The Worst New TV Shows of 2020

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 22, 2020

What were the biggest television duds of the past year? Above are the lowest-scoring first-year primetime TV series (including limited series and specials) debuting in the United States between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Shows are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding based on scores from December 19, 2020, and must have at least 4 reviews from professional critics to qualify.

1 of 11 photo by NBCUniversal

33 #1: Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical! (NBC)

Metacritic's Official Worst TV Show of 2020.

Airing just a few weeks ago, NBC's latest musical special featured a London-filmed production of the family holiday musical starring Glee's Matthew Morrison as The Grinch. The result quickly became the hate-watching TV event of the year, thanks in part to Morrison's very-committed, fourth-wall-breaking, nightmare-inducing performance.

“A pelvic-thrusting, bad-punning, screeching version of the green curmudgeon was not what anyone wanted or needed in 2020. Morrison did his level best – he's a good performer, but the part simply never should have been written. ... This version of the 'Grinch' can be summed up in three words: stink, stank, stunk.” —Kelly Lawler, USA Today

Where To Buy