Sitcoms are a tried and tested television formula that has provided us with some of the best loved shows of all time. Making people laugh is certainly no easy feat, so we bow to the writing and acting skills of those behind the popular sitcoms that continue to leave us in hysterics. But despite Webster defining a sitcom as "a television series that involves a continuing cast of characters in a succession of comedic circumstances," a number of so-called sitcoms relinquish comedy altogether, albeit unintentionally.
Sometimes a sitcom premise falls flat and simply cannot deliver the laughs. Often this is not due to the abilities of its actors, but rather poor writing, a tired premise, or lack of originality (and occasionally all three). These are the worst sitcoms of all time, ranked in order of how terrible IMDb deems them to be.
10 'We Are Men' - 5.6
After returning to acting in 2011, former Obama associate Kal Penn made some questionable career choices. Despite being known for his hilarious turn alongside John Cho in the Harold & Kumar movies, he ended up in this poorly received sitcom that centers on a bunch of bros renting a complex together.
9 'Are We There Yet?' - 5.5
Based on the similarly panned, albeit high grossing, movie, Are We There Yet? stars the usually reliable Terry Crews in lieu of Ice Cube. But Crews' comedic talents aren't enough to save this series, which stretches its thin premise to extremes.
The New York Times wrote, "The creators of "Are We There Yet?" might think they are signalling some kind of retro progress. But trust me, wherever it is headed is somewhere you don't want to go."
8 'Hope & Faith' - 5.5
Hope & Faith is a 2000s sitcom starring Kelly Ripa and Faith Ford. Despite mostly receiving negative reviews, it managed to hang around for a whole 3 seasons before being canceled.
Ford plays Hope, a content mom whose equilibrium is rocked by the arrival of her famous sister, Faith, played by Ripa. It holds a rating of 5.5 on IMDb and just 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7 'I Hate My Teenage Daughter' - 5.3
This unpleasantly-titled, short-lived sitcom stars Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran as moms who grow to resent their spoiled teenage daughters when they realize that their kids are turning into the types of girls who used to bully them in high school.
One critic described it as "a complete failure, void of any humor, morality, or point." Ratings were so bad that Fox had no option put to pull it from the schedule.
6 'Are You There, Chelsea?' - 5.0
Chelsea Handler may have an incredible $35 million net worth, but this sitcom based on her life certainly didn't contribute to it. Laura Prepon plays a fictionalized version of Chelsea, who is struggling to get her life together after a series of mishaps.
USA Today panned the show, writing, "Vulgarity and lack of taste aren't the issues here as much as a deadening single-mindedness." It was canceled after just one season.
5 'Kath & Kim' - 4.9
No, not the much loved Aussie show, but rather the disastrous US remake starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. A large part of Kath & Kim's charm was its quintessentially Australian humor that was unlike anything US audiences had seen before. Subsequently, the remake has been described as both a "nightmare" and a "travesty" that disrespects the quirky original.
4 'How To Be A Gentleman' - 4.7
David Hornsby is best known and loved for his role on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Rickety Cricket, a former priest who finds himself in a perpetual downward spiral thanks to the gang. But his foray into sitcom leading man was less than successful.
How to Be a Gentleman stars Hornsby and Kevin Dillon as mismatched friends and was disastrously received. Processed Media branded it a "relentless pile of stereotypical male reactions, an Odd Couple plot, and 22 minutes of pointless, conventional drivel." Ouch.
3 'That '80s Show' - 4.8
Another sitcom that gives leading man status to an Always Sunny cast member, That '80s Show stars Glenn Howerton as a struggling musician. While That '70s Show was extremely popular and launched the careers of many A-listers, including Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, its '80s-set companion received negative reviews. Surprisingly, it was not actually a direct spinoff of That '70s Show and capitalized on its success more than anything.
2 'Cavemen' - 4.3
Nick Kroll may be experiencing a wealth of fame and fortune now, thanks to the popularity of Big Mouth, but back in 2007 he appeared in this failed sitcom. The show centers on a group of cavemen in modern day San Diego, a premise that wears thin pretty quickly.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "Cavemen is itself an embarrassment because it's not funny. At all."
1 'Mulaney' - 4.3
While John Mulaney was one of SNL's most reliable performers, his eponymous sitcom is rated the worst of all time according to IMDb. Mulaney plays himself and the show focuses on his early days as a struggling comedian. TV Guide branded it a "dreadful, embarrassing misfire", while Newsday called out Mulaney's acting ability, describing him as "the blandest star ever."