The Boston Globe ranks the top 50 sci-fi shows of all time

[Ming]

I was laughing that Flash Gordon made 16th. They reference the old B/W TV show. I will bet it made the list that high because of the Serialized Movies that still can be found on TV, and that NOBODY remembers the actual TV show they reference.

[Solver]

You bastard, bastard Americans! I'm sooo jealous .

I am a sci-fi fan, and I have read many sci-fi books. A great thing is that I also read a few Soviet sci-fi writers, who are quite excellent, but most Westerns never get them. In addition to that, I have a number of books by Asimov, Sheckley, Bradbury, Arthur Clarke and others.

But... we don't get any friggin sci-fi on TV! Star Trek? Was never shown here. Not a single episode or a movie. I learned about that show on Apolyton. The X-Files? The only show to be ever fully shown here - though the Latvian TV showed the first 5 seasons, and the remaining 4 after a looong break when I had seen them on Russian TV already. Stargate? A pathetic attempt to show it - one season. Gah! Others? No way.

That way, I am stuck without seeing most of the interesting stuff. The only good thing is that I can download episodes of several TV shows as they're aired in the USA...

[Gatekeeper]

Hmpfh. As much as I enjoy the nBSG, I really question whether it's been around long enough to qualify on a "Top 50" list of all time. The show's still young, and could bomb big time ... especially if the Colonial fleet encounters a DOMINION BATTLE FLEET!

Gatekeeper

[Tattila the Hun]

Well, consider, there has been, was it 7 seasons of TNG. Certain percentage was great, some was good, and some was crap. Let's say 10%/50%/40% ratio.

Now, there's been 1 and a half seasons of nBSG, plus pilot. From that, 90% has been great, 9% good, and 1% crap.

So currently, nBSG is 99% solid science fiction-tv. It might go down, but right now is what matters.

(Numbers are arbitrary, BTW.)

[Ming]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
Now, there's been 1 and a half seasons of nBSG, plus pilot. From that, 90% has been great, 9% good, and 1% crap.

(Numbers are arbitrary, BTW.)

Yes... the numbers are very arbitrary.

My family and I TRIED to watch it. We love science fiction programs and enjoy some of the worst grade B movies... but we couldn't stand nBSG. I would reverse your numbers. 1 was great, 9% watchable, and 90% crap. I just don't see what everybody sees in it.
And to rate it so high after such a short time and so few episodes... all time... no way

[Solver]

What exactly is so bad in it, Ming? I've watched the two-hour BSG movie and the first two episodes of season 1, and am considering to add it to the list of series to watch after seeing what I have, and the enthusiasm from most sci-fi fans.

[Ming]

I actually like the two hour BSG movie... and then we watched the first 8 episodes (maybe 9) and just stopped watching it because it was boring

Some of the plots are "ok"... but very inconsistent...
The characters are not very likeable... what can I say. As a family, we all agreed it wasn't worth our time. And not a single person asked me to continue recording it so that they could watch it on their own.

[GePap]

The writing in the New Galactica series is excellent in my opinion, and while the Characters might not be likeable, how likeable are peope going to be after the apocalypse and when they are running for their lives?

The last two episodes of the first season are outstanding, with a killer ending.

While I stated early that I think its too soon to place it on this kind of list, when it comes to comparing TV shows based purely on quality (writing, acting, production values), the new series is certainly one of the best Sci Fi shows ever.

[rah]

Heck if the one or so seasons of Logan's Run was enough to qualify. , sorry I still find that hilarious. Then length of run isn't really a determining factor here.

[Edan]

Originally posted by rah
Heck if the one or so seasons of Logan's Run was enough to qualify. , sorry I still find that hilarious. Then length of run isn't really a determining factor here.

I looked it up, because i didn't recognize it, but That Was Then (#46) only lasted two episodes.

[Solver]

I was also surprised BSG is at #2... I haven't seen much of it, as said, but a show that hasn't been running for two full seasons yet still has a lot of potential to become absolutely crap.

I've got to agree with the lack of likeable characters, though. From the little I've seen, the characters don't appear to be very likeable. Though the Cylon girl is hot .

[Dr Strangelove]

Why would Buffy and Tales from the Crypt be put on this list? They're both fantasy or horror. If they qualify I'd like to nominate Fantasy Island , the last version with Malcolm McDowell.

Thge actor who played "Will Robinson" in Lost in Space appeared as a semi-regular in another sci-fi series. Does anyone know which one?

[MosesPresley]

Babylon 5?

[Ming]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Thge actor who played "Will Robinson" in Lost in Space appeared as a semi-regular in another sci-fi series. Does anyone know which one?

Yep.. as MP points out... Bill Mumy played Lennier

[Ming]

Originally posted by Edan
I looked it up, because i didn't recognize it, but That Was Then (#46) only lasted two episodes.

From the Globe

Number 46
'That Was Then'
If you blinked, you may have missed this short-lived gem of a sci-fi show on ABC. As Travis Glass (played by James Bulliard) turned 30 years old, he realized his life since high school was pretty much wasted. He envies his jerk brother Gregg (played by Brad Raider) who married Travis' dream girl, Claudia (played by Kiele Sanchez). Thanks to a wish, an electrical problem and an old Kink's song, Travis returns to 1988 to change the past. But everytime he hears the Kink's song again, he's catapulted back to the future to see how his changes affected the outcome of his life at 30. The show was canceled long before it had a chance to reach its prime. It ran in the fall of 2002.

And yes... it ran only two episodes. Now how come this can make an "all time" list and Farscape isn't even mentioned...