Daily Musings: Shows You Wish You Watched Before They Were Cancelled

Well, rather, shows I wish I watched before they were cancelled.  Sometimes, you just don't discover a gem until it's too late ...

#7  Jericho 

Get it!

Not ranked higher because I did start watching this before its end (in time in fact to participate in the campaign to save it from cancellation after the first season), but because I usually associate CBS with procedural dramas rather than chaos, heart and intrigue boiling over in a small town after a mass nuclear attack on America.  The mysteries definitely pull you in, but the show doesn't lose its human element.  Can't help but wonder whether this show would have found a more supportive audience on a different network.

#6  Dollhouse

Get it!

I really should learn my lesson and start watching shows when my friends tell me to, instead of waiting until it's cancelled to discover how great it was, as is the case with the this show, centered around an organization with the technology to wipe people of their memories and personality and replace them with new ones.  The organization operates doll-houses housing "dolls" who are injected with tailored personalities and skills that help them with various "missions" they are assigned.  Innovative and thought-provoking, I'm glad this show was a least given a brief second season to wrap up.

#5.  Jake 2.0

Nanobot enhanced human weapon ... well-executed even if not-super-original concept, great chemistry between the leads (including Christopher Gorham making the nerdy hero role his own) ... too bad it was on UPN (i.e. this is another show that didn't quite fit the network).  Props to Scifi/Syfy for bringing it to a more tailored audience.

#4  Veronica Mars

Get it!

Did see a few eps of this show in its last season, which is allegedly the worst - don't remember much other than a cool BSG reference ("Frak!") and a "Just Shoot Me" reunion.  Working my way through the first season as we speak and already kicking myself for not having checked it out earlier from the beginning.  Totally understand why all the fanboys went gaga over Kristen Bell aka the title character (and I thought she was awesome as Elle on "Heroes", VM is even better!).  Can't wait to figure out the whole Lilly Kane mystery next (bonus: Amanda Seyfried, who I not only still remember as the dumb "mean girl", but also as Joanie from "All My Children" [side note: whatever happend to her on that show? supposedly she was fired ... bummer as I thought Joanie/Reggie was heating up ... methinks she's thinking "who has the last laugh now?"]).

#3  Better Off Ted

Get it!

Not that I don't totally enjoy "Modern Family", but if I were to dub any show the "new Arrested Development", I would have gone with "Better Off Ted."  It even has an AD alum, Portia de Rossi, who is absolutely AMAZING as cold alpha-female boss Veronica (my favorite character by a landslide on a show where I find all the main characters to be endearing and hilarious).  A hodge podge of random yet "boy I would love to have one" inventions, quirky characters whose antics are always on full display, and Veridian Dynamics, the ruthless unPC corporation that brought them together.  The situations can sometimes be unbelievable (most of the time with Veridian Dynamics' logic and actions), but one will find a sense of familiarity in the hints of truth underlying the satirical exaggerations.  Definitely a series that picks up steam and gets more and more funny as it chugs along.  Wish shows like this can be given a chance over the reality infestation these days - this one really didn't have time to grow its audience.

#2  Firefly

Get it!

Reason for not watching this while it was on TV was simply because I was boycotting the network.  I was a huge fan of "Dark Angel", and despite getting the shaft (i.e. Friday time-slot) and an awesome 2nd season (now series) finale, it got cancelled by trigger-happy Fox and replaced with "Firefly".  Couldn't resist Serenity though, and, as it turned out, I was the one missing out -SUCH an amazing show, kind of channels Cowboy Bebop but in a good way.  This show had it all:  rich characters, comedy, drama, exotic visuals, great action and a ton of heart - died way too young ... and no, the movie just wasn't enough!  Ah ... hate Fox (how many good shows must you kill?).  

#1  Arrested Development

Get it!

I think this is a popular (if not the most popular) "wish I watched it and listened to the raves while it was on instead of catching 3 seasons on netflix only to realize the tragedy that it is no more because people like me did not watch (then of course buy the DVDs as an amazon deal of the day for 33 bucks)" show.  Not much to say except absolute BRILLIANCE!  As Liza Minnelli's character said on the show "I love the Bluths!" That is all.  P.S. fingers crossed for a movie, and, if you still haven't seen this - go watch and regret you hadn't sooner!