Top Ten Cult Sci-Fi TV Shows

[ne1410s]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

[Rod Serling]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

More people dress up like me than dress up like Captain Kirk or Spock...

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Yes I do have a Rod Sterling costume in my closet.

[eyégor]

Yes I do have a Rod Sterling costume in my closet.

I have a lot of people dressed like Rod showing up at family dinners. Wonder where they get the masks?

[Rod Serling]

Yes I do have a Rod Sterling costume in my closet.

I have a lot of people dressed like Rod showing up at family dinners. Wonder where they get the masks?

Maybe from New Orleans?

[gsabc]

First such list where I pretty much agree with the choices and the order. Maybe some minor quibbles on the order and with the bottom two, though I'm not sure what I'd substitute for them. Bit of a stretch to call "Lost" a science fiction series, isn't it?

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

I never watched it, but is Xena/Hercules Sci-Fi? It seems sort of historical.

[MarleysGh0st]

I never watched it, but is Xena/Hercules Sci-Fi? It seems sort of historical.

It's fantasy. Science fiction and fantasy are often combined in bookstores, as it is at the section I sort for the Friends of the Library. There are some SF purists who detest having any escapist stuff with dragons and elves (sorry, ear) mixed in with their hard SF. Most fans don't mind and many authors write in both genres.

[andrewjackson]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

Science Fiction? A couple of these are not Science Fiction. Xena/Hercules? Not SF. Buffy? Not SF. Get them out of the list.

I can live with Lost. It has more SF elements than Lost in Space if you get right down to it but I'd like to wait and see on Lost. Same with Heroes.

I'd replace the fantasy shows on the list with The Prisoner and Space:1999 or Red Dwarf. Really those are more cult shows than most of the ones on the list that have had more general audience appeal.

My list of favorite SF tv series:

BONUS PICK: Wild, Wild West
10. Futurama
9. Space: 1999
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Sliders
6. Red Dwarf
5. The Prisoner
4. Kolchak: The Night Stalker
3. Doctor Who
2. X-Files
1. Star Trek

That order might change the next time I do the list but I can live with it.

[andrewjackson]

And I think that is much more of "cult" list.

[Sir_Galahad]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

How could they have left off The Outer Limits? IMO, that ranks right up there with Twilight Zone. And how about The Invaders, Buck Rogers and My Favorite Martian?

[eyégor]

Yes I do have a Rod Sterling costume in my closet.

I have a lot of people dressed like Rod showing up at family dinners. Wonder where they get the masks?

Maybe from New Orleans?

No, they look more like you, not any of your characters.

BTW, most of them are also more scary.

[earendel]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone

As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

I agree that ST should be at the top of the list - it may not be as well-known (questionable assumption, I know) but there are lot more Trekkers (and Trekkies) than there are Zoners.

[silverscreenselect]

There is a difference between qualitative "best" and cult status. I pretty much agree with the selections on the list except Lost in Space, which I don't know has that much cult status. I would replace it with Outer Limits.

In a couple of years, if it lasts, Heroes would likely join the list.

[earendel]

I never watched it, but is Xena/Hercules Sci-Fi? It seems sort of historical.

It's fantasy. Science fiction and fantasy are often combined in bookstores, as it is at the section I sort for the Friends of the Library. There are some SF purists who detest having any escapist stuff with dragons and elves (sorry, ear) mixed in with their hard SF. Most fans don't mind and many authors write in both genres.

No apology needed. I count myself among the purists - sci-fi and fantasy are not the same genre and should never be confused. We of the sylvan realm object to the intrusion of technology in our tales.

[Ritterskoop]

I saw the header and thought of Red Dwarf.

[Appa23]

According to "The List" of the Washington Post:

10. Lost
9. Xena/Hercules
8. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost in Space
6. Quantum Leap
5. Doctor Who
4. Buffy, TVS
3. X-Files
2. Star Trek
1. The Twilight Zone



As a rule, I don't do Sci-Fi, but doesn't Star Trek have to be at the top of any list where "cult" is a criterion?

I had no realized just how cult-ish the Buffy fans still are.

Appaently, there have been sing-along theatrical showings of "Once More, With Feeling" around the country, until Fox recently threatened litigation.

Awesome epiode, and I wish that I could have caught the show in Kansas City several months back.

[silvercamaro]

The Prisoner may be my all-time favorite television show ever, and by comparison, some of the shows on this list are amateur productions.

[traininvain]

Where's "One Step Beyond" & "The Outer Limits"?

[mellytu74]

Good question, traininvain.

[TheSearchIsOn]

AJ, I'm curious about something on your list. Why would you consider Kolchak to be SF but not Buffy? I think I saw everything episode of each and to me they would either both be classified as SF or neither.

And along those lines, if they are considered SF, then where is Dark Shadows on the list?