The Worst TV Show Posters In Recent Memory

What's one way to nudge people to sample your new TV show? Launch it with a fun or clever poster! What's a good way to make sure they never give it a chance? By not choosing your language or visual wisely.

Here, TVLine revisits a few key art posters (and at least one curious cast photo) that surely gave prospective viewers pause as they considered trying a new series (or returning for a new season of a favorite).

Which "bad ads" do you recall striking a nerve with you? And what other ill-conceived promotional posters would you add to the list?

The Playboy Club (NBC, 2011)

Hmmm, the Bunnies' "fluffy tails" is precisely what got the Parents Television Council's knickers in a knot back in May 2011, practically minutes after NBC ordered the retro drama to series. 

Dave (FXX, 2020)

A Lil Dicky is literally hanging out in this poster for the FXX comedy.

Free Agents (NBC, 2011)

This remake of a British comedy starred Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn as PR execs who impetuoulsy hook up, and then try to keep things professional at work. What are we to make of the fact that this poster is from the same pilot season as NBC's aforementioned The Playboy Club...?

Franklin & Bash Season 2 (TNT, 2012)

The year prior, TNT touted the new legal dramedy as "Justice, With a Twist." Season 2 clearly aimed to  push the characters as bad boys, using taglines such as this one as well as "Ripping the Law a New One." 

Fuller House (Netflix, 2020)

The highly Photoshopped key art for the sequel series' farewell run had many a TVLine staffer scratching their head — mainly as we wondered why tyke Tommy was sooo much larger than the grown men standing behind him?!

Arrow (The CW, 2013)

The flagship Arrowverse series never seemed quite sure how to follow up its Season 1 poster, which was all about Stephen Amell's abs and nothing else. (Remember the Season 2 poster and its questionable positioning/ranking of characters?) Things would eventually get back on track with Seasons 4 through 6 and their handsome hero shots, but not before this combo of bad Photoshop and utterly awkward poses — Is everyone walking? What is Roy doing? — hit the Internet.

Do No Harm (NBC, 2013)

This Jekyl-and-Hyde drama had one decent poster (seen here) that clearly communicated the character's duality. The other poster, at left, meanwhile... was just weird. ("He's a surgeon! Who uses his hands! But his hands are a second, evil person! Or something!")

Once Upon a Time (ABC, 2015)

ABC's fairytale-rebooting drama went to the "poison apple" well far too often when conceiving posters for each season. (Some may call it a "motif"; others might consider it lazy.) But this early key art for Season 5 — teasing the emergence of "Dark Swan" Emma — paired the fruit with a shameless knock-off of the Black Swan movie poster.

Thankfully, and presumably once make-up tests had been completed, this better image got swapped in.

Heartbeat (NBC, 2016)

"Hey, Do No Harm! I will see your weird face-hands and raise your bet, with blood-soaked surgical gloves that form a cheerful heart."

Bull (CBS, 2016)

Even back when Michael Weatherly was coming off of his run as NCIS' rakish Tony DiNozzo, this tagline ws regarded to be a bit... much.

The Night Shift (NBC, 2014)

Even long before these ultra-conscientous pandemic times, a motorcyle in a hospital hallway simply doesn't seem very hygenic! 

Work It (ABC, 2012)

From the network who brought you a comedy centered around the idea that men needed to pose as women in order to get hired.