As an eighteen-year-old with no job and way too much time on my hands, I've seen my fair share of television shows. Having pretty much conquered my way through the popular ones, I began to search deep into the television abyss for shows lesser known to audiences.
What I discovered: many of these hidden gems are actually so much better than a lot of current hits and old classics. Think of them as the underdogs of television--underrated and unappreciated by both critics and audiences in their day. Needless to say, if you haven't seen these shows, you're definitely missing out.
1. "Bosom Buddies"
I'm actually surprised this show is never talked about. Two single men get kicked out of their apartment, but the cheapest place they can find to stay is a hotel just for women. Four words: Tom Hanks in drag. Need I say more?
2. "Party Down"
This show focuses on a catering company and their crew, each of which hopes to make it in Hollywood someday. Its all-star cast includes Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, and Martin Starr.
3. "Freaks and Geeks"
A cult classic, "Freaks and Geeks" follows two small groups of outcasts as they struggle to get through the Hell that is high school. It stars Jason Segel, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine, and Martin Starr.
4. "Undeclared"
Viewed by some as an unofficial sequel to Freaks and Geeks," this one season wonder stars both Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen, while featuring guest appearances from Jason Segel, Amy Poehler, and even Kevin Hart. If watching someone else struggle through college interests you, this could possibly be your favorite show.
5. "Web Therapy"
Originally a web series, this improvisational comedy stars Lisa Kudrow as a scatterbrained therapist who treats her patients online via video chat.
6. "The Awesomes"
Doesn't an adult cartoon about a lame group of superheroes sound awesome to you? Did I mention pretty much every character is voiced by current and former "Saturday Night Live" cast members?
7. "Documentary Now!"
Starring Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, "Documentary Now!" parodies various classic documentaries by using a similar film style and a ridiculously fictional subject.
8. "The Characters"
Characters so often used in comedic sketches come to life in this Netflix original. Each episode is dedicated to a different comedian, along with the many voices inside their head.
9. "Galavant"
Imagine a King Arthur movie, a comedian, and Disney composer Alan Menken had a baby. I like to think this is what their baby would look like.
10. "Manhattan Love Story"
Canceled way too soon for my taste, this classic sitcom follows a new couple and every thought they face from the start of their relationship.
11. "Pushing Daisies"
Yet another classic with a cult following, "Pushing Daisies" tells the story of a simple pie-maker with the simple ability to make dead things not dead. Its dark theme perfectly counters the bright scenery and fairytale-like demeanor. Let us not forget the amazing cast--Lee Pace, Ellen Greene, and Kristin Chenoweth--oh my!
12. "Dead Like Me"
Actually the least short-lived of every series on this list, "Dead Like Me" follows your everyday grim reaper as she struggles to deal with life after death and the broken relationships she left behind.
13. "The Guild"
While this is a web series and not a television show, I felt it was just too great to leave out. Created, written by, and starring Felicia Day, this series revolves around a group of online gamers.
14. "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp"
A prequel to the incredibly strange early 2000s movie, this satirical comedy follows the teenage counselors of a summer camp, all of which are played by adults. The main cast includes Elizabeth Banks, H. Jon Benjamin, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, and Amy Poehler.
15. "Love"
Created by Judd Apatow, this brand new rom-com stars Gillian Jacobs of "Community" and Paul Rust. The characters are insanely relatable, the situations they find themselves in are realistic, and the portrayal of the couple's relationship is certainly an honest one.
