# Was the Straight Dope TV show any good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628 "2009-03-24T19:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/1 "2009-03-24T19:38:16Z")
Anybody remember watching any episodes? Apparently [the series](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398574/) aired on the A&E channel in 1996. What was the format? Did Cecil make an appearance? The host was some guy called Mike Lucas; the fact that his only other credit on IMDB was in _Some Kinda Joke_ as Bald Guy with Frog on Head doesn’t inspire confidence. Was it deservedly canned? ---
**Author:** ![Grither](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grither/32/425_2.png) [@Grither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grither)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/2 "2009-03-24T19:49:15Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Anybody remember watching any episodes? Apparently [the series](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398574/) aired on the A&E channel in 1996. > > What was the format? Did Cecil make an appearance? The host was some guy called Mike Lucas; the fact that his only other credit on IMDB was in _Some Kinda Joke_ as Bald Guy with Frog on Head doesn’t inspire confidence. > > Was it deservedly canned? I watched most (if not all) the episodes. Given the fact that I was 19-20 at the time the show was on, I thought it was pretty good. It was a standard one-guy-in-front-of-a-green-screen affair…answering questions that would typically appear in the column. I don’t really remember any specific mentions of Cecil, let alone pictures of him. Mike Lucas is kinda goofy, but actually a pretty funny guy. I’ve seen him doing standup a couple of times, and really enjoyed myself. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/3 "2009-03-24T20:07:11Z")
I remember liking it quite a bit. It’s actually how I ended up here (reading and lurking for a long time before finally registering in 2000). From what I remember the content and sarcastic goofiness was basically the same as the columns. I was a teenager then as well, so it’s possible it was crap and I just didn’t know better. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/4 "2009-03-24T20:08:38Z")
I caught one episode. It was basically just Lucas reading a Cecil column word-for-word. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/5 "2009-03-24T20:09:16Z")
I enjoyed it. It introduced my to Cecil’s books, which introduced me to the website, which introduced me to this message board. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/6 "2009-03-24T20:10:14Z")
It’s how I ended up here too! Hell, that show would still be just as good (if not better) than half the A&E-type shite I watch now… ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/7 "2009-03-24T21:17:41Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I caught one episode. It was basically just Lucas reading a Cecil column word-for-word. This. I see the Straight Dope as more of an interaction between Cecil Adams and “the outside” so it should be more of a Mythbusters sort of thing. More action-packed and “well they didn’t like that so let’s try this,” etc. I had all the Straight Dope books and was an avid member of the AOL board at the time and don’t think I watched all the episodes of the show. If I did it was because I forced myself to. Wasn’t it also on a Saturday night at 10PM or some horrible time slot? I worked in a movie theater and was never home on a Saturday anyway, so I taped it and never got around to watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/8 "2009-03-25T03:20:13Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Anybody remember watching any episodes? Apparently [the series](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398574/) aired on the A&E channel in 1996. Wow. That’s the least complete IMDB page I have ever seen. I’m guessing the show’s demise was not lamented much. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/9 "2009-03-25T07:50:42Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I caught one episode. It was basically just Lucas reading a Cecil column word-for-word. That’s how I remember the series. I was disappointed because I already had all the books that were available, and I was hoping for some new material. Instead, I just got a visual presentation of a column I’d already read. Since I usually absorb information better if I read it, rather than have it read to me, the show didn’t do anything for me. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/10 "2009-03-25T23:03:39Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > That’s how I remember the series. I was disappointed because I already had all the books that were available, and I was hoping for some new material. Instead, I just got a visual presentation of a column I’d already read. Since I usually absorb information better if I read it, rather than have it read to me, the show didn’t do anything for me. This was my reaction, also. It was like they were trying to add a “Saved by the Bell” approach to it, on top of just reading the column. I’m wanting to say dorky sound effects, but I can’t remember clearly enough. Pretty disappointing after having memorized the books. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/11 "2009-03-26T04:38:58Z")
I watched all the episodes, but it wasn’t very good. It was done on the cheap and the host was OK, but overall, meh. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/12 "2014-12-29T19:48:03Z")
According to [this link](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-08-30/features/9608300261_1_column-chicago-reader-black-hawks), there was supposed to be commentary by experts, and man on the street interviews. Neither of those made it to air? It also said the pilot was shot for $7K, so it apparently it was done on a rather modest budget. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/13 "2014-12-29T20:35:31Z")
I watched it every week. I already had the books. As others have mentioned, it deserved not to last. Well, actually, it deserved a better format. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/14 "2014-12-29T22:43:08Z")
I watched and liked it; but it was my first exposure to the SD - I had not ever seen the column nor books. When the show went off the air I went looking for Straight Dope online, which led me here. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/15 "2014-12-30T00:39:48Z")
Not much out there, but here is a [clip.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5M0QQf615g) ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/16 "2014-12-30T02:53:12Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I watched and liked it; but it was my first exposure to the SD - I had not ever seen the column nor books. When the show went off the air I went looking for Straight Dope online, which led me here. This. And then I lurked. And lurked. And then I couldn’t resist the call of the Death Pool any longer. So I registered. And mostly lurk. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/17 "2014-12-30T04:06:46Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Not much out there, but here is a [clip.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5M0QQf615g) It doesn’t look that bad. But I don’t like how they call him “Cee-cil.” In my mind it’s pronounced “Ceh-cil.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/18 "2014-12-30T04:20:53Z")
Me too. TV show to books to here. From what I recall the host could be described as a minor league version of what Mike Rowe was eventually on Dirty Jobs ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/19 "2014-12-30T04:31:47Z")
Yeah, and now that I’ve seen the whole episode. . . a) It wasn’t just the host reading SD columns and responses, and did in fact contain man-on-the-street and expert interviews. b) They made the most of what they could with the budget they had. When it started out, I thought, 'Oh, this is bad." After I watched the whole ep, I just thought it wasn’t very good (refer to ‘b’ above). ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628/20 "2014-12-30T05:17:56Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Not much out there, but here is a [clip.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5M0QQf615g) Doesn’t seem too awful. If they killed the porn music and added some animations to illustrate what he was talking about - so we’re not just looking at his face - I think it would have been a reasonable show. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-straight-dope-tv-show-any-good/490628.md?page=2)