Top 10 Most Underrated 2000s TV Shows
For this list, we're looking at the most underappreciated TV shows that began airing between 2000 and 2009. Those that may have outlasted the decade are also eligible.
So much to watch, so little time. Welcome to MsMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Underrated 2000s TV Shows.
For this list, we’re looking at the most underappreciated TV shows that began airing between 2000 and 2009. Those that may have outlasted the decade are also eligible.
#10: “Kyle XY” (2006-09)
Languishing on ABC Family for three seasons, "Kyle XY" was one of the network's better shows, both in terms of content and – for the first two seasons – ratings. The premise is fascinating, as Kyle wakes up without any memories or life experience, essentially being no better than a baby, albeit one with some pretty unique powers. "Kyle XY" is more of a teen family drama than a sci-fi series, but the characters are likeable enough and improve greatly as the show progresses. On a less restrictive network, "Kyle XY" could have been something special or even potentially a huge hit.
#9: “Flashpoint” (2008-12)
Not every series has to be particularly thought-provoking or insightful. Once in a while, a fun high-budget action romp is more than enough. Despite lasting for five seasons, "Flashpoint" never quite hit the mark with critics, especially in the United States. Nevertheless, this Canadian series centering around an elite task force delivered in terms of adrenaline and tension, while also allowing just enough time to present the highly-trained officers as people rather than merely action heroes. The cast is also pretty solid, with Enrico Colantoni of "Veronica Mars" fame being the stand out performer.
#8: “Nip/Tuck” (2003-10)
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From the creator of "Glee" and "American Horror Story," "Nip/Tuck" is a medical drama like none other, one that focuses on two plastic surgeons working in Miami and later Los Angeles. Describing a successful series that lasted for six seasons as "underrated" may seem unusual, but "Nip/Tuck's" name has faded with the years, despite possibly producing some of the more memorable storylines of the decade. Perhaps the medical drama label makes it seem like a niche series, but "Nip/Tuck" bucks genre convention by opting for serialized rather than episodic storytelling. Also, Christian Troy is just ridiculously charming.
#7: “Jericho” (2006-08)
Some shows are just doomed for cancellation. Set in the town of Jericho following a nuclear attack on the United States, CBS' post-apocalyptic epic got off to a really strong start and largely kept up its momentum for the first stretch of episodes, before going on a poorly timed hiatus that hurt the serial drama's ratings. While "Jericho" does not exactly offer a unique take on a post-nuclear wasteland, the show does a fantastic job of depicting a small town's effort to survive while in total isolation. After being canceled following a single season, fans managed to convince CBS to order seven more episodes; unfortunately, even fewer people tuned in to watch.
#6: “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (2006-10)
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After being Elaine Benes and before becoming the Vice President of the United States of America, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a divorced mom just trying to make things work. A CBS sitcom that aired alongside "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men," "The New Adventures of Old Christine" somehow managed to produce five entertaining seasons despite suffering through a writer's strike, losing its time-slot, and the dreaded "Seinfeld" curse. "Old Christine" has all the components of a classic multi-camera sitcom, while the experienced cast and modernized family dynamic helped make the comedy feel fresh and timely.
#5: “What I Like About You” (2002-06)
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Even if multi-camera sitcoms peaked during the '90s, the early 2000s still produced a few laugh track gems. Starring Amanda Bynes as a spirited teenager living with her older sister in New York, "What I Like About You" blends elements of "Friends" with "Full House's" fondness for dishing out life lessons. While a product of its time, the sitcom makes great use of its young star's talents, giving Bynes ample opportunity to show off her comedic timing and charming delivery. Are there better sitcoms from this era? Sure, but "What I like About You" is pretty great.
#4: “Party Down” (2009-10)
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Here’s another hilarious series that was practically ignored. "Party Down" is a work-place comedy about a catering team filled with primarily unemployed actors who are known for stumbling their way from one assignment to the next. The excellent cast is filled with recognizable comedy actors, but "Party Down" truly shines in its clever writing and irreverent humor. Critics generally responded positively to Starz's comedy, but "Party Down" never really found much of an audience. As far as single-camera comedies go, "Party Down" is not only among the genre's funnier offerings but also one of the more subtly sad.
#3: “Clone High” (2002-03)
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A cartoon set in a government-controlled high school filled with clones of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, and Gandhi, "Clone High" only managed to explore its refreshingly original premise for 13 episodes before getting the can. Along with garnering some pushback due to Gandhi's depiction, "Clone High" may have benefited from airing on a channel like Comedy Central or through a streaming service a few years later. In 2002, the peculiar cartoon was lost at sea on MTV and was pulled off the air before anyone knew that "Clone High" even existed.
#2: “The Comeback” (2005-14)
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With a title like "The Comeback," frankly, this HBO series was tempting fate from the get-go. Starring Lisa Kudrow as a washed-up sitcom actress who agrees to do a reality program capturing her long-awaited return to television, "The Comeback" takes its meta premise, sprinkles a dash of social satire, and just goes to town on showbiz's less savory side. Kudrow is uncomfortably hilarious as Valerie Cherish, but – in 2005 – "The Comeback" may have been slightly ahead of the curve. "The Comeback" was canceled after one season, only to be brought back for a new batch of episodes in 2014, before once again prematurely bowing out.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Life” (2007-09)
“Better Off Ted” (2009-10)
“Tru Calling” (2003-05)
“Carnivàle” (2003-05)
“The Weekenders” (2000-04)
#1: “Pushing Daisies” (2007-09)
Few shows can truly be described as one-of-a-kind, but "Pushing Daisies" is all about defying expectations. Lasting a painfully short 22 episodes, "Pushing Daisies" – which follows a pie-maker who can bring back the dead with a single touch or take it away with another – accomplishes a staggering amount in such a brief time. ABC's series is simultaneously an episodic procedural, a surreal comedy, a deep character study, and an uplifting fairy-tale, with "Pushing Daisies" juggling all these elements effortlessly to create a whole that is nothing less than enchanting. Despite only lasting two seasons, "Pushing Daisies" took home seven Emmys before being cut short due to low ratings.
