The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time

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. (June)