# Short-lived but influential **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2007, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231 "2007-03-09T09:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/1 "2007-03-09T09:23:28Z")
I’m asking dopers to remember short lived but profoundly influential TV shows, or shows that had an impact more profound on the cultural memory than their relatively brief status on TV would indicate. Some examples: certain BBC plays of the week, which were one-offs, like [Cathy Come Home](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059020/) have been profoundly influential, or [The Prisoner](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061287/) which has a reputation and mystique which seems to be magnified by the vexing unanswered questions the show left. Or even [this 38 episode wonder](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057751/) which has left an indelible stamp on the popular memory of a generation. What other short lived series have cast so long a shadow? mm ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/2 "2007-03-09T09:27:52Z")
Arrested Development ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/3 "2007-03-09T09:48:03Z")
“[Police Squad!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Squad) was cancelled because the viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/4 "2007-03-09T13:57:25Z")
**Twin Peaks**. The influence is very strong, even though the show only lasted a season and a half. **The Honeymooners**. Only 39 episodes (as a separate show), but endlessly repeated until it became a touchstone of popular culture. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/5 "2007-03-09T14:04:54Z")
The Prisoner–Cult classic, Simpson spoof, and[Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_022c.html). How much more influential can a seventeen episode show get? ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/6 "2007-03-09T14:07:47Z")
Well, it certainly influenced **mamboman** in the OP! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/7 "2007-03-09T14:34:22Z")
Dang, I saw the title and thought first of _The Prisoner_ and _Twin Peaks_. Well, there are influential mini-series like _Roots_. As for regular series… What about _Busom Buddies_, for launching the career of Tom Hanks? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/8 "2007-03-09T16:27:56Z")
[QUOTE=mamboman] Or even [this 38 episode wonder](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057751/) which has left an indelible stamp on the popular memory of a generation. [/QUOTE] Your link says Gilligan’s Island ran for _98_ episodes. Which is a pretty respectable run for a TV show. I also think in 5 years Arrested Development will be a television footnote. No influence for you! As for me, call me a Whedon-obsessed fanboy, but I think Firefly will hold a place in people’s hearts for years to come. Not necessarily because of an increase in Western Sci-Fi, but because all of the actors are moving on to bigger and better things. And Firefly is the jumping off point for a lot of these people (Adam Baldwin and Ron Glass notwithstanding). ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/9 "2007-03-09T16:33:20Z")
[Fawlty Towers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers). Only twelve episodes to establish a highly influential classic cult comedy series. ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/10 "2007-03-09T16:36:52Z")
I have to agree with Justin. I absolutely LOVED Arrested Development, but what continuing influence has it had? Now there was this one series in the '60s that lasted less than 3 full seasons…Had some characters named Kirk and Spock, I believe… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/11 "2007-03-09T16:44:10Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] Your link says Gilligan’s Island ran for _98_ episodes. Which is a pretty respectable run for a TV show. [/QUOTE] But look at the cast list - Bob Denver, 38 episodes. Alan Hale Jr., 37 episodes. Etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/12 "2007-03-09T16:46:50Z")
[Homefront](http://imdb.com/title/tt0101121/) was a fan favorite, so much so that I’ve heard that Dear Abby , the columnist, even lobbied for it’s renewal. I do not know if this is true but I loved the series and wish it were in syndication right now. I really do miss this show. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/13 "2007-03-09T16:47:02Z")
That’s a problem with IMDB’s switchover to individual listings for episodes of TV shows. Only 38 episodes have been updated. The remaining 60 (which you can under the “Episode List” link) don’t have any cast members listed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/14 "2007-03-09T16:47:53Z")
IMDB is in a state of flux, so you can’t go by the episode lists for cast members. They are all off. I agree on **Arrested Development**. Footnote at best. Totally forgotten is more likely. What about mini-series? **Roots** and **Rich Man, Poor Man** still influence the genre today. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/15 "2007-03-09T16:52:51Z")
Posted by **silenus** > [@](#): > > What about mini-series? Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man still influence the genre today. I don’t know how RMPM influenced anyone else but god damn, I have had the hots for William Smith ever since. Falconetti rules! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/16 "2007-03-09T16:54:36Z")
“I am not a number! I am a free man!” Tris ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/17 "2007-03-09T16:55:06Z")
ARE WE FORGETTING STAR-TREK?!!? It was only on for 3 seasons and see what its done to the face of pop-culture science fiction. bastards… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/18 "2007-03-09T16:58:00Z")
[QUOTE=Surbey] ARE WE FORGETTING STAR-TREK?!!? [/QUOTE] Aw, c’mon, **Surbey**. The OP said _influential_. It’s not like the show became a franchise over the next 30 years or anything. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/19 "2007-03-09T17:01:46Z")
[QUOTE=Surbey] ARE WE FORGETTING STAR-TREK?!!? It was only on for 3 seasons and see what its done to the face of pop-culture science fiction. bastards… [/QUOTE] …or was referred to in post #10 or anything ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231/20 "2007-03-09T18:30:14Z")
_The Office_ – the BBC version, that is. _The Ben Stiller Show_ – Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Dick… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-lived-but-influential/395231.md?page=2)