Why is it that some TV shows that are demonstrably bad seem to stick around for so long? We can’t explain it; all we can do is give a round of (ironic) applause to these shows that defied the odds and managed to stay on the air for much longer than anticipated, despite lukewarm to cool audience ratings.
The process of getting a TV show on the air – and having it stick around for more than a season or two – is an arduous one. First, the show needs to be pitched; then a pilot needs to be written, cast, and shot; then the series needs to get the green light. If all goes well, it’ll get a full season order, and if enough people watch it, a second season or more could be in the cards. (Even some shows that were highly regarded didn’t always have a long life. These are the best TV shows that were canceled after one season.)
But just because a show stays on the air for many seasons doesn’t mean that it’s actually any good. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that a show as laughably bad as “Walker, Texas Ranger” somehow ran for a full eight seasons, or that a Tyler Perry show called “The Haves and the Have Nots” also lasted eight seasons – one more than “The West Wing,” a TV show that’s up there among the top Emmy winners of all time.
To determine the worst TV shows that lasted the longest, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on user ratings and series length from IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon. TV shows with user ratings of 6.0/10 or below were ranked based on the number of seasons in the series. Only English-language TV shows with at least five seasons were considered. Reality shows, game shows, talk shows, and documentary shows were not considered. Cast information also came from IMDb.
Click here to see the worst TV shows that have lasted the longest
Some of these shows were products of their time, and simply don’t hold up to modern standards. Some were dross from the jump but somehow managed to attract a large fanbase. Some are treacly soap operas. But it’s widely agreed upon that none was (or is) especially good, no matter how long their lifespan.
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
25. Renegade
> Series run: 1992-1997
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 5,069
> Cast: Lorenzo Lamas, Branscombe Richmond, Don LaFontaine, Kathleen Kinmont
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Television
24. Silver Spoons
> Series run: 1982-1987
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 4,386
> Cast: Ricky Schroder, Erin Gray, Joel Higgins, Franklyn Seales
Source: Staff / Getty Images
23. Moesha
> Series run: 1996-2001
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,768
> Cast: Brandy Norwood, William Allen Young, Marcus T. Paulk, Lamont Bentley
Source: Courtesy of CBS
22. MacGyver
> Series run: 2016-2021
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 20,162
> Cast: Lucas Till, Tristin Mays, Justin Hires, Meredith Eaton
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Source: Courtesy of ABC Family
21. The Secret Life of the American Teenager
> Series run: 2008-2013
> IMDb user rating: 5.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 19,806
> Cast: Shailene Woodley, Molly Ringwald, India Eisley, Mark Derwin
Source: Courtesy of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
20. If Loving You Is Wrong
> Series run: 2014-2020
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,311
> Cast: Edwina Findley, Heather Hemmens, April Parker Jones, Aiden Turner
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Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
19. Webster
> Series run: 1983-1989
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10
> IMDb user votes: 2,893
> Cast: Emmanuel Lewis, Alex Karras, Susan Clark, Henry Polic II
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
18. Melrose Place
> Series run: 1992-1999
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10
> IMDb user votes: 11,833
> Cast: Heather Locklear, Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Thomas Calabro
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
17. See Dad Run
> Series run: 2012-2015
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,158
> Cast: Scott Baio, Alanna Ubach, Jackson Brundage, Ryan Whitney
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Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
16. Saved by the Bell: The New Class
> Series run: 1993-2000
> IMDb user rating: 3.8/10
> IMDb user votes: 2,040
> Cast: Dennis Haskins, Dustin Diamond, Samantha Esteban, Sarah Lancaster
Source: Courtesy of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
15. The Haves and the Have Nots
> Series run: 2013-2021
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,291
> Cast: Tika Sumpter, John Schneider, Crystal Fox, Angela Robinson
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Source: Courtesy of CBS
14. Walker, Texas Ranger
> Series run: 1993-2001
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10
> IMDb user votes: 16,386
> Cast: Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Sheree J. Wilson, Noble Willingham
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
13. Santa Barbara
> Series run: 1984-1993
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10
> IMDb user votes: 2,496
> Cast: A Martinez, Marcy Walker, Nancy Lee Grahn, Jed Allan
Source: Courtesy of The WB Television Network
12. 7th Heaven
> Series run: 1996-2007
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10
> IMDb user votes: 25,073
> Cast: Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, Jessica Biel, Beverley Mitchell
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Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
11. Baywatch
> Series run: 1989-2001
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10
> IMDb user votes: 26,819
> Cast: David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Jeremy Jackson
Source: Courtesy of TNT
10. Heartland
> Series run: 2007-0
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10
> IMDb user votes: 251
> Cast: Amber Marshall, Shaun Johnston, Michelle Morgan, Graham Wardle
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Source: Courtesy of Debmar-Mercury
9. House of Payne
> Series run: 2006-0
> IMDb user rating: 3.6/10
> IMDb user votes: 6,000
> Cast: LaVan Davis, Cassi Davis, Allen Payne, Lance Gross
Source: Courtesy of BBC One
8. Holby City
> Series run: 1999-2022
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10
> IMDb user votes: 1,978
> Cast: Hugh Quarshie, Rosie Marcel, Jaye Jacobs, Bob Barrett
Source: Courtesy of All3Media
7. Hollyoaks
> Series run: 1995-0
> IMDb user rating: 4.7/10
> IMDb user votes: 4,119
> Cast: Nick Pickard, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Kieron Richardson, Jennifer Metcalfe
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Source: Courtesy of CBS
6. The Bold and the Beautiful
> Series run: 1987-0
> IMDb user rating: 3.4/10
> IMDb user votes: 7,502
> Cast: Katherine Kelly Lang, Ronn Moss, Susan Flannery, John McCook
Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
5. Casualty
> Series run: 1986-0
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,073
> Cast: Derek Thompson, Tony Marshall, Suzanne Packer, Ian Bleasdale
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Source: Courtesy of BBC America
4. EastEnders
> Series run: 1985-present
> IMDb user rating: 4.7/10
> IMDb user votes: 8,137
> Cast: Adam Woodyatt, Steve McFadden, Pam St. Clement, Letitia Dean
Source: Courtesy of CBS
3. The Young and the Restless
> Series run: 1973-present
> IMDb user rating: 5.1/10
> IMDb user votes: 6,271
> Cast: Doug Davidson, Eric Braeden, Peter Bergman, Joshua Morrow
Source: Chris Jackson / Getty Images
2. Emmerdale (Emmerdale Farm until 1989)
> Series run: 1972-present
> IMDb user rating: 4.8/10
> IMDb user votes: 3,211
> Cast: Christopher Chittell, Lucy Pargeter, Mark Charnock, Steve Halliwell
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Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Television
1. Days of Our Lives
> Series run: 1965-present
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10
> IMDb user votes: 6,612
> Cast: Deidre Hall, Frances Reid, John Clarke, Kristian Alfonso
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