I AM LEGEND - Pt 3 Television

Defined Legends

Obviously when you look at legendary TV shows you think of shows like Fawlty Towers, Twin Peaks and Knight Rider. These have all been watched on countless occasions by many millions of people and will definitely continue to be watch by many millions more.

It’s almost unbelievable when someone says they have never heard of Fawlty Towers. Think about it? Wouldn’t it surprise you if you partner sat down next to you one night as Basil did his thing only to ask what it is you were watching? I’d have to say I’d be shocked. Did you also know that there were only ever 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers and they are still shown on TV every day? This really is a great show and one that it would be very hard to replicate for it’s popularity now. It will always make the masses laugh and I look forward to introducing my children to Manuel. It amazes me to think how many times I must have seen each episode and still don’t change the channel when they come on.

There are many other great shows that hold the same cult followings as the greatest movie sagas or the brilliance of any musician. It pains me to say it but even a lot of the current soaps would fall into this category too. The likes of Eastenders, Coronation Street and even Neighbours have been going now for a number of decades and don’t look like letting up anytime soon. These are very high in the longest running TV series of all time. In fact if my kids aren’t watching the next generation of the Mitchell’s then I’d be very surprised.

Others:

Only Fools and Horses

Rainbow

Doctor Who

Circle Legends

Next to these great TV shows are a countless number of others known by many but only appreciated by some. You could say that something like Baywatch is legendary for the sheer population that tuned in ever Saturday night. They have countless merchandise sales even now and people still quote their lines and sing the theme song. As long as David Hasslehoff continues his popularity we will hear more and more about this show.

Others include the game shows like Crystal Maze or Gladiators which are respected TV history in certain circles. There have been a selection of greats over the decades but this is a much more diverse media type and many shows die off as quickly as they arrived.

Others:

Million Dollar Man

Lassie

Columbo

Possible Future Legends

When thinking about current TV series it’s hard to choose which ones our children will appreciate or those that can be watched again and again. I suppose the biggest series of recent time is Lost but would this still hold up after several viewings. I’d have to say I’m not too sure. Yes the series is great, but the whole reason this was such a success is the mystery surrounding the whole experience. Most of the questions have now been answered and the ending spoilt for those who didn’t keep up.

Another might be the Sopranos. This brilliant drama about a Mafia family is some of the most compulsive viewing in recent memory. I’d be surprised if this series is not fed down the generations as a true classic. Personally I’ve watched this series through a few times and have found it very entertaining on each occasion.

If you look towards the future we have a collection of great TV shows that could also hit the high life. A Game of Thrones in particular has me gagging for more but whether the shows popularity is due to the TV show itself or the source material only time will tell.

Others:

X-Files

The Walking Dead

Mad Men