- Freaks and Geeks: This series aired on NBC network from 1999-2000 with only one season being released due to poor ratings. The show was highly reviewed by critics and had a strong cult following (which helped lead to it's eventual DVD release). The series appeared on Time magazine's 2007 "100 Greatest Shows of All Time" list, and in 2008 Entertainment Weekly ranked it the 13th-best series of the past 25 years.). This brilliant portrayal of suburban high school life was created by the mastermind producer Judd Apatow and featured several now famous actors in career making roles. It had actors such as Linda Cardellini (E.R), John Daley (Bones), James Franco (Spider man), Jason Segel (I love you man) and Seth Rogen (Knocked up). The show not only had an amazing cast but a brilliant plot that followed sister and brother Lindsey and Sam through the trials of high school in a small Michigan town set in the 1980's. The soundtrack featured authentic 80's classics and is another reason this show made my top 8 list. I wish the show had been given the chance to live up to its full potential but sadly it was another "One Season Wonder".
- Undeclared- Another Brilliant Judd Apatow creation that got the boot before it could fully blossom. This show aired on the FOX network from 2001-2002. It was sort of a follow up from "Freaks and Geeks". It even featured many of the same actors (this is something Apatow is known for). The show centered around a group of friends during their first year of college. Each half hour segment was delightful, funny and honest. Having survived my Freshman year I appreciate the college insight this show offered something I didn't grasp when I first watched it in High school. They now play re runs of this and "Freaks and geeks" on the Independent Film Channel (IFC)
- The O.C.- This show is not a "One Season Wonder" in fact, it lasted four glorious seasons on Fox before being taken off the air. During the first season The O.C had 9.7 million viewers. The series main focus was Ryan (a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who ends up living in the prestigious Orange County) and his sidekick in the show Seth (a loner in the O.C who becomes more than just best friends with Ryan but, brothers). It follows the characters and their family's through high school and one year of college before the network called it quits. Although I love all seasons I think that seasons 1 and 2 were the best followed by 4 and then season 3. My favorite aspect of the show is the relationship between Ryan and Seth- similar to that of Abed and Troy from "Community" or Phil and Lem from "Better Off Ted". The show was successful at making sure the characters were not static. The characters grew and changed from episode to episode just like in real life. For those who think this show just magnifies bad stereotypes about the rich and glorifies their lifestyle your wrong. In fact, it shows the sarcastic side of these stereotypes and manages to break through these boundaries. I own every season of this show and enjoy starting at the beginning and reliving the experience over and over.
- Veronica Mars- This show centered around the sarcastic and defensive Veronica Mars and her father Keith Mars. Keith is the former sheriff and current owner of a privet investigator business where Veronica helps out. Each season has a season long case that Veronica is working towards slowly solving and each episode contains a mini case's. It follows the ups and downs of high school, college, friends, family and boys. I loved how strong and defensive the main character was portrayed as. It is one of the few shows on television to ever feature a fierce and strong woman fighting in a male dominated work world. Rumor has it there may even be a Veronica Mars movie in the future! If you have Netflix all season are available for instant viewing.
- Roswell-A science fiction teen drama that first aired in 1999 on the WB where it ran for two seasons and then got moved to UPN for it's final season. The premise of this show is three aliens who look like and pretend to be normal teenagers at a high school in Roswell, New Mexico. They seem to be fooling everyone until Max one of the aliens uses 'magic powers' to save the life of human Liz Parker. Soon a romance blossoms as the government begins to investigate these three aliens they are forced to figure out where they really came from and how they can get back. This show had decent reviews but once again had horrible ratings. This show is also no Netflix!
More 'One season wonders' later...
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