10 TV Shows That Actually Benefited From Bad Acting

10. Star Trek: The Original Series

William Shatner's indelible performance as Star Trek's original Captain Kirk is iconic for many reasons, one being a certain Family Guy parody which introduced a whole new generation to his deliriously hammy work on The Original Series.

Shatner's time on Trek was defined by his larger-than-life turn in front of the camera, or if we want to be blunt, his blatant overacting.

Shatner left no piece of scenery unchewed throughout the series, his energy shifting unpredictably within scenes while also taking odd, unnatural pauses during dialogue.

Throw in his restless movements and hand gestures and it's clear that Shatner was always playing for the cheap seats, somewhat fitting given that he trained as a classical Shakespearean actor.

While most theatre actors rein in their projection for the small screen, Shatner continued to go big. In a different project it wouldn't necessarily work, yet in something as heightened as Star Trek it absolutely did, in large part because of Shatner's charming, unrelenting commitment.

Even in the weakest Trek episode, it was worth tuning in just to see Shatner's idiosyncratic line readings and wild gesticulations.