Cult-TV Theme Watch: Bow Ties

A bow tie is a neck tie with two loops forming a bow shape.

Bow-ties have been a fashion statement for cult-TV characters for decades.

Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larsen), for example, wears a bow-tie as part of is unofficial uniform at The Daily Planet on The Adventures of Superman (1951-1959). 

As late as Smallville (2001-2011), the bow-tie recurs as an accessory for that character.

On the original Batman (1966-1968) series starring Adam West, for example, The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) wears a stylish purple bow-tie.

More recently, bow ties have become “cool” again, thanks to Matt Smith’s Eleventh Incarnation of the renegade Time Lord known as The Doctor on Doctor Who (2005 – present).

On a personal note, my son, Joel -- who is nine -- wears a bow-tie as part of his school uniform every school day, inspired, in part, by Matt Smith.