Is TOS the best sci-fi TV American series until 1985?

[T'Bonz]

For my money, the only show that was in the same category as Star Trek, up to the late 70s, was the original Twilight Zone. Most other sci-fi offerings, though fun, were cheesy and well, not top-notch.

[ahkyahnan]

I always thought "The Starlost" had a promising premise, though it was a bit slow at times. The concept was pretty interesting though.

Mark

[T'Bonz]

Wow...someone else actually watched the Starlost. It was a bit bleak, but I really liked it.

[Greg Cox]

T'Boo wrote:

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For my money, the only show that was in the same category as Star Trek, up to the late 70s, was the original Twilight Zone. Most other sci-fi offerings, though fun, were cheesy and well, not top-notch.

Agreed, although I think the original OUTER LIMITS deserves an honorable mention. It was considerably lessy cheesy and juvenile than, say, the Irwin Allen shows. At its best, say, "Demon with a Glass Hand," it rivaled TZ.

And I admit it terrified me as a kid . . ..

[xortex]

1) TZ
2) Trek
3) Buck Rogers
4) Space Rangers
5) Voyagers

6) Space 1999
7) The Outer Limits
8) The Ray Bradbury Theater - It's the TZ in color
9) One Step Beyond
10) Amazing Stories?

[KirkusOveractus]

My Name Is Legion wrote:

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No.

The original Twilight Zone is.

This would be my answer too. TOS is a strong second for me, and its my favorite of the Trek series, but TZ has it beat.

[Grant]

It kind of occured to me that in the first 4 decades of TV TOS was just about the best there is and not until Star Trek was revived were there any serious challengers. I believe regular TV broadcasts began in the US in 1946 in NYC.

So I chose a round figure 1946-1985 that, yes, happened to be just before Trek was relaunched.

And seriously does anybody think--that with the exception of TLZ--there are any real challengers?

Yes, this is a Trek site and certainly 99% of folks here like it, but I also trust the honesty of the posters to say that something from that era was better. A few have.

That was my point--I love TOS, but I wouldn't say it's the best as a partisan---I honestly think its the best.

If there are Lost in Space fans out there on their website who say they think thaty show is the best of that era---i salute their passion, but I doubt their taste and their honesty.

I love Next gen and DS9 even Voyager, but I would readily admit that X-Files might be better from that era

[Galileo7]

Grant wrote:

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If there are Lost in Space fans out there on their website who say they think thaty show is the best of that era---i salute their passion, but I doubt their taste and their honesty.

Agree. And, yes, I am a LIS fan.

[BillJ]

To this day, I don't think Star Trek: The Original Series and The Twilight Zone have been topped.

[Grant]

BillJ wrote:

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To this day, I don't think Star Trek: The Original Series and The Twilight Zone have been topped.

To me only X-files comes close, but saying that makes me really feel like I'm just being biased against other good sc-fi.

Were they really that good or is a huge part of it nostalgia?

[Harvey]

BillJ wrote:

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To this day, I don't think Star Trek: The Original Series and The Twilight Zone have been topped.

Excluding any of the Trek spin-offs, no love for Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica Farscape, Firefly, or The X-Files?

Widening to comedies, I'd also point to Futurama and Red Dwarf, although the latter is a British series and out of bounds of the discussion here.

[Admiral Buzzkill]

In terms of surpassing Trek TOS? No.

Farscape, Firefly and Buffy are probably my favorite skiffy shows since Trek TOS, though.

[T'Bonz]

Other than Star Trek, I really liked Farscape, Babylon 5 (loved that show) and I'm a new convert to Firefly.

So since the original series, I'd rank them (including some of the Trek spin-offs):

- Deep Space Nine
- Babylon 5
- TNG/Farscape/Firefly (tie)

**

Agreed, although I think the original OUTER LIMITS deserves an honorable mention.

I saw very little of that for some reason, so I can't really judge. I'll take your word for it, though.

[BillJ]

Harvey wrote:

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Excluding any of the Trek spin-offs, no love for Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica Farscape, Firefly, or The X-Files?

Widening to comedies, I'd also point to Futurama and Red Dwarf, although the latter is a British series and out of bounds of the discussion here.

I've liked other shows, but I don't think those shows topped TOS or Twilight Zone.

[Greg Cox]

Grant wrote:

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To me only X-files comes close, but saying that makes me really feel like I'm just being biased against other good sc-fi.

Were they really that good or is a huge part of it nostalgia?

The seventies and early eighties were a dark time. But, as others have already pointed out, there's been plenty of good stuff since: the Trek spinoffs, Farscape, Firefly, etc.

And there's even more if you broaden the net to include stuff like Buffy, Xena, Warehouse 13, etc.