It also focused on a local widowed father taking care of his young son and even featured the beloved Aunt Bee as their housekeeper. Many fans found the spinoff a poor replacement and thought it paled in comparison to the original. 1969: The Bill Cosby Show Bill Cosby – IMDB user rating: 6.2 – Votes: 922 This comedy focused on the life and times of Chet Kincaid (Bill Cosby), who lives with his mother, sister-in-law, and brother while teaching gym at an inner-city Los Angeles high school. The show broke ground for African Americans, serving as one of the first sitcoms featuring a stand-up comedian, and topped Nielsen ratings for five of its eight seasons. Despite the cultural impact of the show, it’s still difficult to stream it because of the controversy around star Bill Cosby. 1970: NBC Nightly News NBC News – IMDB user rating: 5.9 – Votes: 621 Called “NBC Nightly News” when it first aired, the show started out as the “Camel Newsreel Theatre” and began in 1948 as an unhosted 10-minute filmed report. Since then, it has been anchored by now-household names like David Brinkley, Tom Brokaw, and Brian Williams. In 2015, then-weekend anchor Lester Holt replaced anchor Brian Williams. While the show has been on for several decades, conservative viewers often feel the show leans too far left. You may also like: 15 famous fictional bars from TV history 1971: A Current Affair Nine Network Australia – IMDB user rating: 2.0 – Votes: 363 This Australian show focuses on current affairs and remains on the air, though many former fans wonder why. The once-serious journalistic news show now fills its 30 minutes with tabloid fodder like diet fads and celebrity news. 1972: Emmerdale Farm EMG Management – IMDB user rating: 4.8 – Votes: 3,301 This British soap opera follows the lives of the residents of a fictional village in England’s Yorkshire Dales. Though the show is popular and has been on the air for decades, like many soap operas, it often suffers from bad acting and foolish plotlines. Many fans were also upset when the name of the show changed to “Emmerdale” in 1989. 1973: The Young and the Restless Sony Pictures Television – IMDB user rating: 5.2 – Votes: 6,398 This long-running American soap opera was recently renewed through 2024. It follows the Abbott and Newman families in the fictional Genoa City. Though it will remain on television, many fans are fed up with the same recycled storylines, the diminished quality of the show, and the continuously outrageous plots. 1974: Get Christie Love! Wolper Productions – IMDB user rating: 6.3 – Votes: 305 This police drama centered on a Black woman detective, Christie Love, as she went undercover to solve crimes. Originally based on the novel “The Ledger,” “Get Christie Love!” only ran for one season, as the star, Teresa Graves, became a Jehovah’s Witness and left Hollywood shortly after to focus on religion. 1975: Good Morning America American Broadcasting Company (ABC) – 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. You may also like: 100 best TV episodes of all time 1976: The Brady Bunch Variety Hour Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions – 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. 1977: The Love Boat Aaron Spelling Productions – 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. 1978: The Fantastic Four Marvel Productions – 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.” 1979: Mrs. Columbo Gambit Productions – 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. 1980: Beyond Westworld MGM Television – 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. You may also like: 100 worst TV shows of all time 1981: Entertainment Tonight CBS Paramount Domestic Television – 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. 1982: Today NBC News – 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.” 1983: Sally Jessy Raphael Universal Television – 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. 1984: The Master Michael Sloan Productions – 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. 1985: EastEnders British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – 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. You may also like: 100 best sitcoms of all time 1986: The Oprah Winfrey Show HBO Films – 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. 1987: The Bold and the Beautiful Bell-Phillip Television Productions – 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. 1988: Garbage Pail Kids CBS Entertainment Production – 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. 1989: Fair City Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) – 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. 1990: You’ve Been Framed!