Out of the various countercultures,punk,by design, has remained on the fringe by embracing anti-establishment views, which to a degree extends to television. At the same time, the history of themusicgenre and cultural movement certainly has a “golden era” that attracted close to mainstream success; most notable in Britain, where a slew of bands like theBuzzcocksandThe Clashoffered a punk-infused sound within a more familiar genre. This timeframe and the ethos behind the movement led to very few TV series paying homage to the genre, more so outside the ’80s and ’90s. This rare section of counterculture and TV is so seldom seen that these TV shows offer a wholly unique viewing experience.
Here are 9 of the most punk rock TV shows of all time.
9’Fridays' (1980 – 1982)
Lasting for 58 episodes, the hour-long sketch comedy showFridaysis now most notable for an early appearance from both Larry David and Michael Richards before they went on to workon the iconicSeinfeldseriestogether. Taking a similar structure to the more popular Saturday Night Live, the series would have its own news segment and recurring characters. Initially airing on ABC, the sketch show would be pushed back into an abysmal time slot with the expansion of the network’s news programs, while also facing scrutiny for some of the content within.
A Short-Lived Sketch Show That Brought a Punk Attitude to Comedy
The writing was on the wall forFridaysto live a short life on popular TV, as the shows' content had heavy emphasis on appeasing a counterculture that was not tuned into the world of late-night sketch comedy. The comedy ofFridaysis now pretty dated, as it tried to stay topical. Still,skits directly aimed at lovingly poking fun at subcultures, and recurring characters, like the pharmacist, who is always high on his own supply, have an undeniably punk energy to them.
8’Square Pegs' (1982)
Teenagers Patty Greene and Lauren Hutchinson are desperate to fit in and find some degree of popularity and belonging at Weemawee High School. The two soon find friends in other outcasts, known as square pegs, from different social cliques. While falling under the label of a sitcom, exploring the daily struggles of teenage life with a comedic wit, the series aimed to touch on broader issues facing youth.
Early Prototype for Subculture-Focused Sitcoms
SNLcomedy writer Anne Beatts' transition into TV production withSquare Pegsdid not quite garner the hoped-for success. Yet, when viewed in retrospect,Square Pegsis now championed as an early exploration of alternative culture within the high school system, with both punk and new wave aesthetics and interests key to the series' characters. The show would also feature music from notable bands, includingBlack Flag,Jawbreaker, andDevo, further establishing its cred as a counter-culture show.
7’Daria' (1997 – 2002)
Spinning off ofBeavis and Butt-head,Dariafollows Daria Morgendorffer, a sarcastic and disenfranchised high school student whose dry humor navigated the absurdities of growing up. Along with her artist and free-spirited best friend Jane Lane, Daria offers a critique of pop culture and societal norms.
Celebrating Teenage Rebellion
Dariawould prove to be an endearing cult hit, followed by a reverent fan base, but never quite garnering the same mainstream appeal as her chuckling contemporaries inBeavis and Butt-head. This sort of niche appeal in itself created a punk vibe around the show. Still,it is the anti-establishment observations ofDariathat infused the series with a rebellious spirit. Of course, certain characters leaned into punk aesthetics with the series wearing some of its influences on its sleeve.
6’Portlandia' (2011 – 2018)
The sketch TV show by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein would touch on everything from goths dealing with the summer heat, local boutique businesses with annoying niches, and pretentious foodies.Portlandiais one of the few modern skit shows that has managed to garner success by deeply rooting itself in the many subcultures in their most absurd iterations throughout Portland, Oregon.
Embracing the Eccentric Counterculture of Oregon
Very much rooted in a love for the counterculture of Portland, there is an undeniable punk-rock spirit to much of the comedy here. Co-creator Fred Armisen is quite an audiophile and a musician himself, and has expressed a love of punk and post-hardcore from bands includingHüsker Dü, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, andDinosaur Jr.;Armisen’s love of music is also pronounced in many of the show’s sketches.
5’Misfits' (2009 – 2013)
A group of young offenders on volunteer duty find themselves with superpowers after being caught up in a storm. Alisha, Kelly, Curtis, Simon, and Nathan each have their own unique powers they use to entertain each other and cause some chaos. As they meet others with powers, they are forced to step into unlikely superhero roles. While very popular in its native UK,Misfitsremains one of thebest obscure superhero TV shows to come out of the 2000s.
Punk Spirit in a Superhero Series
Misfits’punk rock attitude is certainly more prominent in the first season, where the focus was on friendships forged through a joint rebellious nature. Superhero narratives would start to dominate the latter seasons, dulling the shows rebellious edge. Still, those who are at the intersection of superhero fans and counterculture comedy will findMisfitsa highly entertaining fusion of genres; the punk spirit remains throughout, but shines most at the beginning.
4’The Adventures of Pete and Pete' (1992 – 1996)
Two brothers who happen to share the same name, Pete Wrigley, live in the bizarre small town of Wellsville. The show offered a semi-surreal drama, with the two navigating the eccentric characters that make up the townsfolk. Recurring themes included the discussion among the kids about an “International Adult Conspiracy,” which often pits adults against kids as they expect they are purposely setting out to ruin their fun.
Surrealism and Punk Energy in a Children’s Show
Those tuning in forThe Adventures of Pete and Petewould never really know what to expect from any given episode, with every episode varying in tone and content.The free-form structure of the show and the overly eccentric characters imbued the show with an energy that could undeniably be called punk in approach. Yet, the influence is more obvious in the shows many nods to the genre, including cameos from the likes ofIggy PopandDebbie Harry.The Adventures of Pete and Petestill has a dedicated cult following due to its experimental approach to a children’s show.
3’Todd and the Book of Pure Evil' (2010 - 2012)
Todd Smith is a metalhead effortlessly navigating life at Crowley High, a high school founded by Satanists. Yet when a centuries-old plan to use the “Book of Pure Evil” materializes among the school faculty, Todd becomes an unlikely hero who combats various evil forces with the help of his other misfit friends.
A Love Letter to B-Horror Movies, Metal, and Punk
Metal and punk have always shared some crossover, both embracing rebellion and a love of more outrageous content. While Todd is a pretty typical metalhead, the show’s love of b-horror movies and dark humor has that punk energy. The series also delivers an engaging underdog story with a perpetual underachiever having to step up, a staple trope ofmany punk-themed moviesand shows.
2’Jackass' (2000 – 2007)
Unless you have been living under a rock, MTV’s Jackass became an integral part of 2000s culture;breaking all the rules of TVand terrifying parents.The prank/stunt TV show would achieve unparalleled success, with friends putting their bodies and minds through some wild moments in TV history. The TV show would launch the careers of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and Bam Margera (to name a few) with spin-off series, tours, and movies.
A Cultural Phenomenon that Embraced Chaos
There has always been some crossover between skateboard culture and punk, and both were interwoven into much of the core ofJackassthanks, primarily, to the inclusion of Bam Margera. Of course, the party-heavy vibes of the various pranks embodied a no-care attitude had strong punk vibes.
1’The Young Ones' (1982 – 1984)
Four roommates–violent punk-rocker Vyvan, pompous wannabe poet Rick, hustler and con man Mike, and depressed hippy Neil–bound their way through daily life as students at the fictional Scumbag College in a Thatcher-era Britain. While a sitcom in the traditional sense, the show emphasized chaos and social critique delivered through over-the-top personas.
The Definitive Punk TV Show
No show comes anywhere near as close to celebrating punk culture as Britain’sThe Young Ones. The cast represents different aspects of the culture, from the anarchistic Vyvan, who likely listened toCrassandSubhumans, to the more clean-cut Mike, who was probably rocking out toThe DickiesandThe Adicts. Even hippy Neil presents a shift in music culture as the dream of the 60s died and led to an influx of new music genres expressing discontent.
The comedy style was fast, loud, and destructive. Of course,you have the show’s credits, which always included a live performance, including bands such asThe Damned,Motörhead, andJohn Otway. The show was pure punk brilliance that introduced a whole generation to a new, emerging subculture.The Young Oneswill never be recreated or copied again; how punk is that?
