Summary
- Many critically acclaimed TV shows have had disappointing first seasons, but they were able to find their footing and become beloved hits.
- First seasons of TV shows face unique challenges, such as exploring character development and finding the right tone, which can lead to sub-par episodes.
- Shows like Parks & Recreation, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and M*A*S*H* improved significantly after their lackluster first seasons, proving that initial failures don't always indicate long-term potential.
A surprising amount of critically acclaimed hit TV shows have churned out disappointing first seasons. If some of the most iconic TV series have taught audiences anything, it's to never judge a show based on its first season alone. Whether it's that the series didn't manage to find its footing, went through casting changes, or just hadn't hit its stride, there are a variety of reasons that some of the most well-known TV shows experienced sub-par — or even flat-out bad — first seasons. A bad first season can sometimes be a death knell for a fledgling series, as evidenced by a number of TV shows that didn't deserve cancelation.
However, some shows were given a second chance after their first-season slump, and many of these series went on to be audience-beloved hits. There's no question that a premiere season of a new TV show holds challenges that progressive installments do not. The cast is exploring their characters for the first time, writers are still mapping out the show's trajectory, and the rest of the production crew is experimenting with how the world around the characters looks and operates. In later years, audience participation and input have become crucial to shaping a series, but that wasn't always the case, leading to some truly terrible first seasons.
10 Parks & Recreation (2009 - 2015)
Parks and Recreation season 1 is noticeably different from the rest of the series. Its biggest issue was that Parks & Rec was slated to be a spinoff of The Office, but this idea was scrapped. Nevertheless, it rushed into production and was marred by its comparisons to The Office. Protagonist Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) was originally much more intense, so much so that her antics grated on audiences, and she was accused of being unintelligent. Thankfully, writers took criticisms in stride and made changes to Leslie's character, and the series as a whole, differentiating itself from The Office with its own unique brand of comedy and becoming a hit.
9 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994)
Out of every season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 1 ranks the lowest. Part of the first installment's failure could be due to the sheer amount of anticipation the show garnered prior to its debut. The original series finished its run in 1969, therefore, expectations were high, but audiences were sorely disappointed. The cast didn't have the same chemistry as in later seasons, the missions seemed relatively small in scope, and the show hadn't quite found its true message yet. As TNG went on it became famous for tackling complex ethical dilemmas and the characters became beloved, but that's not apparent based on the first season alone.
8 M*A*S*H* (1972 - 1983)
It's hard to believe that a series that garnered over 100 Emmy nominations could suffer from a first-season slump, but the widely regarded "best TV show of all time" didn't start off with a bang. M*A*S*H* season 1 suffered from a litany of issues, namely the careless instances of sexism and racism that were displayed by its main characters. In addition, M*A*S*H* suffered from a tonal issue as writers hadn't quite figured out how to balance its comedic elements with the horrors that a wartime backdrop provided. Nevertheless, M*A*S*H* found its stride in season 2 and beyond, cementing itself as one of the most highly-regarded TV shows of all time.
7 The Office (2005 - 2013)
While The Office UK and US are very different shows, the first season doesn't quite reflect that — much to the US adaptation's detriment. In fact, the pilot episode of The Office borders on being a shot-for-shot remake of its UK counterpart, and anyone who has seen both shows knows that they find their strengths in their differences. The Office season 1 relied too heavily on its source material, creating a tone that didn't resonate with American audiences and lacked the character development that was a hallmark of later seasons. However, as The Office went on, it became entirely its own thing, bringing the workplace sitcom back into popularity.
6 The Simpsons (1989 - )
While not every episode of The Simpsons season 1 is bad, its characters are near-unrecognizable from progressive seasons and the focus changed over time. For starters, it seemed like The Simpsons' main protagonist in season 1 is actually Bart. Undue attention is paid to Bart's antics, sacrificing the rest of the family's stories to feature the mischievous character. Homer is far from endearing in the first season, bordering on being an abusive father. However, all it took was taking the edge off of a few characters and a shift in focus to the entire Simpson clan to make The Simpsons a runaway hit.
5 Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)
Some would be shocked to know that Elaine Benes (Julia Lous-Dreyfus) doesn't even appear in the pilot episode of Seinfeld. Since Seinfeld was an inventive series for its time, with Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up featuring as a major part of the narrative, season 1 experienced a fair amount of bumps and bruises. Seinfeld's stand-up routines proved to be a hindrance in the first installment, and their elevated focus didn't test well with audiences. Beloved characters like Kramer, George, and Elaine hadn't been fleshed out enough and the series was in danger of cancelation. Thankfully, the writers listened to audiences' complaints and produced a markedly different series going into Seinfeld season 2.
4 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)
There's the argument that Buffy the Vampire Slayer's cheesiness in earlier installments is an endearing quality, but most audiences didn't feel this way. There's no question that Buffy season 1 stands out for being distinctly different from the rest of the show. Everything from the choreography to the dialogue betrays its inexperience, and Buffy season 1 suffers from a level of camp that only highlights these missteps. Fortunately, Buffy the Vampire Slayer found its stride and purpose from season 2 onward, even establishing an impressive lore. In the end, Sarah Michelle Gellar became the teen action heroine that audiences always knew she could be.
3 American Dad! (2005 - )
American Dad! had a hard time getting out of Family Guy's formidable shadow, but Seth MacFarlane's creation eventually found its footing — after season 1. American Dad! featured largely the same humor and gags that were present in Family Guy, making audiences fear that MacFarlane was a one-trick pony. The dynamics between the Smiths and the Griffins were eerily similar, and American Dad! had a rough time standing on its own. Fortunately, the series evolved in a more fantastical direction, using its animated format to its advantage. MacFarlane proved that he's capable of producing comedy gold outside of Family Guy, and American Dad! formed a dedicated audience all its own.
2 The X-Files (1993 - 2002)
A quintessential entry into the sci-fi genre, The X-Files has stood the test of time and received widespread critical acclaim (though not at first). Upon watching the series from its beginning, audiences will notice that Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) are vastly different in season 1 than they are in the rest of the show. The X-Files season 1 has an air of listlessness about it, and it was abundantly clear that writers weren't sure who these characters were yet and what their trajectory would be. Despite its uneven pacing and cringe-worthy dialogue, The X-Files got a second season and ultimately became a hallmark of the sci-fi genre.
1 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005 - )
Anyone who has watched Rob McElhenney's dark comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia from start to finish will it that season 1 was missing a key ingredient: Danny DeVito. Before DeVito ed the cast as Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee's (Kaitlin Olson) eccentric father, Paddy's Pub was occupied by the four main leads. While It's Always Sunny season 1 had its moments, McElhenney's pitch-black humor didn't land with audiences, and the series was facing cancelation. Thus, DeVito brought some star power and artfully added the missing ingredient the ensemble was lacking. It's universally agreed upon in the It's Always Sunny fandom that the show just isn't the same without Frank.