I think at the moment "cult" probably means any show we're likely to talk about that isn't "Sci-Fi"

yep, a "Cult" program in our parlance is the X-files Buffy Smallville Twin Peaks paranormal type stuff really.

It was decided to call this area "USA Cult" in favour of USA Spook-Fi or similar.

Cult is an amorphous term at best but I would have thought it refers to anything which is not aimed at a broad viewing demographic...

Eastenders is designed to get the largest possible audience, FarScape is designed for Sci-Fi fans.

Ascribing something cult status tends to be more of a marketing tool these days anyway and arguably, given the fragmentation of television through the proliferation of channels it will soon become a meaningless definition because most programming will be aimed at specific niches in the market.

With regard to FG's question though, I would have thought that something like 'The West Wing' which is massively successful in the US but is watched by a minority in the UK probably qualifies as a cult show in one country but not the other.

Likewise, programmes like The Sopranos, ER and Frasier.

(Edited by Incandenza 06/03/2002 11:33)

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by Incandenza
Cult is an amorphous term at best but I would have thought it refers to anything which is not aimed at a broad viewing demographic...

Eastenders is designed to get the largest possible audience, FarScape is designed for Sci-Fi fans.

Ascribing something cult status tends to be more of a marketing tool these days anyway and arguably, given the fragmentation of television through the proliferation of channels it will soon become a meaningless definition because most programming will be aimed at specific niches in the market.

With regard to FG's question though, I would have thought that something like 'The West Wing' which is massively successful in the US but is watched by a minority in the UK probably qualifies as a cult show in one country but not the other.

Likewise, programmes like The Sopranos, ER and Frasier.

(Edited by Incandenza 06/03/2002 11:33)

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I must admit that I think we here have bent the rules on what exactly "cult" means for use in this area of the site. Whilst primarily we are using it to mean shows like Buffy and Angel which aren't "science-fiction" shows but are leaning that way.

But if folks want to discuss stuff like The Sopranos this is the place to do it. Not quite sure if stuff like ER isn't pushing the limits a little though

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by MonSTeR
But if folks want to discuss stuff like The Sopranos this is the place to do it.

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Is the Sopranos really eligible for discussion on a 'family-friendly' board!? If the rules are followed precisely, then there won't really be much to talk about .

Whilst a lot of the issues that "The Sopranos" deals with are portrayed in an extremely adult manner, I don't foresee a problem with discussing it as long as the posts are kept "civil"

I agree, its very hard to define what cult is. We decided early on that one big TV forum, with tons of individual show subforums wasnt the way to go, and that loads of top level forums was equally user unfriendly, and we decided to have a small number of themed 'subcommunities'

theres no easy way to divide it up, believe me we spent many long staff meetings trying.

In the strictest sense, T21 is ment for shows and films that are in some way 'a step away from real life', though we certainly wont exclude popular shows like the Sopranos, we just wont advertise them.

Cult as its been said basically originated as the 'spooky' section, for xfiles, buffy, angel etc, but shows like Smallville and Alias seem more closely affiliated to these shows than to say Enterprise, ot Stargate.

So yes, basically see cult (for want of a better term), is the broadest definition of scifi-out-of-the-ordinary tv, minus the overtly spacey stuff, i could go on...

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by MonSTeR
(quotes)

I must admit that I think we here have bent the rules on what exactly "cult" means for use in this area of the site.

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My mistake. I gave a general answer about 'cult' status rather than one intended to apply to the site.

I took the question literally as a musing on a concept rather than considering the context.

Oops.

I might be repeating some of the above points, but I see a 'cult' show as being one with a small, but very loyal fan-base (which doesn't necessarily preclude the existence of a larger, fair weather if you will, following).

In spite of the implicit supernatural association, a cult show doesn't have to be 'spooky'. Take 'Prisoner Cell Block H', for example. It just has to be very popular with only a narrow part of the demographic viewing curve (and you'll have to take my word for that last sentence, it may not make sense, but it looks nice!).

It can be 'scary' in the sense of discouraging casual viewers, though. Take 'Prisoner Cell Block H', for example

I jsut assumed a cult programme was a programme with a great number of followers and obsessives, hence they are a cult coz they follow the programme religiously and stuff.

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by Joe

Take 'Prisoner Cell Block H', for example. It just has to be very popular with only a narrow part of the demographic viewing curve (and you'll have to take my word for that last sentence, it may not make sense, but it looks nice!).

It can be 'scary' in the sense of discouraging casual viewers, though. Take 'Prisoner Cell Block H', for example

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Luckily I think Prisoner Cell Block H was an Australian show, and thus in NO way, shape, or form does it qualify as a USA Cult show

Phew

Yeah, guess I went off on a tangent with that one. Never happen again

a cult programme is one that is very popular with viewers,but that TV execs just `don`t get`and wonder why it`s so popular,but keep making it as long as they are making money from it.

I think the term 'cult' can be applied to any show that inspires a fanatical following of people who are part of no set demographic. Like Buffy attracts people right across the board, I watch it (16 yr old female), my younger sister (age 11) watches it, as does my father (age 10000000 he's only 44 really). And I agree with dev, they usually are the ones the tv execs just dont get! (which is probably why people like them so much... they're not formulaic)