|
 All hail the small screen, the most easily
accessible window onto the many worlds of science fiction and
fantasy. From Kirk and Who to Mulder and Xena, television has
introduced us to many of the most important people in our lives.
Blockbuster's Marshall Julius presents a lovingly compiled list of
the twenty greatest genre shows known to
couch-potatokind.
Star Trek 1966-Present
That's
Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek:
Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: The Animated Adventures collectively. So many great
stories, so many memorable characters. all hail Gene Roddenberry, the
"Great Bird of the Universe", for 35 years of "Final Frontier"
adventure.
TV
DVD Links:
Star Trek: The
Original Series
Star Trek: The
Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek:
Enterprise
The Twilight Zone 1959-1965
This remains the smartest, most atmospheric and consistently
good anthology series on TV. Produced and introduced by writer Rod
Serling, The Twilight Zone prided itself on having the very best
people both before and behind the screen. Honourable mention: The
Outer Limits 1963-1965 & 1995-present).
Futurama
1999-2003
Inventive, irreverent and so
damn funny your sides will need stitches every time, this
current animated hit follows the 30th Century adventures of a 20th Century
loser. Tune in for an alcoholic robot, a lobster doctor and more mad
scientists and rampaging aliens than you've ever seen. A gift from Simpsons
creator Matt Groening. Honourable mention: The Jetsons (1962).
TV DVD Links:
Futurama
The Prisoner 1967
"Where am I?" "In the Village." "What do you want?"
"Information." "Whose side are you on?" "That would be telling. We
want information." "You won't get it." "By hook or by crook we
will." "Who are you?" "The new Number Two." "Who is Number One?"
"You are Number Six." "I am not a number. I am a free man!" The
strangest and most ingenious British fantasy show ever, courtesy of
actor and series creator Patrick McGoohan.
TV DVD Links:
The
Prisoner Part 1 (Episodes 1-4)
The
Prisoner Part 2 (Episodes 5-8)
The Prisoner Part 3 (Episodes
9-12)
The
Prisoner Part 4 (Episodes 13-16)
The
Prisoner Part 5 (Episode 17 & The Prisoner Companion)
Batman:
The Animated
Series 1992-present That's Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Gotham Knights, The
New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond (UK title: Batman of the
Future), Justice league and Justice League Unlimited collectively. Moody and exciting with intelligent dialogue and a
great voice cast, these animated adventures perfectly capture the spirit of the
comic books. Honourable mention: Spider-Man (1995)
TV DVD
Links:
Batman
- The Animated Series - The Legend Begins (Animated)
Batman
- The Animated Series - Vol. 2 - Tales Of The Dark Knight
(Animated)
Batman
- The Animated Series - Vol. 3 - Out Of The Shadows
(Animated)
Batman
- The Animated Series - Vol. 4 - Secrets Of The Cape Crusader
(Animated)
Red Dwarf 1988-1999
Drifting through space, three million years in the future, Dave Lister (Craig
Charles) is the last human being alive. A cheeky, lazy, curryholic
slob, he shares his empty though occasionally eventful life with an odd bunch
of robots, holograms and a highly evolved, talking cat. An inspired
sci fi sitcom from the BBC, inventive, silly and extremely likeable. And a movie's
on the way. Honourable mention: The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to
the Galaxy (1981)
TV DVD Links:
Red Dwarf
Quatermass and the Pit 1958
A terrifying combination of science, superstition and alien
invasion from writer Nigel Kneale. An archaeological dig deep in the
heart of Knightsbridge harvests a number of alien corpses with
disastrous results. A creepy, suspenseful classic courtesy of the
BBC.
TV DVD Links: Quatermass
and the Pit
The Clangers
1970-1974
The very best in woolen science fiction, a
magical childrens' show with small, pink, knitted stop-motion
animated aliens living and having friendly adventures beneath the
surface of a cavernous little moon. A British kids' classic with the
best sound effects ever and extra special guests the Iron Chicken
and beloved Soup Dragon.
TV DVD Links: The
Complete Clangers
Eerie, Indiana 1991-1992
The strangest kids show
ever, as screwy as The Twilight Zone and funny too. Marshall Teller
(Omri Katz) and his friend Simon (Justin
Shenkarow) discover that their town is the centre of weirdness for
the Universe, storing evidence of their many weird encounters in a
special shrine. Visit alternate realities, see twins stored in
Tupperware and learn where all the missing socks go in this
ingenious must-see series.
Doctor Who
1963-present
Never has a single show divided opinion so
dramatically. To some, Dr Who is both laughably cheap and
inappropriately straight-faced, a dated show fit solely for little
kids who don't know any better. To others, it is a way of life.
Heaven on Earth in TV form. There is no middle ground. You either
love it or you hate it. And it's on its way back. Honourable
mention: Blake's 7 (1978-1981).
TV DVD
Links: Doctor
Who
 Babylon 5
1994-1999
Though there are those among us who view this
show as little more than a half-assed carbon copy of Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine, there's clearly more to J. Michael Straczynski's
ambitious space saga than that. An epic five year saga with an
exotic cast and lots of meaty sci fi concepts to get stuck into,
this one requires both patience and loyalty, but the rewards are
great.
TV DVD Links:
Babylon
5 Season One - Signs And Portents
Babylon
5 Season Two - The Coming Of Shadows
Babylon
5 Season Three - Point Of No Return
Babylon
5 Season Four - No Surrender, No Retreat
Babylon
5 Season Five - Wheel Of Fire
Batman 1966-1968
The
enduring appeal of this glorious old superhero series is that while
the kids are wrapped up in the brightly-lit, fast-paced adventure,
the grown ups can laugh their asses off at the madly camp,
tongue-in-cheek humour. We salute series star Adam West for keeping
a straight face throughout, and also series producer (and uncredited
announcer) Bill Dozier for setting the perfect tone. Honourable
Mention: The Adventures of Superman (1953-1957)
TV
DVD Links: Batman
The Movie
The
X-Files 1993-2002
Although Chris Carter's paranoid sci
fi series assures us on a regular basis that "the truth is out
there", intrepid FBI agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully
(Gillian Anderson) so rarely find the answers to anything that this
show is something of an aquired taste. Still, if you're into mystery
and horror, dark conspiracies and wild scientific, as so many of us
are, this show's for you. Honourable mentions: The Invaders
(1967-1968), Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1972 &
1974-1975).
TV DVD Links: The X
Files
3rd Rock From the Sun
1996-2001
There are aliens among us, but we needn't
worry. They come in peace, and they're insane. Despatched by The Big
Giant Head to study Earth while posing as a human family, the
Solomons specialise in missing the point and making fools of
themselves. Special credit to John Lithgow as Dick, their leader,
the biggest nut in the galaxy. Honourable mention: Mork and Mindy
(1978-1982).
TV DVD Links: Third
Rock From The Sun
Fantasy Island 1977-1984
Every
week, the mysterious Mr Rourke (as played by the wonderful Ricardo
Montalban) and micro sidekick Tattoo (babe-magnet Herve Villechaize)
would welcome people to their island, give them their hearts desire,
then sit back as it all turned to hell. An all-star morality play of
the "be careful what you wish for" variety, this show was never less
than hugely entertaining. All together now. "the plane, boss, the
plane!"
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch 1996-2003
Though aimed squarely at the small, this likeable, amusing
sitcom has justly earned a loyal adult audience. Melissa Joan Hart
is adorable as a teen witch coming to terms with her powers while
learning to live in the real world. Sharing a house with her two
eccentric aunts and a wise-cracking cat, Sabrina gets in all the
scrapes you'd imagine, and a few more besides. Honourable mentions:
Bewitched (1964-1972); I Dream of Jeannie
(1965-1970)
Fireball XL5 1962
Certainly
the most entertaining TV show that Gerry Anderson ever produced,
this insanely silly puppet show is a whole lot funnier and much more
endearing than either Thunderbirds or Captain Scarlett. Heroic Steve
Zodiac saves the day with help from a handful of human, robotic and
alien chums. For once, being cheap, corny, politically incorrect and
incredibly obvious actually works in a show's
favour.
TV DVD Links: Fireball
XL5
V & V: The Final Battle
1983-1984
Although these two memorable mini-series have
not aged as well as they might have, and despite a spin-off series
which stunk up the airwaves for one regrettable season, "V" and its
sequel are a hell of a lot better than recent alien invasion epic
Independence Day. A mega-budget project with some fine effects and a
gang of evil, lizard-like invaders, this remains a lot of
fun.
TV DVD Links:
V: The Mini Series
V: The Final Battle
Sliders 1995-2000
An exciting and ingenious adventure series aimed exclusively at
sci fi fanatics, Sliders stars Jerry O'Connell as a physics whiz
capable of travelling to alternate realities who, along with a
handful of co-stars, can't quite find his way home. See how the
world might have turned out under a variety of extreme circumstances
and feel your mind expand.
TV DVD
Links: Sliders
Xena: Warrior Princess
1995-2001
Mighty warrior Zena (Lucy Lawless) roams the
countryside in search of adventure with gal-pal Gabrielle (Renee
O'Connor), defending the innocent from a variety of human and
supernatural villains. A spirited fantasy adventure series, Xena
offers a winning combination of violence, special effects,
tongue-in-cheek humour and, of course, beautiful, barely dressed
people. Honourable mention: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
(1995-1999)
TV DVD Links: Xena:
Warrior Princess
See you next week!
Marshall
What's Your View?
What did you think of this article?
Click here
to contact our editorial team.
|