# Cult TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330 "2005-06-01T04:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/1 "2005-06-01T04:29:47Z")
I just spent the last week and a half enjoying the new _NewsRadio_ DVD set, and listening to the commentaries I was reminded of how often the show was “on the bubble,” i.e., very close to being cancelled. Yet at the time, when I was in college, I also remember how devoted the show’s small fan base was. The most timely analogy is _Arrested Development_, also a critically acclaimed show with a small but devoted following (albeit with the added advantage of an Emmy). People always talk about cult movies, but there have been many television shows that, with total disregard for “traditional” TV conventions and in spite of poor ratings and any kind of respect from its network, developed such hardcore followings. My favorites, that I rememeber, in no particular order: _NewsRadio_. Possibly the funniest ensemble cast this side of _AD_. _Mystery Science Theater 3000 Get a Life The Ben Stiller Show Freaks and Geeks The Tick_ (live action) _Mr. Show_ What’s yours? ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/2 "2005-06-01T04:31:20Z")
P.S. _Firefly_ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/3 "2005-06-01T04:38:17Z")
_Monty Python’s Flying Circus Doctor Who Wonderfalls The Prisoner Family Guy The Young Ones The Tick_ (animated) ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/4 "2005-06-01T06:01:44Z")
I’m not sure how “revolutionary” it looks in retrospect, but with the combination of critical respect and network indifference (and the fact that I _do_ love it so) I think _WKRP in Cincinnati_ qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/5 "2005-06-01T12:26:43Z")
Add to the OP’s excellent list: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Late Night With Conan O’Brien The State / Viva Variety The Office (British and American versions) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/6 "2005-06-01T12:43:57Z")
**Popular**. Just bought the DVDs. In just one episode, I caught references to Machiavelli, Joan Crawford, Mary Poppins, Devo, _Cat on a Hot Tin Roof_, and a shot-by-shot parody of the Odessa Steps scene from Eisenstein’s _Battleship Potemkin_. No wonder it only lasted two seasons! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/7 "2005-06-01T13:29:19Z")
> [@neofishboy](#): > > I’m not sure how “revolutionary” it looks in retrospect, but with the combination of critical respect and network indifference (and the fact that I _do_ love it so) I think _WKRP in Cincinnati_ qualifies. This would have been my sitcom choice. A combination of traditional sitcom humor with continuing storylines (Andy vs Mother Carlson for example) and more serious themes. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/8 "2005-06-01T14:05:40Z")
_Star Trek:TOS_ surely qualifies! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/9 "2005-06-01T14:28:07Z")
To the OP’s list of short-lived gems, I would add _Grosse Pointe_ and _Undeclared_. Both brilliant shows, on the level of _Freaks and Geeks_ and _The Tick_. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/10 "2005-06-01T17:03:42Z")
In addition to several shows already named, I love _Twin Peaks_. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/11 "2005-06-01T17:07:52Z")
The Pretender - god I miss that show. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/12 "2005-06-01T17:16:34Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > My favorites, that I rememeber, in no particular order: > > _NewsRadio_. Possibly the funniest ensemble cast this side of _AD_. > _Mystery Science Theater 3000 > Get a Life > The Ben Stiller Show > Freaks and Geeks > The Tick_ (live action) > _Mr. Show_ > > What’s yours? Wow! These ARE mine! My Newsradio DVDs came about 10 minutes ago and I’m so excited to watch them tonight. I’ll add to this list: \*Mr. Bean \* (I even named my cat after him) _Family Guy Undeclared The Young Ones Arrested Development The Critic Kids in the Hall_ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/13 "2005-06-01T18:26:38Z")
Trying not to repeat my favourites which have deservedly been mentioned many times already, I’ll add: \*Blackadder [Worzel Gummidge / Worzel Gummidge Down Under](http://epguides.com/WorzelGummidge/) [The Ernie Kovacs Show](http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/E/htmlE/ErnieKovaksShow/erkovacshow.htm) [Codco](http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/codco/codco.htm) Tenacious D [On the Air](http://www.lynchnet.com/ontheair/) Max Headroom [Bottom](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bottom_7770880.shtml) [The New Statesman](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/n/newstatesmanthe_7774820.shtml) [Little Britain](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/littlebritain/) \* ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/14 "2005-06-01T18:47:42Z")
A perennial favorite in these types of threads: Sports Night. [insert obligatory affirmation of lust for Natalie here] ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cult-tv/306330/15 "2005-06-01T19:15:04Z")
_My So-Called Life_ and what about _The Monkees_?