TV Guide trashes 'Springer'

Jul 14, 2002

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Worse than "Hee Haw Honeys." More trashy than "Celebrity Boxing." Even more painful than the "XFL."

TV Guide's editors have put "The Jerry Springer Show" atop their list of the 50 worst television shows of all time.

"Awful television shows are a storied part of our society," TV Guide editor-in-chief Steven Reddicliffe said Friday. "Some of them actually are very successful and are great guilty pleasures. And no one has turned guilty-pleasure TV into more of an art form than Jerry Springer."

The list is in the magazine's July 20 issue, on newsstands tomorrow. It comes two months after TV Guide ranked "Seinfeld" No. 1 on a list of the best shows.

Springer's syndicated, "trash TV" talk show that capitalizes on the cheating, sleazy, sordid behavior of its guests has aired since 1991.

Richard Dominick, executive producer of "Springer," took the dubious honor in the spirit with which it was intended.

"After 12 years of broadcasting, and having never been recognized by the academy, we are thrilled to accept this prestigious award from TV Guide. And I'd like to thank my mother," he said.

Second was NBC's "My Mother The Car," followed by NBC, UPN and TNN's "XFL"; ABC's "The Brady Bunch Hour"; and CBS' "Hogan's Heroes."

Some choices, such as the World War II POW comedy "Hogan's Heroes" and Sally Field's "The Flying Nun" (42nd), may offend the nostalgic sensibilities of older viewers who fondly recall those shows.

TV at its worst?

A list of the worst 50 television shows in history, according to TV Guide:

1. The Jerry Springer Show (syndicated, 1991-present)

2. My Mother The Car (NBC, 1965-66)

3. XFL (NBC, UPN and TNN, 2001)

4. The Brady Bunch Hour (ABC, 1977)

5. Hogan's Heroes (CBS, 1965-71)

6. Celebrity Boxing (Fox, 2002-present)

7. AfterMASH (CBS, 1983-84)

8. Cop Rock (ABC, 1990)

9. You're in the Picture (CBS, 1961)

10. Hee Haw Honeys (syndicated, 1978-79)

11. The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer (UPN, 1998)

12. Hello Larry (NBC, 1979-80)

13. Twenty-One (NBC, 1956-58)

14. Baby Bob (CBS, 2002-present)

15. Manimal (NBC, 1983)

16. The Chevy Chase Show (Fox, 1993)

17. Casablanca (NBC, 1983)

18. The Ugliest Girl in Town (ABC, 1968-69)

19. The P.T.L. Club (syndicated, 1976-87)

20. The Pruitts of Southampton (ABC, 1966-67)

21. Baywatch (NBC and syndicated, 1989-2001)

22. The Powers of Matthew Star (NBC, 1982-83)

23. Sammy and Company (syndicated, 1975-77)

24. One of the Boys (NBC, 1982)

25. Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (Fox, 2000)

26. Life with Lucy (ABC, 1986)

27. Turn-On (ABC, 1969)

28. Supertrain (NBC, 1979)

29. Howard Stern (E!, 1994-present)

30. Unhappily Ever After (WB, 1995-99)

31. Homeboys in Outer Space (UPN, 1996-97)

32. Co-Ed Fever (CBS, 1979)

33. Holmes & Yoyo (ABC, 1976)

34. Alexander the Great (ABC, 1968)

35. Pink Lady ... and Jeff (NBC, 1980)

36. The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (NBC, 1979-81)

37. Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (ABC, 1975-76)

38. Hell Town (NBC, 1985)

39. Still the Beaver (Disney Channel, 1985-86)

40. Makin' It (ABC, 1979)

41. The Tom Green Show (MTV, 1999-2000)

42. The Flying Nun (ABC, 1967-70)

43. Woops! (Fox, 1992)

44. She's the Sheriff (syndicated, 1987-89)

45. A.K.A. Pablo (ABC, 1984)

46. Me and the Chimp (CBS, 1972)

47. Rango (ABC, 1967)

48. Bless this House (CBS, 1995-96)

49. The Ropers (ABC, 1979-80)

50. Barney & Friends (PBS, 1992-present)

— The Associated Press