Spirituality * Culture * Self-Expression

Enlightened TV Shows and Short Subjects

This is possibly the hardest list to generate and will likely be the shortest. The problem is that TV programs are collaborative projects with some of the collaborators being network and studio executives and sponsors. Studio executives have one mission: to generate cash – usually short term cash. They have no real interest in art. They sell their products to sponsors – business people who typically watch nothing on TV except news and pornography. TV executives would be very happy if all viewers were sugar buying zombies. Hence, the most long running, income producing programs are also the least enlightened. It is very difficult for a creative, enlightened person to deal with executives and sponsors – but they are necessary to the process. Any illuminated, progressive show that squeaks onto the schedule will inevitable suffer from executive interference. You will notice that most shows on the list went only 1 or 2 seasons. Often this was intentional – creators proposing short run documentary programs that could escape network tampering. The shows that ran longer suffered in their later seasons from executive sabotage. Sometimes creators are clever enough to conceal the illuminated messages in children’s shows and cartoons. As long as there were no swear words or overt sexuality, the executives ignored the content. Sometimes a show can get more support on cable channels rather than major networks – though this usually means lower production values and short seasons. Very rarely, the show’s creator is so charismatic or formidable that the show can counter the executive interference. And very, very rarely a show finds a champion within the ranks of the executives or the sponsors and survives despite inevitable low ratings. You can decide for yourself what programs on the list and on television generally match the comments above.

Another major problem involved in generating this list is that most illuminated programs only ran once or twice and then were forgotten. It is necessary to remember what was seen many years ago and then check on the title, dates of broadcast and content descriptions to determine if memory matches reality.

Despite all these issues, this list is far from complete and more items will be added over time. Short comments on each program will also be added. Until then check with Wikipedia and other sources for more information.

If there is a show you think should be on this list – or if you are wondering why a particular show is included – mention it in the blog and we can discuss it.

NOTE: this is intended as an educational and entertainment site. All pictures are used solely to generate interest in the works mentioned and have NO commercial intention.

TV Shows and Short Subjects

 

30 Rock (2006 – )

 Wikipedia

 IMDB

Rotten Tomatoes

30rock

3rd Rock From the Sun (1996-2001)

 Wikipedia

 IMDB

Fan Site

3rd_Rock_From_the_Sun_001

Adventures of Superman (1952-1958)

 Wikipedia

 IMDB

TV.com

superman

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1965)

 Wikipedia

 IMDB

TV.com

Alfred Hitchcock

America 2 Night (1978)

Wikipedia

IMDB

TV.com

america 2night

Ancient Mysteries (1994 – 1998)

Wikipedia

IMDB

TV.msn.com

ancient_myst

Angel (1999-2004)

Wikipedia

IMDB

fandango.com

Angel-

Animaniacs (1993-1998)

Wikipedia

IMDB

animaniacs

Anne of Green Gables (1985)

Wikipedia

IMDB

anne-of-green-gables

Arrested Development (2003-2006)

Wikipedia

IMDB

ArrestedDevelopment

Babylon Five (1993-1998)

Wikipedia

IMDB

babylon5

Batman (1966-1968)

Wikipedia

IMDB

1966-batman-tv-show-

Batman: the Brave and the Bold (2008-2011)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Batman-The-Brave-and-the-Bold

Beany and Cecil (1962)

Wikipedia

IMDB

the_beany_and_cecil_show-

Being Erica (2009-2011)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Being Erica

Blackadder (1983-1989)

Wikipedia

IMDB

blackadder

Bonanza (1959-1973)

Wikipedia

IMDB

bonanza2

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Buffy1

Bugs Bunny (1940-1964)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Bugs_Bunny

Carl Sagan’s Cosmos: a Personal Voyage (1980)

Wikipedia

IMDb

cosmos

Camelot (2011)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Camelot

Connections (1978), Connections(1994), Connections3 (1997)

Wikipedia

IMDb

connections

Cougar Town (2009 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

Cougar Town

Danger Man / Secret Agent  (1960-1968)

Wikipedia

IMDB

secretagent

Dead Like Me (2003-2004)

Wikipedia

IMDb

deadlikeme

Dr. Who (1963-1989 and 2005 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

drwho

Enigma (2005-2011)

Wikipedia

MSM Entertainment

EnigmaLogo

Farscape (1999-2003)

Wikipedia

IMDb

farscape

Fernwood 2 Night (1977)

Wikipedia

IMDB

fernwood2night

Firefly (2002)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Firefly

Futurama (1999-2003 and 2008 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

Futurama

H.R. Pufnstuff (1969-1971)

Wikipedia

IMDb

hr pufinstuff

Hercules: the Legendary Journeys (1994-1999)

Wikipedia

IMDb

hercules-the-legendary-journeys

Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)

Wikipedia

IMDb

highway to heaven

History Bites (1998-2003)

Wikipedia

IMDb

history bites

I, Claudius (1976)

Wikipedia

IMDb

I, Claudius

In Search of… (1976-1982)

Wikipedia

IMDb

in search of

Incredible Hulk, the (1977-1982)

Wikipedia

IMDB

incredible_hulk

It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1986-1990)

Wikipedia

IMDb

ItsGarryShandlingsShow

Jane and the Dragon (2005)

Wikipedia

IMDb

jane and dragon

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (1988)

Wikipedia

IMDb

joseph campbell

Justice League (2001-2004)

Wikipedia

IMDB

justice_league

Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)

Wikipedia

justice league unlimited

Kung Fu (1972-1975)

Wikipedia

IMDb

kungfuseriestv

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977)

Wikipedia

IMDB

mary_hartman_mary_hartman-show

Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)

Wikipedia

IMDb

MISSION_IMPOSSIBLE_TV_SERIES

Monk (2002-2009)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Monk_(TV)

Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974)

Wikipedia

IMDb

montypython

Mr. Bean (1990-1995)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Mr-Bean

New Girl (2011 -)

Wikipedia

IMDb

new-girl

Night Gallery (1970-1973)

Wikipedia

IMDb

night-gallery

Outer Limits (1963-1965)

Wikipedia

IMDb

outer_limits

Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990)

Wikipedia

IMDB

pee-wees playhouse

Penn & Teller’s Invisible Thread (1987)

Fan Site

IMDB

pennandteller

Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998)

Wikipedia

IMDb

pinky and the brain

Police Squad! (1982)

Wikipedia

IMDb

PoliceSquad1

Popeye the Sailor (1933-1957)

Wikipedia

IMDB

popeye

Prisoners of Gravity (1989-1994)

Wikipedia

IMDb

prisoners-of-gravity

Puppets Who Kill (2002-2006)

Wikipedia

IMDb

puppets who kill

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Wikipedia

IMDb

quantum-leap

Raising Hope (2010 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

raising-hope

Robot Chicken (2005 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

robotchicken-936422

Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959-1964)

Wikipedia

IMDB

rocky-and-bullwinkle

Rome (2005-2007)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Rome

Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in (1967-1973)

Wikipedia

IMDb

laughin

Samurai Jack (2001-2004)

Wikipedia

IMDB

samarai jack

Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre (1982-1984)

Wikipedia

IMDb

shelley-duvalls-faerie-tale-theatre

Shameless (2011 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

shameless

Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994)

Wikipedia

IMDb

sherlock

Sliders (1995-1999)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Sliders

Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)

Wikipedia

IMDb

the-spectacular-spider-man

Spider-Man (1967-1970)

Wikipedia

IMDb

spiderman

Star Blazers (1979-1984)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Star_blazers

Star Trek (1966-1969)

Wikipedia

IMDb

star_trek

Stephen Hawking’s the Grand Design (2012)

IMDB

Stephen Hawking's Grand Design

Stingray (1964-1965)

Wikipedia

IMDb

stingray

Story Theatre (1971)

IMDb

Fan Info Site

YouTube Clip

(no image available)

Tales from the Darkside (1984-1988)

Wikipedia

IMDB

darkside

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1959)

Wikipedia

IMDb

YouTube – Full Episode

the_adventures_of_robin_hood

The All-Night Show (1980)

Wikipedia

IMDB

TheAllNightShow.com

the all-night show

The A-Team (1983-1987)

Wikipedia

IMDB

The A-Team NBC tv show image

The Avengers (1961-1969)

Wikipedia

IMDb

the_avengers

The Benny Hill show (1951-1991)

Wikipedia

IMDb

the-benny-hill-show

The Champions (1968-1969)

Wikipedia

IMDB

thechampions

The Day the Universe Changed (1985)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Day-the-Universe-Changed-1

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

Wikipedia

IMDb

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Incredible Human Journey (2009)

Wikipedia

IMDb

incredible-human-journey

The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)

Wikipedia

IMDb

larry sanders

The Man from UNCLE (1964-1968)

Wikipedia

IMDb

TheManFromUNCLE

The Monkees (1966-1968)

Wikipedia

IMDb

monkees

The Muppet show (1976-1981)

Wikipedia

IMDB

TheMuppetShow

The Night Stalker (1972-1974)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Kolchak-The-Night-Stalker-cover

The Prisoner (1967-1968)

Wikipedia

IMDB

prisoner

The Rockford Files (1974-1980)

Wikipedia

IMDB

rockford

The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)

Wikipedia

IMDB

YouTube – Extended Theme Song

scarecrow

The Simple Life (2003-2007)

Wikipedia

IMDb

simple life

The Smothers Brothers (1967-1969)

Wikipedia

IMDb

smothers brotherscomedy-hour

The Three Stooges (1933-1957)

Wikipedia

three stooges

The Tomorrow People (1973-1979)

Wikipedia

IMDB

tomorrow people

The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1968 – 1975)

Wikipedia

IMDB

the-undersea-world-of-jacques-cousteau

Thriller (1960-1962)

Wikipedia

IMDb

thriller

Thunderbirds (1965-1966)

Wikipedia

IMDB

thunderbirds

Timeslip (1970-1971)

Wikipedia

IMDb

timeslip

Titans (1981-1982)

Wikipedia

IMDb

(no image available)

Torchwood (2006 – )

Wikipedia

IMDb

torchwood-

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2008)

Wikipedia

IMDb

trailer-park-boys

Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Wikipedia

IMDb

twilight-zone

Venture Bros. (2003 – )

Wikipedia

IMDB

venture brothers

Veronica Mars (2004-2007)

Wikipedia

IMDB

veronica mars

Witness to Yesterday (1974-1975, 1998)

Wikipedia

IMDB

(no image available)

Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Official Website

wizards-of-waverly-place

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

Wikipedia

IMDB

Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess.  MCA

X-Files (1993-2002)

Wikipedia

IMDB

x_files

Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister (1980 – 1988)

Wikipedia

IMDB

yes-prime-minister

2 Comments

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