Most underrated show of all time
- Thread starter sunshinedynomite
- Start date
This is kind of random but it was one of the funniest fake reality shows I ever saw:
My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss.
Some great parts. One time he took all the women out on his boat to swim while the guys all waited for him at the golf course.
The main underling (a man) kept implying he was in love with one of the male candidates.
Just good stuff.
I could never tell if the entire cast was in on it or not. It unfortunately ran up against the launch of desperate housewives...
I loved a show called Herman’s Head when it came out years ago. I think it may have been part of the original Fox programming when the station was launched? Funny show and a great concept.
Yes it was. That, 21 Jump Street, Married with Children, Tracy Ullman (then the Simpsons)
Good show. A couple of the actors went on to the Simpsons and a couple others reunited on Justified.
Police Squad! is much better than the Naked Gun films.
Crime Story was one I liked growing up. A Michael Mann show, it was a gangster show starting in Chicago, moving to Vegas in the second or third season. Andrew Dice Clay actually had a costarring part for a while as the best friend of one of the gangsters. It also had a young Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs) as one of the gangsters.
I would also agree with Arrested Development, but I would limit it to the original series. They have come out with two additional seasons on Netflix, but they don't hold a candle to the originals. Here's one of the funniest bits from David Cross' Tobias Funke and his ambiguous homosexuality.
I would also agree with Arrested Development, but I would limit it to the original series. They have come out with two additional seasons on Netflix, but they don't hold a candle to the originals. Here's one of the funniest bits from David Cross' Tobias Funke and his ambiguous homosexuality.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Deadwood ran for three years and was abruptly pulled. So, while I think it’s run was definitely cut short, it was well regarded by critics and won awards - that for me is the biggest criteria for whether or not something is underrated versus under appreciated. Justified is by all accounts one of the best shows of the decade but only has one Emmy and a few nominations to show for it (and the Emmy was for Martindale as Mags in S2). While it had a pretty full run and a great ending, I feel it was both underrated and under appreciated (and will likey have a long life On Demand/streaming services). FX is a great network though - they stuck by it and The Americans (and Legion) when other networks might pull the plug because of ratings.
St Elsewhere
Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel, Cynthia Sikes, William Daniels, and Ed Flanders Hell of a cast!
Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel, Cynthia Sikes, William Daniels, and Ed Flanders Hell of a cast!
Yeah, hope to see it, but some recent bad news, as the co-creator John Falsey passed away.
https://deadline.com/2019/01/john-falsey-dead-st-elsewhere-northern-exposure-obituary-1202534727/
John Falsey, the co-creator with Joshua Brand of the groundbreaking St. Elsewhere, Northern Exposure, I’ll Fly Away, and writer of other classics of the 1980s and ’90s, died Jan. 3 in Iowa City, Iowa. He was 67.
Falsey’s death was announced to The New York Times by brother James Falsey, who said the cause of death was complications of a head injury sustained in a fall at home...
Falsey was set as an executive producer – along with Brand, Rob Morrow and Ben Silverman – on a planned revival of Northern Exposure, being written by Brand. The project was confirmed in November, with original series star Morrow set to reprise his role. Actor John Corbett, from the original series, produces, and Universal TV is the studio.
James Falsey told The New York Times that his brother retired to Iowa five years ago, and had been writing short stories and a novella since leaving television. Falsey is survived by wife Julie, and a daughter and son from a first marriage.
Also noted in this story were Falsey's connections to A Year in the Life, White Shadow, St. Elsewhere, and others. What a great talent.
I watched Herman's Head too, although I don't remember too much about it anymore except that Hank Azaria has had a number of roles since (including being one of the key voice actors on the Simpsons). I believe Yeardly Smith also was on it and The Simpsons. I thought The Simpsons was already an established show when Herman's Head came out though, I might be misremembering.
I think The Americans was underrated. I never really heard much about it from the public and friends, although I think it did win the critics over. I thought it was a fantastic show.
another was Max Headroom:
On Thursday, April 4th, 1985, a blast of dystopian satire hit the UK airwaves. Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future was a snarky take on media and corporate greed, told through the eyes of investigative journalist Edison Carter (Matt Frewer) and his computer-generated alter-ego: an artificial intelligence named Max Headroom.
Set in a near-future where global corporations control all media and citizens are hopelessly addicted to dozens of TV channels, the movie follows Carter — working for the mysterious Network 23 — as he discovers that network executives have created a form of subliminal advertising known as "blipverts" that can actually kill. While tracking the story, Carter is flung into a barrier marked "Max. Headroom — 2.3m." Desperate to maintain ratings with its star reporter, the network enlists a young hacker to download Carter’s mind and create a virtual version of the journalist. But things don’t go quite right. The result: the stuttering, sarcastic Max.
20 Minutes into the Future kicked off an extensive franchise, and Max became a singular '80s pop culture phenomenon that represented everything wonderful and horrible about the decade. Max hosted music video shows; Max interviewed celebrities; Max hawked New Coke; Max Headroom became US network television’s very first cyberpunk series. Max was inescapable — and then almost just as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.
Thirty years after the premiere, I spoke with the writers, directors, producers, actors, make-up artists, and network executives that helped bring Max Headroom to life. And it all began, like so many things in the ‘80s, with music videos.
Set in a near-future where global corporations control all media and citizens are hopelessly addicted to dozens of TV channels, the movie follows Carter — working for the mysterious Network 23 — as he discovers that network executives have created a form of subliminal advertising known as "blipverts" that can actually kill. While tracking the story, Carter is flung into a barrier marked "Max. Headroom — 2.3m." Desperate to maintain ratings with its star reporter, the network enlists a young hacker to download Carter’s mind and create a virtual version of the journalist. But things don’t go quite right. The result: the stuttering, sarcastic Max.
20 Minutes into the Future kicked off an extensive franchise, and Max became a singular '80s pop culture phenomenon that represented everything wonderful and horrible about the decade. Max hosted music video shows; Max interviewed celebrities; Max hawked New Coke; Max Headroom became US network television’s very first cyberpunk series. Max was inescapable — and then almost just as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.
Thirty years after the premiere, I spoke with the writers, directors, producers, actors, make-up artists, and network executives that helped bring Max Headroom to life. And it all began, like so many things in the ‘80s, with music videos.
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Fantasy Island! According to Rotten 83% enjoyed it. I couldn't wait for it to come on as a kid. I was probably too young to watch it but my parents were cool. Love Boat was another during that time period.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantasy_island
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantasy_island
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Another more recent one I'll throw out there was 'Suburgatory' on ABC. It ran for three seasons and starred Jane Levy as the only child of Jeremy Sisto, and it's about her adjusting from big city life to suburbia. The writing and cast were excellent - in addition to Levy and Sisto, series regulars included Ana Gasteyer, Chris Parnell, Alan Tudyk, Cheryl Hines, and Carly Chaiken (Mr. Robot). It was maybe the last sit-com I had any real interest in. Chaiken and Hines were great as the aloof queen bee daughter and doting 'cool' single mom. The stories were mostly about newly single big city dad coping with being lusted after by suburban moms, and Levy figuring her way through high school.
my wife loved that show. the guy used to be a tough detective on law and order. The gals were hot, kind of a ginger and maryann mash up. the first year was really good but they lost their way in the, what, two subsequent years. It kind of became a chick show.Another more recent one I'll throw out there was 'Suburgatory' on ABC. It ran for three seasons and starred Jane Levy as the only child of Jeremy Sisto, and it's about her adjusting from big city life to suburbia. The writing and cast were excellent - in addition to Levy and Sisto, series regulars included Ana Gasteyer, Chris Parnell, Alan Tudyk, Cheryl Hines, and Carly Chaiken (Mr. Robot). It was maybe the last sit-com I had any real interest in. Chaiken and Hines were great as the aloof queen bee daughter and doting 'cool' single mom. The stories were mostly about newly single big city dad coping with being lusted after by suburban moms, and Levy figuring her way through high school.
Fantasy Island! According to Rotten 83% enjoyed it. I couldn't wait for it to come on as a kid. I was probably too young to watch it but my parents were cool. Love Boat was another during that time period.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantasy_island
Sorry I hated both of those, also hated Love American Style but then I was probably about 10.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
To be honest, I think I only made it through Season One. I thought the chemistry of the cast was awesome and seeing Parnell and Gasteyer (SNL alums) together as dopey parents was great. Levy was the star though - I never heard of her and she carried that show (with Chaiken - she was awesome too).
Another more recent one I'll throw out there was 'Suburgatory' on ABC. It ran for three seasons and starred Jane Levy as the only child of Jeremy Sisto, and it's about her adjusting from big city life to suburbia. The writing and cast were excellent - in addition to Levy and Sisto, series regulars included Ana Gasteyer, Chris Parnell, Alan Tudyk, Cheryl Hines, and Carly Chaiken (Mr. Robot). It was maybe the last sit-com I had any real interest in. Chaiken and Hines were great as the aloof queen bee daughter and doting 'cool' single mom. The stories were mostly about newly single big city dad coping with being lusted after by suburban moms, and Levy figuring her way through high school.
LOL I liked that program.
Another more recent one I'll throw out there was 'Suburgatory' on ABC. It ran for three seasons and starred Jane Levy as the only child of Jeremy Sisto, and it's about her adjusting from big city life to suburbia. The writing and cast were excellent - in addition to Levy and Sisto, series regulars included Ana Gasteyer, Chris Parnell, Alan Tudyk, Cheryl Hines, and Carly Chaiken (Mr. Robot). It was maybe the last sit-com I had any real interest in. Chaiken and Hines were great as the aloof queen bee daughter and doting 'cool' single mom. The stories were mostly about newly single big city dad coping with being lusted after by suburban moms, and Levy figuring her way through high school.
I would add a current one that I don't think gets the viewership it deserves...
The Good Place. Pretty funny and very inventive.
IIRC, the male star and Hines ended up being a couple when her dentist husband cheated on her. Then it kind of deteriorated into a dating game with the star, Hines, the Dentist, various weekly girls and the star/daughter.
Sorry I hated both of those, also hated Love American Style but then I was probably about 10.
The Love Boat and Fantasy Island were both fairly crappy shows in their own rite but that was back in the days before a ton of media so if you were a young male of a certain age the big draw to watching those shows was to see hot babes. I know it sounds unbelievable today when you can see an unlimited amount of hot babes (or anything else) anytime you like but there was a time almost all the video you'd ever see was from TV.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
I'm just not that into those types of comedies anymore for some reason. I also liked Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix and Modern Family (for a while), but hard to sustain interest even though they're really (mostly) pretty good. Probably a time thing - since I've had kids, I have to be pickier about what I watch and for the most part I like the hour long drama format best. My current favorite shows are: Peaky Blinders, Legion, Killing Eve, Taboo, Punisher, Daredevil. I still watch South Park and Rick and Morty, but those sit in the DVR a while and get put on when there's nothing else.
Is Taboo over or is it coming back?
The other show I liked and I think its been renewed is The Alienist.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
I think that would have been a good end game - get Hines and Sisto together. Problem was she was hot for him on day one.
Here are a couple of others but I don't know that I'd call them 'underrated' per se. Both star Bruce Campbell
The first is The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. - it debuted on the same day, and the hour before, X-Files on Fox. Here's the background:
The character of Brisco County, Jr. exists in a fictional Old West of 1893. It is partly a traditional Hollywood depiction of the frontier, with settlers, gunfighters, outlaws, and cowboys. In the world of Brisco County, Jr., however, there is also steampunk technology, such as zeppelins and rockets, and Weird West elements, such as time travel and supernatural powers.[1][2]Robber barons direct the financial and industrial workings of this west from the boardrooms of the Westerfield Club in San Francisco, California. An outlaw named John Bly is disrupting the industrialists' businesses and they are desperate to capture Bly and his gang. Bly himself is intently searching for a supernatural object called The Orb, a bronze-colored device unearthed in a California mine.[3] It is into this setting that Brisco County, Jr., a Harvard-educated lawyer-turned-bounty hunter, enters the search for John Bly.
It only lasted one season (LOL). But, it was one of the first TV projects created by Carlton Cuse. And that is a young Kelly Rutherford as Dixie.
Second, is Jack of All Trades, which I think used to air on Sunday afternoons. I loved this show (and not only because Anna Marie Dotchin was easy on the eyes), but it only lasted two seasons. Here's the plot:
Jack Stiles, American spy stationed on a South Pacific island in the early 19th century, teams up with no nonsense British agent Emilia Rothschild to stop Napoleon's colonizing efforts. Jack's alter ego is the Zorro-esque Daring Dragoon.
Basically, Jack would get into some trouble, become the Daring Dragoon, but almost always had his butt saved by Emilia. It was really campy but really fun.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
I read The Alienist in college when it was 'the' book of the year. I haven't seen the show but heard it was really faithful. And the cast is great. I'd like to check it out if I get a chance.
Taboo has been renewed for at least season two; I think they're filming soon (the show runner is also the show runner for Peaky Blinders, and they just wrapped S5). I think the plan is to have three seasons, but not sure if there will be a third one. It's a high production/quality show and Tom Hardy has a lot of cache, so I could see FX sticking with them to the planned end. The first season was a bit all over the place, but I really dug it.
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3rd Rock got some mention in this thread, and deservedly so. A fave of mine. Having William Shatner join at the end for a well-named role was tremendous.
A contemporary of that show was News Radio, with Phil Hartman among others (esp. Dave Foley and Stephen Root) in a great overall cast. That show probably was not so much underrated at the time, but it has not made the rerun circuit that I've seen. I haven't seen 3rd Rock either but someone mentioned that it is on.
At the time, 20+ years ago by now?, I tried to watch both of those shows each week.
A contemporary of that show was News Radio, with Phil Hartman among others (esp. Dave Foley and Stephen Root) in a great overall cast. That show probably was not so much underrated at the time, but it has not made the rerun circuit that I've seen. I haven't seen 3rd Rock either but someone mentioned that it is on.
At the time, 20+ years ago by now?, I tried to watch both of those shows each week.
Taboo was really good.I read The Alienist in college when it was 'the' book of the year. I haven't seen the show but heard it was really faithful. And the cast is great. I'd like to check it out if I get a chance.
Taboo has been renewed for at least season two; I think they're filming soon (the show runner is also the show runner for Peaky Blinders, and they just wrapped S5). I think the plan is to have three seasons, but not sure if there will be one. It's a high production/quality show and Tom Hardy has a lot of cache, so I could see FX sticking with them to the planned end. The first season was a bit all over the place, but I really dug it.
Another hidden gem that no one knows about is "Keen Eddie" (US cop in London, crime/comedy).
Gulf Coast, where do you live, I'm just outside Naples, always looking for lunch partners?
Agree that Arrested Development is an all time great (much better than Seinfeld) and that the Netflix seasons are not as good.
On a related note, I will nominate Mr. Show. Probably the best comedy ever on HBO.
Always enjoyed this one back in the day. Darren McGavin was terrific as the night stalker.
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