Holy crap, I remember these shows. They weren't very good, and they certainly haven't aged well.
But, if you want the king of crappy syndicated sitcoms, you have to go to the 90's. Specifically, 1990 and the show What a Dummy. The plot was exactly what you would expect from such a title: average TV sitcom family inherits trunk from an elderly relative. Said trunk contains a living ventriloquist dummy, Buzz, who has been locked up for 50 years. But instead of going on a murderous rampage (perfectly believable, as Buzz is the creepiest marionette this side of Chucky), he decides to live with the family and dispense advice and support. Hijinks ensue. Bottom line: the show wasn't good at all, and only lasted one season. But it's memorable for being an early starring role for a young Stephen Doriff.
But, if you want the king of crappy syndicated sitcoms, you have to go to the 90's. Specifically, 1990 and the show What a Dummy. The plot was exactly what you would expect from such a title: average TV sitcom family inherits trunk from an elderly relative. Said trunk contains a living ventriloquist dummy, Buzz, who has been locked up for 50 years. But instead of going on a murderous rampage (perfectly believable, as Buzz is the creepiest marionette this side of Chucky), he decides to live with the family and dispense advice and support. Hijinks ensue. Bottom line: the show wasn't good at all, and only lasted one season. But it's memorable for being an early starring role for a young Stephen Doriff.