With the abundance of incredible TV shows across a variety of genres, it's no surprise that amazing shows slip under the radar and don't have the strong fan base and hype they deserve. Underrated TV shows often have great reviews but are drowned out by the myriad of popular shows that take over social media and the public consciousness. These types of underdog TV shows risk being canceled too soon, despite having a strongly ionate fan base.
A wide variety of high-budget TV shows with a star-studded cast and incredible visual effects, underrated shows managed to garner a dedicated fan base that stuck with the show throughout the years.
20 Galavant (2015-2016)
Genre: Medieval Fantasy-Comedy-Musical
Galavant, the medieval musical extravaganza, only existed to take over the time slot of Once Upon a Time during the mid-season period, but it still managed to win the hearts of audiences. Within the first five minutes of the first episode, a song narrating the backstory of the titular character Galavant (Joshua Sasse) told the classic tale of a hero's journey to save his beloved Madalena (Mallory Jansen). However, there was a twist: Madalena decided to get married to her kidnapper, King Richard (Timothy Omundson) for his money and power and betrayed Galavant.
Galavant is filled with hilarious fourth-wall breaks, catchy music, compelling character dynamics, and adventure. While the niche show never got the credit it deserved, it did solidify itself as a comedic gem.
19 Suburgatory
Genre: Sitcom
The sitcom series Suburgatory follows Tessa Altman (Jane Levy), a headstrong and independent teenager, and her father, George Altman (Jeremy Sisto), after they move from New York City to the fictional affluent suburban town of Chatswin. The Altmans do not fit in with their well-off and eccentric neighbors and struggle to adjust to the new neighborhood. They're later surprised to find meaningful relationships with the Chatswin citizens despite their initial impressions.
Suburgatory truly shines in its moments of human connection, as, despite the major differences between the Altmans and Chatswin citizens, they learn to appreciate each other and bond.
Suburgatory truly shines in its moments of human connection, as, despite the major differences between the Altmans and Chatswin citizens, they learn to appreciate each other and bond. Dallas Royce's (Cheryl Hines) motherly relationship with Tessa and Tessa's feelings towards her mother, who abandoned their family, added depth to the comedy show and made it a heartwarming watch.
18 Living Single (1993-1998)
Genre: Twentysomethings Sitcom
The underrated sitcom Living Single was overshadowed by the popularity of Friends, despite premiering a year earlier. Similarly to Friends, Living Single followed a group of friends in their 20s in New York as they navigated single life in the city. Starring Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields, John Henton, and T. C. Carson as the six friends whose authentic relationship caused hilarity and amusement.
The struggles of the young professionals looking for love made Living Single a relatable and hilarious classic. While Living Single did not become as popular as other sitcoms, the portrayal of Black people on television and its handling of important issues makes the show beloved among its fans.
17 My So-Called Life (1994-1995)
Genre: Coming-of-Age Teen Drama
The critically acclaimed and award-winning teen drama My So-Called Life is an underrated and forgotten show from the 1990s. The show follows high school student Angela Chase (Claire Danes) as she deals with her family, relationship troubles, and school. Unlike other teen dramas, My So-Called Life explored major social issues through multi-episode arcs rather than focusing on issues for a single episode.
My So-Called Life: 10 Best Episodes, Ranked by IMDb
Despite its short run, My So-Called Life remains one of the most celebrated teen dramas of all time. These are the 10 best episodes according to IMDb.
My So-Called Life stands out from other teen high school dramas in its depiction of teenage life as turbulent and confusing, rather than a hijinks-filled hilarious time. Despite only lasting a season, My So-Called Life won over audiences and critics with its realistic depiction of teenage life and cemented itself as a cult classic.
16 Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
Genre: Dark Comedy Fantasy
The dark comedy fantasy series Dead Like Me follows George Lass (Ellen Muth), an 18-year-old girl who dies in a bizarre accident and becomes a grim reaper. As a grim reaper, George is tasked with removing the souls of people moments before their death and escorting them to the afterlife. George deals with her sudden death and her new job as a grim reaper, while her family deals with their loss and begins to fall apart.
Dead Like Me's portrayal of grief and George's family unraveling after her death made it a tragic and captivating show.
In line with the dark premise, Dead Like Me's portrayal of grief and George's family unraveling after her death made it a tragic and captivating show. With only two seasons under the belt, the unique show Dead Like Me deserved a larger fan base.
15 Miracle Workers (2019-2023)
Genre: Wacky Anthology Comedy
The anthology comedy series Miracle Workers features an ensemble cast across a variety of time periods and settings as they wreak havoc. The star-studded cast of Miracle Workers includes Harry Potter fame Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lolly Adefope, and Karan Soni. From Radcliffe vogueing while delivering a ionate rendition of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in season 2 to Buscemi as a zany and incompetent God, Miracle Workers is filled with unpredictable and hilarious moments.
Daniel Radcliffe Has Starred In One Of The Most Underrated Comedy Shows In The Past Decade
Daniel Radcliffe will always be known for playing Harry Potter, but the actor gets to flex his comedic skills on a great & overlooked comedy series.
Each season of Miracle Workers is a self-contained story set in a different place and time filled with hilarity and hijinks. Despite a cast filled with popular actors, solid ratings, intriguing plots, and compelling characters, Miracle Workers remains an underrated gem. Unfortunately, the anthology series was canceled by the network, making Miracle Workers season 5 highly unlikely.
14 Great News (2017-2018)
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Great News follows a news producer whose personal and professional life is turned upside down after her mom becomes an intern at her company. The quirky workplace sitcom revolves around Katie Wendelson (Briga Heelan) and her relationship with her mother, Carol (Andrea Martin), in the chaotic, fast-paced, and high-stakes industry of television news.
Great News is a hilarious and heartwarming show filled with an ensemble cast of eccentric and unique characters. The setting of the news workplace provided a goldmine of comedic moments and the show was able to poke fun at the current news landscape while exploring the mother-daughter relationship. Despite its witty dialogue and incredible character dynamics, Great News was canceled after two seasons and remains a hidden gem that deserves a larger fan base.
13 Girls5eva (2021-2024)
Genre: Musical Dramedy
The musical comedy series Girls5eva follows the titular one-hit-wonder girl group and reunites in hopes of finding fame and fortune. Girls5eva stars Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Paula Pell as the of the pop group who are dissatisfied with their current lives. The show follows them as they deal with fading away from the public eye and their attempt at becoming successful artists.
While Girls5eva is a brilliantly hilarious and entertaining show, the show shines with its depiction of friendship and commentary on the music industry and fame.
While Girls5eva is a brilliantly hilarious and entertaining show, the show shines with its depiction of friendship and commentary on the music industry and fame. The original songs are catchy and perfectly capture the essence of 1990s pop music. The show has not been renewed yet, leaving it unclear whether there will be a Girls5eva season 4. With a talented cast and hysterical moments, the underrated show Girls5eva deserves higher viewership and a new season.
12 Freaks And Geeks (1999)
Genre: High School Dramedy
The one-season wonder Freaks and Geeks is a cult classic following two groups of outcast friend groups the "freaks" and the "geeks". The teen comedy-drama series revolves around Linsday Weir (Linda Cardellini) after she s the freaks and her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) as a member of the geeks.
10 Harsh Realties Of Rewatching Freaks & Geeks, 25 Years Later
Freaks & Geeks remains a cult classic for a reason, but twenty-five years later there are some elements of the show that didn't age great.
Freaks and Geeks provided a different perspective on high school life as the realistically awkward and insecure characters struggled to fit in and dealt with their sense of identity and bullying. The tragically short-lived show Freaks and Geeks might not have gotten high viewership numbers, but it remains a classic even after 25 years. However, fans can rejoice as executive producer Freaks and Geeks in his own way years after the cancelation.
11 Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020-2021)
Genre: Musical Dramedy
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is a musical comedy that features an in-depth exploration of feelings and emotions through popular music. The show follows Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) after a freak accident gives her the ability to see people's inner thoughts and feelings through song and dance. Zoey uses the ability to help and the people around her and is able to communicate with her father Mitch (Peter Gallagher), who has progressive supranuclear palsy and is unable to speak. The show was canceled after two seasons but returned for the holiday film Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas.
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is a fun and musical show filled with heartfelt moments and deals with topics like grief. Scenes like Alice Lee's haunting rendition of "Anyone" by Demi Lovato as her character Emily deals with postpartum depression solidify the show as an emotional masterpiece. With its emotional and authentic portrayal of serious topics, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist made its mark as a poigant and heartwarming show that deserves more credit.