# Top 9 SDMB Cultural Icons--Tolkien, Beatles... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112 "2010-06-06T00:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/1 "2010-06-06T00:15:54Z")
There are artists and creative works that have large fan bases here with new threads being started year after year. Such as: **Tolkien** **Princess Bride** **The Beatles** Those three are the most conspicuous to me. They receive respect from a lot of posters. Other possibilities include: **The Simpsons, Coen Brothers, Monty Python, Godfather films, LOTR movies, Star Wars.** …\*\*Buffy, South Park, Casablanca? Heinlein? They Might Be Giants? Queen? \*\* What artists and creations do you see as the most widely (and conspicuously) respected on this board? Top five, top nine, top seven, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/2 "2010-06-06T00:21:25Z")
Harry Potter and Rush should be on that list. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/3 "2010-06-06T00:22:47Z")
JRR Tolkien and Joss Whedon are the obvious two to me. The Simpsons, Star Trek, and Star Wars wound round out the top five, I think. I don’t know what the other five would be. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/4 "2010-06-06T00:24:09Z")
I’ll add Star Trek (all of it) to that list. There’s always 2 or 3 threads about it on here. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/5 "2010-06-06T00:25:36Z")
Batman/general comics/movies derived therefrom ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/6 "2010-06-06T00:56:42Z")
Joss Whedon for sure, even if a lot of people don’t like him. He factors big time into this site. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/7 "2010-06-06T00:59:22Z")
Terry Pratchett ---
**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:** [June 6, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/8 "2010-06-06T01:40:09Z")
Toss in Neil Gaiman as well. Stan Lee’s creations ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/9 "2010-06-06T02:19:00Z")
Eating stupid food for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/10 "2010-06-06T02:25:27Z")
Big Bang Theory? Blade Runner? They tend to be popular in environments that slant to geek 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/11 "2010-06-06T03:51:22Z")
Pratchett might well be the number 2 author behind JRRT. Rowlings has a higher recognition rate, but probably not as much respect. On the television side, Joss Whedon does get a lot of play, but probably plays 2nd fiddle to **Seinfeld**. Pixar Studios gets consistent respect for it’s films, but I’m not sure if a production company should qualify. Hayao Miyazaki garners a lot of praise, but I couldn’t guess if he’s in the top nine. After a few days of nominations, I’ll try to organize a fair poll, and see if a top nine can be selected. Possibly with an option to vote on whether each nominee is either excellent/brilliant or overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/12 "2010-06-06T03:58:31Z")
Are The Beatles all that popular here? I mean sure, they’re one of the most successful and beloved musical acts of all time, but I haven’t noticed that there are that many threads about them. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/13 "2010-06-06T04:12:23Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Are The Beatles all that popular here? I mean sure, they’re one of the most successful and beloved musical acts of all time, but I haven’t noticed that there are that many threads about them. A “just now” search turns up 48 threads with “Beatles” in the title in the last two years. Or 49 if you include this thread. :^) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/14 "2010-06-06T04:20:32Z")
Seinfeld over Joss? I’ve never noticed that this board has a huge hard-on for Seinfeld, but the Buffy and Firefly love here is ridiculous, and I say that as a fan of both series. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/15 "2010-06-06T04:44:13Z")
**Mystery Science Theater** , and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/16 "2010-06-06T04:45:56Z")
The works of Heinlen. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/17 "2010-06-06T04:51:12Z")
And Dr. Who, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/18 "2010-06-06T05:19:38Z")
For better or for worse: **Tolkien Whedon Star Wars (Lucas et al) Star Trek (Roddenberry et al) Simpsons DC Comics Marvel Comics** … and I can’t think of two more of equal stature here. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/19 "2010-06-06T13:34:46Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Seinfeld over Joss? I’ve never noticed that this board has a huge hard-on for Seinfeld, but the Buffy and Firefly love here is ridiculous, and I say that as a fan of both series. Results of searching for threads started in the last 3 years, with at least 6 responses, including the word: Seinfeld – 23 Buffy – 28 Firefly – 14 Percentage of people ranking the shows as one of the 10 best ever in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=928): Buffy: 17% Seinfeld: 28% Firefly: 23% Seinfeld is in 3rd place in the TV poll, behind MASH and the Simpsons (which is destroying all competition.) So for the individual shows, you could say it’s a toss-up, but Whedon’s oeuvre definitely tops Larry David’s. In the TV poll **The Daily Show** is doing great. Tied for 4th I think. **The Twilight Zone** is finding a lot of love as well. ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112/20 "2010-06-06T14:11:30Z")
the final episode of newhart [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-9-sdmb-cultural-icons-tolkien-beatles/542112.md?page=2)