The Noughties, AKA the period between 2000 and 2009, started what would become the Golden Age of Television. Presently, consumers prefer TV to movies and can binge at rates higher than ever before. With smash hits like Breaking Bad, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Wire, the noughties never fell short of ingenious TV shows.
However, some standouts never seem to make the cut when it comes to being mentioned amongst the 2000's greats. Here are ten of the most underrated TV shows of the millennium’s first decade.
Solitary (2006-2010)
In this unusual reality competition series, contestants are separated in pods, kept in solitary confinement for an undefined amount of time until there’s one person left standing, winner of a $50,o00 cash prize. Communicating through the artificial intelligence host "Val", contestants must compete in grueling and downright cruel challenges, like sleeping on a bed of nails or counting down two hours cramped in a 2x4 box. Contestants remain anonymous to their opponents throughout the game, known only by their pod numbers.
The best part? During every challenge, the competitors have no idea how their opponents are doing-- they could unknowingly drop out first and go home, or keep going for an unnecessary amount of time unaware they’re completely safe! The first season lasted a little over a week, while the second was close to two weeks. Solitary was innovative and unique but never seemed to gain much traction or attention. The series ran on FOX and was canceled during its fourth season.
Life As We Know It (2004)
Made by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah (Freaks & Geeks, 90210), the coming-of-age teen drama Life As We Know It had an awesomely fresh cast (including Kelly Osborne!) and a great soundtrack, but only lasted a season after being canceled due to low ratings. Starring Sean Faris (Sleepover) as Dino Whitman, a hormonal teenager at the peak of convincing his girlfriend Jackie (Missy Peregrym) to finally have sex with him. Life As We Know It also features Marguerite Moreau, Jon Foster, Lisa Darr, and Jessica Lucas.
Busy Phillipps and Natasha Melnick, who both played roles in Freaks and Geeks, resurrected their connection with showrunners Sachs and Judah and returned for guest performances in Life As We Know It.
Wonder Showzen (2005)
Wonder Showzen is an MTV2 based variety show that's akin to a hybrid of Sesame Street and the San Francisco Tenderloin. A satire kids learning show that features some more-than-edgy skits, Wonder Showzen endlessly pushed the boundaries.
Some of the scenes include a young white boy hailing to Hitler, alphabet puppets smoking crack, and the explanation of the interworkings of a sausage factory. In the era of The Andy Milonakis Show, this eclectic gem should only be watched by those who aren't afraid of being offended-- not for the faint of heart!
What I Like About You (2002-2006)
Featuring Amanda Bynes at her peak, What I Like About You was a lighthearted, witty show that kept viewers entertained season after season. After Holly's (Bynes) father has to relocate to Japan for business, she goes to live with her older sister Valerie (Jennie Garth) in New York City, the setting for many hilarious plotlines. Val's under the impression she's finally made it, with a great career and great boyfriend, but everything suddenly turns upside-down once her sister comes to stay.
While the material would’ve eventually become stale if the show continued much longer, What I Like About You had a good run, canceled during its fourth season.
Summerland (2004)
Ah, yes--Lori Loughlin before her involvement in the college admissions scandal, Zac Efron before High School Musical, and Jesse McCartney before he bears his "beautiful soul"-- Summerland was the perfect recipe for the quintessential mid-2000’s teen drama. Kansas natives Bradin (McCartney), Nikki (Kay Panabaker) and Derrick (Nick Benson) find themselves completely starting over in California with their aunt Ava (Loughlin) after their parents tragically die in a car accident.
Ava, a struggling clothing designer ill-equipped to raise three children, maneuvers through her newfound role as a mother figure while also trying to juggle her career with the help of her friends and hunky ex-boyfriend, Jay (Ryan Kwanten). Summerland was canceled after just two seasons, but its luster and great cast are never forgotten.
Radio Free Roscoe (2003-2006)
During the early 2000s, the premium TV channel Noggin morphed into The N, which steered away from children's shows and delivered more adolescent-based content. Degrassi: The Next Generation was at its peak, and The N was on a roll with releasing original series (South of Nowhere, anyone?) when Radio Free Roscoe premiered. Based on the lives of four teenagers who create their own pirate radio show, Radio Free Roscoe presented a different tone than other shows available at the time.
The cast was unheard of, and the series only lasted three seasons before getting canceled from the air. The character Question Mark was the fan-favorite heartthrob that won viewers over with his brooding sense of diplomacy, always caught up in love-triangles and whirlwind romances.
Undeclared (2001)
This Judd Apatow creation flies under the radar, especially in comparison to its sister show, Freaks and Geeks. Though the two have no connecting plot lines and take place in completely different decades, there are several actor crossovers between Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks, just one of the many reasons to give this show a chance if you haven't already!
Protagonist Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel) begins his college experience by losing his virginity to fellow freshman cutie Lizzie Exley (Carla Gallo), who's still seeing her on-again-off-again crazed long-distance boyfriend, Eric (Jason Segel). With the help of friends like Ron (Seth Rogen) and his overly-flirtatious foreign exchange student roommate Lloyd (Charlie Hunnam), Steven triumphantly navigates his first year away from home while his recently-divorced father Hal (Loudon Wainwright III) desperately clings to him for support.
Misfits (2009-2013)
This underrated U.K. treasure follows five teens who wind up with bizarre superpowers after a confusing lightning storm hits them during their mandatory community service. While Curtis' (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) newfound glory allows him to turn back time, Alisha's (Antonia Thomas) cursed with a "superpower" that causes any person Alisha touches to forcibly and relentlessly come on to her--yikes!
The fan-favorite and outspoken hero Nathan (Robert Sheehan), was only in the series for the first two seasons, and Misfits continuously went downhill after his departure. The E4 sci-fi show was canceled during its fifth season.
Party Down (2009-2010)
For those obsessed with Veronica Mars (see below), the Rob Thomas-Paul Rudd hybrid Party Down almost acts like a cousin to the neo-noir cult-classic, featuring several of the same cast members. Centering around a catering company full of wannabe, washed-up actors, Party Down gives an acerbic, witty, and sarcastic outlook on life in Los Angeles. Practically every character is a well-known actor, from Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, Big Little Lies) to Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks, Silicon Valley) and Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls, Masters of Sex).
Also starring Megan Mullally (Will & Grace, Parks and Recreation), Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars), Ken Marino (Wanderlust, Veronica Mars), and who could forget Jane Lynch's role as Constance Carmell? Party Down premiered on STARZ, and was unfortunately cut after just two seasons.
Veronica Mars (2004-2007)
Though it's gained a ton of popularity since being taken off the air in 2007 (deservedly so), Veronica Mars will always make the cut for any "underrated TV shows" lists. Kristen Bell really shined as the lead in this mid 2000’s gem. With excellent writing/storytelling, three-dimensional characters, witty jokes, believable relationships, and heartwarming moments all-around, Veronica Mars deserves all the recognition it’s received.
The fans, known as "marshmallows", were so dedicated to keeping Veronica Mars alive, they surpassed the $2 million Kickstarter goal created to fund the 2014 film in under 10 hours! After the self-titled movie was a success, creator Rob Thomas sold the rights to the streaming giant Hulu, where a fourth season was released in July 2019, fifteen years after its first season premiered. There's been no confirmation of a season 5, but its entirely possible marshmallows will receive yet another unexpected season of their favorite cult-classic.