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The Best Worst

Night Vale Presents
The Sopranos
Star Trek: the Next Generation
American Horror Story
The Office
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Happy Days
Gilmore Girls
The Wire
Friends
The X-Files
Cheers
House
The Simpsons
I Love Lucy
Seinfeld
Sex and the City
Law & Order
Murder House
Return To Murder House
New York City

Welcome to Night Vale's Meg Bashwiner and Joseph Fink consider the Golden Age of Television, at its best and its worst. Each episode, we consider a classic show by watching first its worst IMDB user rated episode, and then its best. What can we learn by watching the best and worst of classic TV? Let's find out together.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV ReviewsTV & Film

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Artwork for The Best Worst

Latest Episodes

The Cosby Show

1984-1992

197 episodes

Worst episode: s8 e22 You Can't Stop The Music

Best episode: S2.E22 ∙ Theo's Holiday

Hey so I don't know if you heard about this but

To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes an... more

We have unlocked this patreon only Middlest episode so you can hear what they're like. If you'd like to hear the Middlest for all of our episodes, please support us on patreon.

patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Murder, She Wrote

1984-1996

2... more

Murder, She Wrote

1984-1996

264 episodes

Worst episode: s7 e18 Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?

Best episode: S1.E18 ∙ Murder Takes the Bus

Being Old has never looked so good.

To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episode... more

Roseanne

1988-1997

221 episodes

Middlest episode: s2 e16 Born to be Wild

Born to work with Steppenwolf and the Delacorte Theater

To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" epi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

JO. Sanders
Actor mentioned in episode
Theatre
Episode: Ep 62: Roseanne's Middlest PATREON PREVIEW
Mandy Moore
Guest star in Grey's Anatomy episodes discussed
Grey's Anatomy / ABC
Episode: Ep 59: Grey's Anatomy
Busy Philipps
Actress known for film/TV work
Episode: Ep 56: Dawson's Middlest Creek PATREON PREVIEW
Rob Benedict
Actor, cast of Supernatural
Supernatural
Episode: Ep 51: Lost
Richard Spate
Actor, cast of Supernatural
Supernatural
Episode: Ep 51: Lost

Hosts

Meg Bashwiner
Host of The Best Worst; also involved in Middlest formats; long-running contributor to Night Vale Presents projects.
Joseph Fink
Co-host of The Best Worst; frequent collaborator with Meg Bashwiner; involved in Middlest formats and broader Night Vale Presents projects.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • Good concept but needs work

    This podcast is a really excellent concept. But it is badly hurt by Joseph's unrelenting criticism of the shows and his monopolizing of the conversation. Also, they should move swiftly through the bad episodes. Focus on the good ones.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    clintonk
    Canadaa month ago
  • Mister Ed Speaks to Me

    Without new episodes of The Best Worst landing on my Podcast home page I believed that the show had been canceled. Glad to see that I had just forgotten to follow the show. Lucky me, I now have four episodes to binge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Enthusedd
    United States3 months ago
  • Pretty Good Show

    The hosts are annoyingly liberal and let their views bleed through which takes away from the content. However, if you can get past that, they are very thorough and give great reviews of the shows that were so influential in American life.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Buhrmmat
    United States3 months ago
  • Makes Me Miss TV

    These two have such a way with taking a look at what is fun and good and interesting about the best and worst from old (and new) tv. It’s fun to get lots of contextual behind the scene details about writers and television and just hearing about tv I haven’t seen (sorry Mr Ed fans I’m new here). I’m also delighted to hear thoughts about my favorite shows that I have seen while getting a little lesson in television history. Love the diverse range in shows and I look forward to more of the best wor... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bri Perry
    United States4 months ago
  • my go to show at work

    if i had a nickel for every time i decided to finally get around to watching something and then the best worst announced next weeks episode was that show so i had to speed watch it before i could listen id have three nickels, which isnt a lot, but its weird that its happened thrice.

    anyways i love this show! i listen to it almost every shift i work. it’s a really fun and interesting look at a media format i know very little about beyond “i watch it sometimes” done by people who clearly care abo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sfbutdarhji
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the deep dives into classic TV and behind-the-scenes trivia.
Occasional critiques of host banter noted, but overall content is engaging and informative.
Positive on guest variety and thorough episode research, with some discussions about pacing and balance

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unlocked! Ep 28: The Middlest Sopranos
Q: How does this episode connect to the overarching themes in 'The Sopranos'?
The episode reflects on themes of identity, power, and the conflicts that arise within family dynamics, especially after a divorce, showcasing the impacts on both Tony and AJ.
Unlocked! Ep 28: The Middlest Sopranos
Q: What were your thoughts on Tony's relationships in this episode?
Tony struggles with the realization that he has no real friends, only people who fear him, highlighting a deeper theme of loneliness and respect within his life.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Worst

What is The Best Worst about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show takes a high-velocity, nerd-cation approach to classic television by analyzing the best and worst episodes of a given series, then unpacking what those extremes reveal about storytelling, pacing, and cultural impact. Guests, production trivia, and behind-the-scenes chatter enrich discussions, while a recurring Patreon-driven Middlest format explores deeper context and cross-promo opportunities. The hosts' lively banter and strong show-specific voice make for thoughtful yet playful critiques that appeal to lovers of TV history, analysis, and pop culture nostalgia. A standout trait is the blend of affectionate nostalgia with rigorous critique, plus a willingness to connect historical TV moments to today's media landscape and fan disc... more

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How many listeners does The Best Worst get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Best Worst?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Best Worst:

1. Random Number Generator Horror Podcast No. 9
2. Welcome to Night Vale
3. Alice Isn't Dead
4. Mission To Zyxx
5. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

How many episodes of The Best Worst are there?

The Best Worst launched a year ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Best Worst?

Recent guests on The Best Worst include:

1. JO. Sanders
2. Mandy Moore
3. Busy Philipps
4. Rob Benedict
5. Richard Spate

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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