Cult television
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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+ | '''Cult television''', like [[cult figure]]s, [[cult film]] and [[cult radio]], attracts a band of aficionados or appreciators, known as a cult following, devoted to a specific television series or fictional universe. | ||
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+ | Although some cult TV series are longer-lasting science fiction, fantasy, comedy or horror shows such as ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'',''[[Charmed]]'', ''[[Farscape]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', [[Animaniacs]], ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'', ''[[Invader Zim]]'', ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', ''[[LOST]]'', ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'', ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'', ''[[The Boondocks (TV series)]] '', ''[[Robot Chicken]]'', [[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]], ''[[Roswell (TV series)|Roswell]]'', ''[[The Outer Limits]]'',''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[Futurama]]'', ''[[Code Monkeys]]'', ''[[The 4400]]'', ''[[seaQuest DSV]]'', ''[[The X-Files]]'', ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|''Scrubs'']], [[Angel (TV series)|''Angel'']]'', ''[[Full Metal Alchemist]]'', ''[[Code Geass]]'', ''[[Bleach (manga)|Bleach]], ''[[InuYasha]]'', ''[[Naruto]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[Primeval]]'', many pilots, short-lived shows and limited series such as [[Freakazoid!]], ''[[Megas XLR]]'', ''[[Carnivàle]]'', ''[[Veronica Mars]]'', ''[[American Gothic]]'', ''[[Count Duckula]]'', ''[[Stella (TV series)]]'', ''[[My So-Called Life]]'', [[Samurai Jack]], ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'', ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'', ''The [[Paul Daniels]] Magic Show'', ''[[Invader Zim]]'', ''[[Fastlane]]'', ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'', ''[[Lookwell]]'', ''[[Twin Peaks]]'', ''[[FLCL]]'', ''[[Twitch City]]'', ''[[Dark Skies]]'', ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'', ''[[Spaced]]'', ''[[TV Funhouse]]'', ''[[Strangers with Candy]]'', ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'', ''[[Weeds]]'', ''[[The Crow: Stairway to Heaven]]'', ''[[Mr. Show with Bob and David]]'', ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', ''[[Invasion (TV series)|Invasion]]'', ''[[Clerks (animated series)|Clerks]]'', ''[[Jericho (TV series)]]'', ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'', [[Greg The Bunny]], [[Mission Hill]], ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'', ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', [[Death Note]], [[ReBoot]], [[Home Movies (TV Series)]], [[Rocko's Modern Life]] and [[Cardcaptors]]'' have also developed strong followings. A "cult" show can also be from the genres of drama, action adventure, animation, comedy, and children's series. | ||
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+ | Some cult shows are considered "[[Underground culture|underground]]" such as the hard to find show ''The Sleep of Reason''<Ref>http://www.thesleepofreason.com</ref> which has only a web presence as a guide or "[[Wolf Lake]]" which runs sporadically on the Sci-Fi Channel | ||
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+ | What exactly makes something a "cult" is widely debated. Some popular and strongly interconnected definitions are: | ||
+ | |||
+ | #A [[genre]], covering all series that play with widely held beliefs and perceptions. This covers most shows in genres like [[science fiction]], [[fantasy fiction]], [[horror fiction]] and some forms of [[sitcom]] (especially most forms of [[British comedy]]). Most [[adult animation]] series (like much [[anime]]) are included. | ||
+ | #Any series that has a strong loyal audience that thinks a lot about the show, especially the world in which it is set. Such shows generally have a much higher than average level of intensity. Most such programmes are of the "cult" genre. This interest and support by fans is seen by some as being similar to religions and cults, hence the term. An example of this is ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. This may also include quoting the show in question as an inside joke amongst its followers. | ||
+ | #Any fictional series made for television that encourages its viewers to do more than just sit and watch it. This can be in the form of interacting, debating and partying with other fans, either via [[Fan convention|conventions]] or [[online communities]], or through activities such as writing [[Fan fiction|series-related fiction]], costume creation, replica prop and model building, or creating their own audio or video productions based around the formats and characters. This is the definition of choice of '''Cult TV'''<ref>[http://www.cult.tv www.Cult.TV - The Official Cult TV Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, a group of appreciators who are also the owners of the Registered Trademark "Cult TV" in the UK. | ||
+ | #Any series that has achieved a moderate level of popularity, but not a large one. This is what is usually meant when a series is said to have "achieved cult status". Even if a group of people agree on this definition of "cult status", arguments on a show's status within this type are common as the "moderate" band has two highly subjective borders. ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' or ''[[Quigley's Village]]'', are an example of this. | ||
+ | #Any unpopular or obscure series. This definition encompasses the fourth one, but also includes shows with only a small level of popularity, but are usually critically acclaimed and have devoted following. This definition is also used by those conferring "cult status". It is easier to reach consensus on this definition than the other because only one subjective boundary is involved. Examples include [[Firefly (TV series)|''Firefly'']], [[Mission Hill]], [[The Oblongs]], and ''The Prisoner'', though ''Firefly'''s development of a substantial fanbase subsequent to its cancellation (and the feature film release that followed) suggests it is no longer unpopular or obscure. | ||
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+ | Many series that some people found strongly compelling were not hits in their original runs, and quite a few well-loved shows had only a season (or less) worth of material. | ||
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Revision as of 00:38, 30 May 2009
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Cult television, like cult figures, cult film and cult radio, attracts a band of aficionados or appreciators, known as a cult following, devoted to a specific television series or fictional universe.
Although some cult TV series are longer-lasting science fiction, fantasy, comedy or horror shows such as 24,Charmed, Farscape, Doctor Who, Animaniacs, Xena: Warrior Princess, Star Trek, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Invader Zim, Stargate SG-1, Dragonball Z, LOST, Heroes, Supernatural, The Venture Bros., Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Boondocks (TV series) , Robot Chicken, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Roswell, The Outer Limits,The Twilight Zone, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Futurama, Code Monkeys, The 4400, seaQuest DSV, The X-Files, Red Dwarf, Scrubs, Angel, Full Metal Alchemist, Code Geass, Bleach, InuYasha, Naruto, The Simpsons and Primeval, many pilots, short-lived shows and limited series such as Freakazoid!, Megas XLR, Carnivàle, Veronica Mars, American Gothic, Count Duckula, Stella (TV series), My So-Called Life, Samurai Jack, Arrested Development, Fawlty Towers, The Paul Daniels Magic Show, Invader Zim, Fastlane, Firefly, Lookwell, Twin Peaks, FLCL, Twitch City, Dark Skies, Millennium, Spaced, TV Funhouse, Strangers with Candy, Pushing Daisies, Weeds, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Mr. Show with Bob and David, Freaks and Geeks, Invasion, Clerks, Jericho (TV series), The Mighty Boosh, Greg The Bunny, Mission Hill, Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Death Note, ReBoot, Home Movies (TV Series), Rocko's Modern Life and Cardcaptors have also developed strong followings. A "cult" show can also be from the genres of drama, action adventure, animation, comedy, and children's series.
Some cult shows are considered "underground" such as the hard to find show The Sleep of Reason<Ref>http://www.thesleepofreason.com</ref> which has only a web presence as a guide or "Wolf Lake" which runs sporadically on the Sci-Fi Channel
What exactly makes something a "cult" is widely debated. Some popular and strongly interconnected definitions are:
- A genre, covering all series that play with widely held beliefs and perceptions. This covers most shows in genres like science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction and some forms of sitcom (especially most forms of British comedy). Most adult animation series (like much anime) are included.
- Any series that has a strong loyal audience that thinks a lot about the show, especially the world in which it is set. Such shows generally have a much higher than average level of intensity. Most such programmes are of the "cult" genre. This interest and support by fans is seen by some as being similar to religions and cults, hence the term. An example of this is Monty Python's Flying Circus. This may also include quoting the show in question as an inside joke amongst its followers.
- Any fictional series made for television that encourages its viewers to do more than just sit and watch it. This can be in the form of interacting, debating and partying with other fans, either via conventions or online communities, or through activities such as writing series-related fiction, costume creation, replica prop and model building, or creating their own audio or video productions based around the formats and characters. This is the definition of choice of Cult TV<ref>www.Cult.TV - The Official Cult TV Magazine</ref>, a group of appreciators who are also the owners of the Registered Trademark "Cult TV" in the UK.
- Any series that has achieved a moderate level of popularity, but not a large one. This is what is usually meant when a series is said to have "achieved cult status". Even if a group of people agree on this definition of "cult status", arguments on a show's status within this type are common as the "moderate" band has two highly subjective borders. Arrested Development or Quigley's Village, are an example of this.
- Any unpopular or obscure series. This definition encompasses the fourth one, but also includes shows with only a small level of popularity, but are usually critically acclaimed and have devoted following. This definition is also used by those conferring "cult status". It is easier to reach consensus on this definition than the other because only one subjective boundary is involved. Examples include Firefly, Mission Hill, The Oblongs, and The Prisoner, though Firefly's development of a substantial fanbase subsequent to its cancellation (and the feature film release that followed) suggests it is no longer unpopular or obscure.
Many series that some people found strongly compelling were not hits in their original runs, and quite a few well-loved shows had only a season (or less) worth of material.
#
- 24 television series
A
- Absolutely Fabulous
- Action League Now!
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
- The Adventures of Pete and Pete
- ALF
- Alias (TV series)
- 'Allo 'Allo!
- American Gothic
- Arrested Development
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force
- The Avengers (TV series)
B
- Babylon 5
- Batman
- Battlestar Galactica (1970s and 2000s versions)
- Beavis and Butthead
- Blackadder
- Blake's Seven
- Boy Meets World
- The Brady Bunch
- Buck Rogers television, film and comic book franchise.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
C
D
- Doctor Who
- Dark Shadows
- Dave the Barbarian
- Dead Like Me
- Degrassi Junior High
- Degrassi High Spin-off of Degrassi Junior High.
- Degrassi: The Next Generation Spin-off of both Degrassi's.
- Dilbert (TV series)
- Dragon Ball Series
- Dungeons & Dragons
F
- The Fantastic Journey
- Fantasy Island and its 1998 remake.
- Fishing with John
- Firefly (TV series) and the film sequel Serenity (film)
- Flash Gordon 1930s seriels, 1950s television series, 1980 film, and comic books.
- Fawlty Towers
- Family Guy
- Fraiser
- Freakazoid!
- Freaks and Geeks
- Full House
- Futurama
G
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
- Gargoyles (TV series)
- Get Smart
- The Gong Show
- The Greatest American Hero
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
H
- The Hardy Boys mystery series and books.
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
- Home Movies
- Highlander: The Series
- Heroes
I
- I Love Lucy television series
- Invader Zim
J
K
L
- Land of the Lost (1974 TV series) and its remake, Land of the Lost (1991 TV series).
- Lost (TV series)
- Lost in Space
- Love American Style
M
- Man from Atlantis
- The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
- Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
- Max Headroom
- The Maxx
- The Mighty Boosh
- Mission Hill
- The Mod Squad
- Monkey (TV series)
- Monty Python
- Mr. Bean
- Mr. Show
- My So-Called Life
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
N
O
P
- Press Your Luck 1980s television game show.
- The Pretender
- Prison Break
- The Prisoner
Q
R
S
- The Saint
- Sasukeor known in the US as Ninja Warrior
- Saved by the Bell
- Scrubs
- Seinfeld
- Sex and the City
- The Simpsons
- The Six Million Dollar Man
- Soap (TV series)
- Sledge Hammer!
- South of Nowhere
- South Park
- Spaced
- Space: 1999
- Space: Above and Beyond
- Sports Night
- Stargate SG-1
- Strangers with Candy
- Supernatural
T
- Tales Of The Gold Monkey
- Takeshi's Castle also known as in the US as MXC
- Teletubbies
- That '70s Show
- Thunderbirds
- ThunderCats
- Trailer Park Boys
- The Transformers
- Tremors
- Tru Calling
- The Twilight Zone
- Twin Peaks
U
V
W
X
Y
Z