Let’s get real—TV history is full of programs that were well-deservedly loved a whole lot more than they ever received. Some were too quirky for the masses, some simply fell through the cracks, and some were casualties of poor timing. But sometimes discovering one of these hidden gems is like uncovering buried treasure. So pick up your remote (or, honestly, your queue on whatever you stream it on) and go on a journey through 10 underappreciated shows you should remember—along with an extra look at the strangest forgotten superhero series ever produced.
10. Superstore
You might have thought workplace comedies had reached peak with The Office and Parks and Rec, but keep in mind. Superstore quietly packed some of television’s best writing and most tender characters into its hangout inside the invented Cloud 9 megastore. Between its spot-on retail satire and unexpectedly tender moments, the show traded laughs and social commentary in a way that few sitcoms were able to. Despite all six seasons on the air, it never really received the credit it deserved, making it one of the most underrated workplace comedies around.
9. Green Wing
British comedy doesn’t get more bizarre—or hilarious—than Green Wing. Working in a hospital but far from a medical drama, it’s closer to a fever dream of sketch comedy held together with soap opera-esque shenanigans. The breakneck pace of jokes, David Lynch-esque editing, and bizarre characters made it utterly original, yet somehow it went under the radar even in Britain. If you’re into your humor fast-paced, offbeat, and a bit deranged, this one’s for you.
8. Mythic Quest
Created by Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Mythic Quest draws back the curtain on a game studio full of ego, pandemonium, and ridiculous creative wars. Starring an excellent ensemble cast that includes Danny Pudi and F. Murray Abraham, the series is both sarcastic and sentimental. Even with rave reviews, it still manages to feel like a secret gem—perhaps because it’s hidden away on Apple TV+. Either way, it deserves so many more people discussing it.
7. Peep Show
In the UK, Peep Show is a comedy classic. Everywhere else? Not nearly enough people are aware of this fantastic sitcom. Narrated nearly every step of the way by the characters themselves, with inner monologues for good measure, it charts flatmates Mark and Jez through a cringe-fest of social mishaps and questionable life decisions. Cringeworthy? Definitely. Laugh-out-loud funny? Even more so. Reboots elsewhere have failed miserably, confirming some comedy is simply too British to do justice.
6. Party Down
Before his stint on Parks and Rec, Adam Scott fronted this cult-classic regarding wannabe writers and actors who are relegated to catering jobs in LA. Joined by Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, Ken Marino, and Martin Starr, Party Down should have been a hit. Instead, it got canceled too early—though it just had a revival season. If you’re a fan of cringe-free ensemble comedy, this is one of the all-time classics that far too many people passed on.
5. A.P. Bio
What occurs when a bitter philosophy professor finds himself forced to teach high school biology? Pandemonium, of course. It’s Always Sunny’s Glenn Howerton supplies the series with its signature charm and attitude as he plots revenge strategies with his students. Through two cancellations, A.P. Bio developed a loyal following and received positive reviews. Unfortunately, it never caught the populace it deserved, making it a great rediscovery candidate.
4. Suburgatory
Half-satire, half-coming-of-age series Suburgatory chronicled a teenager and her father’s moves from New York City to the suburbs. With a tremendous cast (Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto), it served up witty social commentary in the guise of zany comedy. Critics adored it, but viewers never fully tuned in, and it was cancelled after season three. If you didn’t get it the first time around, it’s well worth a second look.
3. Rules of Engagement
Here’s a strange one: Rules of Engagement lasted 100 episodes across seven seasons… but hardly anyone discusses it. Featuring David Spade, Patrick Warburton, and Megyn Price, it was a retro take on the comfort-food sitcom format of the ’90s and early 2000s. Critics were lukewarm, but viewers who persisted will tell you that it was always funny and vastly underappreciated.
2. Friday Night Dinner
Few series portray family mayhem quite as well as Friday Night Dinner. Each week, the Goodman family shares dinner, and each week, it descends into complete madness—due to sibling rivalry, quirky parents, and a gloriously eccentric neighbor. Under-watched across the globe, the show never quite made it overseas, but it should have. If you’re in the mood for biting, cringe-worthy, laugh-out-loud comedy, this is it.
1. The King of Queens
Yes, it lasted nine seasons. Yes, everybody knows about it. But for some reason, The King of Queens fails to receive the praise that it should be receiving. Kevin James and Leah Remini had incredible chemistry, and Jerry Stiller gave one of television’s greatest supporting turns in Arthur. Yet, despite its success, the show is seldom cited among great sitcoms—an injustice.
Forgotten Superhero Oddities
Superheroes may rule the box office now, but TV once churned out some of the strangest caped adventures you’ve never heard of. From Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse (a Batman parody dreamed up by Batman’s creator, Bob Kane) to the psychedelic Mighty Heroes, the ’60s and ’70s embraced the weird. The ’80s provided us with Electra Woman and Dyna Girl and Automan from Tron, while the ’90s went totally camp with M.A.N.T.I.S. (a wheelchair-bound scientist battling crime in an exosuit) and Nightman (yes, a sax-playing superhero). Even the 2000s had a go with overlooked oddities such as Black Scorpion and The Zeta Project. Most are forgotten because they should be, but their sheer audacity makes them wonderful artifacts.