Mental Floss

TELEVISION

Columbia Pictures/Sony

The animated series aired from 1986 to 1991 and helped keep interest in the 'Ghostbusters' franchise alive between feature films.

Jake Rossen














Jon Hamm and January Jones star in Mad Men.

No one’s perfect all the time. Whether it’s a stray coffee cup or a time-traveling Colonel Sanders, sometimes TV shows have things popping up where—and when—they shouldn’t.

Rebecca Pahle


HBO

David Milch's 'Deadwood' earned critical praise, launched careers, and won a devoted fan following over its three seasons—even if admirers of the dark Western crime drama have long lamented its too-short television run.

Kristy Puchko




Keith Carradine and Timothy Olyphant in the pilot episode of Deadwood.

Even great TV series don’t always start out that way. Which is why the shows that nail their tonal and thematic intentions from the very first episode are rare creatures worthy of celebration.

Matthew Jackson