# What do you think was the strangest t.v show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254 "2003-02-15T13:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/101 "2003-02-20T05:12:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*Night Flight once showed Fantastic Planet(mondo bizzaro animated sf film, green aliens who have sex by joining with GrecoRoman stone statues among other things) in its entirety. > Another episode had the host receiving a message from aliens. They had been inspired by Night Flight transmissions-their leader had been surgically altered to look just like the host, the alien leader clothing and office were the same as the host’s. IOTW the alien was the host acting and talking normally. The true moment of brilliance was other aliens jumping into frame in religious frenzy. They wore masks made from photos of the host and shouted “The prophecy is fulfiled! The prophecy is fulfilled!” \*\* I remember them showing Fantastic Planet, among other oddities, but I don’t recall any onscreen host- they just had a voice over some trippy CG. I remember seeing a lot of strange movies, some punk bands that would never get airplay on MTV, and the classic Porky Pig cartoon where he says “Son of a bitch!” ---
**Author:** ![Trob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Trob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trob)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/102 "2003-02-20T16:01:54Z")
In the late 60’s or early 70’s I think it was called Thunderbirds. It was marionettes with rocket ships. I don’t remember much else. Very odd. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/103 "2003-02-20T19:06:36Z")
Another vote for **Aeon Flux**. I found that show so disturbing on the few occasions when I could not make myself stop watching it. **Lexx** is also bizarre, but far more coherent than **Aeon Flux**. And yes, it comes on after **Stargate** on the Sci-Fi Channel. That’s how come I’ve seen a couple of episodes recently. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/104 "2003-02-20T19:14:59Z")
[This](http://www.ycdtotv.com/) show disturbed me so much in the 80’s I had to enter therapy. Just kidding. BUt still disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/105 "2003-02-20T21:05:35Z")
lol, I wasn’t allowed to watch that show when I was a kid! ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/106 "2003-02-20T21:58:11Z")
How about “My Living Doll” - Julie Newmar as a luscious robot…very strange for a family hour tv show ---
**Author:** ![bong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bong)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/107 "2003-02-20T22:07:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trob \* > \*\*In the late 60’s or early 70’s I think it was called Thunderbirds. It was marionettes with rocket ships. I don’t remember much else. Very odd. \*\* No, I think that was FireballXl5. Same diff. I’m surprised that this thread has had so many responses! ---
**Author:** ![Rie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a6a055/32.png) [@Rie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/108 "2003-02-20T22:22:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bong \* > \*\*No, I think that was FireballXl5. > Same diff. > > I’m surprised that this thread has had so many responses! \*\* Thunderbirds and Fireball XL-5 both featured marionettes in space. ---
**Author:** ![bong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bong)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/109 "2003-02-21T01:26:07Z")
Oh. I thought the fireballXl5 series was the one in space and the Thunderbirds series was marionettes in planes. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/110 "2003-02-21T06:11:54Z")
> [@](#): > > No one will remember these > > … > > Amazing Three: 60’s Japanese cartoon. Three aliens, disguised as a horse, a duck, and a rabbit ride around in the center of a giant tire, helping mankind. I had quite a crush on the rabbit in both her lapine and humanoid forms. I remember the program Mothchunks. I saw it when I was about three years old and, for years afterward, I was convinced it some sort of weird fever dream I had as a toddler. ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/111 "2003-02-21T18:53:00Z")
I was always creeped out by **Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!**. . . Jack Palance, creepy music, and an opening sequence featuring a guy with a candle stuck in his noggin - the perfect recipe for nightmares in a 10-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/112 "2003-02-21T19:49:00Z")
**The Brady Bunch Variety Hour**. A fictional family is given a variety TV show, in which they continue to play the roles from the previous sitcom, even though they weren’t a show-biz family in that show (I know, there were singing episodes, but they didn’t include the dad). A second for **Dark Shadows** , which I loved as a kid. Does anybody else remember David Cassidy’s show as a young looking cop? He was used to investigate criminal activity in schools. It was a sort of predecessor to **21 Jump Street**. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/113 "2003-02-23T00:04:21Z")
and there’s also “Mary Hartman Mary Hartman” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/114 "2003-02-23T01:01:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bong \* > \*\*Oh. I thought the fireballXl5 series was the one in space and the Thunderbirds series was marionettes in planes. \*\* No, marionettes in planes was Captain Scarlet. All of these shows (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, FireballXL5) were made by [Gerry Anderson](http://www.fanderson.org.uk/fanderson.html), along with “Joe90”, “Stingray”, “Terrahawks” and “Space 1999”. And many more. They are actually pretty good, though stilted. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/115 "2003-02-23T05:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trob \* > \*\*In the late 60’s or early 70’s I think it was called Thunderbirds. It was marionettes with rocket ships. I don’t remember much else. Very odd. \*\* In the UK I believe there was Fireball XL5 with marionettes etc. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/116 "2003-02-23T05:31:50Z")
oops…didn’t read the rest of the posts ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/117 "2003-02-23T05:56:18Z")
I watched this show as a child. How I miss it and the original tapes have been destroyed. But with Vincent Price and all the other characters it was by far the best childrens program that I can remember and the strangest too by todays standards I guess. \*\*[The Hilarious House of Frankenstein](http://www.frightenstein.com/main.html) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![bong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bong)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/118 "2003-02-24T01:43:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eenerms \* > \*\*In the UK I believe there was Fireball XL5 with marionettes etc. \*\* It was on teletoon, too So was Thunderbirds. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/119 "2003-02-25T19:17:04Z")
Having read all the posts, I have to agree that there have been many bizzare shows on TV. I have to cast my personal vote for Cop Rock not the least because Cheryl Crowe was on one of the episodes (saw a clip on a bio recently). Now that has to be embarassing. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas\_Stearns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Thomas\_Stearns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thomas_Stearns)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254/120 "2003-02-25T19:50:20Z")
Both versions of The Tick, but I especially liked the live version, it just made the whole thing more surreal. Any show with a 7ft superhero saying, “I love you Jimmy Carter. I always have.” wins my affections. Also, this might be up to the judges, but how about Andy Richter Controls the Universe? C’mon, it had him squeezing an old lady’s head into a diamond a la Superman. Finally, and no one should argue this, Mr. Show with Bob and David. Taint sketch: "Porn is my bread and butter, people masturbate to my bread and butter . . . and it’s DELICOUS. . . ". Emergency Psycic Hotline sketch:“It’s wonderifsical!!!” How about the Monks vs.the Fat kids camp:“ERIC VAN LANDINDHAM!?!?!” Or the Founding Fathers sketch: “Founding Fathers HEY! Founding Fathers HO! Founding Fathers Founding Fathers GO GO GO!” and “Who would shit on a flag made of shit? It would be an empty gesture!” Finally, the Mob skecth: “But boss, 24 is the highest number!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-was-the-strangest-t-v-show/155254.md?page=7)