DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '09 II => Topic started by: jimbo on September 16, 2009, 03:03:45 PM
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EW has another one of its lists-the Greatest Top 25 cult TV shows. Dark Shadows is left out but so is Star Trek. I just think EW loves to intentionally be so controversial thereby creating more publicity for themselves in an attempt to sell more copies. But they are making a joke of themselves in the meantime imo.
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20302134_20304619,00.html
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True dat - but look closely at the woman in the "Police Squad" shot!
Petofi
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At least MST3K and "The Prisoner" made the list, but I never heard of some of the other shows ("Get a Life"?)
ProfStokes
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look closely at the woman in the "Police Squad" shot!
I love that ep - it's hilarious. [stfl]
As for the list, something tells me EW has some explanation for why DS and ST aren't on it - though don't ask me what the hell it is. [ghost_undecided] However, I have to say that I love almost every show that did make the list...
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look closely at the woman in the "Police Squad" shot!
Ah!
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I like Supernatural very much, but I don't think it should be on that list. Unless we are defining the term "cult show" differently, I think it as defining a show that lived on through a loyal following after the show wrapped production I think the jury is stilll out on Buffy. Yes it was a great show. I own every episode. Will there still be a following in ten years? Twenty? I think there will be, but I could be wrong. Then again, as I said, it could be my definition is different from theirs.
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Having been a reader of EW for quite some time, I think I can say with certainty that EW's definition of a cult show is one with a very loyal following but without a huge following. And it doesn't matter to them if the show is currently on the air (like CHUCK, SUPERNATURAL, DOCTOR WHO, etc.) or has been off the air for decades (like BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, POLICE SQUAD, THE PRISONER, etc.). The shows on that list would fit that profile. And now that I think about it, that could explain why ST isn't on the list...
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That may be true MB but how does The X-Files's inclusion fit into your take on how EW defines the word "cult". The X-Files has a huge following. I do think you are right but the name of the article's title, The 25 Greatest Cult TV Shows Ever is very misleading. I think they took liberties with the words "greatest" "cult" and "ever".
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I'd have to go back to see what the X-Files ratings were like back in the day to give a definitive answer. But by the standards at the time it was on, and from what I do recall, we can probably say the show had a healthy following - but I don't know about saying it had a huge following...
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Star Trek's ratings were poor during its 3 year run in the 60s and it was only years later that it developed into a cult following. That is why I don't think EW can offer a disqualifer to this list. If the X-Files made it why didn't Dark Shadows make it? Actually my question is really for EW because we can only guess as to what its explanation can be. I guess this is exactly what EW had intended when they published this article-to create publicity, controversy, buzz or whatever to sell more copies.
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The new issue won't be out until tomorrow, so I can't be sure - but I suspect that list is only intended for the Web site because most of their lists only appear on the Web site. And most of the results of the lists on the Web site are very strange indeed. It's basically like no one over 25 has any input whatsoever. [ghost_huh] But I also suspect that that's the demo they're going for with the Web site, whereas the magazine also targets an older demo...
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I haven't even heard of around half those shows.
Gerard
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I've just about given up on EW. They were the ones reporting that Lost was going to get canceled and all this bullcrap a couple of years ago. Then the finale of the show came out and EW changed their tune as if they had never written articles about Lost and some other shows being over rated. Meanwhile promoting this lousy show that's probably going to get canned. Ptsh.
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Looks like no one over 30 works at that rag, which explains why so many shows from the 50s-80s were left out!
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I just think EW loves to intentionally be so controversial thereby creating more publicity for themselves in an attempt to sell more copies. But they are making a joke of themselves in the meantime imo.
Abso-freakin-lutely. I used to be a loyal subscriber but haven't read the mag for at least two years. Another thing they do that irks me is, like nightshadow said, they contradict themselves all the time. In a movie preview issue they'll print how great upcoming releases are, and then review them and trash them like they knew all along they weren't great 3 or 4 months later.
The writers and editors there desperately want to be hipsters and it shows.
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When it comes to things like what's said in the preview issues vs. what the reviews might say, it not like the magazine speaks with one mind. Most often the person who wrote up the blurbs for a movie/TV show for the preview issue isn't the same person who later reviewed it. I actually love when EW has two critics present opposing views of a movie or TV show because quite frequently they have you wondering how two people could see the same thing so differently, like they were watching completely different movies or shows. But then, no one has to tell us that people think differently because we frequently see the same thing right here on the forum. [ghost_wink]
I haven't even heard of around half those shows.
There's only one show that I've never heard of, and that's THE VENTURE BROTHERS - but I never watch the Cartoon Network. And the only other show that I never watched was GET A LIFE, but I was aware of it.
One show that I was thrilled to see on the list was PROFIT. I loved that show, and it was canceled way too early. But it was way ahead of its time...
I'm beyond in love with PUSHING DAISIES and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. [thumb]
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I believe this top 30 list by in June, 2007 of the TV Guide Names "the Top Cult Shows Ever" (an article I believe previously discussed here) appears to be more credible than EW's article at hand-at least Dark Shadows and Star Trek were included. I'll await to see if EW explains its list and/or a public outcry develops.
http://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx
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Another thing they do that irks me is, like nightshadow said, they contradict themselves all the time. In a movie preview issue they'll print how great upcoming releases are, and then review them and trash them like they knew all along they weren't great 3 or 4 months later.
The writers and editors there desperately want to be hipsters and it shows.
Exactly! I'm glad I'm not the only one who notices this! And the stuff they promote sometimes...oh man, I wouldn't spend two cents to see. They are a magazine that is trying to sell to a general audience- they're more about prophet than actually reporting the goods.
However, you know, there's a good and bad to every story. I do like some of their articles they print-- but some of those reviewers just need to go. I don't think they are qualified.
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You know these magazine surveys are BS to me. They are looking to sell their mags and coming up with the most outlandish crap and are aimed at an audience that will buy their magazine. Who is to say what the best cult show was? Who knows? My favorite show is Mister Ed. But that's my opinion. These surveys attempt to convince the greater public that this is it - It's a done deal, no matter who thinks what. Bah! Current events. I'm not up on my current events. Cult shows? Yeah, Dark Shadows is definitely a cult show. Let me clarify this. (atta boy, Luther!) Cult = following.
I just watch what I like. I nearly fell to the floor last weekend when my favorite episode of Jack Benny came on. I don't give a hoot what Entertaiment Weekly has to say about Jack, because I know he isn't in their best interest. But he's in mine and I enjoy him. And vaudville is still alive. Too bad there aren't any magazines to cellebrate that.
2 Thumbs down to EW.
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Looks like no one over 30 works at that rag, which explains why so many shows from the 50s-80s were left out!
True. You would think entertainment writers would be interested in the history of whatever medium they specialize in.
Charles, you know you should try writing for one of these magazines providing background on shows. You'd be marvelous. [ghost_smiley]
Nancy
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I have been reading EW since the very first issue and I used to look forward to it arriving in the mail every week. Sure, it has always celebrated pop culture, but the articles were well-written and I could spend several days going through a single issue. Now, for the first time, I am seriously considering NOT renewing my subscription when that time rolls around. These days I am usually done with an issue within fifteen minutes and the writing is nothing but snark and always seems to be about reality TV. You would think a major entertainment magazine would give some serious coverage to GUDING LIGHT going off the air after all these decades, but EW rarely acknowledges soap operas and I guess, in their eyes, the demise of GL is no great loss. They have also cut back on their coverage of live theater and literature. I guess the Internet has made it hard on weekly magazines like EW and the TV GUIDE (another magazine that seems to be barely scrapping by these days) to dazzle and inform the public - I must confess I check the EW website several times a day and by the time I receive the magazine, most of the news is old news. In other words, I guess I am just as much a part of the problem as the magazine itself. However, there is NO excuse for their writers to have no knowledge of TV programs or films that exist before the year 2000!
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Markybo, I'm also considering ending my subscription.
Nancy, you made my day! This is for you: [cheer] [thewave] [cheerleader]
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I just noticed this follow up to the original list:
17 All-Time Great Cult TV Shows You Say We Missed (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20302134_20311716,00.html)
DS, ST, The Avengers, etc.-- now that's more like it.
Also included, er, not-included-but-acknowledged-after-fans-pointed-out-the-omission is Adrian Paul's Highlander series.
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Some excellent additions to the list. And can I just say that I love Love LOVE Wonderfalls - but then, that was quite obvious to some of you because of one of my past avatars/sigs.
(And I'm not sure if I should be ashamed or not, but I've never heard of The Might Boosh.)