Lesser Known Television?

[AmeliaJane]

I signed up for Netflix a little over a year ago when the local Blockbuster closed down and the library tightened up its lending policies for media--and realized that although I liked watching movies, what I really enjoyed was the opportunity to see TV on DVD and catch up on some series I had missed--especially the obscure ones that only lasted a season or so. Some of my favorite hidden treasures:

Grosse Pointe (behind the scenes comedy at a Beverly Hills 90210-type teen soap...apparently closely based on the real show)

Keen Eddie (an American police detective gets assigned to Scotland Yard and paired with a thoroughly odd British partner, and ends up living with a crazy female roommate (played by Sienna Miller, who as it turns out, can actually act.) The male lead is Mark Valley, who is now the lead on Human Target on Fox.)

Kitchen Confidential (comedy based on Anthony Bourdain's book about being a professional chef--they made 13 episodes, but only aired about two).

Slings and Arrows (Canadian series about a Shakespeare festival--each season focused on the production of one play. Great backstage comedy and drama)

Would love suggestions for more--do you have any favorite TV gems?

[bae]

Hamish Macbeth

[iris lily]

That's a great list, OP, I will have to look into those.

I'm not sure that I have much that acheives your definition since most of the TV series I am hooked on are well known.

I heard that all of The Larry Sanders Show (with Gary Shandling) has finall been released on DVD. It's from the early 1990's and it is about a late night TV host (like Carson etc). The few episodes that were relased earlier are funny.

We liked The Lost Room with Peter Krause, a sci fi mystery. It was intended to be a long series but only a few episdoes aired.

[Azure]

Oh, I love Slings & Arrows!!

Two short lived series that I loved & both are sci-fi westerns lol Firefly & The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

Life starring Damian Lewis. It only lasted 2 seasons but it was good. About a cop who was wrongly imprisoned for murder & returned to the force after being freed.

My youngest son & I were very sad to see the series Reaper cancelled after 2 years on the CW. Sam discovers on his 21st birthday that his parents sold his soul to the devil & he now has to work for the devil as a bounty hunter. Really - it is funny lol

[frugal-one]

Heard here about Wind at my back.... Canadian Walton type series

[Tweety]

I enjoy finding old/discontinued TV shows on Hulu.com.
Firefly, of course, is at the top of my list!
I'm currently working my way through the first and only season of Trauma.
Outsourced was good for laughs, and may actually come back later in the season.
Kingdom, starring Stephen Fry, was a sweet British comedy.
Other shortlived shows that I enjoyed discovering on Hulu were Kingdom, Quantum Leap, Jeremiah, New Amsterdam and Raines.
V and Flashforward may return.
Obviously I like drama with a touch of sci-fi.

[ljevtich]

Love Monk
M*A*S*H

Curb Your Enthusiasm - DH loves
Seinfeld
2 and a half men

Others:
ROME - it was a mini series on HBO only two seasons but made me read up on the Roman Empire during Julius Caesar time period
Weeds - Showtime series, still going strong.

When we were staying at my parents' house and DH parents' house, we used BitTorrent to download tons of movies and shows. All free. But you have to have at least Cable or Fios to really do it. DSL will not cut it. We now have over a Terabyte of stuff we can watch and re-watch whenever we want.

[Simplemind]

Robin Hood
Jeeves and Wooster
Black Adder
Firefly
The Tudors
Rome
Huff
In treatment
Dead like me
Six Feet under
Jonathan Creek
Carnivale
Wonder falls
Tales of the City
Eureka
Jykell

I love Netflix. We have had so much fun with it. We will find a series and then have weekend marathons.

[iris lily]

I have wondered about Tales of the City. I liked the first book or two in the series years ago. Gosh, that had to have been in the 1980's.

Oh, that reminds me--#1 Ladies Detective Agency was recommended by a friends as a good tv series. I am still reading the books. they are like tv: light and engaging.

The first two seasons of The Tudors captivated me--what a soap opera! But gorgeou costumes and sets. Love that! But really, the apotheosis of the whole Hentry drama is with Anne Bolyne and she's gone after season two and there are four more wives to suffer through.

[JaneV2.0]

Some of my favorites:

African American Lives 1&2, genealogy, PBS
Who Do You Think You Are?, genealogy, NBC
Craft in America 1&2, fine craftspeople showcased, PBS
Living with Ed, environmentally sound living, Planet Green
Ancient Aliens, historical conjecture, History Channel
UFO Hunters, UFO investigations, History Channel
Blue Planet, ocean exploration, various
Aarti Party, Indian-influenced cooking, Food Network
Disappeared, missing persons investigations, ID Network
I Survived--Beyond and Back, near-death experiences, Bio
Ice Road Truckers, extreme driving conditions, History Channel
First 48, Forensic Files, Crime 360; police procedurals, various channels

[redfox]

Deserving Design on Hulu. House porn... I love it!

[treehugger]

We have had Netflix since 2004 (and by streaming via our Wii, we can go with the cheapest package!) and agree that it's especially great for TV series.

I heartily recommend some already mentioned: Firely (but beware that it will leave you wanting more) and The Lost Room, and I love Slings and Arrows, too, which you already watch.

Check out Life on Mars for a single-season show (much to my surprise I liked the American version much better than the original British version) that was allowed to wrap up in a satisfying manner. Also check out the original British The Office, assuming you like that brand of snarky, deadpan, rather uncomfortable British humor. The Guild is a very original series that was originally broadcast on the web, but is now on Netflix. Alan Partridge is hilarious, especially if you are already a fan of Steve Coogan.

Some current shows we enjoy on Netflix (we don't have cable or get any TV channels): Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Glee.

[ljevtich]

Living with Ed, environmentally sound living, Planet Green
Is that series still going on? I could not find it anywhere, I guess the only place is on NetFlix?

[JaneV2.0]

I believe Living with Ed covered two seasons. I've watched it on Planet Green, but Netflix probably has it.

[Eggs and Shrubs]

We have had Netflix since 2004 (and by streaming via our Wii, we can go with the cheapest package!) and agree that it's especially great for TV series.

I heartily recommend some already mentioned: Firely (but beware that it will leave you wanting more) and The Lost Room, and I love Slings and Arrows, too, which you already watch.

Check out Life on Mars for a single-season show (much to my surprise I liked the American version much better than the original British version) that was allowed to wrap up in a satisfying manner. Also check out the original British The Office, assuming you like that brand of snarky, deadpan, rather uncomfortable British humor. The Guild is a very original series that was originally broadcast on the web, but is now on Netflix. Alan Partridge is hilarious, especially if you are already a fan of Steve Coogan.

Some current shows we enjoy on Netflix (we don't have cable or get any TV channels): Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Glee.

You may be interested to know that Steve Coogan has produced some brand new Alan Partridge shows that are only available on Youtube. The programmes are excellent and worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg9sYJaHQyc&playnext=1&list=PL6D3B586877013F27&index=3

A programme that is unlikely to find it's way across the Atlantic is a show called Early Doors. It is magnificent

[mira]

I second the Alan Partridge suggestion!

If you enjoy that sort of British humour, I'd also recommend:
Peep Show
Spaced
Black Books
Father Ted
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
The Inbetweeners
The League of Gentlemen
Extras
Brass Eye

[pony mom]

Doc Martin

Pushing Daisies--really disappointed when this was cancelled. It was imaginative and clever.

The Wire--I think this is one of the best tv series I have ever watched. It's well acted, realistic, but also violent and sometimes vulgar. But the characters and storylines just suck you right in. A critic fave but not popular. Anyone else see this??

One Foot in the Grave

[softweave]

I got hooked on these tv series through watching reruns on NetFlix:
30 Rock
Bones
In Plain Sight
Carnivale (just started watching)

and less hooked on:
24 Hours (half of the first season was enough)
Weeds (the first season was enough)

I'm also enjoying reruns of The Closer on regular tv.

[iris lily]

Doc Martin

Pushing Daisies--really disappointed when this was cancelled. It was imaginative and clever.

The Wire--I think this is one of the best tv series I have ever watched. It's well acted, realistic, but also violent and sometimes vulgar. But the characters and storylines just suck you right in. A critic fave but not popular. Anyone else see this??

...

I treid the Wire and can see how people like it, but because I am easily bored by cop shows and lawyer shows, I didn't get beyond one episode.

Speaking of lawyer shows, I'm hooked on The Good Wife. It's the only network drama that I like to watch. Otherwise, MadMEn and Breaking Bad are my favs.

the new one honored by the Golden Globes (soemthing Boardwalk) is getting a lot of attention.

[Brian]

Amelie Jane and Azure: Thanks for "slings and Arrows" tweak.
Guests had brought the first year DVD down and I enjoyed it immensely. Just searched Google and am watching Series 2 now. I had forgot Rachel McAdams was in the series. Great writing and funny.

[Stella]

I liked Veronica Mars.

[puglogic]

Whenever BBC has them on, we like to watch The Mighty Boosh, Peep Show, the IT Crowd, and old reruns of Coupling.

[SiouzQ.]

I just finished "Carnivale" which I loved and didn't want to end, and I am now totally sucked into Dexter, which is a most bizarre yet compelling, very well-written show with great character development (you end up rooting for a serial killer)???!!!
These I get from the local library, so there is always a lag time until I can get the next episode! Well, it makes the suspense all the more delicious, I suppose! I am also in line for Weeds, but there are a lot of people in front of me for it.

[iris lily]

I treid Weed and didn't like it.

But Breaking Bad is the ultimate! Similar themes: middle class people turn to drugs selling for income.