# Whither the great cheesy fantasy and SF shows of yesteryear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034 "2005-01-16T17:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dubious\_Weasle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b782af/32.png) [@Dubious\_Weasle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dubious_Weasle)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/81 "2005-01-18T06:08:52Z")
Personally I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I know it’s not exactly long gone but it at least fits with the whole nineties thing. Still, good to see some of these titles are remembered. I for one still think back fondly on such illustrious names as [In no particular order]: Brisco County Jr [Good to know I’m not the only one] Jack of All Trades [I don’t care if it was cheezy, I loved it] The Tick Misfits of Science American Gothic Space Marines [guiltily] ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/82 "2005-01-18T06:17:04Z")
> [@Dubious Weasle](#): > > Personally I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I know it’s not exactly long gone but it at least fits with the whole nineties thing. This seems to be a guilty favorites thread and most Buffy fans (at least on here) are fanatics that aren’t the least bit ashamed of their fandom (myself somehwat included). ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/83 "2005-01-18T18:46:37Z")
VR.5 is mentioned, but what another cyberpunkish show: Max Headroom. Who knew such an annoying commercial could spawn a such a good series? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/84 "2005-01-18T18:58:44Z")
Did anyone besides me ever watch _[Space: Above and Beyond](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112173/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9c3BhY2UgYWJvdmUgYW5kIGJleW9uZHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=6)_? None of my friends have ever seen it, but I remember it being very interesting, with some unique plots. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/85 "2005-01-18T19:27:43Z")
And of course … _The Greatest American Hero_! ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/86 "2005-01-18T19:30:30Z")
I remember that and when I saw _Starship Troopers_, I thought “hey, this reminds me of that… that show.” It’s one of those shows that in retrospect I think could have done a bit better a few years later. I think it just had trouble finding its niche, but there was nothing realy _wrong_ with it. Maybe if it hadn’t been yanked off the air so quickly it would have found its audience in the second season. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/87 "2005-01-18T19:33:31Z")
Whoops! That was a reply to **Waenara** ’s post about _Space Above and Beyond_. Hit the wrong reply button. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/88 "2005-01-18T19:45:24Z")
> [@Balduran](#): > > Back in the 80’s I remember a series call **Other World** about a family that was taking a tour of a pyramid and excited to a parallel Earth. I remember that – there was one episode where the teenage boy’s girlfriend was shocked because he ditched “Corn” class, which was like a capitol offense. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/89 "2005-01-18T19:50:15Z")
> [@Dubious Weasle](#): > > Personally I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer. BtVS isn’t cheesy, thus it doesn’t belong in this thread. Same goes for _Angel_. Thought of another one. My Secret Identity, starring Jerry O’Connell as he transitioned from the fat kid in Stand By Me to the smokin’ hottie of Sliders and now Crossing Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/90 "2005-01-18T19:54:42Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Thought of another one. My Secret Identity, starring Jerry O’Connell as he transitioned from the fat kid in Stand By Me to the smokin’ hottie of Sliders and now Crossing Jordan. Holy crap. I haven’t thought of that show in years, but seeing the title made me instantly remember the spoof of the theme song my brother and I came up with back when it was on: “You’ll never guess my secret identity… Unless you watch this show!” I don’t remember the real lyrics, but I think the first line is the same, we just changed the second one. Trust me, it was hilarious back then. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/91 "2005-01-18T21:23:43Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > HA! Well, as long as we’re dredging up crappy old series from beyond the mists of time dealing with UFOs, may I present UFO, a Gerry Anderson crapfest that came along LONG before his series about the moon being blowed out of orbit. It featured a moonbase staffed by [ex-strippers with a thing for purple wigs wearing skintight space outfits](http://www.framecaplib.com/ufolib/html/episodes/images/identif/ident044.htm) and was worse than any 12 other SF series combined! Other than the implausibility of the future being inhabited by babes who wore skintight costumes (and how can I really object to that?), _UFO_ had it’s moments. It’s central premise was a clever conflation of the “alien abduction” and “cattle mutiliation” concepts: aliens are kidnapping people for their organs to construct chimeras to pilot more of their ships, to kidnap more people, etc. And the show was as much a spy thriller about the operations of a high-tech ultra-secret security organization as it was about the aliens themselves. My only objection is this: you have an organization that is so secret that people have to die so that the mere fact it exists is kept secret. But then the personnel who work there wear big badges with “S.H.A.D.O.W.” and an organization logo printed on them. Veddy veddy British somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/92 "2005-01-18T21:31:11Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > BtVS isn’t cheesy, thus it doesn’t belong in this thread. Same goes for _Angel_. I’m a fan of both shows and while the quality of the writing on them is certainly of much, much, MUCH higher quality (IMHO) than most of the shows being listed here, they DID each have their share of cheesiness, too. Some of the monsters-of-the-week looked pretty ridiculous, or had goofy premises. Remember the hot teacher/praying mantis on BtVS? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/93 "2005-01-19T00:24:25Z")
A couple I haven’t seen mentioned: Total Recall 2070- strangely, the premise was much closer to Blade Runner than Total Recall Starhunter & Starhunter 2300- Surprisingly good visuals for its low budget and tried real hard, but… I’m sure my wife (and, thus, I) would watch another season, though. Code Name: Eternity- Proof that my wife will watch anything sci-fi; I, however, have my limits. Jeremiah- Season one was interesting enough, but it’s on Showtime so we have to wait for DVDs. I’m pretty sure there’s been another couple short-lived sci-fi shows on premium cable someone could mention. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/94 "2005-01-19T02:53:08Z")
I have memories of being enthralled by the **Logan’s Run** TV series when I was a kid. **Blakes 7** we, got this on TV rather than _Star Trek_. The usual 70’s Brithish production values but with a bit more ‘grit’ than ST. Ended on either a major downer or a great cliffhanger ending. But as it got cancelled, thats just open to speculation. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/95 "2005-01-19T03:09:02Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > BtVS isn’t cheesy, thus it doesn’t belong in this thread. Same goes for _Angel_. Like hell. Whedon is pure cheese. But it’s very, very good cheese. Camembert, not Kraft’s Singles. ---
**Author:** ![BigDummy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BigDummy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDummy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/96 "2005-01-19T03:09:06Z")
Odyssey 5 is another one, on Showtime. I liked it, but I’m pretty sure it’s been cancelled. And while I’m there, would Dead Like Me count? ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/97 "2005-01-19T04:45:11Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Oh, and what was the name of that “Knight Rider: The Next Generation” show that was on a few years back? > [@Tengu](#): > > _Knight Rider 2010_. Or _Team Knight Rider._ Revealing where I’d seen Kyle and Tess (_TKR_ and _Beastmaster_ respectively) before earned me the title of Biggest Geek of the Week on the Rosboards back at MBTV. > [@Waenara](#): > > Did anyone besides me ever watch _Space: Above and Beyond?_ None of my friends have ever seen it, but I remember it being very interesting, with some unique plots. I did. Loved that show. I even owned the novelizations, up 'til they burned with the rest of my stuff. One of the first shows to get FOXed. Did they have a second season on the SciFi Network, or did I just make that up out of wishful thinking. And I, um, liked _Sinbad._ In my defense, I was about twelve at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/98 "2005-01-19T05:13:02Z")
> [@VampyChick](#): > > Or _Team Knight Rider._ I think that might have been the one Smeghead was talking about. Now that I think about it, 2010 was a one-off that didn’t get a series. ---
**Author:** ![Dubious\_Weasle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b782af/32.png) [@Dubious\_Weasle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dubious_Weasle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/99 "2005-01-19T23:39:42Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > Did anyone besides me ever watch _[Space: Above and Beyond](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112173/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9c3BhY2UgYWJvdmUgYW5kIGJleW9uZHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=6)_? None of my friends have ever seen it, but I remember it being very interesting, with some unique plots. That was the name! I was trying to remember and I somehow came up with the descriptive if misleading “Space Marines.” I loved that show. Oh, here’s one more to toss into the mix. Space Rangers [http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-2397/Space\_Rangers/](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-2397/Space_Rangers/) First Aired January 1993 Last Aired January 1993 I think it lasted about 2 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034/100 "2005-01-20T00:17:31Z")
I liked Space Rangers (Of Fort Hope) and meant to mention it. It was a lot like Special Unit 2 in that everybody involved knew the show was cheezy but worked hard to make it fun and interesting. One of the Rangers had his artificial arm shot off in the pilot. He has a spare, but he doesn’t like to use it due to hardware and software glitches. The local crimelord comes from a world where all status is based on what people owe you. Wealth and heritage don’t matter. The greatest insult is ‘You are a creature so low, I owe nothing to your house!’ [Tagawa](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-20034) had the perfect handsome, yet strange, look to convincingly play an alien without any make up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-the-great-cheesy-fantasy-and-sf-shows-of-yesteryear/285034.md?page=6)