TV Decades Series
Most Overrated Shows of the 2000s
Best Cancelled Shows of the 2000s

By Kendra Beltran

Ten years, where have you gone? I’ve said hello and goodbye to college, voted in a historical election and witnessed the beginning and end of many great television shows that left Earth to soon.

In the 2000s we experienced the rise of reality TV. Ashlee Simpson’s show and Britney Spears run with Kevin Federline on UPN. Reality, you really are horrible when put under the TV lens. We’ve seen a Friend fly solo and fall. We even had a show surface about the excitement of working on Hot Dog on a Stick. These are not the shows I want focus on. Those shows were knocked out of their misery (and ours) just in time. The shows I want to talk about are the ones that barely had a chance. Some lasted as long as a few seasons and others didn’t even make it through a one, left to be scene only on DVD.

10. Wonderfalls (FOX, 2004)

I was truly upset to see Wonderfalls dry up so soon. Are you telling me a show about a girl who hears the voice of a higher power in everyday objects isn’t interesting? See you’re already racing to Amazon to get this on DVD.

9. 2gether (MTV, 2000-01)

I was lucky enough to be a tween in the later part of the 90′s when boy bands had a resurgence. It’s a known fact cute boys singing and dancing to pop songs sells. Even if one of the group members is an overweight man pushing 40. 2gether was a satirical show based on acts like Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC. The group not only entertained with their witty take on pop culture, but they could actually sing too. However, it wasn’t the fizzle of boy bands at the turn of the millennium that brought this gem to an end, but the real life death of Michael Cuccione known to fans as “QT.” As a boy band aficionado, going on without the designated “baby” would’ve been unsound but they could’ve at least pulled off a spin off…just saying.

8. American Dreams (NBC, 2002-05)

This one lasted three seasons but that wasn’t enough for fans. Retro shows like That 70′s and That 80′s Show were big hits so it’s a shame a look back at a girl in the hippie era of the 60′s going after Bandstand fame didn’t last as long. Oh, yeah…That 80′s Show didn’t. Maybe both should’ve had Ashton Kutcher.

7. Dark Angel (FOX, 2000-02)

Where my nerds at? Jessica Alba and Co. shined a light on a grimy future clouded with mystery. Too bad that bar code on the back of Alba’s neck is all we have left to grasp of Dark Angel’s existence…or do we?

6. The Oblongs (WB, 2001)

Somewhere in-between The Simpsons and Family Guy lay a family you have to grow to love. My cartoon crush “Milo” had a dad with no arms or legs rightfully named “Bob,” hung with a band of misfits and had an intense case of ADHD. I remember oh too well when this came out and why it met an early death. Putting it against the wonderful Malcolm in the Middle and expecting it to come out the victor was just ludicrous. The Oblongs had A-lister, Will Ferrell as the patriarch and it still got canned, but loyal fans can catch The Oblongs on Adult Swim now, because that’s where amazingly, twisted toons go to live in syndication.

5. The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 2009-10)

Conan’s run as the host of The Tonight Show was as long as a Lindsey Lohan sentence. The ratings were low and Leno swooped in to reclaim what was his first. Conan should’ve called no take backs.

4. Veronica Mars (UPN/CW, 2004-07)

Did anyone else think it was weird Veronica Mars was on the BET of basic cable? Besides being on the same channel that brought about Moesha and Girlfriends, Veronica Mars prevailed with viewers. Lasting a good three seasons, getting Tiger Beat icon JTT as a guest star and leaving fans craving a movie when it was all said and done. Really what are many actors from that show doing today? I bet each fan could pitch in a quarter to bring their beloved to the big screen.

3. Life As We Know It (ABC, 2004-05)

First off to ABC, if you wouldn’t have put this show on at the same time as The OC (when it was good) then it would’ve had a chance. Okay, now that I’ve calmed a bit. This one’s hard to talk about because I love and will defend this shows greatness until it’s first and only season’s given a well deserved recognition. Teen dramas are a dime a dozen…who knows maybe Life As We Know It was too good to be in the company of over dramatic shows or was before it’s time. If that’s the case, I’m glad it died before becoming a casualty of the CW roster.

2. Arrested Development (FOX, 2003-06)

Before Michael Cera became every nerdy girl’s dream come true, he was a chubster dealing with his frozen banana stand. The trials and tribulations of the Bluth family was mere comedic gold but I’ll never forget what my 10th grade English teacher said about Arrested Development…to paraphrase, people aren’t smart enough to get the jokes because there’s no laugh track and that’s why it didn’t last. Sadly she was right. At the time Americans were so used to being told when and where to laugh due to years of situation comedies. Good news though, unlike Veronica Mars, the idea of an Arrested Development movie isn’t too far from an idea as crazy as Buster Bluth’s claw hand.

1. Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999-2000)

Cult classic is an understatement when referring to Freaks and Geeks. Every generation needs something to relate to at a time of angst. So at the turn of the millennium, kids had this show; a throwback to life in the 80′s that focused on the reality of growing up on the outside of the norm with the help of actors we’d all raise a comedic glass to years later; Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel, just to name a few.