Geeks don’t just exist in the real world. They’re also on television.
In fact, thanks to cable TV shows, these so-called nerds have become very popular these days. Unlike in the past when they were looked down, geeks shown on TV today have a more positive image especially in the area of finding solutions (including the use of technology) to problems. And take note, they have become the popular character while the good looking guys play only supporting roles.
A popular geek character on television is Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory. Since 2008, this guy has gained a lot of fans owing to his unique personality and that includes his humor. Based on votes on the show’s official website, Sheldon is the most popular character in the show.
But geeks on television these days go beyond just the characters. There’s also a cable TV network, channel, show and a TV movie.
In terms of TV shows, geek genres include fantasy, horror, sci-fi and many others. The Walking Dead was considered the best geek TV show for 2012. It set a record for its ratings as a cable drama and as a top zombie series with brains.
The TV adaptation of “A Song of Ice and Fire†series was also a top contender. It featured dragon, the icy part of the world, the warped and the evil boy-king Joffrey.
Disney Channel is credited for creating an original movie shown on cable TV. Released in late 2011, Geek Charming was viewed by an estimated 4.9 million people worldwide. This figure led the film to land on the Top 5 as a cable show with the most number of viewers for the week. This teen film revolved around rich girl Dylan who has a boyfriend and the most popular friends as well as Josh who was an aspiring film geek.
G4 was a popular cable TV network G4 that catered to the geek market. Owned by NBC Universal, the network used to feature video games, technology and geek conventions such as Comic Con and E3. Unfortunately, the management has decided to veer away from the geek culture and instead focus on men and frat boys.
Cable TV is available around the world (mostly in North America, Europe, Australasia and East Asia) and dates back to 1948. It was invented by John Walson from Mahoney City in Pennsylvania. By 1950, cable systems were operating in 70 communities across the U.S. and today, more than 5,300 systems are in existence with an estimated 60 million subscribers.
Women are the top subscribers of cable television and families are the top viewers.
Photos via bite.ca and scoop.it
About the guest author:
Jake is a big fan of geeky TV shows and movies. Visit www.cablenet.net to know more about cable and satellite TV.