by Colleen Clark
Television is a tough business — get the ratings or get gone. These five TV gems were brilliant, interesting and ahead of their time, but were canceled after only a few seasons because they found little viewership. These are five of the greatest, most underrated shows no longer on TV. They're gone, but are well worth buying on DVD — and watching over and over.
Sports Night
Sports Night follows employees of a cable network's daily sports news program, on and off the job. The tagline says it's "about sports. The same way Charlie's Angels was about law enforcement." With that tagline and Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing) as the creator, you know you're getting a smartly written show. And with stars Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Parenthood), Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Joshua Malina (The West Wing) and Robert Guillaume (Benson), you know the acting will be outstanding.
Even for viewers who aren't sports fans, Sports Night's sharp writing and well-developed and acted characters make it a must-watch on DVD,
1998-2000, 45 episodes.
Freaks and Geeks
The comedy/drama Freaks and Geeks didn't last long, but it spawned some stars. You may not have heard of them then, but do the names Seth Rogan, James Franco, Jason Segel and Judd Apatow ring a bell now?
The show, set in the 1980s, explores teenage angst and adolescent problems. It centers on siblings Lindsay Wier (Linda Cardellini), who hangs out with the "freaks," and her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) who is part of the "geeks" crowd at McKinley High.
For an honest show with real characters — although more witty than most teens — and situations with non-Hollywood resolutions, check out the brilliance of Freaks and Geeks on DVD.
1999-2000, 18 episodes.
Arrested Development
Arrested Development is outrageous and smart. This comedy has it all — memorable characters, ridiculous situations, great dialogue and superb acting. People have been clamoring for its return since is ended in 2006, and that return may finally be a reality, as movie rumors intensify.
The show follows the Bluth family after the family patriarch (Jeffrey Tambor) is arrested and their assets are frozen. His son Michael (Jason Bateman, Juno) tries to hold the family together, but with a family that crazy it's difficult — and the results are hilarious. The cast also includes veteran actress Jessica Walter, Will Arnett (30 Rock), Tony Hale, Portia DeRossi (Ally McBeal), David Cross, Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and Alia Shawkat (Whip It).
To enjoy a family even more dysfunctional than yours, watch Arrested Development on DVD.
2003-2006, 53 episodes — and a movie?
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is brighter than life — literally, thanks to is color-saturated visual design — and more fantastic. The premise of this Emmy-winning "forensic fairy tale," created by Bryan Fuller, is outside the box — a lonely pie maker Ned (Lee Pace) can wake the dead with the touch of a finger, but if he touches them again, they are dead forever, and if he doesn't re-dead them within a minute, a nearby human or creature dies.
When Emerson Cod (hilarious Chi McBride), the money-loving, knitting-enthusiast private investigator accidentally witnesses Ned's gift, they form a partnership to solve murders by briefly waking the victims to find out who killed them. All is fine until they try to solve the murder of Ned's childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel), and he can't bring himself to re-dead her. She joins their crime-solving team, and she and Ned renew their love but are unable to touch — ever.
Rounding out the colorful cast are the uber-talented singer Kristin Chenoweth, and veterans Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene. Mystery, romance and the trials of being alive (again) make Pushing Daisies a DVD must.
2007-2009, 22 episodes.
Dollhouse
Dollhouse is the latest underappreciated venture from genius Joss Whedon, whose resume includes the also-underappreciated Firefly as well as the long-running Buffy the Vampire Slayer and successful Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
While the series starts slow — rumored to be caused by network creative restrictions — Dollhouse becomes an intriguing futuristic thriller with a twisting plot, lots of action and Eliza Dushku in skimpy outfits. Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling) plays Echo, a memory-less human "doll" owned by the mysterious Rossum Corporation, who can be programmed with any personality and rented to wealthy clients. However, there's more to Echo than Rossum Corporation knows, and there is more to Rossum Corporation than meets the eye. Buy this DVD for action, deception and sex interwoven with Whedon wit.
2009, 27 episodes
Freelance writer Colleen Clark specializes in fashion, beauty, entertainment and travel. Read about her travels through Europe at Clark on a Lark.
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