3 TV Cult Classics That Were Unpopular When They Aired

[froodle]

Right off the top of my head, I can think of no less than ten cult classics from the world of television. Among them would be Friends, Game of Thrones, and even crime dramas like NCIS. Going back a decade (or two), I’d even say shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed make the list as early favorites in the supernatural genre.

But, we’re not here to talk about these already-popular TV shows. No, in this article we want to talk about the shows that weren’t quite as popular while they were on the air. They may have had a loyal fanbase then. But that was nothing to what they gained after they ended.

With the multitude of streaming platforms available today, it’s entirely possible for anyone to become a fan – albeit a late one – of a show that’s already seen its demise. And like one show we’ve got on the list, a recent revival or reboot can also boost the original’s popularity.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three TV cult classics that were unpopular when they aired.

Eerie Indiana

We mentioned the TV cult classics Buffy and Charmed, but did you know that the supernatural genre kicked off much earlier than that? Twin Peaks set it off in 1990. Followed by Eerie, Indiana the year after.

The latter follows two young boys as they explore the town they describe as “the center of weirdness for the entire planet”. The show’s introduction tells it all. There’s a still-alive Elvis, Bigfoot as their neighbor, and oddly-behaving dogs. Though, of course, no one believes them.

NBC’s Eerie, Indiana is the perfect balance of spooky and humorous, with the occasional nod to classic movies like The Fly, The Mummy, and even The Wizard of Oz. Sadly, critics continue to describe it as “a little ahead of its time”. Because it starred teens, it seemed logical that this would be the target audience. However, the tween horror market just hadn’t bloomed yet and the show was canceled.

Like I said, it was just a little ahead of its time. The year after it was canceled, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books were released, and Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark was starting to gain traction. Because of the growing popularity of the genre, Disney syndicated the show to air again from 2003 to 2007.

Generating a brand-new fan base yet again in 1997, the show saw its second revival on Fox Kids. And that’s where its popularity bloomed to cult status. Fox even produced a one-season spin-off, Eerie, India: The Other Dimension in 1998.

As a testament to its timelessness, The AV Club cites the complete DVD box set to go for as much as $100 on Amazon! Or, you know, you could always just stream it on Prime Video.