NPR Replay: The Worst of Everything

NPR Replay

From sour lemons to dull prose, we survey the best of the truly bad. Naming the 'worst' of anything is subjective, and often done for sport, but some will say it's all for the best.

April 8, 2000

The Sourest Lemons

Many cars have made history because of their propensity to blow up or fall apart, and in 2000, Car Talk listeners cast their votes for the worst cars of the millennium. While many classic lemons, such as the Chevy Vega (left), made the list, other choices were a little surprising.

Jan. 19, 2003

Putting Your Worst Foot Forward

Today's job market is tough, but many people are scuttling their chances for an interview. Liz Hughes of Resumania.com discusses the worst resume mistakes of all time, including the statement, "I'm a hard worker, and can endure the boredom of working."

Feb. 12, 2004

The Year of Singing Dangerously

1974 had many memorable moments, including Richard Nixon's resignation. But according to Washington Post critic Tim Page, the year also has the distinction of producing the worst songs in history, including "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" and "Seasons in the Sun."

June 26, 2002

The Ode-orous Scotsman

Scottish poet William Topaz McGonagall has been called the worst poet of the English language. In 2002, the city of Dundee celebrated the man who wrote classic lines such as, "For the stronger we our houses do build, the less chance we have of being killed."

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The 2004 Winning Entry in the Bulwer-Lytton Contest, which rewards the worst fiction of the year

She resolved to end the love affair with Ramon tonight... summarily, like Martha Stewart ripping the sand vein out of a shrimp's tail... though the term 'love affair' now struck her as a ridiculous euphemism ... not unlike 'sand vein,' which is after all an intestine, not a vein... and that tarry substance inside certainly isn't sand... and that brought her back to Ramon.