[imagesource: Unsplash]

Back in 1927, the very first TV broadcast system was launched at an RCA research lab. Only two years later, in 1929, the BBC released its very first television broadcast for the general public. By the late 1940s, networks like NBC and CBS emerged in the US, launching shows like Howdy Doody and Meet the Press. 

As television evolved, it became closely tied to entertainment. Some of the most successful early broadcasts covered the first Super Bowl, Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight, concerts from artists like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, and more. All things entertainment had their place with a TV channel. 

In the 1980s, more networks with niche audiences began to emerge. ESPN was founded in 1979; MTV launched in 1981; the Discovery Channel set up shop in 1985. To hook new audiences, studio executives began to focus on creating outrageous and entertaining shows for just about every genre. 

Unsurprisingly, not every series produced by these channels was a hit. Just look at the attempted reboot of Charmed in 2018 for proof that even highly anticipated projects can sink quickly.  

However, the opposite is also true. Even shows with limited budgets, unknown casts, and a strange premise can build a huge following—and even become a cult hit. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most unexpected TV hits. 

Live Poker 

If there’s one unsung hero in poker, it’s Henry Orenstein. Not only was he an active professional player, but he also revolutionized the popularity of poker with the invention of the hole cam. He patented the hidden camera in 1995, which allowed viewers to see what hands players had. It was first used in the UK’s Late Night Poker in 1999. 

The first events televised with hole cams didn’t just add a new angle for poker enthusiasts but also helped usher in a new era of interest in the game. Spectators at home could learn along with the players, keeping track of strategies and tactics used with specific hands. 

Thirty years later, poker remains one of the world’s most popular games. In fact, many players stick to remote sessions, taking advantage of free poker sites with large player pools and diverse tournament options. Some might even be using a few tricks they picked up watching live broadcasts from ESPN back in the day. 

The X-Games 

ESPN diving into live poker broadcasts following Orenstein’s invention might seem like a stretch for a company focused on sports. However, it’s not the first time ESPN pushed the envelope to great success. Back in 1993, a small team was assembled to create a totally new sporting spectacle. 

At the time, interest in extreme sports and riding sports like skateboarding were taking off — even if no demographics had shown interest in watching live events remotely. Though executives were hesitant about showcasing extreme sports, more than 198,000 spectators attended the first X Games held in 1995. 

By 1997, the success of the X Games and the expansion to include a winter series saw ESPN sign contracts to broadcast the X Games nationally and abroad. That year, the show was broadcasted to 198 countries with colour commentators in 21 different languages. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

As mentioned above, some TV series become cult classics — but few critics would have thought Buffy the Vampire Slayer had the potential to become one of the most popular and enduring vampire dramas. To put the Buffy zeitgeist into perspective, Ohio University still offers a course on women and writing, using Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a course outline. 

The CW’s show offered a simple premise: a young woman is chosen to battle vampires, and she’s assisted by a crew of loyal friends along the way. But producers weren’t endeared by the idea of sinking millions into the project.  

The first season was filmed in a warehouse rather than a soundstage. In other words, the lack of production quality was palpable. But still, Buffy defied the odds. The original airings saw between four and six million viewers tune in, which helped launch the CW into competition with bigger networks like ABC and NBC.  

Monty Python’s Flying Circus 

Though less well-known in North America, many comedy fans have likely interacted with this sketch comedy show. Not only has Monty Python’s Flying Circus launched an entire scheme of Monty Python plays, tours, albums, and films, but it also helped steer the future of sketch comedy TV. 

The show first premiered in 1969. With more than a few surreal scenes that involve dead parrots and a fish-centric dance, BBC originally backtracked on the TV show. Even though audiences loved the absurdity of the Monty Python crew, the network almost cancelled the show. 

This was partly because the show flopped when originally aired in the US before the UK. However, after the show’s ongoing success in the UK, BBC partnered with PBS to air the show for American audiences in 1974. In 2007, Time listed the show as one of the ‘100 Best TV Shows of All Time’. 

The Office (US) 

When the US version of The Office hit screens in 2005, the sitcom took a huge leap away from the successful British version it was based on. With Ricky Gervais leading the way, the UK’s The Office was a masterclass in comedy that changed the future of British sitcoms. The idea that it could recreate that success in the US was a pipedream.

Still, it was worth trying. When NBC first launched the show in 2005, it quickly picked up steam with audiences. Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott hit just the right note, while writer Greg Daniels took his experience with Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons to create a seamless American adaptation. 

The show’s success rests on changing what it needed from the UK version while keeping the same spirit, including a single-camera setup and a decision to leave behind the laugh track. The series finale, which aired in 2013, saw a total of 5.69 million concurrent viewers. Three years later, Rolling Stone added the show to its list of 100 greatest TV shows of all time.