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So Bad It's Horrible Cleanup

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So Bad, It's Horrible is one of the more flame-bait-y parts of the site, so a cleanup thread is needed to ensure that works aren't added simply because someone doesn't like them.

If you want to list a work under this, keep the following in mind:

  • The work must have very few fans or defenders (both genuine and ironic). It should fail to appeal to any type of audience.
  • Being offensive in its subject matter isn't enough.
  • It isn't horrible just because a certain critic disliked it, though their reviews can be used as sources and citations.
  • The work should have notably poor reviews (e.g., less than 3/10 on IMDb, or single digit scores on Rotten Tomatoes)
  • For a Moral Substitute to qualify, it cannot even appeal to its target demographic.
  • Please be polite while writing and as much as possible, avoid falling into Complaining About Shows You Don't Like. Instead, focus on explaining why the work is horrible.

In addition, per No Recent Examples, Please!, a work must be at least one month old before it can be added, to prevent knee-jerk reactions.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 6th 2024 at 3:34:45 AM

PhantomDusclops92 Nitpicky Nitwit from Italy Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Nitpicky Nitwit
#2276: Jan 24th 2021 at 10:01:46 AM

[up]I would just rewrite a bit for grammatical issues, it should be like this:

"Plus, the premise of an alien that comes to live on Earth was already overused by the time of its release, and here it's not even constructed properly."

Edited by PhantomDusclops92 on Jan 24th 2021 at 7:02:16 PM

SpongeBat1 We stan Clippy in this house from Quittersville, Failuretown, and Loserburg (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: It's a god-awful small affair
We stan Clippy in this house
#2277: Jan 24th 2021 at 12:19:28 PM

[up][up]I'd also take out that bit about him being annoying because it's the same actor as Fred - I feel it's more the fault of writers/execs trying to capitalize on his popularity/style of humor.

Came for the tropes, stayed for the cleanup.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2278: Jan 24th 2021 at 12:23:00 PM

Plus Lucas Cruikshank had a fandom of kids. The point is this didn't even do well with them.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Zuxtron Berserk Button: misusing Nightmare Fuel from Node 03 (On A Trope Odyssey)
#2279: Jan 24th 2021 at 1:23:15 PM

I should point out to ~Skyla Noivern that arthritis isn't a mental illness, it's a problem with the joints. Richard Benson's guitar skills didn't degrade because of a mental illness, but because his fingers weren't able to move as well anymore.

SkylaNoivern Since: Sep, 2016
#2280: Jan 24th 2021 at 1:31:29 PM

I'm sorry, I misread the entry and didn't realize they were referring to arthritis and not a mental illness.

jandn2014 SMILE! from somewhere in Connecticut Since: Aug, 2017 Relationship Status: Hiding
SMILE!
#2281: Jan 25th 2021 at 8:21:07 PM

I feel as if the write-up for Marvin Marvin focuses too much on the show's premise, and not enough on what truly makes it So Bad, It's Horrible.

Edited by jandn2014 on Jan 25th 2021 at 11:21:32 AM

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000)
#2282: Jan 25th 2021 at 8:21:49 PM

[up] I agree.

Off topic, but are we cutting Cherry Sisters? That discussion never really got resolved.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2283: Jan 25th 2021 at 8:40:19 PM

If it drew crowds due to Bile Fascination, Cherry Sisters sounds more like it could be So Bad, It's Good. If they mostly just repelled people then it can probably stay as Horrible. I don't think not having archival footage of the show should deter it from being on the page, as long as we know why it got such a bad reception. Otherwise the rest of the Theater page would be likewise fucked.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000)
#2284: Jan 25th 2021 at 9:14:14 PM

Yeah, my issue was less that we have no footage and more that the example seemed way too focused on the sisters themselves and barely described the act that was so horrible.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
magnumtropus Since: Aug, 2020
#2285: Jan 26th 2021 at 8:02:35 PM

On the Topic of entries that barely explain why a piece of media is horrible, there is Mr. Personality in the Game Show section. Due to an IMDB Rating of 2.8/10, it's the only game show on my cleanup list that remains.

The only point made in favor of it being "horrible" is the fact that none of the participants were truly ugly, which defeated the entire point of the show. I think the entry needs to be expanded on.

Also, Our Little Genius never actually premiered, and the entry mainly talks about behind the scenes drama mirroring the 50's quiz show scandals. Should it be removed?

Edited by magnumtropus on Jan 26th 2021 at 8:07:23 AM

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2286: Jan 27th 2021 at 1:47:44 AM

[up] I removed Tentmoot from Horrible.Other Media a while ago because the con never actually happened, so I guess Our Little Genius would have to go by the same metric, as it never got audience reception anyway. It might better fit something like Overshadowed by Controversy or whichever trope describes shows that were filmed but cancelled right before they air.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
PhantomDusclops92 Nitpicky Nitwit from Italy Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Nitpicky Nitwit
#2287: Jan 27th 2021 at 8:15:55 AM

I noticed some excessive bashing in the SBIH pages, and when I posted it in the "removing bashing" thread they sent me here.

Basically I noticed that Live-Action TV often uses too harsh wording in certain entries. While they may be bad and all, there is no excuse to call A Night at Joe Piscopo "toxic shit" among other things.

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2288: Jan 27th 2021 at 8:59:03 AM

[up] I was the one who sent you here. I think that, even though this is Horrible, entries still shouldn't be too bashy. Some entries, such as the Joe Piscopo one you mentioned, could use some less insulting language I agree. What we have to do is be able to talk about a work being bad without being insulting or getting too personal or natter-y. I think it can be done, but some discussion might be needed as to how. What does everyone else think?

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2289: Jan 27th 2021 at 9:02:39 AM

I found "toxic shit" and the usage of a Fridge Horror pothole to be overreacting on the Piscopo entry. Amusingly, when I first skimmed that entry I thought it was literally about something toxic infecting the audience members on the cruise line.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
kablammin45 art lizer from Cleese's Battle Circuit (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
art lizer
#2290: Jan 27th 2021 at 5:25:09 PM

Don't forget to link to the clean-up thread when removing examples. Just re-removed the Tokyo Mirage Sessions trailer.

Edited by kablammin45 on Jan 27th 2021 at 8:25:29 AM

"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."
RobowilOFFICIAL Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
#2291: Jan 27th 2021 at 5:41:29 PM

I feel like Horrible.GameMods should be removed, as it essentially counts as fan-made content, when there's a rule against fan-made content in Horrible pages to my knowledge.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2292: Jan 27th 2021 at 5:49:41 PM

[up] There's a rule about fanfiction having its own page due to content policy issues and difficulties judging the qualiy. Other pages like Horrible.Webcomics have fan works listed (though that page is contentious as well).

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
GastonRabbit C'est la vie. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
C'est la vie. (he/him)
#2293: Jan 28th 2021 at 2:43:22 AM

I think the problem with Horrible.Game Mods and Horrible.Fan Games is that they're applying the standards of professional works to works that were probably made by only one person, rather than the problems that got Horrible.Fanfic cut.

In particular, the latter's description claims "the same principle applies" to commercial works and fan games, and says the developers might not really be fans just because they can't make something on par with the original.

Edit: I meant to put Horrible.Fanfic and put Horrible.Fanfiction by mistake. I fixed that.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Jan 28th 2021 at 7:07:51 AM

I got a rock for Halloween.
ReynTime250 Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#2294: Jan 28th 2021 at 3:51:08 AM

Wasn't around for when Fan Fiction got cut. Was it because it became more about hating the person who wrote the fanfic then the actual fanfic itself?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#2295: Jan 28th 2021 at 4:00:53 AM

No, Horrible.Fan Fiction was cut because it was a repost of Horrible.Fan Fic. That page was cut in 2012 b/c of the 5P cleanup (see also) as noted in Permanent Red Link Club, nothing about edit warring. Horrible.Fanfic Authors was cut in 2011 because of a dispute which is documented on the discussion page.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
PlasmaPower Piece of Cake. Since: Jan, 2015
Piece of Cake.
#2296: Jan 28th 2021 at 4:01:51 AM

This example just seems to fall under merely being offensive. It dosen't really explain why it's horrible other than that.

  • Baby Shaker was a thankfully now-discontinued iOS app where you were given a picture of a baby and have to shake the device to prevent it from crying. After enough shaking, red crosses appear over the baby's eyes, indicating that you just killed the baby. The app was removed from the iTunes App Store after a protest led by a couple who felt their babies were being victimized. Here is a news report showing the app in action.

Thomas fans needed! Come join me in the the show's cleanup thread!
GastonRabbit C'est la vie. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
C'est la vie. (he/him)
#2297: Jan 28th 2021 at 5:06:50 AM

I actually meant to put Horrible.Fanfic. I typed Horrible.Fanfiction by mistake and didn't know the latter existed.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Jan 28th 2021 at 7:08:53 AM

I got a rock for Halloween.
ATricksterArtist Back from the grave. from CH 57 (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Back from the grave.
#2298: Jan 28th 2021 at 5:14:09 AM

[up][up] From the description it just feels like one of those old flash games that only exist for being edgy. Not sure how it got on mobile phones, though.

How's your day been?
GastonRabbit C'est la vie. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
TommyFresh Since: Aug, 2013
#2300: Jan 28th 2021 at 6:08:43 AM

Not sure about cutting Baby Shaker. The main reason it's seen as horrible is due to how offensive it is, but it doesn't seem to have any appeal outside of that. It's a low-effort app that's only reason to exist is shock value. If it was just some random Flash game in some forgotten corner of the Internet then I would agree there's not much point listing it. But given that it somehow managed to get on the app store and received enough of a backlash to be mentioned on the news and removed makes me think it counts.

Edited by TommyFresh on Jan 28th 2021 at 6:09:00 AM


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