Last week Sarah and I had an in-depth discussion regarding the shows that were fantastic and cancelled far too soon. In an effort to help feed the unhealthy media addictions of other (misery loves company) here is our list to help you get through the summer dry season.
Better off Ted
Ben and I loved this show and were heartbroken when it was cancelled. Wikipedia describes the plot as, "Better Off Ted revolves around the employees of a stereotypically evil company. The company, Veridian Dynamics, experiments on its employees, twists the truth, and will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. It has been mentioned that Veridian has swayed presidential elections, created killer pandas and robots, weaponized pumpkins, and that there are only three governments left in the world which are more powerful than Veridian. Although not promoted as such, and rarely the focus of storylines, the show's frequent references to futuristic technologies, killer robots, sentient computers, etc., places Better Off Ted at least partially in the science fiction genre."
It is hilarious and smart. Portia De Rossi is fantastic and the scientists are my favorite,
Veronica Mars
It's a show that's hard to properly recommend to people, Veronica Mars. The premise never sounds as good as it should: "She's in high school in a small town and her dad's a PI and she
helps him and she's solving her best friend's murder" sounds a little juvenile. The fact that it aired on UPN and then the CW isn't exactly a point in its favor, either. But listen, it's a smart
show. More than that, it's a smart show that's still incredibly...dishy? I can't think of the right word at the moment, bear with me. It's fast-paced, you see, and witty in the best way. The people are all abnormally pretty and they live fantastic lives loaded with scandal and intrigue. It's a soap, yes, but a soap that gives you street cred.
Pushing Daisies
First things first about Pushing Daisies: the cast. I don't know how to talk about this cast, really, without gushing. Everyone, everyone in this show delivers such on-point performances that everything else might be irrelevant if it wasn't great, too. If you're the kind of TV viewer who gets very invested in the characters, then do yourself a favor and put this one in your Netflix queue. And there's even more to love! The production design - holy moly. So stylized and cheerful - the perfect counterpoint to the show's dark humor. Also, it has Kristin Chenoweth. She plays Olive, the love-sick waitress who (thank goodness) bursts into song throughout the series. In case you need anymore convincing, check out the clip below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tROjj3krsuE
All on the Line
Okay, not a cancelled show, it's true, but I would say an under appreciated one. And it's a reality show, at that! Joe Zee - the Creative Director of ELLE, among other things - mentors a different designer each week in hopes of getting their line picked up by buyers for stores like Nordstrom and Anthropologie. It doesn't feel forced or rehearsed in the slightest, yet the combination of beautiful clothes, artistic temperaments, and legitimately high stakes makes this one a real keeper.
Reaper
Basically Sam is a 21 year old who found out that his parents made a deal with the devil (Ray Wise. Amazing). The deal plays out that Sam will become the devil's bounty hunter and send demons back to the underworld. Sam's slacker friends help him out in an effort to keep the devil from taking the his mother's soul. Hilarious and easy to watch, This show does not require any additional thought. Perfect for summer.
Firefly (Synopsis by Ben)
This show is the quintessential space western. Now for those of you whose eyes just glazed over, the space part is a means to an end. It is a smart, well written show by one of the best in the business (Joss Whedon). And for those worried about watching a show that was cancelled, the movie gives a lot of resolution.
Suits (Not cancelled so hop on board)
Ben loves this show. Here is his recap "The premise of suits has been done a million times. A brilliant but underachieving person (Mike Ross) finds themselves in a position where they need to keep a big secret to live an improved life (working as a lawyer for a major NY law firm). This show stands out due its solid cast of characters, snappy writing, and the fact that every single person in the office is way better looking than they should be."
Finally, any series by Matthew Perry.
Seriously. Ben and Tracey love all of his shows but they all seem to get cancelled. Go On, Mr. Sunshine, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip are all great shows. Give 'em a shot.
And just in case you've missed out on some current shows, here are a couple you can catch up on.
- Revenge
- Nashville
- Downton Abbey
- Call the Midwife
- Sherlock (BBC)
- Doctor Who
- Arrested Development
- Scandal
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