It doesn’t get much worse for a TV-watching bro then having to watch one of his favorite shows wear out its welcome by putting out shitty episodes. On the flip-side, it sucks even worse to witness some of the ones we’ve come to love and identify with taken off the air before their time was up.
Sure, opinions are like you-know-whats, making each of our viewpoints relative, but let’s be real here: There are several TV shows that we wished would never end.
Breaking Bad – AMC
AMC
Living under a rock for a prolonged period of time still wouldn’t fly as it pertains to your familiarity with AMC’s mega-hit Breaking Bad. Walter White may as well of been the Pablo Picasso of the drug world. Hell, he made cooking up the blue shit (crystal meth) cool. Um alright, not really cool, but the fascination for Bryan Cranston’s character did reach rock-star status, and then some. The hugely popular crime drama went on for five seasons before genius creator Vince Gilligan and company closed it out. Whether you were on the couch or a character in the show itself made no difference whatsoever–everyone had Heisenberg envy.
Admittedly, its prequel, Better Call Saul is as good as they get. But, if there ain’t got Walter White or Jesse Pinkman in it, then it’s not Breaking Bad-good. Hey AMC? When that time comes for you to make a decision on your other hot show–The Walking Dead— you better tread lightly.
Hello Ladies – HBO
HBO
I may be in the minority on this one, but nothing symbolizes brilliance at its finest then Englishman Stephen Merchant’s embodiment of a women repellant in Hello Ladies.
Although 95% of us can’t identify with the former Office standout’s height (6’7”), we can sure as shit relate to the b.s. that–at one time or another–Stuart dealt with around women. Sadly, the HBO program–born out of Merchant’s comedy show of the same name– was given the axe after one season. Fortunately, an equally epic movie was made to tie up all its loose ends. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that the man–in all his awkward glory–came through. Regardless, there were undoubtedly more storyline ups and downs that Merchant (also a creator) and his fellow scribes could’ve churned out for Stuart, if you ask me.
Six Feet Under – HBO
HBO
Death is a taboo topic that most of us would rather not acknowledge. However, creator Alan Ball puts a welcomingly dark, comedic twist on it in HBO’s Six Feet Under. The drama featured two of TV’s finest at the small screen craft–Dexter’s Michael C. Hall and Parenthood’s Peter Krause–playing brothers total opposite of each other in a dysfunctional fam that owns and operates a funeral home.
Bluntly put: Death and the aging process aren’t exactly the most fun things to shoot the shit about. But, this program puts them both in an entertaining perspective through the many different lenses of the Fisher family members. Lastly and most importantly: Six Feet Under isn’t considered one of the greatest written TV series of all time for shits and giggles.
Freaks & Geeks – NBC
Freaks and Geeks
Yeah, yeah. I’m fully aware that if you’re forced to watch another Seth Rogen stoner flick or hear about yet another one of James Franco’s fuck-load of endeavors, you’ll stab your own eyes out. But let’s give credit where credit’s due: If this were the NBA and Judd Apatow were the scripted comedy version of Phil Jackson, then those two would be his Pippen and Jordan. Anyhow, before all the Hollywood movie hoopla, all three were involved in a little show on ABC called Freaks and Geeks.
The cult-followed teen comedy drama–based on a fictional Detroit suburb in the early 80s–revolved around a brother and sister on complete opposite sides of the social spectrum; Sam rolled with a two-man geek squad while Lindsay repped it with the four-person freak side.
Principle cast aside, it had a fist pound-worthy guest star resume that included Samaire Armstrong and Rashida Jones. Ultimately, the highly regarding show only lasted 18 episodes. Interestingly enough, it even took a fan-led campaign for producers to put out three more installments on a different network: Fox Family, Oh the awkwardness of high school puberty and the ludicrousness of not allowing Freaks and Geeks to continue on. A travesty I tell you.
Party Down – Starz
starz
Sure TV programs about their emotionally-challenged characters attempting to make it big in LA have been more overdone than hipster beards in BK, but Party Down is one (along with HBO’s Entourage) of the exceptions to that broken rule.
The proof in the creative pudding? Its trifecta of comedic talent: Jane Lynch, Ken Marino and Adam Scott. Take those three, mix in some insanely random people they intermingle within their line of work (catering), and the result is pure hilarity. Shamefully, not recalling any of this on your TV screen? Trust me; you may of not of had Starz then, but that shit happened. To your defense though, it did so nearly as rapidly as it dissipated–in two seasons. Why you ask? (In Auto-tune) Blame it on the n-n-n-n-n Nielsen ratings!