The summer is the ideal time for many of you to catch up on shows you’ve missed over the last few years, so you can finally tell your friend, family member, co-worker, or friendly website publisher to shut the fuck up already about the show he or she has been ragging you about for years. But at this point, you’ve either already seen “The Wire,” or “Friday Night Lights” or “Doctor Who,” or you’re not going to out of spite. I understand that.
The summer is also a time of erratic schedules — certainly, days or weeks can go by when you don’t have a chance to watch any television, but then you’re given a Saturday afternoon of free time, perfect for marathon-ing a season or even a complete series. Maybe you’d prefer an episodic series you can swallow down in an afternoon or five rather than devote your entire summer to a series that you’re likely going to be disappointed by in the end (“Lost”). So, here are five series that were either cut short or still early in their run, which means that you can watch the entire series or catch up on it in a matter of hours. Moreover, in all five cases, they are wildly addictive programs perfect for summer viewing.
“Party Down” (20 Episodes. Total Time Commitment — Less than 10 Hours): “Party Down,” which airs on Starz, is one of those shows that’s been very slow to pick up an audience, but it’s beginning to pick up steam, just in time to gain a massive cult following ahead of its inevitable cancellation. Catch it now and you won’t feel guilty about bitching about its cancellation next year, like the “Arrested Development” late-comers. And don’t worry — “Party Down” is largely episodic in nature so there are no unfinished story-lines to inevitably feel disappointed by. It also sports one of the funniest cast on television (Jane Lynch, Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Ryan Hanson, and Ken Marino), and creators that include Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars”). It’s witty as hell, endlessly amusing, and each episode seems to feature a cool guest star, including Kristen Bell, J.K. Simmons, Ken Jeong, and Steve Guttenberg (as himself), plus half of them are directed by Fred Savage. Think: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crossed with “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” set in the Los Angeles catering business.
“The Inbetweeners”: (12 Episodes. Total Time Committment — Less than 6 Hours): “The Inbetweeners” is a British coming-of-age sitcom akin to “The Wonder Years” crossed with In the Loop set in a high school. Over in Britain, it’s a favorite with both critics and audiences. The writing is hilarious, the dialogue is downright raunchy, and yet it maintains its wit throughout, and like “The Wonder Years,” each episode somehow ends with a touch of whiplash pathos about the value of friendship and the difficulties inherent in coming to terms with yourself. Mostly, though, it’s just balls-out hilarious and addictive enough that you might find yourself watching the entire two-season series in one afternoon. This is not your average lame American teen-oriented comedy. It’s a foul-mouthed gem. See:
“Better Off Ted”: (26 episodes. Total Time Commitment — Less than 13 Hours): Of all the shows that claim to be so, “Better off Ted” is the real successor to “Arrested Development,” containing the same off-the-wall, spastic, and dry humor, only contained within the workplace. It takes a few episodes to get into the rhythm of its humor, but once you identify it, the comedy washes over you. There aren’t a lot of workplace comedies that manage to find new angles, but this one does so while serving up cutting satire on corporate America, best embodied by Portia de Rossi’s Veronica Palmer. “Better Off Ted” was the best sitcom on network television over the last two years, and the shame of it is, nobody watched it. And though it was cancelled, you won’t be left with an unsatisfying end, just an unsatisfying feeling that the show will no longer continue.
“Sons of Anarchy”: (26 episodes. Total Time Commitment: Less than 24 hours): “SofA” is the only serialized drama on this list, but it’s still early enough in its run — and so insanely addictive — that it shouldn’t take long to catch up before the third season airs in the fall. Some describe “SofA” as “The Sopranos” set in the world of a biker gang, which is true, as is the fact that it follows the template of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” but if anyone had tried to sell me on the description, I’d have never given it a shot. While it is a heavy drama, what sets it apart from shows like “The Sopranos” or the more bleak “Breaking Bad,” is that the characters — despite the activities they are involved in — are immensely likable. I know it’s a critic’s job, but explaining the addictive appeal of “Sons of Anarchy” is something I can’t seem to do. It has to be experienced, but I guarantee that 90 percent of you will be hooked by episode three.
“The Thick of It” (16 episodes. Total Time Commitment: Less than 8 hours): If you’ve seen the Oscar-nominated British movie In the Loop and loved it, then you’ll no doubt love “The Thick of It,” the series prequel to the movie, which features more Malcolm Tucker than you could ever hope for. It’s like “The West Wing” mixed up in a blender of British slang words for vagina. It’s incredibly foul-mouthed, quick-paced, and really funny, skewering the inner PR workings of a government administration with a dry, acid-laced dirty mouth. It is a beautiful show, infinitely quotable, and it goes down quick and easy. Like your mother, you twat.
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And I will heartily second the Party Down love. It's delicious.
Posted by: elizabeth at June 14, 2010 3:12 PM
Party Down is enjoyable, and the guest stars are some of the best features. JK Simmons, Jimmi Simpson and Thomas Lennon were real highlights.
But I don't find Casey funny. And she's supposed to be a comedienne, but she's just obnoxious.
Posted by: Brie at June 14, 2010 3:16 PM
Veronica Mars basically lives on through Party Down. I'm sold. Dick Casablancas may be my favourite character of all time. I would watch that haircut in anything.
The Inbetweeners is hilarious, and very clever. And lots of profanity. What more do you need. Cant wait for season 3.
Posted by: Rosalie at June 14, 2010 3:26 PM
I'm so happy with the love for The Inbetweeners - I was watching it yet again on 4OD just half an hour ago.
Knee deep in clunge indeed.
Posted by: the artist formerly known as squeeziee at June 14, 2010 3:26 PM
Insert rant about the two British listings not being available on Netflix here.
Posted by: Jeff at June 14, 2010 4:03 PM
Lizzy Caplan is one of the best parts of Party Down. She's like Zooey Deschanel, only not just pretty.
Posted by: joe at June 14, 2010 4:04 PM
It only took a couple of episodes of Better Off Ted for me to have strong feelings for it, but after watching "Race Relations" those feelings became full blown love and adoration. It's one of the funniest episodes of any show I've ever seen.
Posted by: HB at June 14, 2010 4:08 PM
Aww Jeff, bless your little law abiding heart. Come to the dark side, we stream video on the internet for free. No Netflix account needed. :P
"Damn the man. Save the Empire!"
Posted by: androstarr at June 14, 2010 4:13 PM
Archer!
Posted by: OrRoy at June 14, 2010 4:13 PM
I second Archer! And submit for your consideration: Justified. I am starting a campaign to get Timothy Olyphant on the bangable list.
I can't quite decide what I think about the new 'do.
However, the blond mop still works its magic on "Party Down".
[Yes, you're right. I don't have a life.]
Posted by: Dudleys Mom at June 14, 2010 4:22 PM
I just now got into Burn Notice. I am now a proper fan.
Its more addicting than crack. and Bruce Campbell is awesome.
Posted by: bubblegumshoe at June 14, 2010 4:23 PM
If there's no NBA game on Thursday, there will be a couple of Better off Ted episodes shown that never aired!
Posted by: mswas at June 14, 2010 4:25 PM
Gotta support that recommendation on Sons of Anarchy. Been telling all my friends to catch up. If the third season completely tanks, I'll be disappointed, but it will be ok because nothing can deprive me of that second season.
And if you watch the season finale of Season 2 and do not think "Oh. Wow." then you just aren't watching hard enough. Watch harder, dammit!
Posted by: lubeg at June 14, 2010 4:30 PM
This came at the perfect time! Already love Better off Ted and Party Down, but now I am excited to check out the others, especially Sons of Anarchy.
Posted by: ami at June 14, 2010 4:31 PM
Definitely Burn Notice. I haven't caught an episode since it returned this summer, but I'm planning a watching spree tonight since tomorrow is my day off. Perfect summer show.
Posted by: Gabs at June 14, 2010 4:35 PM
I just started Better Off Ted last night and yes, it is one of the best comedies I've seen in a while. Funny as hell and easy on the eyes too.
Posted by: katy at June 14, 2010 4:39 PM
I second, third, fourth....elevteenth the vote for SoA. It makes me tingly in my naughty bits and puckers my asshole water-tight with how it puts me on the edge of my seat. I've seen every episode from Day 1 and am still planning on having an SoA orgy this summer to prime myself for season 3. Oh September....you can't fucking get here soon enough.
S.F.F.S.
Posted by: PissBoy at June 14, 2010 4:44 PM
lubeg: The club is going to Ireland, how can that possibly tank? No, I have complete confidence in Sutter and the cast/crew.
The draw to SoA is Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, and Katey Sagal. They just operate so damn well together. And the rest of the cast is pitch perfect.
Breaking Bad season 1 showed up today from Amazon and I've got Deadwood to start as well.
I actually watch more TV during the school year. I think because I work full time in the summer (while taking summer courses at home), I don't have a lot left over. During the school year, classes and work (part time) only take up a couple of hours a day, and the rest is sweet, sweet procrastination.
Posted by: dsbs at June 14, 2010 4:54 PM
lubeg: The club is going to Ireland, how can that possibly tank?
Tanking is inconceivable!
I truly doubt that such a thing will happen and will be delighted when the third season is better than the second.
And honestly, how many of us went into the second season thinking it could be better than the first?
I'm glad I've been watching from the beginning.
Posted by: lubeg at June 14, 2010 5:11 PM
I'm actually watching OZ, a prison drama that ran on HBO for six seasons and i love it. I'm flying through the whole series. I'm already on season five. I'm thinking i'll watch Six Feet Under when i'm through.
Posted by: Dirk at June 14, 2010 5:14 PM
ARCHER!!!1!ONE
Posted by: EricD at June 14, 2010 5:20 PM
SOA!!! I hate the long break though. It would be great if it was scheduled like Burn Notice, 1/2 in the summer, 1/2 in the winter.
I agree with most of these comments, definitely need to add Justified, Archer, Burn Notice, Leverage (not as good as the rest but I love Gina Bellman) and Jekyll (ridiculous fun British miniseries on Netflix).
Posted by: juicyjui at June 14, 2010 5:30 PM
I disagree that the characters on Sons of Anarchy are likable. I've only seen about 6 episodes, so maybe there are subtle nuances I missed, but they all seem like a bunch of assholes. Which are the likable ones, again?
Posted by: Slash at June 14, 2010 5:44 PM
malcolm tucker is also hilarious as the dad of the ron weasly looking guy on skins. watched the first two seasons of that last week, it was awesome.
Posted by: me! at June 14, 2010 5:53 PM
With all the Breaking Bad love going on today I was surprised it wasnt on this list. It's serialized, but the first season is only 7 episodes long, followed by 13 for each of season 2 and 3. Definitely my favorite show on TV and worth anyones free time.
Posted by: Ryan at June 14, 2010 6:13 PM
I've been marathoning Friday Night Lights. Okay okay okay I know I'm late to the bandwagon on this site, but I was busy in grad school and that's a damn good excuse. Now I'm hooked, totally caught up, and can't find a way to convince any of my friends to watch THE BEST DAMN SHOW ON TELEVISION. They don't trust me that a show about football is so heartfelt and intelligent. I'm desperate, DESPERATE, for people to join in with my new found obsession.
Posted by: Ruth at June 14, 2010 6:23 PM
mswas thanks for telling me about Better off Ted, and it just gives me yet another reason for hoping the celtics win it in six!
Posted by: AlannaJudith at June 14, 2010 6:28 PM
On Canadian Space Channel, Dr Wo is being rerun from the Eccleston episodes onward. Never too late to jump in.
Posted by: Odnon. at June 14, 2010 6:28 PM
Dr Wo of course being a Chinese time traveller...
Posted by: Odnon. at June 14, 2010 6:29 PM
Thou Shallt Not Speak Ill Of Breaking Bad.
Human Target was fluffy yet got its hooks in you. think it only had thirteen eps last season. Burn Notice is defintiely a guilty pleasure in the same vein as HT
oh and deadwood was the fucking heroin of television. taking a western, amping up the bawdiness and degeneracy and then making it baroque, while raising shalespeares spirit to script it, was pure gold(or pure whiskey, if that is more subject appropriate).
Let me recommend the British shows Life on Mars followed by it's sequel Ashes to Ashes. Ashes to Ashes just finished spectacularly but you have to start from the beginning. And since the British seasons only have about 8 shows each, you can get through two seasons of Life on Mars (John Sim aka The Master) and three seasons of Ashes to Ashes with little effort aside from a broken heart...
Might have to find Ashes to Ashes in other places than Netflix *cough*
Don't bother with the American versions. We just take great shows and fuck them up...
Posted by: Harkness68 at June 14, 2010 6:46 PM
YES to Party Down. I segued into it via Martin Starr after working through Freaks and Geeks and I'm addicted. Actually just re-watched "Not On Your Wife Closing Night" last night out of love for the epilogue (or just the whole episode, really.) It's a smart, well-acted show and I'll be sad to see it go.
Oh - and seconding the Lizzy Caplan love. She's so much fun to watch in that show.
Posted by: kiyo-chan at June 14, 2010 6:52 PM
SOA... sigh...
Also: #6 - Justified.
I want to be the creamy lard-based sugar filling in a Jax Teller/Raylan Givens Oreo.
Sweet baby Jesus.
Posted by: superEdna at June 14, 2010 6:53 PM
PARTY DOWN YES!
That show is just hysterical.
Posted by: Jessica at June 14, 2010 7:15 PM
Dr Wo of course being a Chinese time traveller...
Posted by: Odnon. at June 14, 2010 6:29 PM
Yeah, I've been rewatching Dr. Wo, who does not look Chinese at all. When they aired the Slitheen (aka Fart Alien) episode, I thought to myself "Self, those are the worst costumes in the history of television" and felt better about the current season with Matt Smith (who looks like he was hit in the face with a 2 X 4, sorry). Still fun, though.
Posted by: Uriah Creep at June 14, 2010 8:45 PM
@superEdna
"I want to be the creamy lard-based sugar filling in a Jax Teller/Raylan Givens Oreo."
Is it hot in here or is it just me? {fans self}
Posted by: MM at June 14, 2010 8:51 PM
PS Now I really want a bag of Oreos, a season of Justified, and some alone time. Cuz that's about as close as I'm gonna get.
Posted by: MM at June 14, 2010 8:53 PM
Burn Notice, Justified (just typing the name Raylan Givens gets me hot and bothered), and if you haven't seen it yet, True Blood. I just mainlined that show last weekend and I can't get enough.
I second the Party Down love, but Lizzy Caplan is annoying and not funny. Maybe I'm just holding her horrendous role in True Blood against her, but UGH, get her off my screen.
Kristen Bell, however, was comedy gold.
Posted by: Mac at June 14, 2010 9:05 PM
I miss Better Off Ted. I'm hoping the nba finals don't go to 7 so we can see the other 2 episodes.
Posted by: Sagerian at June 14, 2010 9:07 PM
How is John from Cincinnati not on this list? And stop hating on Lost Rowles, some of us actually liked the finale. Either way, time to move on.
Posted by: jcollier at June 14, 2010 10:51 PM
The Inbetweeners is on BBC America.
Posted by: Three-nineteen at June 14, 2010 11:01 PM
Oh, and fuck the Deadwood-killing Satan's taint that is John From Cincinnati. Fuck it until it's dead, and then toss the cold, dead corpse on a pile of burning shit and garbage so we never have to think of it again.
Posted by: Three-nineteen at June 14, 2010 11:10 PM
I watched the entire first season of Better Off Ted over the course of about two days, and I laughed so hard I'm considering watching it all over again and then buying it and the second season.
Every single one of these shows is great. Glad to see so much SoA love from the commenters, I feel like not nearly as many people were representing over the course of last season. Must be people hearing the good word about it and catching up in the last few months?
There won't be a bigger miscarriage of justice this year at the Emmys then Katey Sagal failing to win best supporting actress.
Posted by: trippdup at June 15, 2010 2:16 AM
John From Cincinnati didn't kill Deadwood, HBO did. And then they killed John From Cincinnati too. Then Milch made a pilot for HBO again, which they didn't pick up, now he's making another one, I think he has battered writer syndrome, he should call Joss Whedon.
Posted by: jcollier at June 15, 2010 10:57 AM
Awesome. I'm catching up on True Blood and Breaking bad right now. Don't yell! I live far away!
Posted by: SarahReznor at June 15, 2010 12:39 PM
Will be trying out Sons of Anarchy this summer, and The Inbetweeners seems fun.
As an eternal Veronica Mars fan, I already have Party Down as requiered watching, and own The Thick of It on dvd.
Other than that I'll try to catch up on Weeds, Dexter, It's Always Sunny, Shameless and Breaking Bad.
Also, So You Think You Can Dance. Dance for me Mark, dance all summer long.
Posted by: Margrete at June 15, 2010 4:33 PM
The Inbetweeners is hysterical.
BUS WANKERS!
Posted by: Kate at June 15, 2010 10:14 PM
The Thick of It absolutely kills me. I'm at the end of Series 2 now and I only wish it were easier to find.
Tucker's Law. Know it, love it.
Posted by: lindsco at June 16, 2010 3:19 AM
I'd have to recommend Spaced, for anyone who hasn't seen it. 14 episodes, less than 7 hours total, but to this day my favorite TV series ever. And it's all available on Hulu...
i like the wire, true blood, lost (very addictive), dexter (took me a bit to get into but i really enjoy it now), united states of tara (a little anti-climatic tho, but still fun to watch). i havent seen the sopranos yet and six feet under seems a little boring (but i've only checked out the first episode). better off ted and sons of anarchy ARE GREAT. i started watching those two shows because of this list.
Fuckin ABC.