40 Most Underrated Television Shows Of All Time Part 3

SLIS

11 years ago

Welcome to Part Three of the most Underrated Television Shows of all time.

If you haven’t seen the previous entries click here to read part one, and click here to read Part two, so you can see what we’ve covered already.

I have links to Amazon DVD’s and Blu-Ray under each entry.

15. Space Ghost: Coast To Coast (1994-2004/2006-2008-Cartoon Network)

[amazon_image id=”B0007GADU4″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Vols. 1-3[/amazon_image]

Cartoon Network invented the Adult Swim formula when they gave a lame 60’s cartoon character a whacked out makeover as a brain fried talk show host. The show’s use of awkward pauses and non-sequiturs has now become the standard format for adult cartoon comedy.

14. Louie (2010-present)

[amazon_image id=”B003R4ZMOK” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Louie: Season One (Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”B007QU37L6″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Louie: Season 2 [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]

Louis CK is is an acclaimed comedian, so why is his series Louie one FX’s lowest rated shows? CK completely reinvents the concept of a TV show based on a comedian’s personality.

If you’re not a fan yet, click here for last season’s recap and find out why this show deserves your attention.

13. Futurama (1999-2003-Fox/2008-2013 Comedy Central)

[amazon_image id=”B008AITJ7O” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Futurama: Volume 7[/amazon_image]

It was cancelled, resurrected and about to be cancelled again. Why is Futurama so under appreciated? It’s consistently hilarious, perfectly cast and vibrantly animated. It’s every bit as good as creator Matt Groening’s other show The Simpsons.

12. Spaced (2001-2003-Channel 4)

[amazon_image id=”B0019MFY3Q” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Spaced: The Complete Series[/amazon_image]

Before Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, actors Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wight created Spaced, a show about 20-something slackers who’d rather discuss geek culture then worry about getting a job.

It was a decent hit in Britain, but largely unknown in America.

11. The Equalizer (1985-1989-CBS)

[amazon_image id=”B000YENUOK” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Equalizer – Season One[/amazon_image]

Thanks to 24 and Homeland, we’re used to seeing shows about ruthless intelligence operatives who’ll do anything to take their prey, no matter the cost to their morality and personal life.

The Equalizer pioneered this concept. Edward Woodward played Robert McCall, a former agent of a mysterious agency who now works as a private detective, and occasional assassin. He’s a vigilante trying to atone for nebulous past transgressions and a personal life steeped in tragedy and dysfunction.

Perhaps a current film adaptation will give it the full respect it deserves.

10. Get A Life (1990-1992-FOX)

[amazon_image id=”B0089BSNVK” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Get A Life: The Complete Series[/amazon_image]

Chris Elliot’s oddball sitcom was subversive and surreal. He’d often die in an episode, only to show up unfazed in the next one. He was a disturbed man-child prone to insane misadventures. FOX execs hated the show’s tone, and eventually axed it.

But its hard to imagine shows like South Park or Eastbound and Down existing in its absence.

And Elliot is currently another underrated, hilarious TV show, Eagleheart, which airs on Adult Swim.

9. The League Of Gentlemen (1999-2002-BBC)

[amazon_image id=”B0007Y0982″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The League of Gentlemen – The Collection[/amazon_image]

The League of Gentlemen combined the cross-dressing comedy of Monty Python and Kids In The Hall, with horror, making for one of the most insanely inspired series that has yet to develop a cult following anywhere but its native Britain.

Equal part hilarious and deeply disturbing, it’s all centered in the isolated English town of Royston Vasey, where everyone is a bit twisted and full of dark secrets.

Trivia: Cast-member Mark Gatiss created BBC’s Sherlock series (he also plays Holmes’ evil brother Mycroft).

8. Mr. Show With Bob And David (1995-1998-HBO)

[amazon_image id=”B000CQQID0″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Mr. Show: The Complete Collection[/amazon_image]

This edgy sketch show played to little fanfare in the late 90’s, but its absurd humor makes it the Monty Python of American comedy. Whether it was skewering metal bands or COPS, it was original and hilarious.

It provided a spring-board for comedic talent, including David Cross, Jack Black and Brian Posehn.

Speaking of Cross; I didn’t include Arrested Development on this list. Why? I just don’t find it funny. Surprising given I love many of the actors on the show. But I like to laugh, not smirk. Same goes for Community.

7. Hill St. Blues (1981-1987-NBC)

[amazon_image id=”B000BOH8YG” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Hill Street Blues – Season 1[/amazon_image]

Critical acclaim kept this show afloat despite abysmal ratings. Hill St. invented the dark, gritty cop show. It pioneered multi-ethnic casts, explored police corruption, and allowed for greater ambiguity in TV dramas. Shows like The Shield wouldn’t exist without it.

6. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999-Comedy Central-Sci-Fi Channel)

I’ve already covered this series in-depth, so click here for the top 10 episodes and click here for my interview with creator/host Joel Hodgson.

While this series has a devoted fan base, its influence on pop-culture hasn’t been fully celebrated. Every blog, clip-show or YouTube clip that goofs on something so bad its good wouldn’t exist without Mystery Science Theater 3000 aka MST3K, which made bad movies watchable thanks to their hilarious skewering.

5. SCTV (1976-1984-NBC)

[amazon_image id=”B00AWQKZPC” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The SCTV Collection (21-Disc Set)[/amazon_image]

Funnier and weirder than Saturday Night Live, SCTV (Second City Television) featured wonderfully absurd sketches that revolved around the broadcasts of a fictional TV station.

Many renown comedic actors got their start here, including; Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and John Candy.

Their spoofing of obscure pop-culture references influenced The Kids In The Hall, The Simpsons and MST3K.

4. Crime Story (1986-1988-NBC)

Michael Mann produced this excellent 60s period drama about a police detective’s relentless pursuit of a ruthless mobster. The show had amazing intensity, and pioneered the serialized format.

Most current series don’t resolve story-lines in one episode, but extend it over an entire season.

But it didn’t use to be like that. TV episodes used to be self-contained, and tidied everything up in the end. Crime Story redefined what a TV narrative could do.

It featured an excellent performance from Dennis Farina as Lt. Mike Torello. Sadly Farina recently passed away, so celebrate his work by rediscovering this show.

3. Twin Peaks (1990-1991-ABC)

I struggled with this one. On the one hand this whodunit was a cultural phenomenon upon it début in 1990. And it still has a beloved cult following.

But it only lasted two seasons, amidst declining ratings and creative differences between director David Lynch and ABC studio execs. And since the creator of The Killing wasn’t even familiar with Twin Peaks, proves the series has faded from prominence, given the similar subject.

Before Twin Peaks, TV looked inferior to film. Shows were shot flatly, not prone to experimentation. But Lynch brought his cinematic sensibilities to prime-time TV, and each episode looked cinematic.

It also brought surrealism into television. And it’s disturbing imagery was unheard of at the time.

Now every major cable series looks rich and luxuriant. And many shows dare to explore dark, disturbing territory. And you can thank Twin Peaks for that.

2. Kolchak The Night Stalker (1974-1975-ABC)

Kolchak started as a TV movie, which proved so popular it inspired a TV series. But it didn’t last long.

Darren McGavin played the title character; a wiseass reporter who had a knack for discovering the supernatural, researching (and battling) vampires, werewolves, witches and mutants.

If this sounds like The X-Files, it’s for good reason. X-Files creator Chris Carter credits it as his main inspiration. And it’s inspired pretty much ever horror TV show since.

And David Chase, creator of The Sopranos got an earliest job as editor for Kolchak, further illustrating its illustrious pedigree.

1. The Prisoner (1967-1968-ITV/CBS)

The Prisoner was ahead of its time in almost every capacity. It was the first show to introduce distrust of the government, predicted surveillance techniques, psychological torture, and imprisonment of those who would question authority. Sounds a lot like the 21st century doesn’t it?

Patrick McGoohan plays a British Agent trapped on an island village. On the surface it seems like paradise, but it’s actually where various former agents are kept against their will by the British government in hope of extracting information.

But he proves a constant thorn in their side, outsmarting their methods, questioning authority and asserting his humanity.

He’s only called Number 6, not his name (which is never revealed). This is a psychological tool to break his spirit and promote conformity. But as he defiantly asserts in this amazing title sequence; I am not a number, I am a free man!

The Prisoner blew people’s mind’s. But outside of England it remains a cult curiosity largely unknown to American audiences. For this reason, it deserves the moniker Number 1 on our list.

So there you have it; my list of the 40 most underrated television series. Did I list all your favorites, or feel I made glaring omissions? Sound off in the comments section.