In a world where endless cop shows, doctor shows, and lawyer shows do battle for primetime network TV slots, some shows dare to be different. These shows are quirky, creative, clever, and under-watched. Here I give you a by no means comprehensive list of the best shows you’re not watching.
1. Sons of Anarchy
Hamlet on motorcycles meets “You had me at hello.” A tough-as-nails motorcycle gang keeps the peace and organizes the crime in the town of Charming. Each week the Sons of Anarchy defend their turf against rival gangs, butt heads with city hall, and take the law into their own hands”¦ and it’s all based on the Shakespearean classic. Catch it on FX, Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
2. Glee
“Glee” is by far one of the most delightfully hilarious shows on television. It’s a musical satire about the high school caste system. An optimistic teacher revives the school’s glee club, but has a little trouble on the way with the “Cheerios” captain, his “pregnant” wife and talented kids who don’t have enough confidence. With hilariously stereotypical characters and over-the-top musical numbers in every episode, it’s basically an accurate and serious representation of high school. Wednesdays at 9 on Fox.
3. Fringe
Don’t believe the commercials. If you do, you think that “Fringe” is simply “CSI: Boston.” But spend one episode following FBI agent Olivia Dunham and you’ll find that that couldn’t be further from the truth. Somebody is experimenting on the world, using bizarre science”"astral projection, genetic engineering, pyrokinesis, the works. A team of FBI agents headed up by Dunham called the “Fringe” division (including a real life mad scientist and his son) is trying to figure out why. Each week the unexplainable, unbelievable and disturbing lead our group of intrepid, world-saving believers further down the rabbit hole. It comes on Thursdays at 9 on Fox.
4. Parks and Recreation
Don’t listen to the nay-sayers who claim that Amy Poehler’s “Parks and Rec” is just her playing Michael Scott. Poehler, famous for “Baby Mama” and her various roles on “SNL,” takes her comedy to the next level in this show. Using the same documentary style as “The Office,” viewers get to take a look inside the world of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Illinois. Poehler plays well-meaning but hopelessly clueless mid-level politician Leslie Knope. She is joined on the cast by fellow comedians Aziz Ansari (“Funny People”), Rashida Jones (“The Office”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Funny People). It comes on Thursdays at 8:30 on NBC
5. Flash Forward
Everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 18 seconds while they have a vision of their individual futures. Why? No one knows. And that’s not even the weirdest part. Thursdays at 8 on ABC.
Is nobody watching your favorite show? Tell us! In these days of repetitive programming, no good show should go unwatched.
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