I would try to say that I really had nothing new to discuss this week, but the meetings were not optional. And to be clear, the meetings weren't the main reason I left those jobs. They were more just annoyances than anything else. But I feel the same way about stand-ups which are apparently pretty popular.
Sounds like we are pretty similar. I just never saw the benefit as an employee or a manager. I really hate meetings that are unproductive, and weekly 1-on-1s always felt that way.