Your Favourite (obscure/old) Sci-Fi TV Shows?

[ve4cib]

I don't imagine that I'm alone in being a member of these forums and enjoying science fiction. But I realize there are a lot of sci-fi shows that either never had a wide distribution, or were short-lived and on long enough ago that very few people know about them. We've probably all heard about Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. Most of us have probably also heard about Babylon 5, and maybe even Space: Above and Beyond. But what about those really great shows that just never got the ratings you feel they should have? Shows like Total Recall 2070 and Starhunter.

So here's your chance to tell the world (or these forums anyway) what your favourite older/obscure sci-fi shows are. If possible try to post some kind of a summary, (approximate) air dates and number of seasons. Any links about the show, or places to watch them (legally) online would be great too.

So without further ado, some of my favourite shows that I wish had lasted longer:

Charlie Jade
http://www.charliejade.net/
Originally aired: 2005
# Of Seasons: 1 (20 episodes)
Country of Origin: Canada/South Africa

Charlie Jade is one of those shows that's very difficult to describe without giving way too much away. The general gist of the show is that there are three parallel universes (Alphaverse, a Blade Runner-esque polluted, corporate-controlled world where resources are few and people are largely expendible; Betaverse, our own world "30 minutes from now"; and Gammaverse, a more idyllic version of our world where the environment has been kept in an almost-pristine condition, but where politics are no less-dangerous). Vexcor, a corporation from Alphaverse discovers a way of breaching through the boundary between universes, with the intent of siphoning resources from Gammaverse, through Betaverse, and back to Alphaverse where they will be used to replenish their exhausted world.

The title character, Charlie, is a private investigator from Alphaverse who goes out into the desert outside of Cape City on a case, and is caught in the blast when a Vexcor facility explodes. He wakes up to find himself in our universe. Rena, a terrorist from Gammaverse is likewise brought to Betaverse in a similar (and simultaneous) explosion in her own world. What follows is Charlie's journey of finding out what happened to him, and figuring out how to get back home. We see the points of view from characters in all three universes, and see the conspiracies slowly unfold.

The biggest downfall of Charlie Jade is that it is very slow-moving. It was originally advertised in Canada as a 20-hour miniseries, not as the first season of a TV series. If you miss an episode, or catch them out-of-order you will be somewhat lost. But if you like character-driven programs then Charlie Jade will probably be something you'd enjoy.

It's available on DVD in Region-2, but no word on a Region-1 release yet. Region-1 DVDs are listed for pre-order on Amazon, but there hasn't been any news for several months.



Starhunter
http://www.starhunteronline.co.nr/
Originally aired: 2000, 2004
# Of Seasons: 2 (Season 2 was produced under the title "Starhunter 2300")
Country of Origin: Canada

The show is set in our solar system, after mankind has colonized most of the habitable areas. The different planetary systems act as largely-independent bodies, and faster-than-light travel/communication is not possible.

The show follows the crew of a retired luxury cruise-liner that has been refitted for bounty-hunting services. Most of the ship is shut down to conserve energy, it constantly needs maintenance, and is terribly under-staffed (season 1 has all of 3 crew on the ship). The plots are fairly typical of shows where bounty-hunting is the occupation; they're given assignments, and try to catch the bad guys in order to pay to keep the ship flying.

What sets this show apart from many other pieces of sci-fi is that it's not a vast, sprawling universe that it's set in. The entire series is confined to our own solar system, essentially looking at a period in time most other sci-fi ignores or glosses over.

Season 1 (which in my opinion is much, much better than season 2) is unfortunately harder to find. The show obviously suffered from a lower-budget than many of its contemporaries, but I found it very watchable.


Paradox
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p70x4
Original Airdate: 2009
# Of Seasons: 1 (to date)
Country Of Origin: UK

Paradox is less of a sci-fi show and more of a cop drama, but it deals with quantum mechanics and time-travel to an extent, so I'm lumping in into the "peripheral sci-fi" category.

Some of our members from the UK may be more familiar with the show than those of us on this side of the pond. And those of you not from North America or the UK... I have no idea if you'd be familiar with it or not.

Anyway, the first episode starts off with an English astrophysicist having a series of images time-stamped several hours into the future downloaded to his computer overnight. All the images portray some kind of disaster that won't happen until later that same day. There's a photo of a train that's been derailed, burned bodies, a broken cell-phone with a number showing on the screen, and similarly vague images.

Enter three Manchester cops assigned to the case. Naturally there are suspicions of a hoax, but things gradually build up to the point where they realize that they've actually been given clues to a crime that hasn't happened yet.

The next 4 episodes follow a similar format: the clues are downloaded to the physicist's computer, and because of the Official Secrets Act the same team of cops is sent in to investigate each case, and try to put together a prevent a crime/disaster based only on a handful of photographs.

The show can be compared to FlashForward meets CSI to some extent. It's mostly about the detective work that goes into solving a crime that you know will happen in 8 hours, but you don't know what the crime will be, who the victims will be, but you know that a manhole cover with a specific serial number on it will somehow be involved.

I hope the show will be broadcast outside of the UK. I came across the series on EZTV.it, and torrented it. (Yes, I know that torrenting TV shows makes me a bad person.) I definitely suggest checking it out if/when it's (re-)broadcast in your area.



I've got more shows to suggest, but my hands are getting tired from all this cramping. So I'll toss it over to the rest of the board: got any shows to suggest to the rest of us?

[MasterNetra]

I liked Riverworld and Waterworld... though kinda disapointed they didn't make a sequel to Riverworld. It obviously was done with one in mind. Oh well.

[sgosnell]

I sort of liked "The Prisoner". Not strictly scifi, but close enough, maybe. Plus, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits.

[Groucho Marxist]

Mystery Science Theater 3,000 :)

The Twilight Zone

[kevin11951]

I dont know about obscure, but definitely:

Sliders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders

[gnomeuser]

I really enjoyed Journeyman

[Kevinlittleton]

Since when is the Twilight Zone obscure?

[ve4cib]

Since when is the Twilight Zone obscure?

It isn't. But it's old. The Outer Limits was also pretty good. Very similar to The Twilight Zone in a lot of good ways.

[lisati]

Lost in Space.

[cammin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexx

[CharmyBee]

I like the one where the old pervert man hologram follows the super guy-that-killed star trek man... THROUGH TIME!

[madhi19]

Gene Roddenberry Andromeda!
At least the first three season after that it went downhill fast!

[ve4cib]

I like the one where the old pervert man hologram follows the super guy-that-killed star trek man... THROUGH TIME!

That would be Quantum Leap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Leap_(TV_series)).
(And you forgot to mention that the "pervert man hologram" was also a Cylon :p)

[Mark76]

Re: Charlie Jade...

In which reality does 20 hours worth of episodes constitute a mini series? :?

[lisati]

That would be Quantum Leap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Leap_(TV_series)).
(And you forgot to mention that the "pervert man hologram" was also a Cylon :p)

And he was in a couple of "Enterprise" episodes......

[Khakilang]

Ultraman from Japan science fiction.

[HappinessNow]

Godzilla - ultimate classic Fine Art cinematic Sci-Fi at it's best.

[sliketymo]

The Invaders.

[3rdalbum]

I loved Quantum Leap, but it was more drama than sci-fi.

I also liked the original Battlestar Galactica. About halfway through the first series, it suddenly becomes REALLY good. Unfortunately we could only imagine what the second series would have been like, had it existed.

When I was much younger I liked the children's sci-fi show Escape From Jupiter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_Jupiter

[CharlesA]

I dont know about obscure, but definitely:

Sliders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders

Definitely this, even tho it went downhill after the second season. :(

Wonder if Earth2 would count.

[Swagman]

I loved Earth 2 but it faded into oblivion... wtf happened to it ?

My fave all time...

http://ufoseries.com/index.jpg (http://ufoseries.com) <--- Click the pic

[Mark76]

The new BBC Wales/Kudos series Outcasts sounds like it'll be a lot like Earth 2

Have you heard about the proposed UFO movie?

[CharlesA]

Earth2 was canceled after the first season ended. It's been released on DVD.

[sydbat]

How 'bout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_1999

or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starlost

[ac_d600]

Doctor Who.. surprised not to see it mentioned sooner. :D

[kevin11951]

Definitely this, even tho it went downhill after the second season. :(

Wonder if Earth2 would count.

Ya, I stopped watching after season 2... Its on hulu, so I think I am going to go watch it now. ;)

[Mark76]

Doctor Who.. surprised not to see it mentioned sooner. :D

That's because it's neither obscure nor old. :p

[lisati]

That's because it's neither obscure nor old. :p
Not old? Doctor Who has been around since the early 1960s. I have a couple of early episodes with William Hartnell on VHS somewhere, and have seen a Doctor Who movie with Peter Cushing as the Doctor.

[Mark76]

I'm assuming the OP meant old as in no longer made and/or no longer broadcast.

I think you'll agree that the good Doctor fits neither of those criteria.

[nothingspecial]

Lost in Space.

The radio program?

Excelent.

[lisati]

I'm assuming the OP meant old as in no longer made and/or no longer broadcast.

I think you'll agree that the good Doctor fits neither of those criteria.

I don't think I've seen Space 1999 or the original Battlestar Galactica on the screen locally for a while....

[Lightstar]

The Carebears

+1 to Twilight Zone and Quantum Leap
+1 to Lexx, that was great, I hate that they changed the main female character though.

There was a kind of weird show at one point named FreakyLinks that was kinda cool.

[Zoot7]

Babylon 5.

Sort of similar to Star Trek in a way. The first season wasn't the best admittedly, but I think once you got stuck into the second season you could largely forgive the shortcomings and it got REALLY good from there on in.
The only thing that let it down IMO was the CGI wasn't exactly impeccable in places, but overall it didn't detract from it too much.

I'd definately recommend anyone who hasn't checked it out to do so.

[AsianSpanker]

Ok, real obscure Sci-fi Fantasy? Painkiller Jane (Very Excellent), The Star Lost,Harsh Realm, Jekyll, The Misfits, Sara Jane Adventures, Starhyke, The Prisoner(new one from BBC), VR5, And the new ones like Sactuary,Fringe,Warehouse 13, Firefly, BBC Chronicles of Narnia, Brimstone, Riverworld,Being Human, The original BBC Life on Mars,Caprica,Aeon Flux animie,Starhunter, Starhunter 2300.....Charlie Jade.....
Now that should start some tongues waging!

[Corfy]

Before Quantum Leap, there was Voyagers! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyagers!) That was definitely one of my favorite shows as a kid.

And I don't know if this counts as science fiction, but I just finished watching the complete series of The Greatest American Hero (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_American_Hero) (got it on DVD for Christmas).

[John Krow]

The Prisoner(new one from BBC), ...
Now that should start some tongues waging!

I'll say, the new one was ITV wasn't it? As for the original, I think it qualifies as sf in at least some episodes - the mind control drugs in AB&C, and the 'computer' in The General for instance.

Some old, low budget favourites:
Doomwatch (BBC, c1970-73), predicated on an exaggerated public concern over environmental dangers as an electoral issue, government sets up a department to monitor new and dangerous threats germinating within the dark underbelly of science and nature. Intelligent rats, genetic engineering, computerised bureaucracy are just some of the threats encountered by the group of maverick scientists staffing the department, colloquially known as "Doomwatch": a physicist atoning for his role in nuclear development, a former intelligent agent now ecologist, a young chemist, and a gruff Yorkshire computer scientist . Inevitably they become a thorn in the side of various establishment interests. Not every episode was stellar but when it came together this was stunningly dramatic, touching and thoughtful, as well as horrific. It provided some memorable moments, chief amongst them the death of a major character - the follow-up episode being iconic in its intensity. Notable for strong performances, the series was co-created by Dr Kit Pedler, an eminent ophthalmologist and early environmentalist.
Even more obscure than this, there was a pilot for a revival of this series c1999/2000. I believe the BBC passed on the project and it was picked up and transmitted by the British channel 5, then a few scant years old. I thought the pilot was good, but it wasn't picked up for a series. It as a very lean time for UK tele-sf.

Star Cops (BBC, 1987) Again the colloqiual in-universe name for the main organisation doubles as a name for the series. The International Space Police Force (ISPF), jokingly and derisively referred to by the press as the 'star cops' inhabit what was meant to be a realistic near-earth 2027, given a reasonably 'optimistic' view of the space programme's future, technically if not ethically. The ISPF is based on a mulit-national moonbase, the largest of the lunar facilities, currently headed by a Soviet director. There are several space stations in orbit in both national and private ownership, regular shuttle flights between all three with a substantial working population. There's also a much smaller base on mars and large ships capable of reaching Pluto. Again the series is drama, and performance led, but with great storylines such as the mafia using nuclear waste dumping in space as a foothold, and the British secret service using the main character, the reluctant head of the ISPF as a unwitting pawn etc. Not a big favourite with many people and cancelled after one year, it also has many fans and I'm one of them. Nathan Spring's unique talking handheld computer 'Box' is of particular interest.

Nigel Kneale's plays and serials.

Finally Blakes' 7 (bbc 1977-1981); all I'll say is that anyone who liked the reimgined BSG for it's politics would enjoy this loved if low budget epic.





,

[cariboo]

First Wave:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Wave_(TV_series)

The only reason I watched it, is because it was filmed in Vancouver, and it was fun to see places I recognized.

[johntaylor1887]

Space 1999

[Evil-Ernie]

Children Of The Stones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_stones)

Very odd scary 'kids' serial that was filmed in location just up the road from me at Avebury stone circle, its worth checking out as its a real blend of ideas.

[The Real Dave]

I dunno if it's been mentioned, or if it counts as obsecure, but Fringe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fringe_%28TV_series%29) is fantastic!

[mips]

I loved Earth 2 but it faded into oblivion... wtf happened to it ?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_2_(TV_series)


The show was canceled after one season of 22 episodes.

Initially, the show's audience was reasonably good, reaching eighth place;[6] however, by April 23 of the next year, viewership had dropped to 9%

[mips]

Interster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interster)
http://mikecanex.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/interster_dvd_vol1.jpg

Babylon 5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5) My all time favourite!
http://www.scifi.dk/images/series/b5crew.jpg

[Sojourner27]

Planet of the Apes...

[oldos2er]

The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, Star Trek; ones that haven't held up well are Lost in Space, The Invaders, Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants. When I was a little older, Dr. Who (Tom Baker version).

[Gremlinzzz]

The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, Star Trek; ones that haven't held up well are Lost in Space, The Invaders, Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants. When I was a little older, Dr. Who (Tom Baker version).

You look allot like Phyllis Diller!

[cascade9]

You look allot like Phyllis Diller!

http://www.mscheevious.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/phyllis_diller1.jpg



Paradox
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p70x4
Original Airdate: 2009
# Of Seasons: 1 (to date)
Country Of Origin: UK

I hope the show will be broadcast outside of the UK. I came across the series on EZTV.it, and torrented it. (Yes, I know that torrenting TV shows makes me a bad person.) I definitely suggest checking it out if/when it's (re-)broadcast in your area.

I've got more shows to suggest, but my hands are getting tired from all this cramping. So I'll toss it over to the rest of the board: got any shows to suggest to the rest of us?

I really liked paradox. I dont think its ever shown on .au TV, I got it from a friend (who probbly d/led it from a torrent as well). BTW, there is also 'welcome to paradox', which from the 2 episodes I've seen is pretty awful

I'll have to check out the other series you've listed, thanks.


I'll say, the new one was ITV wasn't it? As for the original, I think it qualifies as sf in at least some episodes - the mind control drugs in AB&C, and the 'computer' in The General for instance.

Some old, low budget favourites:
Doomwatch (BBC, c1970-73), tele-sf.

Star Cops (BBC, 1987)

Nigel Kneale's plays and serials.

Finally Blakes' 7 (bbc 1977-1981); all I'll say is that anyone who liked the reimgined BSG for it's politics would enjoy this loved if low budget epic.


The Prisoner (2009) was ITV + AMC..more AMC than ITV IMO, but maybe I'm being harsh.

Doomwatch I've never even heard of (bit before my time). Sounds interesting ;)

Blakes 7, the blackest show on TV LOL. I couldnt stand the new BSG, but I have fond memories of Blakes 7.

You said "Nigel Kneale's plays and serials", but I've got say quatermass. I know, he's done lots of other stuff but quatermass (1979) really sitcks in my head.

I dont know if Red Dwarf counts as old, or obscure, but its worth a look. If you get british humour anyway.

Threshold was pretty good. Pity that they never finished it off, but I'd gues that foothold and stranglehold would have been a bit much for most audiences.

Edit- hooray, Primeval is restarting, finally. Not old, or that obscure, but its one of the more interesting sci-fis around today.

[JRV]

Tales of Tomorrow (1951)

An early predecessor to The Twilight Zone.
Leslie Nielsen starred in quite a few episodes, and James Dean was in one.

Watch it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043238/videogallery?page=1

[Gremlinzzz]

Underdog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73zpwWG0JQo

[oldos2er]

You look allot like Phyllis Diller!

Phyllis Diller looks like Phyllis Diller.
FTFY.

[oldos2er]

Tales of Tomorrow (1951)


There are a bunch of those at archive.org too: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=tales%20of%20tomorrow%20AND%20med iatype:movies

[Frogs Hair]

The Lost World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtOzYspLNA

[rend]

Babylon 5
Firefly
and
The Invisible Man (2000-2001) season 1 and 2 on hulu
http://www.hulu.com/the-invisible-man

[Corfy]

The Invisible Man (2000-2001)

I forgot about that show. It was a good one.

Somehow, that reminded me of Deadly Games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadly_Games), which was another good show (and a bit more obscure).

[mips]

Torchwood: Children of Earth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_earth)

[satanselbow]

Blake's 7 :popcorn:

Nothing since has even come close :D

[Thewhistlingwind]

Quite possibly the greatest animated sci-fi ever.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MegasXLR

They've done it better justice then I could.

[rbishop]

As a kid growing up I really enjoyed:

Eerie, IN
V - The original Mini Series
Original Star Trek

As I got older:

X-Files
Star Trek - The Next Gen

As an Adult:

Fringe
Firefly
No Ordinary Family
Sanctuary
Smallville
Stargate SG1
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Universe
The Cape
The Event
V - The New Series
Warehouse 13

I know most of these don't fall under the criteria, but come on you have to admit most of these are pretty good.

[jhonan]

Sapphire and Steel - I was 10, it freaked me out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire_%26_Steel

The programme centres on a pair of interdimensional operatives, the eponymous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eponym) Sapphire and Steel. Very little is revealed about their purposes or backgrounds in the course of the series but they appear to be engaged in guarding the order, if not the integrity, of Time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time). They are two of several elements that assume human form and are sent to investigate strange events; others include Lead (Val Pringle (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Val_Pringle&action=edit&redlink=1)) who takes the aspect of a jovial, friendly giant, or Silver, a technician who can melt metals in his hands.


In the series, it is explained that Time is like a corridor that surrounds everything, but there are weak spots where Time – implied to be a potentially malignant force – can break into the present and take things. There are also creatures from the beginnings and ends of time that roam the corridor looking for the same weak spots to break through.

[Retlol]

Of the top of my mind:

- Classic Doctor Who (note, only for fans)
- Sliders
- X-Files
- Star Trek TOS and TNG
- Stargate SG1
- Outer Limits
- Farscape
- Buffy/Angel
- Dark Angel
- Twilight Zone
- Lost (yes, it's sci-fi)
- Battlestar Galactica

Current sci-fi:

1. Doctor Who
2. Torchwood
3. Supernatural (more fantasy then sci-fi, but it's awesome either way)
4. Smallville (last season is really pushing it in a bad way, get your cape on and fly dammit :p :p)
5. V
6. Fringe

That's about it I guess.

(StarGate Universe killed the franchise for me, btw)

[ve4cib]

A few more recent, yet still obscure to the North American viewer shows...

Outcasts
Earth has been hit with some kind of apocalyptic event, but there is a human colony established on a planet in a nearby solar system that now represents the only humans left in the universe. But this planet isn't what it seems to be, and shadowy forces seem to be moving against the colonists...

The show only just finished airing its first (and, sadly, last) season a few weeks ago. It showed great promise, I thought. The official website is here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x8fw4).


Pulse
Not even a proper TV series, really. This was a pilot commissioned by BBC3, but was never picked up. It's a medical/horror show. A med student starts working at a prestigious teaching hospital, but discovers that there are some dark experiments being performed on the patients.

As I said, they only ever made the one hour-long pilot episode, so there isn't much other than the character introductions and the setting, but I would have loved to see a full series. The setting was sufficiently dark and creepy, but not over-the-top. The BBC has a blog entry about the pilot here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sj8f7).

[lovinglinux]

I recently watched Odyssey 5 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318236/) on DVD and really enjoyed it.

I am not talking about Babylon 5, but Odyssey 5 :-)

Although the series has only one season and it doesn't finish, many mysteries are explained.

I am not sure if it is really obscure, but I never saw anyone mentioning here in the forums.

===============:evil: SPOILER ALERT :evil:==================

The series, which is a Canadian production, is about a bunch of astronauts that are taken 5 years back in time after seeing the implosion of Earth from space. The are sent back by a mysterious being, in order to figure out what caused the catastrophe and to prevent it. They soon discover someone created artificial intelligence in a computer simulation and the AI programs escape to the Internet, evolve and do bad things to humans. They even upload themselves to synthetic bodies.

Crazy story. Very interesting.

[giddyup306]

I'm surprised that only two people mentioned the X-Files. My favourite show of all time! The spinoff, The Lone Gunman was also good. Another good series that Chris Carter did was Millennium. Speaking of the same title, the Steig Larsson series was amazing too (it's not Sci-Fi but it is obscure). :D

[lovinglinux]

I'm surprised that only two people mentioned the X-Files. My favourite show of all time! The spinoff, The Lone Gunman was also good. Another good series that Chris Carter did was Millennium. Speaking of the same title, the Steig Larsson series was amazing too (it's not Sci-Fi but it is obscure). :D

I didn't mention because is not obscure.

BTW, I am watching the second season. The movies are also really nice.

[dwhite]

fireball xl5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXGGuqXB8h4



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireball_XL5

[CraigPaleo]

Doctor Who.. surprised not to see it mentioned sooner. :D

+1. I used to have to stay up late to see it as a kid.

[Exodist]

Everytime a post is made. "Lets talk about something really old ________."
It makes me feel really old. :-(

Since when is Trek and Babylon old?

Guess I should submit for my senior citizens membership now.. /sigh

[Exodist]

Doctor Who.. surprised not to see it mentioned sooner. :D

Got Netflix sending some good ole episodes next week.. Woot! /jump

[HappinessNow]

A pilot with in the last episode of the second season of the original Star Trek series:

Assignment: Earth

featuring,

Gary Seven and Miss Roberta Lincoln and Gary Seven's mysterious shape shifting cat companion Isis

The series never came to be


The episode "Assignment: Earth" was a television pilot for a proposed series about Gary Seven, a human who lives on Earth but who works for the inhabitants of another planet. His mission was to prevent nuclear war on Earth by sabotaging a missile platform launched by the United States in 1968. Seven is encountered by the crew of the Starship Enterprise, who have been sent back in time by the United Federation of Planets to find out what actually had occurred on Earth in the late 1960s.
Seven's secretary was Miss Roberta Lincoln (portrayed by Teri Garr) and was originally unaware of Seven's origins, thinking she was working for a couple that was researching a new encyclopedia. Seven also had a constant companion in Isis, who at first appears to be an ordinary cat, but is shown to have great intelligence and in fact turns out to be able to alter its shape to become what appears to be a human female, which Miss Lincoln discovers during one scene as Isis changes shape into a human female and then back into a cat.http://goo.gl/GtNOD

While the series never came to be there are outstanding novels and comic books written about Gary Seven, Isis and Miss Lincoln.

Also, it had incredible influence on The Dr. Who series, and shifted the Dr. Who series from being a history educational show into a shift into becoming a series basically mimicking the Gary Seven and Miss Lincoln interplay of characters and plot development.

While a series about Gary Seven, Isis and Miss Lincoln (especially starring Teri Garr) would have been very interesting and enjoyable I am glad it inspired Dr. Who to take a creative shift into what it is today.

Someone seriously dropped the ball on not making this into a series.

[HappinessNow]

oh and if hasn't been mentioned:


Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)

The whole series is streamable on Netflix

This cuts across every genre and beyond Sci-fi and is the best acting of any TV series. The best acting and character development I have ever seen...anywhere.

Starbuck is awesome!...and Edward James Olmos delivers a performance that can't be beat.

[lovinglinux]

oh and if hasn't been mentioned:


Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)

The whole series is streamable on Netflix

This cuts across every genre and beyond Sci-fi and is the best acting of any TV series. The best acting and character development I have ever seen...anywhere.

Starbuck is awesome!...and Edward James Olmos delivers a performance that can't be beat.

Totally agree. Best series ever.

I have watched it so many times that I've lost count.

The performance of James Callis as Gaius Baltar is also superb. Is not a comedy, but I can't stop laughing when I watch Gaius Baltar in the bathroom booth asking Gaeta about the traitor photo ID progress. Not to mention, Michael Hogan as Col. Tigh, which makes some great sarcastic and grumpy remarks.

Is worth mentioning that the series has also some of the best cgi space battle scenes ever made.

[Exodist]

oh and if hasn't been mentioned:


Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)

The whole series is streamable on Netflix

This cuts across every genre and beyond Sci-fi and is the best acting of any TV series. The best acting and character development I have ever seen...anywhere.

Starbuck is awesome!...and Edward James Olmos delivers a performance that can't be beat.

I agree, I recently spent 2 weeks of non stop watching BSG to recap and catch any episodes that I missed. Damn good acting and directing. There are so many jaw dropping moments making the series phenomenal and a must see for anyone.

[Warpnow]

Technically the premise of Quantum Leap isn't science based as its god doing it all.

[oldos2er]

Gary Seven and Miss Roberta Lincoln and Gary Seven's mysterious shape shifting cat companion Isis


I remember how badly I wanted Gary Seven's "pen" as a kid.

Also that episode has some great shots of the Saturn V.

[ebasa]

Manimal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manimal

and 4400, surprised no one mentioned it.

[solitaire]

Only "obscure" shows i can remember are mostly kids shows.. lol

Australian:
Cybergirl (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279556/)
Girl from Tomorrow (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098803/)
Ocean Girl (ocean oddesy: UK title) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108885/)
Canadian/American
DeepWater Black (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118403/)
Cartoons:
Ulysses 31 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131190/)

others:
Dataman (was a poor man's tron)
AirWolf
Blue Thunder (it did become a short run TV cop show)
Street Hawk.

[JRV]

Babylon 5
Firefly
and
The Invisible Man (2000-2001) season 1 and 2 on hulu
http://www.hulu.com/the-invisible-man

I just finished watching Firefly, I don't know how I missed it the first time around.

[Condor Cluster]

Buck Rogers Was a bit camp I guess, and had a robot with a mullet and a gay medallion, but IMO was better than the original Battlestar.

Planet of the Apes

Land of the Giants lol at the big rubber hand that always attacked the people.

Batman Its kinda sci-fi. Probably the campest TV show ever made, but Batman is one of the better superheroes, and Adam West is a part of Family Guy now!

Knight Rider Had the Hoff! But also had the gay medallion from Buck Rogers as the voice of the kitt for some reason...

[Corfy]

Knight Rider Had the Hoff! But also had the gay medallion from Buck Rogers as the voice of the kitt for some reason...

I think you are a little confused. William Daniels did the voice of K.I.T.T., but I don't see any evidence that he was ever on Buck Rogers. He was on St. Elsewhere, as well as Boy Meets World. He also played John Adams in my favorite movie, 1776.

[solitaire]

I think you are a little confused. William Daniels did the voice of K.I.T.T., but I don't see any evidence that he was ever on Buck Rogers. He was on St. Elsewhere, as well as Boy Meets World. He also played John Adams in my favorite movie, 1776.

Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny and most of the Loony Tunes characters) was Tweeky's voice

[Maheriano]

I liked John Doe that used to come on FOX in 2002 - 2003.
And of course The X-Files.

[nrundy]

American Gothic with actor Gary Cole.

[Paulgirardin]

The greatest of all - nothing approaches The Clangers

http://www.freewebs.com/1969clangers/home.htm

[giddyup306]

I didn't mention because is not obscure.

BTW, I am watching the second season. The movies are also really nice.


Parts of the X-Files are very obscure. Two episodes that come to mind is the one where two people are driving down the road, see a bright UFO light, and the driver says "what the hell is that". Then two aliens are standing by the car, and another bright light shines on them and one of the aliens says "what the hell is that". The other episode that comes to mind is where Mulder eats like twenty pieces of rhubarb pie in a row while asking dumb questions to the guy at the diner.

****SPOILER WARNING****

I've watched every episode of the X Files probably 2 or 3 times, plus all the Lone Gunman. I thought I was missing something, but after watching a 4 part documentary about the making of, it turns out that it was designed to be vague, and you never know what happens, or what doesn't happen. Even the characters have differing opinions on what role certain people played in that show. The biggest and most obvious puzzles refer to Fox's sister Samantha, and what side The Cigarette Smoking Man is on.

[Retlol]

A few more that come to mind that I liked while they lasted:

- Jericho
- Prey (late 90s sci-fi show about a new species of humanoid trying to end Homo Sapiens dominance, had the chick from Will&Grace in it)
- Invasion (liked it very much, cancelled way to soon)
- Lois&Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (bit cheesy but never missed an episode)

[Condor Cluster]

The Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno with a green wig on, running through walls really slowly

Twin Peaks

Lost in Space Robby the Robot even appeared in Fallout 3

[NCLI]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It's an old, obscure, anime TV series. So awesome.

[Condor Cluster]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It's an old, obscure, anime TV series. So awesome.

Retro anime rules! Like Fist of the North Star, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors etc :D

[NCLI]

Retro anime rules! Like Fist of the North Star, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors etc :D
So does a lot of new anime thoguh ;)

I started on LOGH last wednesday, and I'm halfway through now. It's good! :D

[Arleas]

Most of us have probably also heard about Babylon 5, and maybe even Space: Above and Beyond.

Space: Above and Beyond was very difficult to watch in the UK, as Channel 4 changed the time it was on pretty much every week. I don't think they ever re-ran it, either.

I remember a great scene where they play the Ramones. I tried looking for it and found this one instead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmv8CFgV2Y

S:AC is up there with Firefly for me!

[HappinessNow]

Avatar: The Last Airbender (animated TV Series 2005–2008) --(also known as Avatar: The Legend of Aang)

[handy]

"My Favourite Martian" - 1963 -> 1966:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056775/

I also liked the "old" Doctor Who. Tom Baker was by far my personal favourite incarnation of the good Dr.

[HappinessNow]

Alf

Mork & Mindy

[krapp]

Hardly obscure but I really enjoyed Babylon 5.

[Rasa1111]

ve4cib

Wow, I haven't had tv in 4-5 years, and I'd never heard of "Charlie Jade"
But since I saw this thread a few days ago, Ive watched a few episodes online..
and that is a great show! Thanks !!

I'll have to check out some other suggestions here later on,
but wanted to give thanks for the mention!

Man, it's great! lol :) <3

[ve4cib]

Wow, I haven't had tv in 4-5 years, and I'd never heard of "Charlie Jade"
But since I saw this thread a few days ago, Ive watched a few episodes online..
and that is a great show! Thanks !!

I'll have to check out some other suggestions here later on,
but wanted to give thanks for the mention!

Man, it's great! lol :) <3

Glad you like it!

I'm not surprised you hadn't heard of it. It was a Canadian/South African production, and as far as I know it only aired once in the US on the Sci-Fi Channel in an obscure timeslot super late at night, with no advertising. I have no idea if it's ever been broadcast in Europe or Asia.

But it a phenomenal show. Very character-driven, good writing, good acting, great sountrack, and a slick visual style. And 01 Boxer is one of the coolest villains/anti-heroes I think I've seen on TV.

My only advice is to make sure you watch every episode in order. If you don't watch them in order, or if you skip some, you can easily get lost.

[Rasa1111]

Glad you like it!

I'm not surprised you hadn't heard of it. It was a Canadian/South African production, and as far as I know it only aired once in the US on the Sci-Fi Channel in an obscure timeslot super late at night, with no advertising. I have no idea if it's ever been broadcast in Europe or Asia.

But it a phenomenal show. Very character-driven, good writing, good acting, great sountrack, and a slick visual style. And 01 Boxer is one of the coolest villains/anti-heroes I think I've seen on TV.

My only advice is to make sure you watch every episode in order. If you don't watch them in order, or if you skip some, you can easily get lost.

I just finished all of them, and wow.. it's such a great show!
I wish it went for more seasons!
That was one of the best shows Ive ever watched I think! lol

Right up there at the top with my favorite show ever.. Northern Exposure!
Totally unrelated shows...
But both favorites. lol

Thanks soo much for the mention! <3

Now... to find the soundtrack for it...
(no luck yet).... :lol:

:D

[mips]

I have no idea if it's ever been broadcast in Europe or Asia.

It has been broadcast in Europe.

[Rasa1111]

I recently watched Odyssey 5 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318236/) on DVD and really enjoyed it.

I am not talking about Babylon 5, but Odyssey 5 :-)

Although the series has only one season and it doesn't finish, many mysteries are explained.

I am not sure if it is really obscure, but I never saw anyone mentioning here in the forums.

===============:evil: SPOILER ALERT :evil:==================

The series, which is a Canadian production, is about a bunch of astronauts that are taken 5 years back in time after seeing the implosion of Earth from space. The are sent back by a mysterious being, in order to figure out what caused the catastrophe and to prevent it. They soon discover someone created artificial intelligence in a computer simulation and the AI programs escape to the Internet, evolve and do bad things to humans. They even upload themselves to synthetic bodies.

Crazy story. Very interesting.

That sounds awesome.
Might have to check that out next. lol
Found it here http://tv.blinkx.com/show/odyssey-5/cgPrKYsu-aIB_fjz#s1e1

"Outcasts" sounds cool to!
Thanks guys.
gives me something to do when its nothing but rain. :)

[ve4cib]

I just finished all of them, and wow.. it's such a great show!
I wish it went for more seasons!
That was one of the best shows Ive ever watched I think! lol

Right up there at the top with my favorite show ever.. Northern Exposure!
Totally unrelated shows...
But both favorites. lol

Thanks soo much for the mention! <3

Now... to find the soundtrack for it...
(no luck yet).... :lol:

:D

Apparently there was too much licensed music in the show, making a soundtrack overly expensive. I'd love to buy the soundtrack too though.

If you're interested in where the show would have gone in Season 2, Robert Wertheimer (the show's creator) released the season 2 blueprint (http://www.charliejade.net/podpress_trac/web/94/0/CharlieJade-Season2Blueprint.pdf).

CharlieJade.net (http://www.charliejade.net) has a series of podcasts and interviews about the show too, including live commentary. So if you're ambitious you could make your own DVD with director's commentary tracks.

-----------------

I remember hearing about Odyssey 5 a few years back, but I've never watched any of it. May have to go check that one out.

[hhh]

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet... from MTV's Liquid Television back in the early '90s, the series that the movie was based on, Æon Flux (http://www.mtv.com/shows/aeon_flux/series.jhtml).

[Bandit]

Got over 25 DVDs coming in from Netflix of Dr. Who with Tom Baker in them. I really missed the older Dr. Who series, this should be good.

[galacticaboy]

I know it is not really that old, but since it premiered when I was a baby, it is old to me. That would be Xena: Warrior Princess, I consider that Sci-Fi...

[rg4w]

Thunderbirds

[Dale61]

There's only two that I would make time to watch again, and that is Firefly and Red Dwarf.

We have all of The X-Files on DVD, but I need to be in that sort of mood to watch any of it again.

[Telengard C64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_Above_and_Beyond

Loved it while it lasted. It had the misfortune of being up against certain other more popular sci-fi shows at the time.

[Rasa1111]

Not sure if its been mentioned..
But i just finished watching the "Jeremiah" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290966/) series online, and that was a great show!
Only 2 seasons, but very good in my opinion.

[Linuxratty]

Babylon 5.

I'd definately recommend anyone who hasn't checked it out to do so.

Me too!

*Babylon 5. I liked it a lot more than Trek.It was by far my favorite SF series. Quirky characters,interesting story arc,

*Stargate SG-1. IMHO,the best Stargate series. Stargate Universe was so bad,I stopped watching it before the first season was half done.

*Alien Nation. Aliens stranded on Earth and how they and the humans adapt to each other.

*Deep Space Nine.My favorite ST series.

*Quantum Leap.Time travel with a twist.

*Farscape.I enjoyed Farscape till the writers became obsessed with them being pursued by the sociopath.