Cult classic TV shows like Twin Peaks, Firefly, and Freaks and Geeks are now a lot better known and have reached a bigger audience, but that hasn’t been the case for all. Some great cult classic shows continue to live in obscurity, and while they still have a loyal following, they aren’t shows that everyone has seen at least once in their lives.
The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)
Seven Seasons
The Real Ghostbusters is both a spinoff and a sequel of the first Ghostbusters movie, and as such, it continues the adventures of the title team, along with Janine Melnitz, Louis Tully, and Slimer. The Real Ghostbusters, then, follows the team as they go after rogue ghosts, specters, and spirits not just in New York City but in other places, as well.
The Real Ghostbusters was retitled Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters at the start of season 4, and included short segments focused on Slimer.
The Real Ghostbusters has a family-friendly tone, yet it was dark enough to fit the franchise. The Real Ghostbusters is well-remembered by fans of the movie, but it isn’t a widely known entry in the franchise thanks to how ABC handled the show, the many changes it underwent during its run, and its lack of connection to Ghostbusters II.
Eerie, Indiana (1991,1993)
One Season
Eerie, Indiana is a sci-fi horror TV show created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer. Eerie, Indiana follows Marshall Teller (Omi Katz), a teenage boy who has just moved to the title town with his family. There, he meets Simon (Justin Shenkarow), with whom he faces bizarre scenarios – from intelligent dogs planning to take over the world to different urban legends – as Eerie is far from a normal town.
Eerie, Indiana made sci-fi and horror accessible to a young audience while being respectful to its audience, meaning that it never talked down to them, and it was as creative as it was spooky. Unfortunately, despite its positive reception by critics and general audiences, Eerie, Indiana was canceled after one season.
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994-1997)
Four Seasons
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters is an animated TV series created by Gábor Csupó and Peter Gaffney. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters introduces viewers to Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm, three monsters and friends who go to monster school under a city dump, where they learn how to scare humans. In the world of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, humans and monsters co-exist, but the latter still live to scare.
Unlike its Nicktoon predecessors, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was darker, a lot weirder, relied on gross-out humor, and yet covered serious and relatable themes, such as identity, community, and friendship. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters gets lost amid other bigger, perhaps more “kid-friendly” Nicktoons, making it a hidden Nickelodeon gem.
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004)
One Season
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a British horror parody TV series created by Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness, based on their stage show Garth Marenghi’s Fright Night. Darkplace is a special release of the fictional TV series of the same name, created by bestselling horror author Garth Marenghi (Holness). The show follows the adventures of Dr. Rick Dagless, played by Marenghi, as he faces different forces of darkness.
Darkplace is a brilliant parody of 1980s low-budget horror, with its own universe, surreal humor, and unique performances by its cast, as it satirizes bad acting. Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace isn’t a well-known TV show, but it’s a must-watch obscure gem from the 2000s.
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1991-1996)
Three Seasons
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is a sitcom created by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi, which aired on Nickelodeon. Set in the fictional town of Wellsville, The Adventures of Pete & Pete follows brothers Pete (Michael Maronna), or “Big Pete”, and Pete (Danny Tamberelli), or “Little Pete”, and their daily, often humorous and surreal lives in town.
The Adventures of Pete & Pete blended surreal humor with mundane suburban life and bizarre events, while exploring relatable situations and issues that children and young teens go through. The Adventures of Pete & Pete is surprisingly deep, but its different approach to comedy, drama, and dialogue led to it getting lost among other Nickelodeon live-action shows.
Happy Endings (2011-2013)
Three Seasons
Happy Endings is a sitcom created by David Caspe, which aired on ABC. Happy Endings follows best friends Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.), his wife Jane (Eliza Coupe), Jane’s sister Alex (Elisha Cuthbert), Dave (Zachary Knighton), Penny (Casey Wilson), and slacker Max (Adam Pally), who live together in Chicago.
Happy Endings follows them through their many ups and downs together and individually, and while this is a premise seen before many times, what made it stand out was its fast pace, dense writing with many pop culture references, quick-witted banter, and the chemistry of its cast. Despite its success, Happy Endings couldn’t find a new home after ABC canceled it.
Wonderfalls (2004)
One Season
Wonderfalls is a fantasy comedy drama TV show created by Todd Holland and Bryan Fuller. Wonderfalls follows Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas), a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree who works as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Jaye’s life takes a turn when animal objects start giving her cryptic messages, and she’s the only one who can hear them.
Wonderfalls is as quirky and whimsical as it is funny, with a one-of-a-kind premise led by a relatable main character. Unfortunately, Wonderfalls wasn’t well-marketed, preventing it from finding its audience and leading to its early cancellation, which further stopped it from becoming widely known.
Freakazoid! (1995-1997)
Two Seasons
Freakazoid! is an animated superhero comedy TV series created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. Freakazoid! is the story of Dexter Douglas, a 16-year-old computer genius who accidentally activates a flaw in a computer chip and triggers a sequence of code that merges him with the internet, transforming him into the chaotic, crazy, blue-skinned title superhero.
Freakazoid! is unlike most superhero TV shows, thanks to the character’s physical appearance, powers, and his frenzied personality, along with the show’s meta-humor and pop culture satire. Freakazoid! initially struggled to find its audience, but reached cult classic status after reruns on Cartoon Network, and now ranks among the best animated shows of all time.
The Tick (1994-1996)
Three Seasons
The Tick is an animated TV series based on Ben Edlund’s superhero of the same name. The Tick follows the title character (voiced by Townsend Coleman), who is assigned to the City. There, he befriends Arthur, a former accountant who becomes his sidekick. Together, they protect the City from a variety of villains.
The Tick is a satire of superheroes, with absurdist humor and smart wordplay that make it stand out from other animated superhero shows at the time, and, perhaps, that’s exactly what stopped it from reaching a wider audience. The Tick was key to the development of the meta-superhero genre, and the character is now best-known for his live-action version on Prime Video.
Spaced (1999-2001)
Two Seasons
Spaced is a British sitcom created by Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson and directed by Edgar Wright. Spaced introduces viewers to Daisy (Stevendon) and Tim (Pegg), who meet by chance at a café while flat-hunting and decide to pose as a couple to meet the requisites for a flat. There, they meet their eccentric neighbors while continuing their lie, so they won’t lose the flat.
Spaced stands out for Wright’s trademark visual style, pop culture references, satire, visual comedy, and the incredible chemistry of its main cast. However, Spaced is also very specific to its decade, which has stopped it from reaching mainstream popularity, along with its short run and problems with international distribution.
- Release Date
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1999 – 2001-00-00
- Network
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Channel 4
- Writers
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Jessica Hynes