The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAY 18, 2020

Olson, a media studies grad student at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and Reinhard, an associate professor in communication arts at Dominican University, showcase what they consider the 100 most important cult television series in this fun and informative survey. They keep the proceedings arranged alphabetically light and lively, with a synopsis, production history, and chatty commentary for each show. Whether a Hollywood production, British comedy, or an animated series, shows can qualify for cult status if, the authors note, they are "offbeat or edgy, drawing a niche audience in a way that mainstream never did." Avid fan-bases keep their favorite shows circulating long after the original run ends, as with The Twilight Zone ("the show marked the true emergence of science fiction as allegory on TV," 1959 1964), The Avengers (1961 1969), Doctor Who (1963 present) Lost in Space (1965 1968), the original Star Trek (1966 1969), Baywatch ("a winning combination of playful sexiness, gripping melodrama, and captivating mysteries," 1989 2001), The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991 1996), and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 2003). As Olson and Reinhard write, "Mainstream status comes and go, but cult lasts forever." This thought-provoking and humorous tribute to cult television's originality and experiments will delight TV geeks of all kinds.