Many of the most popular TV shows ever aren’t actually as amazing as people say. It’s rare for a show to really capture the public’s attention, and most quickly become forgotten. But occasionally, a series comes along that everyone is talking about. Sometimes, though, shows continue to receive praise long after their quality has declined.
Even if a TV show is considered overrated, it’s not necessarily bad. Popularity and how well a show is received play a big role in judging its quality, and everything on this list did well in those areas. An overrated show just emphasizes its strengths, sometimes masking its flaws, which can lead people to call it a masterpiece despite its imperfections.
Glee
From its debut in 2009 to its finale in 2015, Glee was incredibly popular with teenagers and young adults. The show, which featured musical performances by its characters, delivered exactly what viewers expected. The song covers were often amazing, and the cast was undeniably talented.
The TV show Glee started to feel stale because it didn’t have many fresh ideas after a while. While the storylines became increasingly outlandish, the show stayed popular thanks to its consistently good musical performances.
The Big Bang Theory
CBS via MovieStillsDB
From 2007 to 2019, The Big Bang Theory was a huge success, breaking records for how many people watched, its production costs, and the famous actors who appeared on the show. What’s really interesting is that the show appealed to a surprisingly broad audience, attracting viewers of all ages.
One reason The Big Bang Theory became so popular was its unique premise. Unlike Friends, which featured a group of conventionally attractive and charming friends, this show focused on brilliant but socially awkward characters. However, the show eventually lost its spark. The storylines became predictable, and the same jokes about being nerdy or different were used over and over again.
American Idol
As a critic, I have to admit American Idol really changed the television landscape. It basically kicked off the whole reality singing competition craze, and it’s still the one people think of first. Beyond just being popular, the show actually launched some legitimately successful artists, solidifying its place in TV history. For a long time, it was a ratings juggernaut – one of the most-watched shows on American television, year after year.
Even with its success, American Idol isn’t really high-quality TV. In the beginning, the show often made fun of the people auditioning, and it still prioritizes personal stories over actual singing ability.
Family Guy
I’ve always been a huge fan of Family Guy, and it’s amazing to see how much of a lasting impact it’s had. Seth MacFarlane really created something special – a show that can be outrageously funny while also surprisingly hitting on some really important points about the world around us. It’s a brilliant combination!
Like many adult animated comedies, Family Guy often pushes for shock value when it’s not needed. While the show’s popularity has decreased over time, it’s not because the quality has changed—it’s still the same show. Without the initial surprise factor, though, it just doesn’t land as well anymore.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld was a groundbreaking sitcom that truly changed TV comedy, and its impact is undeniable. Its unique brand of humor, which often focused on everyday life and had a slightly cynical edge, was fresh and innovative for the 1990s. It’s a testament to the show’s quality that Seinfeld is one of the very few multi-season sitcoms to achieve a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Looking past the fondness we have for Seinfeld, it’s not as clear why the show was so popular. Much of its success came from the actors’ comedic timing and physical humor, meaning the writing didn’t need to be particularly brilliant. In fact, many sitcoms since then have been funnier.
This Is Us
The TV show This Is Us immediately stood out with its interesting storyline. The first season skillfully jumped between different time periods, keeping us guessing while gradually revealing important information about what would happen to the characters. It was truly addictive and hard to turn off.
Like many shows, This is Us relied on its good qualities to distract from its weaknesses. While the show maintained its distinctive storytelling style until the very end, the emotional impact had faded. Despite this, it continued to use music and powerful speeches to try and make viewers feel like they were watching something truly important.
Young Sheldon
CBS (via MoviesStillsDb)
It’s notable that the first spin-off from The Big Bang Theory took a completely different direction. While Young Sheldon is still a comedy, it’s much more focused on dramatic storylines and unfolds over a continuous narrative, unlike the traditional, laugh-track-filled style of The Big Bang Theory. This change in approach appears to be a key reason why Young Sheldon has become one of the few successful spin-offs of a sitcom.
Despite its popularity, Young Sheldon heavily relied on the success of The Big Bang Theory. The show often repeated the same jokes, focusing on the frustration of those around Sheldon, just like its predecessor. Plus, the constant changes to Sheldon’s backstory mean Young Sheldon might not be as good as its ratings indicate.
Squid Game
Netflix
When the first season of Squid Game premiered on Netflix, it quickly became a global phenomenon. The show’s unique combination of innocent childhood games and life-or-death stakes was incredibly captivating, and its thought-provoking look at society made the initial buzz completely justified.
Look, I was totally hooked on Squid Game at first. But honestly, things started to fall apart with the later seasons. Season 2 brought in this really interesting new social issue, but they stretched it out for way too long – all the way through season 3! It just lost its punch. It felt like they were more interested in how shocking the games could be than in telling a good story. It deserved the buzz initially, but all that over-the-top violence ended up making it feel a bit overrated, you know?
Lost
Lost was a hugely popular show that everyone discussed for several years. Airing from 2004 to 2010, it captivated audiences with a complex web of mysteries, leading viewers to expect a big reveal. For a long time, it seemed like all the build-up would definitely be worth it.
Ultimately, Lost didn’t live up to expectations. While the show was known for its complex plot, the ending felt rushed and didn’t quite make sense, suggesting that earlier seasons weren’t as carefully planned as viewers thought.
Friends
MovieStilsDB
I absolutely loved watching Friends, and it’s easy to see why it became such a massive hit! Not only did tons of people tune in every week, but the main actors were earning salaries that were completely unprecedented for television back then. It really was a show that took over the culture – a true phenomenon, as far as I’m concerned.
David Crane and Marta Kauffman’s biggest achievement with Friends was undoubtedly the cast they assembled. The actors truly made the show, and their performances were so strong that even if some storylines or jokes weren’t perfect, it didn’t matter. It’s a perfect example of how one incredibly successful aspect of a show can overshadow its weaknesses.
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2025-11-10 04:10