The A Team
A show about a bunch of renegades taking the law into their own hands? Buckets of testosterone and gold chains every single season? Are we talking about The A-Team? You bet your camper vans we are! While the guns and explosions were enough to entertain viewers during its run, behind the scenes things were much more explosive. Given that the entire main cast was made up of macho men with macho ideas, it was hard for them to respect the female cast members. When Marla Heasley joined the show, it was made abundantly clear she wasn't welcome. Apparently, none of the (male) actors wanted her, or any other women, on the lot!
- Released: 23 Jan 1983 in United States
- Runtime: 60 min
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: George Peppard, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz
- Awards: Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. 3 wins & 5 nominations total
The A-Team was Written by Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Lupo and directed by N/A .
Full House
They always say to never work with animals and children in show business. Why? Probably because it makes everything a million times more complicated. While there are plenty of (working) kids and animals that listen and know how to take cues, that's not always the case. In the early 90s, everyone's favorite house was almost too full for one actor. John Stamos reportedly tried to get the Olsen twins fired from their singular role! Why? They were just too difficult to work with. We get it can be aggravating, but come on! Do you really want to be remembered as the guy who got Mary-Kate and Ashley fired?
- Released: 10 Mar 1987 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier
- Awards: 16 wins & 20 nominations
Full House was Written by Jeff Franklin and directed by N/A .
Step By Step
One step out of line in television and your career is OVER. While pushing buttons and being persistent is one way to advance, sometimes people can be far too aggressive. Any sort of physical altercation, or even evidence of one occurring, is enough to end an actor's career. That's precisely what happened on the family-friendly show Step By Step. Who remembers Cody? He didn't last that long on the show. In fact, his exit was really abrupt! That's probably because the actor, Sasha Mitchell, was charged with domestic abuse while shooting the show! You can't make a family-friendly sitcom when you're charged with that kind of crime.
- Released: 20 Sep 1991 in United States
- Runtime: 31S min
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Brandon Call
- Awards: 1 win & 14 nominations
Step by Step was Written by William Bickley, Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and directed by N/A .
Desperate Housewives
Inspiration can appear in many forms. Sometimes a person can see a tree and design an entire runway collection around it. A programmer may find a piece of software they like and build an entire network of systems. Even show producers can see something in the news and think that it would make quality television. The origin of Desperate Housewives is similar! When the creator of the show was watching the news one night, they came across a dark and upsetting story. A suburban mom was accused of murdering her five children. That act of desperation sparked something in show creator Marc Cheery. Shortly after that Desperate Housewives was created.
- Released: 03 Oct 2004 in United States
- Runtime: 45 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross
- Awards: Won 7 Primetime Emmys. 66 wins & 189 nominations total
Desperate Housewives was Written by Marc Cherry and directed by N/A .
Luck
The wild world of competitive horse racing is really intense. That makes sense with the sport being so fast-paced. When you only have a couple minutes to make or lose millions of dollars you gotta go big or go home. Now take that mentality and keep it in your head. Why? Because acting on that drive is a different matter entirely. Not everyone, or everything, can go as hard (or put up with) such a grueling desire to win. That's kind of what Luck was about. Unfortunately, we'll never fully know where the show was headed due to its own unlucky events. Despite only lasting one season, the show was at the center of a media firestorm after not one, not two, but THREE horses died on the set!
- Released: 29 Jan 2012 in United States
- Runtime: 52 min
- Genre: Drama, Sport
- Rated: TV-MA
- Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz
- Awards: 2 wins & 5 nominations
Luck was Written by David Milch and directed by N/A .
The Deuce
It's important to bring light to someone's negative actions, even after time has passed. Perhaps that's what James Franco was aiming for with The Deuce. Following the adult film industry in the 70s, the show isn't shy about revealing the more sordid details of what went on in those years. Though it seems Franco didn't learn from their mistakes. Unfortunately, life and art became a bit blurred for Franco during the show's run. Accusations arose about his own conduct off-screen. Once it looked like a case of art and life mimicking each other, fans were done with this show. The accusations continued to pile up even after filming wrapped.
- Released: 25 Aug 2017 in United States
- Runtime: 60 min
- Genre: Drama
- Rated: TV-MA
- Starring: James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
- Awards: 18 nominations
The Deuce was Written by George Pelecanos, David Simon and directed by N/A .
Saturday Night Live
When making live television every week, you have to be prepared for anything. Someone might cancel. An act may screw up so badly that they never return (Ashley Simpson). Or you could have two of your biggest stars EVER get into a fistfight for stupid reasons. Saturday Night Live is a comedic institution and weekly circus that somehow always delivers. Despite stars getting along for the camera, things aren't always friendly behind the scenes. Comedy legends Chevy Chase and Bill Murray apparently got into it one night and started throwing fists! It takes a lot to mess with Bill Murray. We're kind of curious about what was said.
- Released: 11 Oct 1975 in United States
- Runtime: 31S min
- Genre: Comedy, Music
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: The Saturday Night Live Band, Don Pardo, Darrell Hammond
- Awards: Won 87 Primetime Emmys. 210 wins & 555 nominations total
Saturday Night Live was Written by Lorne Michaels and directed by N/A .
Bob’s Burgers
Before it became one of the best-animated programs to ever premiere on FOX, Bob's Burgers almost didn't make it. While that's the general theme of the show (somehow the restaurant always kind of survives), in reality, it was a lot scarier. A whole bunch of changes had to be made to the original script before any studio would touch the show. The biggest change occurred when the Belchers were changed to a regular burger joint owning family. What were they originally? CANNIBALS. You can still see a bit of the early inspiration in the premiere episode! The family gets their restaurant shut down due to fear of containing human meat. Did it? Guess it's time for a rewatch!
- Released: 09 Jan 2011 in United States
- Runtime: 30S min
- Genre: Animation, Comedy
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman
- Awards: Won 2 Primetime Emmys. 19 wins & 95 nominations total
Bob's Burgers was Written by Loren Bouchard, Jim Dauterive and directed by N/A .
Sesame Street
What's one of the most wholesome shows in history doing in an article like this? Nothing truly scary or dark happens on Sesame Street (they have tons of street lights thanks to responsible city planning and infrastructure). Well, not anymore at least. Back in the early seasons of the show, a few residents of the neighborhood led a double life! While on the show, David (played by Northern Calloway) was a cheery fellow who was set to become the next Mr. Hooper! Off the show, Calloway was arrested for breaking and entering someone's home. Later, before he was fired for biting the music coordinator of the show during a fight.
- Released: 21 Jul 1969 in United States
- Runtime: 55 min
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
- Rated: TV-Y
- Starring: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney
- Awards: Won 6 Primetime Emmys. 241 wins & 336 nominations total
Sesame Street was Written by Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morrisett Jr. and directed by N/A .
Flipper
Even without watching the show or film, everyone knows that dolphins are incredibly intelligent. These mammals are known to have complex relationships, language, and even engage in underwater hallucinogenic sessions! They're also known to be employed actors. However, their long list of accomplishments doesn't cancel out their darker qualities. While filming Flipper, at least one dolphin was documented as having committed suicide! The conditions for the animals on set were so stressful (and downright wrong) that it was too much for at least one of them to bear. Unfortunately, some animals are still used as props (instead of sentient beings) in the film industry today.
- Released: 19 Sep 1964 in United States
- Runtime: 1 min
- Genre: Adventure, Family
- Rated: Not Rated
- Starring: Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin, Tommy Norden
- Awards: 2 nominations
Flipper was Written by Jack Cowden, Ricou Browning and directed by N/A .
The Brady Bunch
Things weren't always peachy keen in the Brady household. Under the veneer of a shiny home and a fake backyard, there stewed a bunch of darker issues. From the dad being closeted for his entire adult life to Marcia doing drugs, The Brady Bunch was full of juicy secrets. Have you never heard about Marcia? Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! She was out of control. Jan had a reason to complain. Maureen McCormick talks about her addiction issues in her biography. During the final seasons (and after the show wrapped), she was in the throes of a cocaine and quaalude addiction that almost cost her everything!
- Released: 26 Sep 1969 in United States
- Runtime: 1 min
- Genre: Comedy, Family
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis
- Awards: 9 wins & 11 nominations
The Brady Bunch was Written by Sherwood Schwartz and directed by N/A .
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
If you live in a luxurious zip code you have to pay luxurious prices. Nobody learned that lesson as hard as Will Smith during his years as a royal in Bel-Air. Due to his success in the music business, and his newfound success in acting, young Smith had a lot of extra cash. However, he wasn't always the most responsible spender. Smith claims to have easily spent around $6 MILLION during his early seasons on the show. Unfortunately, while many knew of his spending, the IRS wasn't one of those in the know. Due to all of his unpaid taxes, Smith had a massive amount of his earnings taken from the first few seasons of the show!
- Released: 10 Sep 1990 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro
- Awards: Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. 15 wins & 27 nominations total
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was Written by Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz and directed by N/A .
A Different World
It's hard to talk about A Different World without mentioning that it was a spin-off of the wildly popular Cosby Show. While some characters made a reappearance in the spin-off series, the show didn't last past six seasons. Though that's not bad for a spin-off. Some of the more well-known characters didn't fare as well as the show did. Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, was actually in a season of the show! While reprising her Huxtable name she became pregnant (offset). During a meeting one day she was let go by none other than Bill Cosby! Why was she fired? âLisa Bonet is pregnant, but Denise Huxtable is not.â Rude.
- Released: 24 Sep 1987 in United States
- Runtime: 60 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Lisa Bonet, Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy
- Awards: Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. 17 wins & 8 nominations total
A Different World was Written by Bill Cosby and directed by N/A .
Friends
We're back at Central Perk to talk about a member of the Friends group. Our attention is on Chandler this time. Everyone's favorite funny guy/transponder wasn't always cracking jokes. Sometimes his own mental well-being was cracking. Was it the pressure of his newfound success and television show? Nope. It was due to the nearly crippling Vicodin and alcohol addiction he developed. Everyone in the group apparently had their own issues, but Perry's were some of the most visible. After getting clean in the early 00s, Matthew Perry says he doesn't even remember shooting a few of the seasons of the series.
- Released: 22 Sep 1994 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow
- Awards: Won 6 Primetime Emmys. 78 wins & 231 nominations total
Friends was Written by David Crane, Marta Kauffman and directed by N/A .
Martin
Sometimes great shows seem to vanish for no reason whatsoever. One day we're laughing up a storm and the next we're hearing that there's a mysterious hiatus (and then a cancellation not too soon after that). One of these great sitcoms that followed a similar path is Martin. This hilarious show had everything going for it. The characters were great, the styles on-point, and the punchlines were always hitting. What could possibly have ended its rise to superstardom? The show's creator. Tisha Campbell, who played Gina, filed multiple sexual harassment and abuse reports against Lawrence. Things reached a head when she agreed to film her final scenes during the last season, but only if Lawrence was nowhere near the set!
- Released: 27 Aug 1992 in United States
- Runtime: 32S min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Thomas Mikal Ford
- Awards: 6 wins & 11 nominations
Martin was Written by John Bowman, Topper Carew, Martin Lawrence and directed by N/A .
Jessie
What happens when you get into a disagreement with your nanny/babysitter/sibling in real life? Y'all talk it through and then someone comes in and helps settle the dispute. What happens when the disagreement keeps happening on a popular television show? You cancel the whole thing. Though bickering between the cast probably couldn't have been the sole reason for Jessie's cancellation. But it definitely didn't make things better. According to Skai Jackson, she was constantly picked on by the show's titular character when the cameras were off. Fights breaking out between co-stars usually spell the end for a show.
- Released: 30 Sep 2011 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Debby Ryan, Peyton List, Cameron Boyce
- Awards: Won 1 BAFTA Award2 wins & 12 nominations total
Jessie was Written by Pamela Eells, Phil Baker, Drew Vaupen and directed by N/A .
Hannah Montana
Living a double life is tough work. Living a triple-life seems near-impossible. While Hannah Montana explored what it's like for a superstar to try and have a ânormalâ life, her life behind the scenes was just as crazy. Miley Cyrus and Emily Osment were only playing nice for the cameras. When the lights weren't on they were constantly going after each other! Cyrus' parents (as well as Osment's) eventually had to get involved to stop the two from fighting so much. In her book, Cyrus admitted that it was hard for her to separate the television friendship and the (lack of a) real-world friendship she had with Osment. The stress of making television is bad enough, but throw in puberty and a fake reality from Hollywood and you've got a recipe for disaster.
- Released: 24 Mar 2006 in United States
- Runtime: 32S min
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Music
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles
- Awards: Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. 20 wins & 29 nominations total
Hannah Montana was Written by Richard Correll, Barry O'Brien, Michael Poryes and directed by N/A .
Frasier
Often overlooked, Frasier was one of the smartest sitcoms ever to air on TV! The beloved series was a stuffy yet endearingly funny spin-off of Cheers. Dr. Frasier Crane was a blowhard who needed to learn to relax (as did his brother). Their dad was a breath of fresh air and a constant thorn in their sides. Plus, Eddie the dog was the true star. With a show this fantastic, it's hard to imagine tragedy striking. Then 9/11 happened and everyone's world turned upside-down. One of the executive producers (and the show's creator) David Angell and his wife Lynn were on the plane that was hijacked before crashing into the North Tower that morning.
- Released: 16 Sep 1993 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce
- Awards: Won 37 Primetime Emmys. 130 wins & 276 nominations total
Frasier was Written by David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee and directed by N/A .
The Ren & Stimpy Show
What rolls downstairs, alone or in pairs, and over your neighbor's dog? What's great for a snack and fits on your back? It's LOG, LOG, LOG! Ren & Stimpy is one of the most ridiculous and poignant animated shows to come out of the 90s. While it was CLEARLY not aimed at kids, that didn't stop them from watching it. It was a weirdly dark yet funny show that made everyone slightly uncomfortable. Maybe it had to do with the fact the creator was a total creep. John Kricfalusi (an ADULT) reportedly had a 16-year-old girlfriend! He also abused several other women (children at the time) who eventually came forward in 2018.
- Released: 11 Aug 1991 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
- Rated: TV-Y7
- Starring: John Kricfalusi, Billy West, Harris Peet
- Awards: Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. 1 win & 12 nominations total
The Ren & Stimpy Show was Written by John Kricfalusi, Bob Camp, Jim Gomez and directed by N/A .
Roseanne
Roseanne was one of those shows that struck a bunch of chords with audiences. Many weren't thrilled with how crass and honest the show was, others thought it accurately depicted life in America for many families. Either way, it was a smash-hit. Millions tuned in weekly to see what adventure Roseanne would have with the gang. While each story was well-crafted, it seems that not even the writers were huge fans of their work. That's probably because they were terrified of their boss (and the show's titular character). Roseanne's legendary temper and overall attitude weren't secrets to the cast and crew. She was apparently horribly scary and rude to work with!
- Released: 18 Oct 1988 in United States
- Runtime: 21 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf
- Awards: Won 4 Primetime Emmys. 49 wins & 113 nominations total
Roseanne was Written by Roseanne Barr, Matt Williams and directed by N/A .
Happy Days
Every day is a Happy Day when you're on the set of Happy Days. This wholesome show set in the 50s was actually shot in the 70s! Not only did it give Henry Winkler and and Ron Howard a massive career boost, but it also saved Howard's life. Right before Happy Days was scheduled to shoot the pilot, Howard received a notice that he would be drafted into the Vietnam War. Since that didn't sound like fun, Howard had to find a way to get an exception from being sent overseas. Given that he was in an art school, he couldn't use his studies as an excuse. Thankfully, at the eleventh hour, he got selected to shoot the pilot for Happy Days! That was enough work to keep him out of the draft (and probably alive).
- Released: 15 Jan 1974 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Music
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross
- Awards: Won 1 Primetime Emmy. 18 wins & 19 nominations total
Happy Days was Written by Garry Marshall and directed by N/A .
Nickelodeon (vs. Dan Schneider)
Usually, we'll zero in and focus on a specific show. However, sometimes a person is so big that we need to talk about their entire working history with a company. There may be dark secrets hiding behind many of our favorite Nickelodeon shows. One of the company's biggest and worst-kept secrets was, and is, Dan Schneider. This guy helped jumpstart a lot of careers. Even Ariana Grande was able to get her early acting work thanks to Schneider. However, over the years, and across multiple shows he worked on, people were constantly reporting that they were uneasy around the guy. As it turns out, he may have actually abused or inappropriately worked with a lot of the child actors he âdiscoveredâ.
- Released: 07 Mar 2004 in USA
- Runtime: N/A
- Genre: N/A
- Rated: N/A
- Starring: Chloe Dolandis, Mister Fitzgerald, Courtney Hammond, Rahman Johnson
- Awards: N/A
Nickelodeon Splat! was Written by N/A and directed by N/A .
ICarly
It's not difficult supporting a family. When you're the sole breadwinner things that normally seem fun can immediately turn stressful. That comes with the territory of being the only one holding up the household. Usually, that job is left to the parents, though that's not always the case. iCarly star Jenette McCurdy revealed that even as a kid that was her entire life. Her family didn't have a lot to live off of. When her mom was able to help McCurdy get her first acting spot, she started a plan. Despite McCurdy not wanting to act, she wanted to make sure her family was taken care of. That's the whole reason she got into the Nickelodeon acting game in the first place. Once her mom passed, McCurdy stepped away from the spotlight to pursue her own dreams.
- Released: 08 Sep 2007 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Jennette McCurdy
- Awards: Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. 26 wins & 78 nominations total
iCarly was Written by Dan Schneider and directed by N/A .
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
It's morphin' time! The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers were EVERYONE'S favorite hero team of the early 90s. This ridiculously popular show became a cultural television and toy phenomenon in the States. In fact, spin-offs of the show are still airing (along with reruns of the original) nearly thirty years after the first season premiered. The show is all about inclusion, working as a team, and overcoming differences to benefit everyone. While the message to fans was clear, one ranger was receiving the exact opposite treatment behind the scenes. Due to his sexual orientation, the original blue ranger was constantly picked on and bullied by the crew!The situation got so bad that he eventually walked away from the show entirely.
- Released: 28 Aug 1993 in United States, Japan
- Runtime: 1 min
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Family
- Rated: TV-Y7
- Starring: Richard Steven Horvitz, David Yost, Ed Neil
- Awards: 3 nominations
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was Written by Shuki Levy, Haim Saban and directed by N/A .
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is supposed to be a cute little game show where complete strangers answer questions about themselves to try and impress another stranger. Why would they do this? Aside from the national (or international) embarrassment, the grand prize was a paid date with the lucky mystery person! It's cute, it's fun, and it's also a somewhat life-threatening situation for some. In the past, screening for contestants must have been pretty relaxed. Why? A serial killer made it onto the show! He even won the date with the bachelorette somehow. Thankfully, after trusting her intuition, the young lady backed out of her date because she felt creeped out. As it turns out, that may have been one of the smartest moves of her life.
- Released: 19 Nov 1965 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Game-Show, Romance
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Jim Lange, Johnny Jacobs, Anna Marlowe
- Awards: N/A
The Dating Game was Written by N/A and directed by N/A .
Breaking Bad
It's hard to write about great television shows with dark secrets and NOT talk about Breaking Bad. There's just something about this show that makes it applicable for almost every single article we write. It's not just because we're superfans. It's also one of those phenomenons that's so multi-layered that it works on every level. Even hospital staff can appreciate some of the finer behind-the-scenes details going on. How so? Well, some lucky medics have intimate knowledge about how unsafe it was to film certain episodes. In fact, Raymond Cruz and Aaron Paul have intimate and firsthand knowledge of where the medics on set were. That's because Cruz accidentally gave Paul a concussion while filming!
- Released: 20 Jan 2008 in United States
- Runtime: 49 min
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Rated: TV-MA
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn
- Awards: Won 16 Primetime Emmys. 155 wins & 247 nominations total
Breaking Bad was Written by Vince Gilligan and directed by N/A .
96% Rotten TomatoesOne Tree Hill
When making a show with sensitive topics, you have to be aware of how all members of the crew are acting and interacting with each other. One Tree Hill, a must-watch for many, likes to tackle these issues without shying away from tropes that made it so addicting to watch. Unfortunately, despite being well-received by viewers, things on set weren't always going smoothly. The writer's room was allegedly run like a frat house! Things were super misogynistic. It didn't end there though. The CREATOR of the show was said to be extremely manipulative and verbally abusive with his stars. He even spread rumors and harassed people while on set.
- Released: 23 Sep 2003 in United States
- Runtime: 60 min
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Sport
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton
- Awards: 4 wins & 27 nominations
One Tree Hill was Written by Mark Schwahn and directed by N/A .
The X Files
Power, fame, and even success can corrupt people and change them in weird ways. The X-Files was a culture-defining show and a good example of the fame phenomenon. Despite millions of people falling in love with Agents Scully and Mulder, the stars of the hit show were anything but friendly partners in real life. On-set, these two delivered some knockout performances. Once the cameras stopped rolling they made sure to try and stay as far away from each other as physically possible. Both stars admitted that as the show got more popular, they both became much more difficult and almost irrational to work with! Thankfully, none of that spilled over into their scenes.
- Released: 10 Sep 1993 in United States
- Runtime: 45 min
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi
- Awards: Won 16 Primetime Emmys. 100 wins & 217 nominations total
The X-Files was Written by Chris Carter and directed by N/A .
Stranger Things
Making âmust-seeâ TV is a pretty stressful job. Not only do you have to keep viewers on their toes, but you also have to make sure everyone on set is as devoted to the project as you are. That can turn even the most routine productions into a nightmare to work on. Despite Stranger Things' MASSIVE success, not everyone was thrilled to be connected to the show. As things began to pick up, and the creators realized they had a hit on their hands, tensions would occasionally start to rise when filming. Multiple sources on the set have come forward and said that the creators (the Duffers) would get verbally abusive with female crew members.
- Released: 15 Jul 2016 in United States
- Runtime: 51 min
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder
- Awards: Won 12 Primetime Emmys. 101 wins & 297 nominations total
Stranger Things was Written by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and directed by N/A .
Ellen
The Ellen DeGeneres Show was one of the most popular talk shows of its kind. The comedian turned actor turned talk show host had a wild ride leading up to her eventually getting her own show. While the topics and stunts were generally well-received (aside from the random scares), in the later seasons mumblings about a toxic environment started to come to light. It didn't take long before the mumbling turned to shouting. After some investigation, it turned out that a lot of upsetting things were happening behind the scenes. In response, Ellen vowed to do better. Then the show was canceled for âotherâ reasons. Though the writing was written pretty clearly on the wall.
- Released: 29 Mar 1994 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, David Anthony Higgins, Joely Fisher
- Awards: Won 3 Primetime Emmys. 14 wins & 33 nominations total
Ellen was Written by Carol Black, Neal Marlens, David S. Rosenthal and directed by N/A .
The Andy Griffith Show
They just don't make wholesome comedies like they used to. While newer sitcoms have their appeal, the classics are just too heartwarming to ever let go. The Andy Griffith Show is one of those series that will forever live in our hearts. The relationship between Griffith, his son, and Aunt Bee was idealized by every family. As loving and close as they appeared on TV, it was all just an act. Francis Bavier, Aunt Bee, was not very happy with her character. Even though it was steady (and nationally beloved) work, she just couldn't get along with her co-star, Griffth. Her resentment got so bad that she severed all contact once the show wrapped. Later in life, she sent him an apology on her death bed before she passed and wished things had been different.
- Released: 03 Oct 1960 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Family
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts
- Awards: Won 6 Primetime Emmys. 15 wins & 5 nominations total
The Andy Griffith Show was Written by Sheldon Leonard, Aaron Ruben, Danny Thomas and directed by N/A .
That 70s Show
The characters on That '70s Show were out-there. Some of them were just plain far out. Do you see where we're going with this? Awesome, so we can drop the cliches and corny jokes. Some of the more interesting people on the block didn't make it until the end. Midge, Donna's mom, was one of our favorites. She was spacey but still caring. We couldn't get enough of her! Unfortunately, she seemed to get phased out at the show's peak. It wasn't due to her popularity or anything. Unfortunately, the actor playing Midge had her own family issues going on behind the scenes. She eventually left the show altogether to take care of her sick husband.
- Released: 23 Aug 1998 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis
- Awards: Won 1 Primetime Emmy. 15 wins & 82 nominations total
That '70s Show was Written by Mark Brazill, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and directed by N/A .
Wipeout
Typically game shows are filled with light-hearted fun and thrilling feats. We're on the edge of our seats watching a contestant complete an obstacle course, or we're laughing when they stumble and splash into the water. Sure we'd probably never compete in one of these shows ourselves, but they can't be dangerous, right? Unfortunately, one contestant wasn't so lucky when failing the course. Makes you wonder what kind of vetting process is involved for a show like this. Wipeout originally aired in 2008 and was brought back in 2020. This was a sad way for the game to come back to TV, we hope tragedies like these won't repeat in the show's future.
- Released: 24 Jun 2008 in United States
- Runtime: 35S min
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Game-Show
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: John Henson, John Anderson, Jill Wagner
- Awards: 4 wins & 4 nominations
Wipeout was Written by Matt Kunitz and directed by N/A .
Family Matters
Being a child star isn't easy. While the fame fortune seems appealing, growing up in front of an audience can be stressful and awkward for a teen. Jaleel White, the talent behind Urkel, had this issue while performing on Family Matters. But rather than age up the character, production opted to hide White's growth. They even went so far as to discourage him from working out! They hid his natural muscle growth with baggy clothing, and the actor was required to shave every day. You can imagine the kind of toll that takes on someone going into adulthood. Later the actor would confess that the role made him feel like he was slowing his own growth.
- Released: 22 Sep 1989 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
- Rated: TV-G
- Starring: Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White, Darius McCrary
- Awards: Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. 9 wins & 17 nominations total
Family Matters was Written by William Bickley, Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and directed by N/A .
Dance Moms
This Lifetime series follows the progress and careers of child dancers as they're being mentored by choreographer Abby Lee Miller. One of the most entertaining aspects of this show is watching the drama that ensues between Miller and the moms, but people still watch to see contestants flourish in their craft. Chloe Lukasiak, a contemporary ballet dancer, dropped off the show early on, and she had a pretty good reason. Apparently, she refused to sign a pretty shockingly restrictive contract, resulting in her removal from the series. The contract stated she couldn't gain or lose 5-10 pounds or change her hair. To top it all off, the show wanted to take 10% of the money she made!
- Released: 13 Jul 2011 in United States
- Runtime: 42 min
- Genre: Reality-TV
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Abby Lee Miller, Nia Sioux, Holly Frazier
- Awards: 2 wins & 6 nominations
Dance Moms was Written by N/A and directed by N/A .
Maude
Everyone who ever starred in The Golden Girls is a superstar. Each of the girls went on to have amazing careers (and had them before the show). For instance, Bea Arthur was no stranger to TV by the time she moved in with Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose. Before all that she was Maude. A dry-witted, sarcastically funny, go-getter. She was a mold-breaker. She was Maude. The show was so well-received that it swept multiple Emmys across multiple seasons. That all came to a screeching halt when Bill Macy (Walter) took to the Emmy stage one night, things went from funny to foul real quickly. He dropped his pants in front of EVERYONE. Due to the flashing, the show was blacklisted from ever winning any more awards!
- Released: 12 Sep 1972 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Bea Arthur, Bill Macy, Conrad Bain
- Awards: Won 1 Primetime Emmy. 5 wins & 25 nominations total
Maude was Written by Norman Lear and directed by N/A .
Deal Or No Deal
A game of Deal or No Deal can be pretty strenuous. There's a lot of money potentially on the line. Nobody knows if you have $1 waiting for you or a cool million. All the excitement is enough to make you pass out! Okay, maybe not you. Some of the models holding the cases though? They weren't in the best working conditions. Apparently, the shoots last so long that they can't all stand at attention. After a few hours, some have even been known to need more than just a quick foot rub. They must have some excellent insurance! That, or, maybe they have stock in some sort of shoe insert company to make up for the fainting.
- Released: 19 Dec 2005 in United States
- Runtime: 120 min
- Genre: Family, Game-Show
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Howie Mandel, Patricia Kara, Megan Abrigo
- Awards: Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. 2 wins & 9 nominations total
Deal or No Deal was Written by N/A and directed by N/A .
Lost
This show was absolutely Earth-shattering when it came out. We don't think it'd be a stretch to say that Lost was a defining moment in television history, running for over 100 episodes and receiving countless awards and nominations. People simply HAD to tune in every week to find out what would happen to the cast of castaways. You'd think the person who greenlit the show would be praised for his decision, right? Lloyd Braun was the ABC chairman who gave Lost the go-ahead to shoot their $12 million pilot episode. As a reward for this decision, he was forced out of his position. Imagine watching the series reach unbelievable heights of fame knowing that it cost you your job.
- Released: 22 Sep 2004 in United States
- Runtime: 44 min
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim
- Awards: Won 10 Primetime Emmys. 113 wins & 397 nominations total
Lost was Written by J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, Damon Lindelof and directed by N/A .
80% Rotten TomatoesCommunity
Hollywood has a handful of actors who are known to be somewhat difficult to work with. They might be talented and attract audiences, but behind the scenes, they're extremely messy. This was definitely the case when it came to Chevy Chase and the sitcom Community. Behind the cult following and Emmy nominations, there was trouble brewing. Chase was known for severely putting heads with show creator Dan Harmon, to the point where he would refuse to film certain scenes. He was also known for making racist jokes during scenes featuring Donald Glover, and once used a racial slur in front of him and his other Black co-star Yvette Nicole Brown. While he apologized for that incident, it left a bad taste in audiences' mouths.
- Released: 17 Sep 2009 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover
- Awards: Won 1 Primetime Emmy. 19 wins & 71 nominations total
Community was Written by Dan Harmon and directed by N/A .
Saturday Night Live
Who here loves Mango? No, not the fruit, the dancer. If you were an SNL fan in the 90s then Mango was always in season. This over-the-top character came from the mind of the hilarious Chris Kattan. A lot of memorable performers on the SNL crew are known for their characters. Mango was one of Kattans' many shining moments. Kattan is also well-known for his zany persona and comedic timing. It abruptly stopped after his eight-year run on the show ended in an injury. During a parody of the Golden Girls in 2001, he injured his neck and left the show later due to the event. It had long-term effects on his health and in the end, NBC didn't reach out or help him with the surgery bills.
- Released: 11 Oct 1975 in United States
- Runtime: 31S min
- Genre: Comedy, Music
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: The Saturday Night Live Band, Don Pardo, Darrell Hammond
- Awards: Won 87 Primetime Emmys. 210 wins & 555 nominations total
Saturday Night Live was Written by Lorne Michaels and directed by N/A .
How I Met Your Mother
It's important to remember that characters and actors are separate beings. Sure, an actor brings their persona to life on the screen. However, they also have their own stuff going on off-screen. Robin's on-screen life is already fraught with drama. Behind the camera, Colbie Smulders was dealing with her own peaks and valleys. She was, and still is, a warrior. Despite the diagnosis, Smulders acted throughout the entire season. Not only did she not let on to what was happening, but she also seemed to separate the two events. One was being a star and the other was fighting for her health. Taking time off is completely understandable. Instead of that, she pressed on as best that Robin Sparkles could!
- Released: 19 Sep 2005 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders
- Awards: Won 10 Primetime Emmys. 26 wins & 95 nominations total
How I Met Your Mother was Written by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and directed by N/A .
America’s Next Top Model
When you're offered the chance to compete on television for a wildly over-blown dream prize, reading the fine details of the contract isn't always your top priority. The glamor of being on TV can blind some people to a slew of serious facts. One of them is that you're still working. Having someone follow you around all day and pick fights for tv is basically forcing you to work. That means you deserve to be paid. someone should have told that to the production crew on America's Next Top Model. In the beginning, they only paid their contestants $40 a day (and that had to cover food)!
- Released: 20 May 2003 in United States
- Runtime: 42 min
- Genre: Game-Show, Reality-TV
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Tyra Banks
- Awards: 6 wins & 34 nominations
America's Next Top Model was Written by Ken Mok, Tyra Banks, Kenya Barris and directed by N/A .
The Simpsons
Hi everybody! Did you know some of Springfield's most famous physicians have non-local clients? Why, sometimes they're even named in honor of their role models and past successes. Others are named after tragically sad events and people. Dr. Nick, everyone's favorite smiling doc, is named after the latter. If you're a fan of Graceland and Elvis, you already know where this is headed. Just like Lionel Hutz isn't a real lawyer, Dr. Nick isn't the most dependable doctor. He shares a name with the King of Rock and Roll's own personal physician. That may sound cool, until you remember why there are no classic Elvis records out there today.
- Released: 17 Dec 1989 in United States
- Runtime: 22 min
- Genre: Animation, Comedy
- Rated: TV-14
- Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer
- Awards: Won 35 Primetime Emmys. 181 wins & 349 nominations total
The Simpsons was Written by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Sam Simon and directed by N/A .
85% Rotten TomatoesBetter Call Saul
The Breaking Bad universe is full of near-misses, explosions, and the occasional sudden death. However, since that's all television, those things normally stay happening in front of a camera. When filming the final season of Better Call Saul (the spin-off), an actual death almost took place! Bob Odenkirk suffered a serious and sudden heart attack! Thanks to the quick thinking of his co-stars and the on-set medical staff he made it through. Though it did take three shocks with a defibrillator and some stents to ensure the star stayed with us a bit longer. Thankfully, he made it out all right and the shooting finished.
- Released: 08 Feb 2015 in United States
- Runtime: 46 min
- Genre: Crime, Drama
- Rated: TV-MA
- Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks
- Awards: Nominated for 46 Primetime Emmys. 60 wins & 282 nominations total
Better Call Saul was Written by Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould and directed by N/A .
Room Raiders
Room Raiders was an interesting MTV reality series. Romantic prospects would take a tour of a girl or guy's room and decide whether or not they wanted to date them. Often embarrassing items would be pulled out and shown to the camera. But every episode started off with the âabductionâ of the teens who would have their rooms surveyed. These were obviously just done for the camera, but one father clearly wasn't in the know about his daughter's TV appearance. A 16-year-old was brought out of her home and dramatically dragged away for the show, her father came out after them with his gun! The host must've been pretty freaked out, but luckily no one was harmed.
- Released: 13 Oct 2003 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Game-Show, Reality-TV
- Rated: N/A
- Starring: Tim-Ryan O'Kane, Tom Oberdick, Jesse Wolter
- Awards: N/A
Room Raiders was Written by N/A and directed by N/A .
The Golden Girls
What made The Golden Girls so special was the bond we got to see between the characters. Despite their differences, the ladies seemed to really care about one another. No matter what happened, they always seemed to come together over cheesecake and a few laughs. We all wanted a bond like that, right? As it turns out, they weren't always the friendliest with one another. Most of it was just for show! According to Betty White, the sweetest of the group, they were more acquaintances than anything. She wasn't that close with all of her co-stars. She and Bea Arthur never really hung out when they weren't on-set together.
- Released: 14 Sep 1985 in United States
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan
- Awards: Won 11 Primetime Emmys. 46 wins & 88 nominations total
The Golden Girls was Written by Susan Harris and directed by N/A .
Ally McBeal
Nothing had us laughing more than watching Ally McBeal on the big screen. We saw her trying to piece her life together after her career fell to pieces. Her life turns into a trainwreck we just can't stop watching. Ending up at a Boston Law Firm with her ex-lover and his wife creates the perfect awkward situation to keep us laughing. Who could forget the gossipy receptionist Elaine Vassal? Played by the iconic Jane Krakowski, this character was unforgettable. However, Krakowski didn't always have the best time on set. With most women wearing a size 0-2, she often felt out of place as a size 6. She even said she felt like a âfat cowâ some days.
- Released: 08 Sep 1997 in United States
- Runtime: 45 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
- Rated: TV-PG
- Starring: Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Jane Krakowski
- Awards: Won 7 Primetime Emmys. 43 wins & 115 nominations total
Ally McBeal was Written by David E. Kelley and directed by N/A .
You
It's time to talk about You. Yeah, You! No, not you, just You. Semantics aside, it isn't that complicated to wrap YOUr head around the show. A guy's a creepy stalker and the main character is in love but creeped out by the creeper. Got it? Good. While stalkers aren't good, some of the characters in this show are pretty interesting and are worth YOUr attention. The bookstore owner from season one, remember him? He was actually supposed to return for the third season. He was going to be featured in a series of flashbacks. Unfortunately, due to complications from COVID-19, he passed away before he could film any new scenes.
- Released: 09 Sep 2018 in United States
- Runtime: 45 min
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
- Rated: TV-MA
- Starring: Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, Tati Gabrielle
- Awards: 3 wins & 10 nominations
You was Written by Greg Berlanti, Sera Gamble and directed by N/A .
