# TV Shows which have almost completely dropped off the cultural radar screen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303 "2008-10-24T03:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/61 "2008-10-24T18:45:58Z")
And since it is my thread, you don’t need to be too rigid about the no-reruns thing. Something might be shown at 3 am somewhere but that doesn’t mean that anyone is really following it (as opposed to random channel surfing insomniacs). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/62 "2008-10-24T18:55:07Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > I would argue that reruns on GSN don’t really qualify as reruns compared to reruns on a channel like TNT. No argument. GSN isn’t even basic cable here any more like it used to be, and I don’t expect anybody to recognize the name American Life. But, yeah, I was just applying the OP’s “isn’t rerun anywhere” criterion. Which I now see the OP is waffling on. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/63 "2008-10-24T18:58:52Z")
**The Rockford Files** had a long, healthy run in syndication, but I haven’t seen it in years. On the other hand, a friend of mine is hooked on current reruns of _Columbo_ and _Simon & Simon_. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/64 "2008-10-24T20:28:22Z")
Does anyone, anyone at all, remember [James at 15](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_at_15)? High ratings, critical acclaim, controversial, and then splat. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/65 "2008-10-24T20:30:45Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Nobody raves about **Thirtysomething** anymore. Or Freaks and Geeks. Or any of a number of shows that were beloved by critics but not the public. Can anyone think of a few more?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/66 "2008-10-24T21:08:40Z")
Small Wonder Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous ---
**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:** [October 24, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/67 "2008-10-24T21:34:03Z")
The inside-out version of this concept is:_Peter Gunn_. And early PI show from B&W TV, it didn’t last long. But Henry Mancini’s _Peter Gun Theme_…AH! A classic, & widely played today. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/68 "2008-10-24T22:08:30Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Does anyone, anyone at all, remember [James at 15](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_at_15)? High ratings, critical acclaim, controversial, and then splat. Oh, yeah! Lance Kerwin? Didn’t it go up to James at 17? I liked that show. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/69 "2008-10-24T23:01:16Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Due South maybe? I dunno, seems like I’m the only guy I run into anymore who is a fan of it (well, my brother loves it too) There was a moderately successful fan convention in Toronto for Due South a couple of months ago. I wasn’t there, but I was mailed souvenirs. David Marciano spoke, apparently he was very well received, and everyone involved with the show seems to be incredibly sweet to its fans, which probably explains why the fans stay so loyal. I guess that makes it under the radar but not totally at the bottom of the ocean, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/70 "2008-10-24T23:23:48Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Oh, yeah! Lance Kerwin? Didn’t it go up to James at 17? I liked that show. It went up to “…at 16”, but didn’t last long enough to change to 17. I remember that show was controversial enough that my parents wouldn’t let me & my sibs watch it. As for new additions to the thread, what about “the Six Million Dollar Man” and “the Bionic Woman”? I remember them being HUGE shows in my youth, and what the hell is Lee Majors doing now? (I saw Lindsay Wagner in a paid-advertising special, selling I think mattresses.) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/71 "2008-10-24T23:48:21Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > It went up to “…at 16”, but didn’t last long enough to change to 17. I remember that show was controversial enough that my parents wouldn’t let me & my sibs watch it. > As for new additions to the thread, what about “the Six Million Dollar Man” and “the Bionic Woman”? I remember them being HUGE shows in my youth, and what the hell is Lee Majors doing now? (I saw Lindsay Wagner in a paid-advertising special, selling I think mattresses.) He was in Out Cold, playing Jason Majors, a business tycoon who wanted to buy the ski town the movie is based around and turn it into a gimmicky yuppie ski resort. Absolutely hilarious movie very very loosely based on Casablanca. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/72 "2008-10-25T01:25:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever seen **Science Fiction Theater** on any form of video. I’ve seen one or two episodes, mostly on the SciFi channel, when they needed fuiller. Do you mean **Mystery Science Theater 3000**? There are a lot of episodes on DVD, and as far as cultural radar, maybe you don’t know as many dorky people as I do. Rowsdower! ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/73 "2008-10-25T02:12:31Z")
[Quote=CalMeacham] I don’t think I’ve ever seen Science Fiction Theater on any form of video. I’ve seen one or two episodes, mostly on the SciFi channel, when they needed filler. [/Quote] > [@Zjestika](#): > > Do you mean **Mystery Science Theater 3000**? No, he means [_Science Fiction Theatre_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Fiction_Theatre). ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/74 "2008-10-25T02:19:43Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > No, he means [_Science Fiction Theatre_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Fiction_Theatre). Dur. Thanks. I guess he’s right, then. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/75 "2008-10-25T03:02:56Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Cybill Shepherd in general. Lucky for you you didn’t mention Alicia Witt. Some industry goon in a black suit and no tie would have sprung up out of the back seat of your car and scrambled your brains with a single, silencered bullet. _pweewt._ We don’t talk about Alicia. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/76 "2008-10-25T03:37:15Z")
> [@vintageloveletter](#): > > Northern Exposure, perhaps? Hey, that was my good suggestion! Take it back so I can say it first. 😛 Okay, erm, how about **X-Files**. It was huge when it started, but when they announced another movie, it seemed like someone was having a mean-spirited joke at the show’s expense. Like someone wanted to make sure they had an entry for “Least Necessary TV-to-movie adaptation of 2008”. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/77 "2008-10-25T04:00:52Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Oh, yeah! Lance Kerwin? Didn’t it go up to James at 17? No, it only went up to 16. ---
**Author:** ![Bravo\_Romeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bravo\_Romeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bravo_Romeo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/78 "2008-10-25T04:17:59Z")
Alf? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/79 "2008-10-25T04:28:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Similarly, **One Step Beyond** , a Twilight Zone-esque shoe from about the same era, is almost completely forgotten. Again, no videos or DVDs. I’ve never seen it in syndication. You have to keep an eye on the dollar DVD racks at Wally World and 7-11. I was very much surprised to learn that is was contemporary with the first few seasons of “The Twilight Zone” because, even as a kid in the early 60s, it seemed much older, like from the early- to mid-50s. I, too, have not found “Man Into Space,” though I keep looking for it. Because of it, the associated lunchbox, and real books by Willy Ley (he’s the one who was NOT a Nazi war criminal) I have never ceased to be disappointed by NASA. Where’s the style? Where’s the flair? Where’s the exposed tanks? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303/80 "2008-10-25T04:45:34Z")
It seems to me that this is true of almost _all_ television programs, other than the very few that become ‘cult’ classics. Even the biggest of TV shows succumbs to this eventually. How about _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_? When I was growing up, that was the biggest show on television, bar none. It kept that title for years and years. But I haven’t seen an episode of that on TV in at least ten years, and maybe longer. And no one talks about it any more. Or even the biggest comedy ever, _I Love Lucy_? It maybe has a little more visibility than some of its peers, but it’s getting close to being forgotten. _The Waltons_ and _Little House on the Prairie_ are increasingly forgotten because the culture has simply moved on from the values they represent, and the audience doesn’t relate. When I was a kid, those shows were huge because they called back to a simpler time that the audience still remembered fondly. Now the population is urban and sophisticated, and those shows are looking increasingly archaic and drawing much less interest. I disagree about _The Six Million Dollar Man_ and _The Bionic Woman_. Both of them have entered the public consciousness. There were recently movie remakes of them, and you hear references to them in shows all the time. I think people will remember those shows for quite a long time (maybe not so much the Bionic Woman). MASH will also be around for a long time, because it’s timeless. It was already an historical comedy when it came out, so it doesn’t really age. As new audiences discover it, it takes on new life. The same can be said for shows like “Fawlty Towers”. They could be set in one of many decades, and you can’t really tell. And the humor isn’t topical. That’s probably also why a comedy like “Caddyshack” will outlive other comedies like “Trading Places”. Caddyshack is set on a nondescript golf course, and doesn’t really age. “Trading Places” feels very much of its time as it set on locations all over the place, and they’re all looking very dated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-have-almost-completely-dropped-off-the-cultural-radar-screen/469303.md?page=5)