Posted on 06/05/2016 9:02:29 AM PDT by EveningStar
It's odd to think that, once upon a time, a TV show set in space -- one that declared, in its opening narration, as the cosmos being the "final frontier" -- was considered the pop-cultural equivalent of an unwanted party-crasher. Yes, a concept like Star Trek was both of its time and clearly ahead of it; history has more than vindicated Gene Roddenberry's notion of boldly going where no man had gone before. But given the number of top-notch shows set in the far reaches of the galaxy and that used genre for pulpy and profound purposes over the last 30 or so years, it seems crazy to think that one of the most groundbreaking SF series was a network pariah and a ratings dud. Today, there's an entire cable network devoted to this kind of programming. You can't turn on your TV/Roku/cut-cord viewing device without bumping into spaceships, alien invasion and wonky sci-fi food-for-thought.
Science fiction has been around in one form or another since the early-ish days of television, both here and abroad, and its legacy now looms larger than ever. So what better time to count down the 40 best sci-fi TV shows of all time? From anime classics to outer-space soap operas, spooky British anthology shows to worst-case-scenario postapocalyptic dramas, primetime pop hits to obscure but beloved cult classics, here are our choices for the best the television genre has to offer -- submitted, for your approval.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
Agree about “Sliders”. “Voyagers!” was another where viewers learned some history.
Erin Gray!
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were truly pioneers in sci-fi effects, sets, models and wardrobe. You could tell they must have done backbreaking work on all of it.
Right down to making the ships, planes and vehicles looking “weathered” and worn from use.
The aliens were the creepiest looking things I had ever see as a kid. The episode where you saw them breathing liquids freaked me out. Then I found out they were really humans who were built with spare parts from other humans gave me nightmares. LOL
Commando Cody, Sky Marshal of the Universe? Designed as a tv-series, but also played at some theaters as if were a serial, right? Self-contained episodes as I recall, not serialized. A Republic production, with not to many episodes, akin to their “Fu Manchu” series. Strange that Republic never got all that big into tv production.
Yet the outfit is the same as “King of the Rocketmen” (1949), which was patently a serial. Same character? Always a tad confusing to me.
I don't think it's odd so much as untrue. Star Trek didn't debut on Television until 1966.
'Captain Video and his Video Rangers' debuted in 1949, a full 17 years ahead of Kirk taking the stage.
Since then, there were always science fiction shows on television. Anthology series like 'The Twilight Zone', spin-offs from movies like 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea', and remakes of the old movie serials like 'Buck Rogers' and 'Flash Gordon'.
And of course, let's not forget the classic show 'Lost in Space'.
'Star Trek' was just another in a long series of science fiction shows, and after it ended, many more were being produced (albeit mostly in England until 'Battlestar Galactica' came around.)
The article makes it seem like there was no science fiction on American television until 1966 and then nothing again until 1978, but the period between '66 and '78 was the only real lull in science fiction; before '66, science fiction was a staple of American television.
bfl
I've been saying the same about zombies for a while now. The real fighting would take place between heavily armed rednecks over who gets to kill the last dozen or so remaining zombies, after the rednecks go on a two week "hunting" spree that pretty much ends the zombie menace (and leaves behind one h3ll of a stinking mess).
Babylon 5 needs to be way higher up the list, probably in the top five. It basically set the standard for arc-based series, and many of the programs higher on the list would arguably have existed in a very different form had B5 not come along first.
Where was “Science Fiction Theater”?
What about One Step Beyond?
Check out this ridiculous video someone made as a humorous tribute to it (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century). Yes, it is actually the same clip over and over for 49 mins, 20 secs. Be sure you have your audio on.
They titled it: BIDI BIDI BIDI BIDI BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ijsa4iYNxk
Yeah, that format is horrible. They should at least list the 40 shows on the first page.
My thoughts exactly..that show was great.
Man, I LOVED that show. I wish it was available on Hulu.
Is this it? Because it's free on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqyMvPj0xT0&list=PLUPRk-9OXeTKZTGd9uqpz4hCv-R4u1y4a
Erin Gray Interview - Supanova Perth - June 2014
“Erin Gray was lively when retelling her stories from the set of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, but as we found out her endless energy may be due to her love for T’ai Chi.
Erin Gray was in Perth for Supanova 2014 and joined Brett Bonetti for a chat about her long and distinguished career.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7rbOUTX0BY
Impressive. They pretty much nail the ones I’ve seen. Not bad for a magazine that initially panned Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Kansas, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Queen and just about every other rock band out there that didn’t predate them.
Now, they did like Pink Floyd’s debut, but that was really bad, even in the opinion of the band. But they damned Dark Side with comically feint praise.
Loved that show; but, I guess it was too quirky to get a big audience; and, I think it cost a lot of money to make. Which, actually, can be seen in the quality of the sets, costumes, make-up, etc.
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