# TV Shows that made a big pop culture splash but are now disproportionately forgotten **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849 "2014-11-17T13:36:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/21 "2014-11-17T15:24:58Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Here Come The Brides. Mail order brides sent to loggers in Seattle, starring Bobby Sherman and Joan Blondell. … Well, it was a big deal to me and other teenage girls back in the day 😛 - we discussed it in depth the next day at school, if not on the phone right after an airing. I remember this show. I don’t recall ever watching it, but I can probably still sing the theme song. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/22 "2014-11-17T15:25:35Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **Twin Peaks.** _ Far from forgotten, and coming back in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/23 "2014-11-17T15:28:01Z")
_ **ST: TNG** _ has not aged well **at all** , IMHO. (And I thought a lot of episodes were really stupid when they were first aired.) But I doubt this matters much to anyone other than _ **Trek** _ fans. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/24 "2014-11-17T15:30:56Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Far from forgotten, and coming back in 2016. If the remake is good, they might snare a whole new generation of watchers. But how many people who saw the original 20-odd years ago are going to be moved to watch it? I was actually quite surprised at how well the remake of \*\*\*Dallas \*\*\*did (it ran for three seasons), and I was sorry to see it cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/25 "2014-11-17T16:03:42Z")
**glee** is definitely heading that way. It was super buzz-worthy in its first season (and actually was a decent show to boot). ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/26 "2014-11-17T16:13:07Z")
[Max Headroom.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089568/?ref_=nv_sr_1) ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/27 "2014-11-17T16:22:44Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The original _ **CSI** _ was a huge international hit, but I never hear it mentioned these days. (Is it still even on?) I quit watching not long after William Peterson left the series, but ten years ago, I couldn’t wait to see what it was going to be about this week! CSI is still on. It now stars Ted Danson, in what I think is his best performance ever, and I’m still really enjoying it. While I agree that it has lost its impact on pop culture, its influence is still being felt every day in the justice system, where both criminals and jurors have ideas about scientific evidence derived from the show. It is starting to look like this is probably the show’s last year, and its episode order was just cut. I would add \*\*\*Murphy Brown \*\*\*to the list. Very relevant to the politics of its time, but outdated now. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/28 "2014-11-17T16:30:05Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > CSI is still on. It now stars Ted Danson, in what I think is his best performance ever, and I’m still really enjoying it. While I agree that it has lost its impact on pop culture, its influence is still being felt every day in the justice system, where both criminals and jurors have ideas about scientific evidence derived from the show. It is starting to look like this is probably the show’s last year, and its episode order was just cut. And the [Puts on Sunglasses](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/puts-on-sunglasses-yeeeeaaahhh) meme still has some currency… ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/29 "2014-11-17T17:27:00Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > If the remake is good, they might snare a whole new generation of watchers. But how many people who saw the original 20-odd years ago are going to be moved to watch it? > > I was actually quite surprised at how well the remake of \*\*\*Dallas \*\*\*did (it ran for three seasons), and I was sorry to see it cancelled. Since the original has been on Netflix there’s been a surge of interest among young people. Somebody even created a red room display at this year’s burning man. [http://welcometotwinpeaks.com/inspiration/burning-man-twin-peaks-black-lodge/](http://welcometotwinpeaks.com/inspiration/burning-man-twin-peaks-black-lodge/) And yes, there is great interest in it’s return, _especially_ among fans of the original. It’s not really a remake, it’s a continuation by the original writers / directors with the original cast and it takes place 25 years later. Since the original was cancelled after a season ending cliffhanger, many many fans are interested in the resolution of those cliffhangers, and it’s been strongly hinted that they will be resolved. It probably won’t even make a lot of sense to people unfamiliar with the original. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/30 "2014-11-17T18:08:34Z")
[Hill Street Blues](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081873/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). This was a series that literally rewrote the rules on how to tell a dramatic story on television. It won a truckload of Emmy awards, spawned a host of imitators and launched Dennis Franz’s career, as well as the catchphrase “Let’s be careful out there.” Even more importantly, NBC chose to renew it despite (like _Cheers_) terrible ratings because it was so damn good. It never did well in syndication and today is even less remembered than its medical story sidekick _St. Elsewhere_. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/31 "2014-11-17T18:11:21Z")
Love, American Style. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/32 "2014-11-17T18:18:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Captain Video – still the most successful SF TV show (more episodes than Doctor Who), and the zero point for all US SF TV shows > The Quatermass Xperiment – not as successful, but the zero point for UK televised science fiction > > Laugh-In – its influence on comedy is everywhere. Quatermass isn’t exactly forgotten. Not only do a lot of fans remember him (I especially like the 2nd anf third serials, which I saw in the movie versions, titled in America **enemy from Space** and **Five Million Years to Earth** ), but \*\*The Quatermass Experiment was re-done live on British TV as recently as 2005: > **[The Quatermass Experiment (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quatermass_Experiment_(2005_TV_film))** > > The Quatermass Experiment is a 2005 live television film remake of the 1953 television series of the same title by Nigel Kneale. > Jason Flemyng was cast as Quatermass, with long-time Kneale admirer Mark Gatiss as Paterson, Andrew Tiernan as Carroon, Indira Varma as his wife Judith, David Tennant as Briscoe, Adrian Bower as Fullalove and Adrian Dunbar as Lomax—as a Ministry of Defence official rather than a policeman. Isla Blair was cast as Home Secretary Margaret Blaker, a combination of parts ... ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/33 "2014-11-17T18:31:02Z")
Eight Is Enough Party of Five Knot’s Landing Laverne & Shirley Alf Flipper The Wild, Wild West Bionic Woman Gidgit The Waltons The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/34 "2014-11-17T18:37:35Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > [Hill Street Blues](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081873/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). This was a series that literally rewrote the rules on how to tell a dramatic story on television. It won a truckload of Emmy awards, spawned a host of imitators and launched Dennis Franz’s career, as well as the catchphrase “Let’s be careful out there.” Even more importantly, NBC chose to renew it despite (like _Cheers_) terrible ratings because it was so damn good. > > It never did well in syndication and today is even less remembered than its medical story sidekick _St. Elsewhere_. Don’t forget that the theme song reached #10 on the billboard charts. I have seen HSB in syndication but not recently. I don’t think it did well there or was too expensive. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/35 "2014-11-17T18:40:54Z")
Back in the Eighties, \*\*\*Miami Vice \*\*\*was more than just a popular cop show. It also had a big impact on fashions. LOADS of men were dressing like Don Johnson and trying to wear stubble like his. The show helped turn songs into hits. But now? It’s never shown in re-runs and hardly anybody remembers it. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/36 "2014-11-17T18:41:42Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Back in the Eighties, \*\*\*Miami Vice \*\*\*was more than just a popular cop show. had a big impact on fashions. LOADS of men were dressing like Don Johnson and trying to wear stubble like his. The show helped turn songs into hits. > > But now? It’s never shown in re-reuns and hardly anybody remembers it. Good call. Miami Vice was huge. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/37 "2014-11-17T18:45:51Z")
I can think of a show that WAS enormously popular in its day, that millions of people watched and quoted, BUT …which nobody my age (53) or younger has ever seen. …which many people are afraid to mention, because they’ve been told it’s considered taboo, wholly beyond the pale! _ **Amos and Andy** _! Hardly anybody has seen it, but everyone knows it’s wickedly racist, and must never be re-broadcast or even brought up. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/38 "2014-11-17T18:46:54Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I agree. Twin Peaks to me is the exact opposite of this phenomena, which is a show that wasn’t huge when it was on but has only attained more cultural relevance over time. “Twin Peaks” was incredibly popular the first season it was on. Very much discussed the next morning (I think it was on on Monday nights?), around the water cooler, and I know a bunch of folks I hung out with at the time who had the soundtrack. The second season seemed to go off the rails, and fade, the movie didn’t make much of splash. Another show that was incredibly popular in syndication when I was growing up, but doesn’t seem to be around is “Barney Miller”. Very funny, and literate. The problem is, that there are very few shows that are going to be remembered by people unless the show goes into syndication. My teenaged daughter doesn’t know “The Love Boat”, but if you are over 30, you’ve probably seen an episode in syndication. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/39 "2014-11-17T18:50:14Z")
I don’t know if it was as popular outside of my age group, but I remember the show [Amazing Stories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Stories_(TV_series)) being pretty big. I haven’t heard anyone talk about it in years. And it seems like you don’t hear much about [Unsolved Mysteries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_Mysteries) anymore, either. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849/40 "2014-11-17T18:52:24Z")
“Make Room for Daddy” ran from 1953-1964 yet only two years ever came on DVD. Being in black and white probably hurt it in tv syndication, although “I Love Lucy” never suffered from that. “Archie Bunker’s Place” was popular in its day, beat “Mork and Mindy” head to head, but is seldom syndicated and only one poor selling season came out on dvd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-made-a-big-pop-culture-splash-but-are-now-disproportionately-forgotten/704849.md?page=3)