The fact that shows like these are either gone or are about to be canceled makes me vomit when I think about it.
5- Stella
It's only been off the air for a couple of years, but there has never been a show like "Stella" on television. Blurring the lines between sketch and the traditional sitcom format, the former "State" alumni created the most unique comedy show in years. With cameos from veteran dramatic and comedic actors "Stella" broke conventions by continuously pointing out standard conventions and spinning them on their heads. The shows downfall came from not being able to branch out passed their built in fan base. It was just too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
4- My So Called Life
Now a cult favorite, "My So Called Life" was ahead of its time discussing issues like homosexuality, child abuse, and alcoholism in a program aimed for teenagers. Claire Danes lead the audience through the ups and downs of high school life while tacky shows like "Saved by the Bell" became a huge hit. The "bummer" attitude of the show did not work over well with the ratings or the executives. After one season the show was cancelled even though a cliffhanger was televised indicating a second season. The natural dialogue, intelligent direction, and perfect casting proved to be too much for audiences. It was just too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
3- Freaks and Geeks
NBC is kicking itself in the nuts now after letting this show go. Now that Judd Apatow could write a script about the paint on a wall drying and bring in a hundred million dollars, it's more than apparent how amazing this show is. Created by Paul Feig about his own experiences in high school in the early eighties "Freaks and Geeks" mixed comedy and drama effectively and became a cult hit. It only took the general public and the studios a couple years to realize they brutally murdered one of the best TV shows in twenty years. As tender as it is funny, "Geeks" made a point to create honest characters that resonated truth without being preachy and created comedy based on real emotion. It was too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
2- The Wire
The previous shows on this list were only on one season but "The Wire" has the privilege to be the longest running show on this list. Now going into its fifth and final season, "The Wire" is the most intelligent and real crime drama ever created for television. Creator David Simon used his own experience working the crime beat for the "Baltimore Sun" to give this show its natural edge. Exploring the drug dealers and junkies' storylines as well as the police's point of view, "The Wire" was a fresh addition to the repetitive one-hour crime drama where the case was magically solved in 45 minutes. Simon has been quoted as saying that this show is a "visual novel". Problem is, most people don't like to read. "The Wire" never under minded it's audience. It was just too unique. So, naturally the creator became tired of its lack of recognition and the show was cancelled.
1- Arrested Development
There is nothing in the history of television more tragic than how this show was treated. Mitchell Hurwitz's take on the reality TV fad created a sitcom so layered in its jokes and execution of style, every fan felt like a member of the Bluth clan. Moved around to virtually every television spot FOX had to offer, the network just didn't know what to do with this brilliant sitcom this whizzed over the heads of many who watched. Amid rumors of being renewed for another season FOX cut their episodes short and ended the show in a two-hour marathon that felt like a public beheading. Although a revival has begun due to DVD sales it was too little too late for the Bluth family whose story was cut short in just its third season. Never again will there be a sitcom as intelligent as "Arrested Development". It was just too unique. So, for some fucking reason the show was cancelled.
Comments
Awesome list. I'm just going to give you a mulligan and ignore the fact that Firefly wasn't listed #2 behind Arrested Development.
HBO, I know, but Mr. Show would go #2 for me behind A.D.
At least AD got 3 seasons. Stella should have gone on forever. Get A Life, Wonder Showzen, Andy Richter Controls the Universe and many other great comedies all have a place on this list in my heart.
Crap, forgot about Wonderfalls.
All of thse shows pale when compared to the greatest show in the last 20 years, Deadwood. It was too fucking awesome for the limp-wristed HBO executives, so it was cancelled.
I think Lucky Louie or Tough Crowd should be on this list too.
all your suggestions and the ones on digg.com should be included, and would be in my top ten. im just lazy. sorry guys. wonderfalls, firefly... i couldnt agree more.
Shut the idiot box off and read a book!
Nice article, good choices (especially Arrested Development as #1) but just for the record The Wire was not canceled. Creator David Simon had 5 seasons planned from the very beginning and so the show is ending as it was always intended to end. If the show had been canceled, season 5 would not be currently airing on HBO.
In fact, Simon was interested in doing a sixth season on the rising Hispanic population in Baltimore, but knew that he would have to do at least 2 years worth of research in order to meet the expected standard of quality.
One that I think SHOULD be on the list is Dead Like Me. It ran on Showtime, and was one of the best dark comedies I have seen in years. It had a run later on SciFi and, from what I understand, did well there. Shame there were no new episodes. I REALLY hope that Pushing Daisies doesn't lose people like Dead Like Me did.
One other (though this might me more debatable) is Carnivàle. While this show was a bit slow in progressing, the story was engaging and thought provoking.
I definitely have to agree with Arrested Development. That show went too quickly.
Please, for the love of all that is holy, stop using the phrase, "too unique"! Nothing can be "too unique". Something is either unique, or it isn't. Things cannot be really unique, extremely unique, rather unique, kind of unique, or too unique. There are no degrees of uniqueness. Just say the show was unique.
Ive got to throw in my votes for the missing Firefly and Dead Like Me as well - two of my all time favorite television shows, both struck down in before they had a chance to truly shine.
Most of this list is great. However, even though I'm a fan of M.I.B., I'm sorry, but Stella flat-out sucks. Wearing suits at all times and saying line after line of ridiculous nonsense while striking stupid poses does not make a show unique and funny. Guess what? Naked Trucker and T-Bones is unique, too, but that's probably one of the worst written and least funny shows I've ever seen on broadcast television. Unique is not automatically a synonym for "excellent but under-appreciated," even when it applies to a show created by The State alumni. This show may have aspired to turn conventions on their heads, but it went about it without a shred of depth, brains, or subtlety.
This list reads like it was written by a sophomore in high school. Despite that:
I've watched all of the AD episodes many times. And I've watched all The Wire episodes. I have to say that in terms of originality and brilliance, The Wire stands alone. However, comparing AD and The Wire is like apples and oranges. Both were great in their own way: AD was funny in every single episode that aired, with some of the greatest jokes in prime time history. The Wire is a brilliant drama with some of the best writing I've ever experienced in any visual media.
Firefly should be on here, but not towards the top.
Not only did an internet list on this topic not have Firefly, but it took multiple posts for it to be brought up?
I would like to throw in Mission Hill. Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein left the Simpsons to make a cartoon about hipster life in a big city. It was funny as hell, but it was also on the WB...which means it had no chance.
Long live Arrested Development!! I think Freaks n Geeks should be #2 with Firefly at #3, and Strangers With Candy at 4, and Bakersfield P.D. at #5. Anyone remember that gem of a cop show?
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