Monday, July 2, 2007

do do do do...do do do do...do do do do

Yep, TV Guide recently released their list of the top 30 cult tv shows. I guess a show can be defined as "cult" if half the poplulation has never heard of it (who the hell is Mary Hartman and why does she keep repeating herself?) or has that air of oddball mystique around it (Twin Peaks!). Of course, Doctor Who deserves it's place there and the only thing I'm not happy about is Arrested Development's exclusion. Ah, well. Here's the whole list (an asterix denotes a new addition, another version of this list was first published three years ago).


30) Strangers with Candy (1999-2000)*
29) Absolutely Fabulous (1994-2003)
28) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)*
27) H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971)
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1975-1978)
25) Firefly (2002-2003)*
24) Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
23) Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
22) Doctor Who (1963-present)
21) Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

20) The Avengers (1966-1969)
19) Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
18) Veronica Mars (2004-2007)*
17) Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990)
16) Babylon 5 (1994-1998)
15) Family Guy (1999-present)
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003-present)*
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1989-1999)
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986-1991)
11) Jericho (2006-present)*

10) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
9) Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
8) The Simpsons (1989-present)
7) The Prisoner (1967-1968)
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
5) Lost (2004-present)*
4) Farscape (1999-2003)
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
2) The X-Files (1993-2002)
1) Star Trek (1966-1969)



Thoughts? Comments?

6 comments:

J.D. said...

How is "Lost" a cult show? Someone explain that, please...

Catherine said...

How is it not? I've never watched it myself, but it's a cross-genre, slightly offbeat programme with a rabid fan base. How is it not a cult show? If popularity is a factor damning it, then The Simpsons, Buffy, Star Trek etc are all screwed too.

Ann Marie said...

I watch or have watched 8 of the shows on that list. Stargate SG-1, Firefly, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica(so far just the mini series), Xena(when I was younger), The Simpsons, LOST, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Yeah bit of a sci-fi geek.

Damien Kelly said...

YES!!!! Star Trek numero uno!! :D:D:D

Unmutual said...

WHAT?!?! *ahem* I repeat, WHAT?!?! I'm with J.D. here, wth is Lost doing on that list? It's not as clever and odd as it thinks it is, it doesn't have a niche fandom, it's about as large as commercial successes sans Beatles get. Have I missed any bases here? There is a rabid fan base, but you'll find most TV shows/films have a cabal of obsessive fans. It is a bit wacky, but only because it's decided to be - unlike, say, Twin Peaks which is actually weird. Lost is one of those trend-following teens who think they're really cool and emo just because they've got the glasses. Know what I mean?

Perhaps I'm just annoyed it came higher than the Prisoner, which deserved the no 6 spot...but as my sister is one of the rabid fans mentioned above, I speak from a household with considerable Lost authority. No chance...Sorry, the c-word gets my blood up. The Simpsons also, in my opinion, is a bit popular to be truly cult, but I can kinda see where they're coming from. Monty Python?! I suppose...and I'd agree Buffy, Firefly and Dr Who (esp. the classic series) were cult. But Lost? NOOOOOOOOO.

Emma said...

Heya!

Thanks for signing up to my “Performance that Changed Your Life” blogathon. Time has flown, and it is this Saturday! So this is just a poke from me to remind you.

Looking forward to reading your entry,
Emma.