With all the television out there these days — broadcast, cable, streaming — it’s nearly impossible to fill all that bandwidth with quality shows.
You get the feeling that many people really don’t even try, hoping their efforts will be lost in the shuffle of what seems like 56,898 shows available on all platforms and viewers with short attention spans.
But there’s so much room for errors writ large, and this past year did not disappoint in churning out its share of forgettable (and, in some cases, insulting) fare.
With so much to choose from, it wasn’t easy picking the Worst TV Shows of 2023, but herewith are our picks for the year’s more notable clunkers and stinkers.
And for the 10 best shows of 2023, go here.
“And Just Like That …” (Max)
Season 2 of the “Sex and the City” spinoff starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis continued to make the point that the “Sex and the City” franchise should have left well enough alone. Even John Corbett and Kim Cattrall’s brief returns couldn’t invigorate this world that’s become a pale parody of itself. Bringing back beloved old characters smacked of desperation, and Cattrall’s brief return felt like the show knows it. — Sarner
“Milf Manor” (TLC)
What else can you say about a reality show in which older women (or “MILFs” — look it up) look for love — with each other’s younger sons? OK, so maybe they didn’t know ahead of time about the “twist” in this putrid dating show, but still. Even TLC viewers slammed the show on the network’s TikTok videos as, among other choice adjectives, “vile, “gross,” “disgusting” and “disturbing.” We couldn’t have said it better. Back up the garbage truck. — Starr
“Velma” (Max)
File this one under “misguided attempts.” The adult animated mystery series, built around “Scooby Doo” character Velma Dinkley (Mindy Kaling), premiered to absolute derision, with fans and critics alike complaining about its violence, nudity and even its take on diversity. Heck, Velma was lambasted for being nasty and mean (and where’s Scooby Doo when you need him?). It’s been renewed for a second season — more fodder for the haters to chew on when it returns. — Starr
“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
The phrase “jumped the shark” originated from “Happy Days,” to describe when a show goes off the rails — but thanks to “The Morning Show,” that phrase should now be updated to “went to space.” In Season 3 of this drama about anchors on a fictional morning news program, Reese Witherspoon’s character randomly takes an intergalactic voyage. The show didn’t stop there, either — in another plotline, she’s involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection. These laughable arcs even forced Witherspoon and co-star Jennifer Aniston to address questions about whether the show is “camp.” — Sarner
“The Idol” (HBO)
This now-canceled train wreck of a show felt like it was made by a pair of teen boys who recently learned about sex, and were trying to shock audiences. Helmed by Sam Levinson (“Euphoria”) and starring Lily-Rose Depp and co-creator Abel Tesfaye (a k a The Weeknd), this series about a troubled pop star (Depp) and the sleazy night club owner/cult leader with whom she gets involved with (Tesfaye) was tasteless and artless. The problem wasn’t the amount of raunchy material on the show — other series such as “Bridgerton” and “Outlander” feature similar scenes. The problem was the trashy way this show executed it. “The Idol” didn’t seem to know what its own tone should be, jumping aimlessly from dark comedy to neo-noir. It also wasted a good supporting cast that included Hank Azaria, Eli Roth, Dan Levy and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. — Sarner
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