TV Show Bucket List
If you’re not sure what to watch on TV, this list breaks down the very worst and the very best TV shows ever. Using IMDB ratings, it's clear to see what people loved and why, as well as what people couldn’t wait to turn off.
1. For Better or Worse
This show had a shocking 4,288 episodes released since 2005, but despite that, it’s sat at a mediocre 1.3 stars on IMDB. It follows Peter, who comes to a tiny Budapest-agglomeration town and sets up a hospital after giving up his American career. Despite how great the hospital is, some people have a bone to pick with Peter.
Martha Dominguez de Gouveia on Unsplash
2. Fred: The Show
Fred was a YouTube personality that decided he could take his brand to TV. But he was very, very wrong. It follows his adventures as a 16-year-old boy as he befriends everything from ghosts to giant cookies. Yeah, weird.
3. Toddlers & Tiaras
This show may look innocent and adorable at first as it follows children making debuts at child beauty pageants. But it quickly becomes horrifying when you realize the extent the mothers go to and the toxicity of the pageant culture. That explains why this reality show only has 1.7 stars on IMDB.
4. My Super Sweet 16
This series was as if entitlement had a shot. It follows absolutely spoiled sixteen-year-olds as they host super lavish birthday parties on their parents’ dime. It gives a look into the terrible attitudes and toxicity of the younger wealthy generation.
5. Selena
This show has 104 episodes between 2006 and 2009 and achieved a 2.4-star rating on IMDB. It follows a non-human named Selena who befriends three talented little girls that are determined to protect her from someone named Hades.
6. A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Despite 177 episodes, this show also only achieved 1.5 stars. This is another case of a YouTube personality failing to translate to television. Lilly Singh tries to host the late-night talk show, but her humor just doesn’t hit with more general audiences, leaving everyone a little jaded.
7. Paris Hilton’s My New BFF
It’s clear to see why this show didn’t work, after all the sheer concept is wild. In this reality show, people from the public line up and audition to be Paris Hilton’s new BFF. Why can’t people just make friends the normal way anymore?
Roger Casas-Alatriste on Wikimedia
8. The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange
If you were on the internet in 2012, you probably saw the terrible pictures from this silly show. It follows an orange with a green screen face as he goes on adventures in the name of comedy.
9. Marvin Marvin
Receiving a 2.4 stars on IMDB, this short-lived show had only 19 episodes to date. It follows an alien boy who tries to make a home for himself on Earth, but the humor and acting just really didn’t appeal to anyone.
10. Swamp Mama
One of the fan favorites of Toddlers and Tiaras was the infamous Honey Boo Boo, and this reality show follows her and her dysfunctional family through their day-to-day lives. With a name as terrifying as Swamp Mama, it’s clear to see why this show only achieved 2.5 stars on IMDB.
Now that we have talked about the worst rated shows ever, here are 10 of the highest ranked TV shows to watch now!
1. Breaking Bad
If you’ve ever wanted undeniable proof that Breaking Bad is the best TV show ever, then here you go. With 9.5 stars at over 2 million ratings, this show holds the IMDB crown as it follows Walter White as he transforms from mild-mannered high school teacher to a kingpin.
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia
2. Planet Earth
With a resounding 9.4 stars, Planet Earth is a documentary that showcases Earth like you’ve never seen it before. Capturing footage of rare events and occurrences, this show is truly a marvelous sight you can never go wrong with.
3. Chernobyl
With 9.3 stars and almost a million raters, this mini-series only had five episodes but still managed to leave a major mark. It follows the actions of brave men and women as they try to mitigate damage after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffers an accident in 1986.
Oleksandra Bardash on Unsplash
4. Band of Brothers
With only 10 episodes and a 9.4 rating, this show follows the Easy Company, a U.S. Army division as they traverse fear in the name of duty. Interestingly, the show is based off of journals, letters, and interviews from survivors.
5. The Wire
With an impressive 9.3 stars, The Wire offers a deep dive into Baltimore’s narcotics scene. It follows enforcers and dealers and offers a complex view that the news and media fail to showcase.
6. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Don’t let the animation or Nickelodeon attachment fool you, this show has so much to offer adults. Set in a creative and original fantasy setting, it follows a group of kids living in a war-torn state as they uncover the Avatar, the person who was supposed to save them 100 years ago but was missing until this point.
7. The Sopranos
With a 9.2 stars, this 86-episode show offers a deep look into a crime family as they suffer the stress and pressure that comes with the territory. Exploring everything from family dynamics to high-stress situations.
8. Cosmos
With a 9.2 star, Cosmos is a miniseries that focuses on exploring and understanding the universe. Grappling with questions about space-time, galaxies, and the universe, this show offers an intrinsic look into our state of being.
9. Game of Thrones
In terms of sheer numbers, while Game of Thrones only got a 9.2 stars on IMDB, it was the most voted show with 2.4 million raters. Keep in mind that the highest rated show, Breaking Bad, only had 2.3 million voters. Regardless, Game of Thrones completely reinvented the fantasy genre by introducing bad guys that win, harsh realities, and questions about human morality itself.
10. Rick and Morty
With 9.1 stars to its name, Rick and Morty is certainly not a silly cartoon. While it comes across as that, it grapples with deep topics about self-worth and is jokingly considered a comedy show for smart people.
