TV Guide Top 30 Cult Shows

[DaysFanJean]

http://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows/070629-01

Friday, June 29, 2007

TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever

How much cult cachet does Jericho have?

Three years ago, TV Guide dared to compile a list of the Top 25 Cult Shows Ever, a veritable who's who of programs that got people talking — and in many cases still had them talking long after the final episode aired. The litmus tests were many. These are the types of shows that make normal folk Romulan-fluent, series that inspire what can only be called worship. The faithful collect everything from action figures (and perhaps way too many of them) to yellowing scripts obtained by any means necessary. They attend conventions in fangs or blue skin or with Hurley's numbers tattooed in disturbing places.

Spurred on by the successful campaign to get Jericho plucked from the postapocalyptic ashes and returned to CBS' 2007-08 slate, TV Guide revisited that years-old countdown, asking ourselves such tough questions as: Is Lost too "big" to be considered cult? Did the big-screen Serenity help or hinder Firefly's under-the-radar cachet? And, of course, just how high does one Miss Veronica Mars get placed on the list at this nascent stage in her candidacy?

In pondering this list anew, we also shuffled around (and even excised) some previous favorites. Shows such as Forever Knight and My So-Called Life, though previously ranked among the top 25, we decided simply have not withstood the test of time, while Freaks and Geeks' legacy has only been confirmed by the success of Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen and most everyone who brushed up against that too-short-lived comedy.

Without further adieu (and reluctant to drop too many deserving names from the list), TV Guide presents the Top 30 Cult Shows Ever, a "best of" that is sure to ignite conversation and debate — both of which we encourage at this Top Cult Shows blog set up just for the occasion.

*Denotes newcomer to the list

30) Strangers with Candy (1999-2000)*

29) Absolutely Fabulous (1994-2003)

28) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)*

27) H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971)

26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1975-1978)

25) Firefly (2002-2003)*

24) Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

23) Dark Shadows (1966-1971)

22) Doctor Who (1963-present)

21) Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

20) The Avengers (1966-1969)

19) Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

18) Veronica Mars (2004-2007)*

17) Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990)

16) Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

15) Family Guy (1999-present)

14) Battlestar Galactica (2003-present)*

13) Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1989-1999)

12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986-1991)

11) Jericho (2006-present)*

10) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

9) Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

8) The Simpsons (1989-present)

7) The Prisoner (1967-1968)

6) Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)

5) Lost (2004-present)*

4) Farscape (1999-2003)

3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

2) The X-Files (1993-2002)

1) Star Trek (1966-1969)

[Bright Eyes]

Sweet Go Buffy!!!!!

[EricaKane70]

Well I watched 7 out the 30 shows picked. Umm well the heck is Dallas, now if "Who shot Jr," didn't get people talking and watching that show I don't know what did???

[Kylie]

Star Trek and X-Files as 1 and 2, as it should be.

[ClassicsSoapFan]

I agree with you about Dallas.

What about the Fugitive with David Janssen (1963-1967)?

The last show in 1967 when they finally caught the one-armed man was the highest rated show of all time until the "Who shot J.R." Dallas show aired.

Back in the day everybody was talking about The Fugitive.

[jfung79]

If they're too popular, they can't be called cult anymore. Dallas was quite mainstream in its time, and it sounds like so was The Fugitive. The longtime devotion of a dedicated, vocal minority is what makes something cult.

Some of our departed daytime soaps should be on this cult list though, like Another World, Ryan's Hope, Search for Tomorrow, or even Passions.

I'm glad to see Doctor Who on there still, although I expect it to be popular to be considered cult anymore, even in the US, soon.

[Drew]

"Cult" tends to be sci-fi. Thus why Dallas didn't rank high on this list.

Overall, a nice complilation.

Buffy and Farscape within the top 5 - as they should be. Star Trek obviously. Babylon 5, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica (though the 70s I'm surprised didnt rank also), Dark Shadows, and Xena REPRESENT!!

Veronica Mars and Jericho are sketchy.

[EricaKane70]

That theory doesn't hold up because Lost is pretty huge and they are on the list. But for the most part the list does contain less popular shows.

[titan1978]

I do not think My So Called Life deserved to be bumped from the list. 1 season, cancelled in its prime with an emotional cliffhanger, and then rerun on MTV for hours on end gaining a new audience. A small show with a big heart, that never got the chance it needed.

I would also like to add WKRP to the list. Never a breakout hit show, but way ahead of its time. Plays much more like the Office than most sitcoms it was up against at the time it was on the air. Plus it has classic comedy moments, and it took years to get it on DVD. CULT!!!

I would say Dallas was a cultural phenomenon, not a cult show. IMO.

[All My Shadows]

Yay for DARK SHADOWS and MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN!

[poohbear19]

Wow, I loved Strangers with Candy... crazy show!

[bellcurve]

Where the hell is MOONLIGHTING?! Talk about a cult classic.

[bellcurve]

It got people talking, but it was also a popular ratings winner that almost every household in the 80's watched.

What is meant by cult classic is a show that set itself apart from everything else at the time that had a huge following, but wasn't a ratings winner.

Hence, the reason why most of those shows are Sci-Fi.

[All My Shadows]

I'd like to know why "The Simpsons" is on the list. It's wildly popular, yes, but it has mainstream popularity. I've always thought that if you could be a die hard fan and not be considered a geek/ner/dork, it's not a cult classic.

[P.J.]

Kind of bogus to have Star Trek, but not Star Trek: The Next Generation on the list. Oh, and where is The Pretender?