Open Eyes Open Mind: 5 TV Shows that Predicted the Future

Sitting around watching television might not be as useless as you
think. Certain shows have been remarkably accurate in their forecasts
of the future. The list suggests that British TV producers are far more
prophetic than their American counterparts. But that’s OK; when
someone invents Warp Drive, I’ll revise the list.

1. The Troubleshooters (1965-1972)

This
drama about Mogul, a British multinational oil company, had its finger
on the pulse. Three days after BP struck oil in Alaska, viewers saw
Mogul do the same – in an episode that had been filmed months
earlier. In another episode, Mogul took over a chemical firm. BP did
the same later that week. One episode included a huge explosion on an
oil rig, but it wasn’t even broadcast before a real explosion
happened on the North Sea. Troubleshooters even showed people living in underwater houses as they probed the sea for oil. Within three years, even this piece of science fiction
was a reality. Thankfully, none of the episodes portrayed nuclear
disaster. “I am staggered how accurate they are in technical
matters,” said a Shell executive. “Of course, in real life
we don’t have blondes lying about on beds. We miss this
facility.”