Before there was reality TV … almost before there was YouTube … for about 15 minutes on the A&E network, there was The Straight Dope.
You might have missed it. It was something very different, even for basic cable, and if it had run in, say, 2006, it probably would have been a big success.
In 1996 it was too weird for the room.
Here’s a little clip of it. Please overlook that semi-Comic Sans on the front; that was hip in 1996, though Lordhavemercy, I do not know why.
your humble TubaDivaI have wondered for quite some time why “Mythbusters” always seemed to be doing a lot of Straight Dope columns (as in, “Hey, Unca Cecil covered that several years ago, Adam, are you gonna give him credit?” [My thoughts while watching MBs]).
Just musing.
That opening bit on the YouTube clip looks like “The Real World–Cecil Adams.” 
That show is why I learned of the Straight Dope.
Wow this was 1996? I totally watched that show, but I didn’t come to the SD website until about 1999, and the boards in 2001.
I know I didn’t come by the column from the show - I definitely came by the show because of the column. So I must have known of the column from whatever local alt paper it was in. How hip of me! At the age of 16!
I never thought about how I came to be here. Thanks for reminding me to think about it
“See-Silll” Adams??? Ugh.
I literally never think sessil Adams. I only rarely think that when thinking about a British Cecil and never about an American.
That’s why the show was cancelled - the pronunciation proved too controversial. The SD can only work in print.
I remember being up at oh-dark-thirty with the baby, watching that show. I had the book already.
That was the big hit of the time, wasn’t it? Complete with that shaky ass hand held camera thing, which TSD indulged in as well. Some people complained that made it difficult to watch. May not have helped the cause.
Mythbusters did use material from TSD and usually referred to it in some way, though more often obliquely, like mentioning “Uncle Cecil” and, more often “as discussed on a popular message board.” They should have paid royalties!
Fall of 1996. Had just opened for business on AOL, too.
Wonder what Mike Lukas is up to today. To quote from the late great Bill Hicks, I hope he’s not appearing at the Comedy Pouch in Possum Ridge, Arkansas … (No disrespect to Comedy, pouches, or Possum Ridge …)
He now seems to have retired from stand up and does freelance writing for a Cleveland Browns fansite.
I don’t think it would have been a success as a series in 2006, frankly. Obviously it would depend on how they developed it since '96 series is such a product of its time (as noted: shaky cam, comic sans and unmentioned little purple host pop ups) but it could have gotten a solid youtube following.