Nerdy TV from our Formidable Years: #1: "The X-Files"

This next post is the first in a series, based on nerdy or semi-nerdy TV from our childhood, teenage-hood, or college-age...hood. As with many other pop culture avenues, my knowledge is pretty limiting, and I feel as if I could only comment accurately on a selective amount of shows or topics. That being said...if there is anyone who would like to contribute, now is the time! If you were a big fan of some TV show that has either had a cultural impact or has sustained the test of time, send your thoughts on over!

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It was late May in 1998, and I was flipping through the channels. I came across a promo for a show that I knew existed, but never really watched with any consistency:

"Tonight: A special Friday X-Files....Mulder and Scully fight vampires in a small Texas town...(cut to Mulder, putting his arm around Scully), 'Don't say I never did nothin' for ye!!' "

I remember thinking, hmm...that sounds interesting. Plus I've always been a fan of shows with either, A: a funny or clever storyline, B: high production value, and C: unresolved sexual tension between two main characters. So I checked out the episode in question - "Bad Blood" - and I was instantly hooked. The best scene? Mulder, doped up on knockout pills, sings the theme song to "Shaft:"

It turned out that I came in at the exact right time, because that summer, something very rare happened: a TV series, while it was still on the air, was being turned into a movie! The X-Files: Fight the Future was coming out on June 19, and I decided to drag three of my friends to the premiere. The film only helped to solidify my mild obsession with the show, despite the fact I didn't dress up like many of my contemporaries at the theater. Both the stars of the show, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were knee-deep in the media frenzy surrounding the film, appearing on such quality shows like Saturday Night Live and the Rosie O'Donnell show. Then, of course, there's stuff like this:

Apparently, I'm not alone here. There has been a very vibrant, enthusiastic and spirited fan base ever since the show's inception in 1993. Fans lovingly call themselves "X-Philes," and there is even a distinction between philosophies. For example:

-A "Shipper:" someone who believes that Mulder and Scully belong together and wanted them to get together at some point in the series. A typical fan website would look something like this. Notice the many "collages," which are screen shots of some tender moments throughout the series. There are also a lot of cheesy fan-produced YouTube videos out there these days; this one is my favorite.

Since I pretty much identified myself as a "shipper," I can tell you from experience that people in this category live and die by every interaction between the two main characters. Every touch, look, and word is scrutinized, analyzed and expounded upon. When the show was still on the air, the "scenes from next week's show" usually got a feverish, screaming response ("did you SEE that?!?! What the hell does THAT mean??!"). Then we'd have to wait AN ENTIRE WEEK for the resolution, where we would either be pleasantly surprised or horribly disappointed.

-A "NoRoMo:" Title says it all. These are the REAL nerds of the X-Files subculture (as if the rest of us weren't nerdy already). These are the folks who don't believe in ANY romantic interaction between Mulder and Scully. They are the folks that spend their weekends at X-Files conventions, dress up like/identify themselves with their favorite characters, and tell others that it would "ruin the show" if they got together. They are also the people who know the most about the so-called "mythology" plot line (if you need an explanation of said "mythology," I might not be the person to do it. All you need to know is, there was this alien race, this virus in the form of a "black oil," and a group of men in the U.S. government who wanted to keep all of it a secret, whilst getting ready for the impending "alien colonization of Earth." I'm tapped after that unfortunately). I won't include an example of their websites, because they are usually boring and whiney. But, I digress...

And now, us "X-Philes" find ourselves coming out of the woodwork yet again, for the latest big-screen installment: "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" (which, if you ask me is a bit of a cop-out. That was a blatant rip-off of this, plus one of the most quoted lines in the show):

A good childhood friend of mine, who has been more vigilant about keeping up with the X-Phile community, sends me updates, links and pictures from time to time. Here are some of the greatest hits:

Jan. 16: 

"THEY'RE BACK, BABY!" http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2008/01/17/xfilesx-large.jpg

"PS--What is with her coat?!  And those pants!? Scully wouldn't be caught dead in those pants.  Where are the sexy outfits of S7?!"

Feb. 24: 

X-Phile friend: did you ever see the warewolf pictures that were going around?

Me: No!!!

X-Phile friend: ok well there was this picture of CC and this giant wolf head thing, i dunno. but anyway, so it was like "this has been leaked! it's the monster!" but then it was like "oh jk they leaked that on purpose, it's fake" "no, it's not!" so who knows

March 5:

X-Phile Friend:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/angeldarkness99/25419_X_FilesKiss_018_122_1152lo-1.jpg

RING. TOTALLY.

March 7: 

OMGAAAHHHHHHHHH STALKER KISSING VIDEO! http://www.flynetonline.com/2008/03/mulder-scully-kiss/

Now that we've both come back to our late 90's obsession, I'm realizing one very important fact from all of this: This wasn't just a TV show to a lot of people - it was our generation's version of  "Star Trek." The series has been off the air for the better part of 7 years, and it is STILL drawing a large cult audience. My friend once told me about a conversation she had with a co-worker..and without prompting, she made an obscure Mulder and Scully reference. Despite the objections about the final season, David Duchovny's Prima Donna tendencies and the way the series ended, people are still getting behind this show and the upcoming film. Yes, maybe I'm biased, but it certainly qualifies as a TV show from our formidable years.

Even Bree Sharp agrees. David Duchovny, why won't you love me?