Bad Shows that Are Still Inexplicably on the Air

A lot of attention is given to the little show that couldn't. The cult hit that just couldn't make it on network television. On the other side of that is the show that gets too season after season produces sub par plot lines and yet, they survive again and again.

1. "Desperate Housewives." A few short years ago, this show was the talk of the town. It had a fresh plot, intrigue, suspense and humor. But after the original mystery was revealed, the show has struggled to keep its audience. The writers decided the way to do this was to model every season after the first. With a huge unbelievable scandal rocking Wisteria Lane and a revolving door of housewives that never last past their first season on the show. The show has gotten progressively more ridiculous and less watchable, and yet, it's still taking up a coveted space on the TV schedule.

2. "Heroes." Similarly, this show built the first season on saving the cheerleader and saving the world. After the first season, they had to start fresh. And it appears that their writers never quite returned from the Writer's Strike. After their freshman season, the show completely fell apart and viewers ran away faster than if Sylar was after them. New heroes and powers couldn't save this show, and in all likelihood probably hurt it. No stunt character killing can save this show now and it should be wrapped up or cancelled while it still has at least ten viewers.

3. "The Real World." Once upon a time, years before the world discovered reality TV, "The Real World" premiered on MTV and it was groundbreaking. No one could imagine the drama that would ensue from putting seven random people in a house and watching them 24/7. For a few years, the show was a hit. Every new city brought a new cast of characters that you would love or love to hate. Twenty-two long seasons later and no one wants to watch what happens when strangers stop being nice and start being real. There are simply better reality TV shows out there and audiences have had enough. It's time to put this show in the pop culture time capsule.

4. "Nip/Tuck." Another example of a show that has plot lines so unbelievable that they're practically unwatchable is the ever-disappointing "Nip/Tuck." This show was cutting edge a few years ago. It was a wonderfully dramatic ode to vanity. But as time went on, it became more and more convoluted and less and less about plastic surgery. The show jumped the shark when it up and moved from Miami to California. Dr. Troy and Dr. McNamara should just stop dancing around it and get together so they can ride off into Sunset Blvd together, because there's only room for one L.A. surgeon and that's Dr. 90210.

5. "24." Jack Bauer has simply lost his touch. No one will disagree that the show's concept is innovative and fresh but after seven action-packed seasons, the stories have become stale and repetitive. The show is already a classic but it's getting dangerously close to ruining its legacy with more bad seasons created for the purpose of assassinating, blowing up and giving a lethal virus to a very dead horse. This dying franchise's time has run out.

What all these shows have in common is that they were once great. And a hit is hard to let go for all involved, but you have to know when to quit so you can go out with dignity. Here's to great TV and to going out on top.