The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time

April 10, 2020

Olson (100 Greatest Cult Films) and Reinhard (Fractured Fandoms) admit that their 100 selections of the greatest cult television shows is a subjective list, in part because of the malleability of the term cult. This volume compiles series that never found a wide audience (Freaks and Geeks), ended too soon (Sports Night), or possibly ran for too long (The X-Files). What connects them is the passion of their fan base, which kept the shows alive in their followers' hearts and, occasionally, on the air owing to letter-writing campaigns. The authors present an alphabetic list (Absolutely Fabulous to The Young Ones) of programs, with each entry offering a brief synopsis and information on the cast and crew and production history, as well as commentary and a useful list of similar shows. Even if readers disagree with the authors picking Saved by the Bell and not Firefly or Pushing Daisies, Olson and Reinhard explain their choices, and specific episode references and quotes demonstrate an encyclopedic knowledge of the topic. While the selections lean toward American productions, the authors include British dramas, Canadian sitcoms, and Japanese anime. VERDICT Olson and Reinhard's knowledge and enthusiasm come through clearly in this fun (and sometimes frustrating--really, Gilligan's Island?) read.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2020
The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time might be a subjective list, but readers will find that it's a pretty solid one. Centering squarely on the 1990s, Olson and Reinhard used criteria that considers the show's impact on popular culture, transgressiveness, and popularity with American audiences. While many shows from the 1980s and 2000s are also listed, only a smattering of earlier shows and more recent ones from the 2010s were included. (The authors feel a show needs five years to gain cult status). Each entry includes show information including the main cast, notes on the production, and some critical commentary on the show's impact. With a see also list of related shows at the end of each entry, readers will make connections and discover new favorites. Woven throughout are references to networks like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network that were critical in offering a platform to these often off-beat series. Finding favorites among these shows will warm readers' hearts as efficiently as a cathode-ray tube. For fans of Matthew Klickstein's history of Nickelodeon, Slimed! (2013).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

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.