The Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows of All Time: Men Into Space (1959)

The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.

What Is It?

This late-’50s speculative fiction entry was a semi-anthology series (with William Lundigan playing the only recurring character) that chronicled the exploration and colonization of the solar system. The series relied heavily on scientifically accurate data for the time and tried to present a realistic, less fanciful portrayal of space travel (i.e., no aliens, time travel, space battles, etc.), focusing on the challenges astronauts would face venturing beyond the confines of Earth.

Aired: CBS, 1959-60, 1 Season, Totaling 38 Episodes

Starring: William Lundigan, Tyler McVey

Created By: Lewis J. Rachmil

Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:

This mostly forgotten series is not typically mentioned when considering the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time, but it does deserve some notice for what it accomplished. Throughout much of the 1950s, science fiction—especially on television—was considered to be for kids only and was represented by space operas like Captain Video and His Video Rangers, Space Patrol, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, and more. Those had mostly faded in popularity by the end of the decade, though, and with the space race heating up between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, traveling beyond the Earth’s orbit was no longer just science fiction. Men Into Space arrived on television in 1959 to reaffirm that change in perception.

This show did not deliver a fanciful take on humans in space, as there were no aliens or ray guns to be seen. It was based on the science of the time and took a speculative look at how the exploration and colonization of the solar system might proceed in the near future. Stories would focus on mundane issues astronauts would have to face, such as technical malfunctions to their spacecraft and the impact of extra weight on a rocket launch, and the resolutions were as scientifically accurate as possible. Of course, they sacrificed the drama, and the episodes could be rather stiff at times, but the show still managed to deliver an interesting look at the possibilities of early space exploration.

The special effects were good for that time, though they do not hold up very well compared to modern production values. And a little more drama might have kept viewers tuning in and helped the show last longer (it was canceled after one season). But this series was an important stepping stone to sci-fi TV that appealed to adults, and it still delivers a fun retro-watch today.  And Men Into Space certainly should be counted among the greatest genre entries of all time.

Argument Against:

While it is true that Men Into Space delivered a serious sci-fi show and helped the genre move away from the for-kids-only perception, it has not stood the test of time and should be relegated to a curio of its era. The fact is that even though they tried to work in good science and present a more realistic look at space travel, the show is just boring. Viewers can only tune in so many times to see what happens when a rocket misfires, or a satellite loses transmission, or to watch astronauts celebrate Christmas on the moon. (No really, that was an actual episode.) This was a good show for its time and it helped the genre grow up, but its importance is minimal, and it falls short of counting as one of the genre greats.

Johnny Jay’s Take:

I remember reading about Men Into Space when I was starting to become more fascinated with the history of sci-fi TV, but I don’t ever remember watching it in my early days of discovering the genre. I’m not quite old enough that I could have caught it when it first aired, and I don’t believe it had much presence in syndication because of its short run. But in the early 21st century, I finally tracked down a DVD release of the series, and I discovered it to be a fun little genre gem. Sure, the sfx were rather cheesy, but not that bad for a late-1950s TV budget. And I thought they did a really good job with the moonscapes and the surface of Mars (even if not scientifically accurate). And while the episodes could be a bit stolid, they were still generally well-written and actually quite entertaining. It’s a shame that this show has not received more attention, as it is definitely a solid sci-fi entry and an important work for the genre. It really deserves a good-quality DVD release (what is out there now are bootleg issues) that celebrates its accomplishments and brings it more attention. And while it is definitely not a Top 10 sci-fi TV entry, it deserves a decent slot in the overall rankings.

Where Can You Watch It?

The series has never received an official DVD, but there are bootleg issues that you can track down on the internet. Those appear to be video transfers from episodes broadcast during the early days of the Sci Fi Channel and the quality is hit or miss, but mostly decent. The show is not available for streaming on any of the major services, but you can track down episodes on YouTube.

Do you consider Men Into Space to be one of the greatest sci fi/fantasy shows or is it too dated? Chime in with your thoughts below or at our discussion thread at r/SciFiTV.

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