I Never Felt Satisfied

Besides probably being what my Mom said to my Dad when they broke up, the title of today's blog goes through my mind when I think of certain things that I just couldn't or still can't get enough of. Although my life is teetering on the edge of being "completely useless to society except for pouring money into Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and the Whiskey industry," I have decided to write a blog about what useless people spend their time doing: watching a shit ton of TV. Because while you were partying and getting laid in high school, I was doing research for today's blog. So we all know who got the better end of that deal. So let's get into the 6 TV Shows that Deserve More Love

6. Firefly
Network Run: 11 Episodes Aired (14 were made) between September 2002 and August 2003 on FOX, presumably to make room for Andy Richter Controls the Universe
Lack of Appeal: Science Fiction shows have never really received too much love. Fox aired the episodes out of order, take unexplained breaks between episodes. Joss Whedon's visually excellent follow up to Buffy, Firefly gained little support from the get-go. Fox aired a stand alone episode as the pilot and aired the pilot a few episodes later. The show was even preempted for sporting events. Imagine going into an episode of LOST, never having seen the show before, 20 minutes into it. You'd be even more lost than the characters! (Bad Pun Alert!) This brand of sci-fi vagrants taking vigilante jobs on other planets to earn a living just never had a chance to take off.
Redeeming Factors: Whedon's show did win an Emmy for "Best Visual Effects" and also garnered some strong critical reviews, along with an intense cult following. You also may have caught the most excellent movie based on the series Serenity. The show has made a pretty decent amount off DVD sales, books, and comics all based on the series as well. Plus, the show could have been a classic if FOX gave it time, but, alas, we are talking about FOX. In a not-so-strange turn of events, you will most definitely see FOX mentioned again on this list.

5. Undeclared
Network Run: Had a 17 episode run (15 aired) during the 2001-2002 season before it was canceled by, you guessed it, FOX.
Lack of Appeal: In yet another twist in the "We Cancel Great Shows" saga, FOX aired the episodes out of order and moved it all around on the schedule in just one season, causing the show to consistently lose ratings throughout its run. This great drama about college life suffered the fate of most college shows: failure. The show was very funny, had good writing, acting, and pacing. The thing with college shows is that you really can't be all that truthful about college life on network TV, especially conservative network TV. If Judd Apatow made this show now, it would probably be the highest rated show on television. But, alas, timing es everything.
Redeeming Factors: How's this for redemption?
Two directors who directed episodes of this show have directed $100+ million movies and two others made movies grossing $60+ million (not including Apatow). Two actors have written, with top billing, 3 movies that grossed over $100 million (Jason Segel and Seth Rogen), along with Rogen starring in major success Knocked Up and 40-Year Old Virgin. Segel also is one of the stars of "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS. Pretty much any comedy without Apatow's name attached to it these days is destined for failure. (minus Tropic Thunder, although that does have Apatow regular and Undeclared's main character Jay Baruchel.)

4. Spaced
Network Run: 14 Episodes (divided into 2 seasons of 7) aired between 1999 and 2001 on Channel 4 in Britain.
Lack of Appeal: This show was actually not a failure in Britain but nobody in the United States has even heard of it. Well, that's a shame because its one of the funniest show I've seen. I spose the lack of exposure in the US is probably the top factor in its lack of popularity over here. But if you liked Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, then rest assured you'll most definitely love this little ditty. Although it'll never catch on completely here, you should check it out anyway. That is, unless you're gay. If you are, there's nothing wrong with that, this just might not be your cup o' tea.
Redeeming Factors: The pop culture references are nearly endless and border on ludicrous. The unholy trio of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and director Edgar Wright got the idea for Shaun of the Dead from an episode in this series, so everyone should be damn well thankful for that. So check it out. NOW.


3. The Wire
Network Run: 60 episodes aired on HBO from 2002-2008.
Lack of Appeal: Well, not everybody gets HBO for one, so the wide appeal of any show is hard to reach, unless you're a show like The Sopranos or Flight of the Conchords. Also, the plot is a very complex one, with many different points of view and characters. There also is many black characters, which is good if you're in a Tyler Perry movie (if you are, please die immediately), but not if your in a drama on a premium cable network that black people probably don't get. Besides that, there's lots of hard-to-follow slang and it had a terrible time slot. That people didn't watch this show proves that people just aren't smart.
Redeeming Factors: Although it never achieved commercial success, The Wire was rated by critics as one of the best TV shows of all time. Even Obama has said that it's his favorite show, which has very little to do with anything actually. The Wire has a 98/100 score on metacritic, which averages out reviews, making it the best reviewed show this decade. C'mon people! It has gang warfare, drug dealing, profanity, and extremely interesting characters. If it had titties it would be the perfect show!

2. Freaks and Geeks
Network Run: 18 episodes were completed (12 aired) for NBC between 1999-2000.
Lack of Appeal: The show, despite its cult following, just never got off the ground. Scheduling changes and preemption by sporting events on Sunday nights hurt its chances of ever getting a bigger fanbase. Its hard to center a show around adolescence as Apatow, who produced the show, would find out immediately after "Freaks" was canceled with Undeclared. This show, which centered around the lives of different groups of kids in high school (guess which ones!) and the ordinary dealings of high school kids in general. Its a travesty cause this show was the shit.
Redeeming Factors: I think Apatow and his crew are doing just fine nowadays, as I mentioned above. Also, the lead female character looks, acts, and talks EXACTLY like Ellen Page in Juno. I'd pretty much bet my life on the fact that they based the character's look on her. It's creepy how much they are alike. You know, besides the pregnancy thing. The show was also nominated for 3 Emmys in its time, which is a pretty good accomplishment for a show that only aired 12 episodes. Which brings me to my next point: someone in a Apatow movie eventually has to get nominated for an Academy Award. Why is it that the Academy thinks its easier to make people laugh than any other emotion? It's hard to make a comedy that is loved by fans AND critics. Apatow has done it and done it relatively consistently.

1. Arrested Development
Network Run: 3 seasons of 53 episodes aired from 2003 to 2006 on FOX, which deserves to die for the way they promoted this show.
Lack of Appeal: Despite it being one the best shows to air on television, Arrested Development never could gain a sizable audience. FOX passed it around like a crackwhore on its schedule, even pitting it against Monday Night Football and the series finale against the opening of the 2006 Winter Olympics. It got moved from Sunday to Friday to Monday, a different night for all three seasons. You people sicken me, this show could be on Season 6 right now, WHY DIDN'T YOU PEOPLE FUCKING WATCH THIS SHOW?! IT'S LIKE SEX FOR ALL THE COMEDIC BONES IN YOUR BODY FUCK YOU FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redeeming Factors: Ehem....sorry. Arrested won 6 Emmys and always had the backing of most critics. DVD sales have been impressive compared to its ratings and the show helped launch the career of Michael Cera. There even be a movie made based on the show. Also, it was best comedic show ever made. Disagree with you must, I will not care nor back down from my opinion. Rarely would a show make fun of itself due to poor ratings with in-jokes in the show. This show had the courage and brilliance to joke about anything and everything. And You Didn't Watch It. FOR SHAME!

If you are interested in checking out any of these fine television programs, you can find most, if not all, episodes at SurftheChannel.com. It's a great time waster. Hope you enjoyed this blog, it brought back some good memories of some good shows. Well, now that I'm done here I must go and serve my worldly purpose so I can do another blog on underrated TV 8 years from now. Adios, muchachos.