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ult shows find fan base in Texas A&M students
BY STEPHEN WELLS
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GABRIEL RUENES/Tiik Battalion
Dotting the history of the life of today’s Aggie are
countless guilty pleasures one allows himself de
spite popular disdain.
Today, stuck in the crannies between runaway hit
shows like “Friends” and “ER” are a succession of
TV series with a smaller and more specialized au
dience.
The fans of these shows often discover a higher
level of involvement between themselves and
their favorite show and continue to watch,
despite overwhelming popular ambivalence.
Television shows that have a cult follow
ing are not a recent phenomenon.
Wayne Hallwell, a freshman business ma
jor, said television shows with a more limit
ed audience have been around for years.
“Not every show on TV is a popular
show,” Hallwell said. “More often than not,
shows all start with just a few people watch
ing them and grow by word of mouth or re
views in magazines. Even ‘Seinfeld’ started
out as just another show. The Simpsons’
wasn’t even a full half hour when it started.
‘Star Ttek’ and ‘The X-Files’ started out small
but ended up as popular shows.”
Shows without a widespread audience
share similar traits with their sitcom and
prime-time drama counterparts.
“All of the backstabbing and jealousy peo
ple get to talking about on ‘Melrose Place’ is
in an average episode of ‘Xena’,” Hallwell
said. “The only difference is in the setting and
the fact that when two women get into a cat
fight on ‘Xena,’ a sword is usually involved.
When they start getting into knife fights on
‘90210.’ I might start watching that too.”
The scenery surrounding a given set of
events often limits the show to a devoted fol
lowing. Thomas Malone, a College Station
resident, said some television shows are
made great by the setting.
“Life every day is just boring,” Malone
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said. “That’s why we watch TV. We want
to be taken away to another place where
things are happening all around us that
excite us. Why do you think westerns
were so popular? I would rather watch the
same story 10,000 years in the future in a
world that I’m convinced can exist than
watch the same thing happen in a world
I’m too familiar with.”
Sometimes watchers become too fa
miliar with the world the show is set in
and begin to actually question the envi
ronment of the show, leading to the
“trekkie” mentality that curses some pro
grams.
“It can go too far,” Malone said. “It’s kind of
funny the lengths some people will go to to become
immersed in the world of their favorite show. Who
cares if something presented on a show won’t work
in the real world or whether or not Star Fleet breaks
the Prime Directive? Take each episode at face val
ue and accept what is given to you.
“More than 20 years ago, spaceships were mov
ing faster than the speed of light, but nobody cared
as long as Captain Kirk solved the disaster. More of
ten than not, the technology wasn’t the thing that
solved the problem, but human reasoning.”
Those who watch “cult” programming leave
themselves open to a little ribbing from their friends.
Quincy Wess, a sophomore biochemistry major,
said he has been the butt of a few jokes because of
his “Star Trek” viewing habits.
“You would not believe the things I had to go
through when that woman got kicked off a jury for
wearing a Star Trek uniform,” Wess said. “When
one person is a little out there with their support for
a show, the other viewers might have to suffer a lit
tle. I remember the ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit when
William Shatner told all of the hard-core fans to get
a life. And of course it’s no use telling my friends
that watching ‘Deep Space Nine’ is completely dif
ferent. That just invites more jokes.”
MARK MCPHERSON/The Battalion
However, the show need not be set in the future
to cause comment.
“My friends make fun when I switch on ‘Walker,
Texas Ranger,”’ Malone said. “The acting isn’t the
best in the world, but I still enjoy the kind of B-
movie quality of the entire show. Back when they
first started the show, it seemed like all the corny
stuff was things Chuck Norris wanted to be when
he was a kid dreaming about being a cowboy. It was
n’t the most well-developed set of characters, but
the action was actually better than any other TV
show — especially considering the small budget
they probably started with.”
Malone said specialized television shows are here
to stay.
“If these shows weren’t popular, why would there
be a sci-fi channel?” he said. “Obviously a lot of peo
ple are watching these kinds of shows. I’ll stop flip
ping channels if a neat looking sci-fi show comes
on, at least to watch it for a few minutes. There’s al
ways new shows coming out, too. If you’re not into
reality shows or the standard sitcom stuff is getting
boring, try out an entirely new universe.”
CAREER COUNSELING & TESTING CENTER
SPRING 1999
Workshops
finding Your future
This interactive workshop is designed to teach participants how to
make career decisions. Participants will learn how to generate and
explore career opportunities based on their strengths and values. Pre
registration is required.
Aprils
Thurs. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
CAREER SAFARI
This workshop will provide you with the tools to track elusive occu
pational information and capture a career that fits your interests and
skills. Requires counselor referral and completion of interest inven
tory five working days prior to the workshop.
Mon. 4:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Tues. 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
CHOOSING A MAJOR
This workshop will demonstrate how to match interests with appro
priate academic majors and occupations. A take-home workbook
which includes interest inventory results is provided. Requires coun
selor referral and completion of interest inventory five working days
prior to the workshop.
Tues. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Mon. 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Tues. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
do WRat You are
This workshop is based on the best-selling book and teaches partici
pants how to incorporate their unique personalities in career plan
ning. Profiles will be provided that include a brief personality de
scription, strengths and weaknesses, criteria for a satisfying career
choice, careers to consider, and recommendations for the job search.
Requires counselor referral and completion of personality measure
five working days prior to the workshop.
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
STUDENT
COUNSELING
SERVICE
f!
Career Counseling
Testing Center
...a Department in the Division of Student Affairs
www.scs.tamu.edu
COUNSELINQ & SELF-HELP
INDIVIDUAL CAREER COUNSEUNG
Students may schedule an appointment with a career counselor to
discuss concerns regarding their choice of major and choice of ca
reer. Other issues for exploration may include career planning,
decision making, and dealing with family pressure.
CAREER PLANNING SUPPORT GROUP
This group offers support to students who are experiencing diffi
culty in making career decisions. Potential group topics include
exploring work values, conflict with parents over choice of major,
finding alternative career options. Referral by career counselor is
required.
Co-Leaders: Marcella Stark & Kelleen Stine-Cheyne
Wednesdays, March 31 - May 5, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ACE (ACADEMIC d CAREER EDUCATOR)
student Volunteers
ACE student volunteers assist students in the Career Counseling
& Testing Center by helping them explore various academic ma
jors, career options, and career information. No appointment is
necessary to speak with an ACE volunteer.
DISCOVER
DISCOVER is a multimedia career exploration tool in which you
will have a chance to take three inventories to learn more about
your interests, work-related abilities and values and develop a per
sonalized list of occupations and majors. DISCOVER computer
time must be scheduled in advance.
CAREER SELF-HELP RESOURCES
The Career Counseling & Testing Center Library contains a vari
ety of books, handouts, and computer programs on career choice
and occupational information that students may use at their own
pace. The resources are available for use during regular business
hours. No appointment is required to use these materials.
Workshop registration will dose two working
days before each workshop.
Texas A&M University has a strong institutional commitment to
the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, admission to
Texas A&M University and any of its sponsored programs is open
to all qualified individuals without regard to subgroup, class or ste
reotype.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING ■ DISCOVER ■ WORKSHOPS ■ CAREER LIBRARY
For more information contact the Student Counseling Service, Texas A&M University
Rm. 114 Henderson Hall, 845-4427 ext. 108