On The Streets' 2002 debut album, Mike Skinner proclaims that he is "Cult classic/ not best seller" - this feature is specifically designed for people who share his mind set. 

What qualifies as a Cult Television series you ask? It certainly can’t be just a cultural fad. It must be enduring, at least to its fans. It doesn’t necessarily have to be acclaimed by critics, although most are. It can even be a show that ranks in the top 20 in the Nielson Research Polls. Cult Television series are the shows that inspire a rabid fan base that will go to extremes for the show they love. From massive conventions to epic protests, nostalgia trips to the cultural relevant. From adventure programs to highschool comedy dramas, science fiction to animated comedies. I’m taking a look at the shows that inspire normal people to totally obsess over something as trivial as a television series. 

The iconic A-Team gained a sizable cult following, which may seem hard to believe because it is still, years later, very well known. Premiering in January 1983, The A-Team chronicled the action-filled lives of a renegade army platoon that must evade capture while often working as mercenaries for cash and for justice. Sgt. Bosco Baracus instantly became the standout character and made Mr. T. into a household name. Predating The A-Team, Batman was the televison adaptation of the popular comic book series and featured the iconic Adam West as its protagonist. Batman became notable for the use of large pop-up bubbles containing type such as POW! and WAM! to denote extreme action.

Recent adventure series that have received cult followings are Cleopatra 2525, featuring the exploits of three female warriors in the future, and Jack of All Trades. Jack of All Trades featured an American spy in 1801 portrayed by the most definitive cult actor in recent memory, Mr. Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead). While these two shows were cancelled relatively quickly and were met with mostly lackluster reviews, ABC’s Alias, on the other hand, received rave reviews upon its debut on the network in 2001. Sydney Bristow, expertly played by Jennifer Garner, was a college student who led a secret life as a spy for the secret organization SD-6, until they killed her fiancé, prompting her to approach the C.I.A. and thus becoming a double agent. Alias is the only show that Eric J Herboth (LAS' Managing Editor) watches regularly.

Something must also be said for adventure series, usually syndicated and steeped in mythology, such as Hercules: The Legendary Adventures. Hercules is about Hercules obviously, and there is Xena: Warrior Princess, which follows an Amazonian woman’s adventure through numerous lands. Another would be The Highlander, based on the film of same name, where immortals challenge each other in a world where there can only be one. A like show would be The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, which actually was picked up by a regular network, based around the premise that Jules Verne’s novels weren’t fictitious stories, but actual adventures the brilliant novelist experienced. 

Not just limited to the earth, most cult series fall under the Science Fiction tag, such as the classic Lost in Space and Battlestar Galactica series. Recent series include the popular Babylon 5, and the SciFi Channel's acclaimed Farscape and Lexx.

The grandfather of all cult television series is undisputedly Star Trek, which featured the crew of the Enterprise, lead by the fearless Captain Kirk, as they warped off on adventures through the universe. Despite a rather short life span, Star Trek earned a massive following and several spin-off series. The most notable of which being Star Trek: The Next Generation, featuring thespian actor Patrick Stewart in the role of the more intellectual Captain Jean Luc Becarad. Asking a Trekie (the infamous die-hard fans of Star Trek) which series is better will likely spark an epic debate, and no one wants to be involved with that. 

Sci-Fi series are by no means limited to the starry beyond. Doctor Who, airing in various incarnations from 1963-1996, focused less on space and more on time travel. Its main character was always a nameless man known only as The Doctor. Other notable series include Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the SciFi Channel's Sliders, and NBC's Quantum Leap, which is still the only thing Scott Bakula is known for. Serving up something different was The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., a Sci-Fi Western of sorts staring none other than Bruce Campbell. Taking The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.’s Sci-Fi Western premise and moving it to space was Joss Whedon’s Firefly, accompanying the crew of the star ship Serenity in an engaging portrayal of the future of space travel as the wild west of yore, and featuring absolutely zero aliens. 

While on the subject of Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was met with massive critical praise, becoming one of the most acclaimed shows of the late 90's and its spin-off Angel was treated with similar results, both of which were gothic horror comedy dramas taking place concurrently and in the same universe. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel both owe a small debt to Dark Shadows, a gothic soap opera of sorts. 

Cult T.V. shows aren’t always dramas. Comedies have their fair share of devoted followings as well. The infinitely witty Blackadder was a British sitcom of the 1980's featuring Rowan Atkinson in the role of Blackadder. Containing four brilliant seasons, each one taking place in a different era of British history with a descendent of the previous Blackadder in the lead role. Its rapid fire delivery made it easily the most consistently funny show airing in the 80's due mostly to its quick quips, Messenger: "Are you Lord Blackadder?" Blackadder: "No, I’m a bowl of soup." The also British Absolutely Fabulous became iconic with its snooty female characters’ sophisticated dialogue, overuse of the word ‘darling’.

Back in the United States, the early to mid-90's HBO series Dream On was inventive in its use of old movie clips to display the main character’s emotions and became notorious for its sexual innuendo and frequent scenes of female nudity. In 1999, NBC premiered Freaks and Geeks to rave reviews and an instant cult following. Much to the dismay of critics and fans alike, NBC axed Freaks and Geeks before its first season concluded. 

Sketch comedy shows such as the influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, performed by the Monty Python Comedy Troupe: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, and the Canadian equivalent of the Python’s, The Kids in the Hall. The Kids in the Hall, although often uproarious, featured some extremely ambitious comedic sketch failures, which can be more entertaining than almost all of the recent Saturday Night Live sketches. 

Animation can also garner its share of cult worthy programming. Starting with The Simpsons' break out success in 1991, prime time animated shows have been consistently pouring into the laps of network executives, most of which never got on the air and the ones that did usually didn’t last long and, if they did, rarely had a cult following. With the obvious exception of Family Guy and Futurama, which featured similar fates as FOX mishandled the potential runaway hits with little regard for their well being. Futurama was usually preempted by sporting events while Family Guy rarely had a consistent time slot. FOX even went so far as to put it up against the unstoppable Friends on Thursday night.

Japanese Anime has also found a cult market in America. Astro Boy became one of the most renowned Anime series of all time, causing the buzz to leak into the U.S. and paving the way for later day hits. Later day hits like Dragon Ball Z, which Cartoon Network imported into its arms in 1996, leading to them importing such Anime series as Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, and the acclaimed Gundam Series. But with the exception of the Gundam series, The Cartoon Network's Anime line-up met with little critical recognition until they added Outlaw Star and the more adult, and more praised, Cowboy Bebop to its rotation regularly. 

The Cartoon Network has also birthed several original cult television programs such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Sealab 2021. But it’s crowning achievement continues to be Space Ghost Coast to Coast which puts the super hero in a talk show parody and manages to book incredible guests such as Thurston Moore, Beck, Thom Yorke, Bjork and Pavement, who were the house band for an episode. The series has been on the air for 10 years - that’s longer than Arsenio Hall made it. 

Moving from animation to the paranormal and bizarre, The X-Files ushered in a renewed interest in the extraterrestrial, and U.F.O. Sightings have sky rocketed since its premier. Like the X-Files, the superb Twin Peaks featured an F.B.I. Agent, but instead of the paranormal he turned his attentions to investigating a murder. The literal puppet show, that is, a show whose characters were puppets, Thunderbirds sparked a diehard fan base. Which was an obvious influence on MTV’s underrated Sifl and Olly Show, brought to us by the distorted, but brilliant mind of Liam Lynch. The somehow even more bizarre Mystery Science Theater 3000 featured a guy and two robots watching bad movies. That’s all it was, except for the occasional sub story. 

Now, to the future of cult T.V. Recent critically acclaimed short-lived FOX comedy series’ such as Undeclared, focusing around a college freshman’s exploits, and the ever so excellent Andy Richter Controls the Universe, staring former Conan O’ Brien sidekick Andy Richter as a Technical Manual Writer with a very active imagination. Both of those series seem ripe for future cult status along with short-lived MTV projects such as Apartment 2F and Clone High, if they could see release on DVD that is. Recent adventure shows such as Karen Sisco and Jake 2.0 seem to be heading for similar cult appreciation. But the two most notable recent series that could possibly earn the title are FOX’s (what’s with these people?) Arrested Development and the British series The Office, both of which are easily the best and most applauded series’ of the new millennium. 

Cult Televison is not just a simple fad, anything that is underappreciated by mainstream audiences or critics (or in some cases both) is bound to develop a cult following, and in the long run, it’s always better to be deeply meaningful to 1,000,000 people as apposed to just something to watch to 10,000,000. 

Enjoy It If You Will, Just Don’t Drink the Punch: The Best of Cult Television LAS picks the Top Ten Most Cult Worthy Television Shows 

10. Babylon 5 (1993-1999, TNT)

Like Star Trek before it, Babylon 5 has managed a sizable following without much critical praise or mainstream acceptance, making it a cult television series. Babylon 5 was about the adventures of a crew on a spaceship as they jet through the universe having numerous adventures and inspiring those people who couldn’t get past the original Star Trek’s poor quality and instead opted for the more flashy effects of this series. Babylon 5 was, in this writer’s opinion anyway, far lesser to later sci-fi space series such as Farscape and my number five pick. 

09. Dragon Ball Z (1996-2003, Cartoon Network)

You may not like it, but millions across the world most definitely do. It has been translated into numerous languages and has aired on the same channel for the past five years with more than 250 episodes, probably about 175 too many, and several successful incarnations as video games and feature films. It’s the story of a Saiyan (a powerful warrior from space) named Goku and his son Gohan as they, and their friends, must protect the universe from numerous villains while trying to stop them from collecting the seven dragon balls which, when all united, summons a dragon which can grant the summoner any wish he chooses, but probably not the wish for unlimited wishes I’m guessing. That’s what I would wish for anyway, worth a try isn’t it? 

08. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1989-1999, Comedy Central/SciFi)

A guy and his two robot friends are forced by mad scientists to sit in a movie theater and watch bad movies as part of an experiment so the scientist can find a movie so horrid that they could unleash it on the world and thus destroy it so they can appoint themselves as the new dictators. What follows are the silhouettes of the three characters sitting in front of the screen eating popcorn and cutting the film down to size with their sarcastic quips about the poor production quality and its boring dialogue. Which begs the inevitable question, ‘Which network executive would green light this?’ Well someone did, and we’re the better for it. The show received numerous award nominations (including a Peabody award for best programming in 1993) on the back of its great writing, assuming it all wasn’t just improvised on the spot. And like all critically acclaimed shows that never reached the mainstream audience, it became a cult classic. Just like many of the films they insulted, that’s what they call irony. 

07. Family Guy (1999-2002, FOX)

It was by no means original concept. A family, featuring a moronic and fat father with a reasonably attractive wife who lived in the suburbs with three children (see #2) - sound familiar? But to its credit, it was absolutely uproarious. It contained über-clever pop culture parodies, it had Adam West as the mayor of its fictitious town of Quahog, it never had a clip show, and it’s characters never ever learned a life listen. The Griffin family contained the Homer-esque husband Peter, his understanding wife, their idiot of a son Chris, their outcast daughter Megan and then the two most original (and most entertaining) characters of the series. Stewie, the Griffin’s infant who was always scheming against his mother, and Brian, their alcoholic dog who happened to be the most intelligent member of the household. FOX cancelled the series after three seasons in 2002, and it was almost cancelled earlier than that but a staff change among FOX executives granted it a stay of execution. In 2003, the Cartoon Network started airing its re-runs during their Adult Swim program block, along with fellow FOX castaway Futurama, with great success resulting in excellent DVD sales, actually outselling all other TV series' DVDs in its given year. This triggered FOX to renew the series for a fourth season, which is set to air in 2005. And that has got to count for something right? 

06. Twin Peaks (1990-1991, ABC)

Soooooo delightfully twisted. An F.B.I. Agent goes to the Pacific Northwest to investigate a murder in the quite town of Twin Peaks. Featuring the iconic line spoke by agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) into his tape recorder. "Diana 11:41 A.M. .... Now entering the town of Twin Peaks, I’ve never seen so many trees in my life." So began David Lynch’s brilliant series of murder and intrigue. A Homecoming Queen's body washes ashore wrapped in plastic; what ensues is Agent Cooper's quest to discover who killed Laura Palmer. Along the way Cooper slowly begins to learn that in Twin Peaks nothing is what it seems and no one is completely innocent. After the brilliant first season however, the show quickly faded into an unintelligible mess, letting down many fans and critics alike. But for what it is worth, Twin Peaks accomplished more in one season than most shows could have with ten. 

05. Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003, WB/UPN) , Angel (1999-present, WB) & Firefly (2002, FOX)

Whedon’s trio of acclaimed and, in Firefly’s case, short-lived series began back in 1992, where Whedon wrote a script for an awful film called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After redeeming himself with the script for Disney’s Toy Story, Whedon pitched his idea to The WB for a television series based on his film, which he has now disowned. Buffy the Vampire Slayer hit televison sets in 1997 and offered something unheard of at the time- a strong female lead character that wasn’t used as a sex symbol to attract viewers. It struck a chord with both teen audiences and television critics alike with its take on balancing high school with saving the world while dealing with themes of alienation, teen angst and tired stereotypes. In no time at all, it had saved The WB from bankruptcy and ushered in a new wave of girl power. That was all eventually destroyed by Felicity and beer commercials, and in 1999 Buffy had its own spin-off. Angel chronicled the adventures of Buffy’s former love interest Angel, a vampire with a soul, as he continued to fight evil in Los Angeles. Last year however, The WB announced plans to cancel Angel resulting in one of the most astounding demonstrations of loyalty in television history. Angel fans got organized and took out numerous adds and billboards in an attempt to save their beloved show. Whether or not the protests worked is yet to be seen. In 2002, Whedon’s excellent portrayal of space called Firefly hit the air. While acclaimed by critics, FOX quickly cancelled it during its first season. It recently received salvation though, as production has begun on Firefly the movie. 

04. The X-Files (1993-2002, FOX)

The truth was out there, and it was simply that The X-Files was one of the single greatest shows ever created. Following the adventures of F.B.I. agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovony) and Dana Skully (Gillian Anderson) as the duo came face to face with the paranormal and government conspiracy, The X-Files made Friday night safe for new televison series. Then it was moved to Sunday, and garnered near unanimous praise from critics across the country. It offered an alternative to sitcom televison, and featured superb writing and acting. It was dark, but still quirky. It was a serious drama, but that didn’t stop Chris Carter from injecting some comedy into it. It was a show about F.B.I. Agents that didn’t solve crimes, usually anyway, but instead investigated paranormal events such as extraterrestrial activity and mythic beasts. Looking back at it now, I can safely say that it was easily the best drama series of it’s, or perhaps any, era. And that’s something the Government can’t deny. 

03. Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974, BBC-2)

Monty Python’s Flying Circus was perhaps the most influential, funniest, and fiendishly clever series ever conceived. It’s offbeat, maniacal, irreverent, surreal, intelligent (in a stupid sort of way) and utterly ludicrous sketches’ influence can be seen in shows ranging from Saturday Night Live and The Kids in the Hall to South Park and Seinfeld. I doubt any other series has created so many legendary moments in the past forty years; Ministry of Silly Walks, Dead Parrot, Spam, The Lumberjack Song, Dentistry Espionage, The Spanish Inquisition, et cetera. The influence of the five British lads, and one American, that made up the Monty Python Comedy Troupe is virtually unrivaled. John Cleese’s iconic quote that often linked the diverse sketches together "And now for something completely different" was possibly the most well-served slogan in televison history. Also notable for producing some of the most well-received comedies in film history such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian, a controversial film which triggered the Swedish press to dub it "The film so funny it was banned in Norway". 

02. Matt Groening’s The Simpsons (1989-present, FOX) & Futurama (1999-2003, FOX) 

The Simpsons is the most mainstream cult televison series ever created, a contradiction that is in every way true. The Simpsons has been on the air since 1989, though it originally aired as a short on The Tracy Ullman Show, and with it’s numerous and unique characters could easily outlast most of the television series premiering in 2007. The Simpsons follows the suburban Simpson clan’s misadventures through the vibrant city of Springfield. Notable characters include: Bart and Lisa, the Simpsons' mischievous and genius offspring (respectively). Mr. Burns, Springfield’s evil billionaire and Homer’s boss at the nuclear power plant, Ned Flanders, the Simpsons' ultra religious good natured neighbor and Moe the bartender, lonely and obnoxious. Futurama, on the other hand, is a Science Fiction parody which is darker and, during the time they aired concurrently anyway, was wittier and more clever than its older counterpart, making it less accessible to the mainstream consensus. Of course FOX’s poor treatment of the show could also be the blame. Futurama followed the life of main character Fry, a pizza delivery boy who was cryogenically frozen for a thousand years awakening in the year 3000, where he befriends a one-eyed cyclops and a foul-mouthed robot and goes to work for his great, great, great (etc.) nephews’ planetary delivery service, who happens to be more than 150 years old. Matt Greoning’s two critically acclaimed series, though different in many ways, each attracted a hardcore fan base securing both of them a position on my list. 

01. Star Trek (1966-1969, NBC)

Live long and prosper; that was the slogan that captured the imaginations of Trekies everywhere. And the series has done just that. For nearly 40 years Star Trek has, in one form or another, been a pop culture mainstay, spawning numerous series since and attracts massive gatherings each year at numerous Star Trek conventions each year. A fact often overlooked about Star Trek is how groundbreaking the show was. The crew contained a black female, a Russian, a Oriental man and a drunken Scotsman. Bare in mind that this was during the civil rights movement, the cold war, and at a time where many Americans still had Pearl Harbor fresh in their minds. Star Trek’s central message was that of acceptance. In Star Trek, a man was not judged by the colour of his skin, but rather by the deeds the man practices. Star Trek still defines the term cult following making it an easy choice for number one.

Obsession: The Best Cult TV Character 

Fox Mulder (David Duchovony- The X-Files)

Let’s face it, Spock wasn’t human enough to be the perfect character, probably because he was a Vulcan, Homer was a cartoon character, and although Buffy provided a much needed positive role model to teenage girls, I am forced to go with Fox Mulder. He had no super powers, just lots ands lots of sheer determination to find his abducted sister. He bled, he cried, he failed, and he was a lonely workaholic resulting in a massive collection of pornography. He certainly wasn’t perfect, or even cool, but the best heroes are always the ones with flaws.

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Tim Smith, a staff writer for Lost At Sea,  has his on on the TV in Bulls Gap, Tennessee.