The 25 Worst Seasons of Great TV Shows

Sometimes the best can feel like the worst.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Everybody makes mistakes. It's sometimes hard to admit that in the age of overzealous Internet criticism and ardent fanboy defenses of any decent media that comes down the pike. No matter how bad it is to openly acknowledge, even the best shows can have down moments, or even down years. While some televisions shows, like The Wire and Arrested Development were able to make it through their run without a weak season, most programs, especially those that enjoy long runs, occasionally, and disastrously, run afoul.

Off seasons can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a show loses a showrunner, other times they can't negotiate a new contract with the lead actor, and from time to time the story just comes to an end before the ratings and accompanying ad money are ready to call it quits.

When Groucho Marx said, "They can't all be gems," he was, prophetically speaking, talking about The 25 Worst Seasons of Great TV Shows. Or so we'd like to think.

Written by Brenden Gallagher (muddycreekU)

25. Parks and Recreation, Season 1 (NBC; April 9, 2009 - May 14, 2009)

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24. Felicity, Season 4 (The WB; October 10, 2001 - May 22, 2002)

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23. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 6 (UPN; October 2, 2001 - May 21, 2002)

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22. Prison Break, Season 2 (Fox; August 21, 2006 - April 2, 2007)

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21. Northern Exposure, Season 6 (CBS; September 19, 1994 - July 26, 1995)

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20. Homeland, Season 2 (Showtime; September 30, 2012 - December 16, 2012)

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19. The Daily Show, Season 1 (Comedy Central)

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18. Lost, Season 3 (ABC; October 4, 2006 - May 23, 2007)

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17. The X-Files, Season 8 (Fox; November 5, 2000 - May 20, 2001)

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16. Gilmore Girls, Season 7 (The CW; September 22, 2006 - May 15, 2007)

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15. The Cosby Show, Season 6 (NBC; September 24, 1989 - May 3, 1990)

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14. Weeds, Season 4 (Showtime; June 16, 2008 - September 15, 2008)

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13. Rescue Me, Season 4 (FX; June 13, 2007 - September 12, 2007)

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12. Justified, Season 1 (FX; March 16, 2010 - June 8, 2010)

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11. Seinfeld, Season 8 (NBC; September 19, 1996 - May 15, 1997)

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10. Californication, Season 3 (Showtime; September 27, 2009 - December 13, 2009)

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9. Sons of Anarchy, Season 4 (FX; September 6, 2011 - December 6, 2011)

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8. The West Wing, Season 5 (NBC; September 24, 2003 - May 19, 2004)

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7. The Office, Season 8 (NBC; September 22, 2011 - May 10, 2012)

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6. The Simpsons, Season 1 (Fox; December 17, 1989 - May 13, 1990)

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5. All in the Family, Season 8 (CBS; October 2, 1997 - March 19, 1978)

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4. Scrubs, Season 9 (ABC; December 1, 2009 - March 17, 2010)

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3. Roseanne, Season 9 (ABC; September 17, 1996 - May 20, 1997)

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2. Dallas, Season 9 (CBS; September 27, 1985 - May 16, 1986)

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1. Friday Night Lights, Season 2 (NBC; October 5, 2007 - February 8, 2008)

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