Insane 2000s TV Shows You Forgot About (& Need to Rewatch Again)

The first decade of the new millennium was a chaotic and experimental era for television production that resulted in some of the most unique concepts ever aired. Networks took significant risks on high-concept science fiction, gritty realistic dramas, and bizarre animated comedies that often confused audiences at the time. Many of these series suffered from erratic scheduling or cancellations despite having innovative premises that paved the way for modern prestige television. Streaming platforms have granted these forgotten gems a second life where new audiences can appreciate their bold storytelling. A revisit of these shows reveals how ahead of the curve many of them were regarding tone and visual style.

‘Clone High’ (2002–2003)

This animated series presents a high school populated by famous historical figures who have been cloned by a secret government organization. The show follows the awkward teenage years of clones like Abe Lincoln and Joan of Arc as they navigate romance and peer pressure. The plot involves a mad scientist named Scudworth who secretly plans to use the clones for a theme park attraction. The series gained a cult following for its unique art style and satirical take on teen dramas.

‘Wonder Showzen’ (2005–2006)

This surreal sketch comedy series utilizes a puppet show format to deliver dark and subversive humor intended strictly for adult audiences. The creators mix street interviews with unsuspecting pedestrians and disturbing animated segments to critique politics and culture. The show intentionally mimics the aesthetic of educational children’s television to create a jarring contrast with its bleak subject matter. MTV aired the series for two seasons before it ended due to its controversial nature and production challenges.

‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)

A pie-maker named Ned discovers he has the mysterious ability to bring dead things back to life with a single touch. He teams up with a private investigator and his resurrected childhood sweetheart to solve murder mysteries using his powers. The visual style features bright colors and storybook aesthetics that distinguish it from standard police procedurals. The series is noted for its fast-paced dialogue and intricate narration that guides the viewer through the whimsical plot.

‘Better Off Ted’ (2009–2010)

This satirical sitcom focuses on the employees of a soulless mega-corporation called Veridian Dynamics. The protagonist Ted Crisp tries to manage his team of eccentric scientists while dealing with the unethical demands of his heartless boss Veronica. Episodes often feature fake commercials for the company that highlight its disregard for human safety and environmental concerns. Critics praised the show for its dry wit and intelligent commentary on corporate culture.

‘Dead Like Me’ (2003–2004)

A cynical college dropout named Georgia Lass dies in a freak accident involving a falling toilet seat from a space station. She learns she must serve as a grim reaper who helps souls transition to the afterlife while retaining her human form. The group of reapers meets daily at a waffle house to receive their assignments on post-it notes. The show explores themes of mortality and purpose through dark comedy and character-driven storytelling.

‘Carnivàle’ (2003–2005)

The narrative is set during the Great Depression and follows a traveling carnival that harbors mysterious supernatural forces. A battle between light and darkness unfolds as a young healer named Ben Hawkins crosses paths with a terrifying preacher named Brother Justin. The show features complex mythology and dense symbolism that requires close attention from the audience. HBO canceled the series after two seasons leaving many plot threads unresolved.

‘Joan of Arcadia’ (2003–2005)

A typical teenager named Joan Girardi begins receiving tasks from God who appears to her in the form of various everyday people. She must complete these assignments without revealing her secret to her police chief father or her artist mother. The series blends family drama with metaphysical questions about destiny and the interconnectedness of human actions. The show received critical acclaim for its grounded approach to spiritual themes.

‘Tru Calling’ (2003–2005)

Tru Davies is a medical student working in a morgue who discovers that corpses can ask her for help. The day rewinds when a body speaks to her and allows her to prevent their untimely death. She races against the clock to change events while facing opposition from a man named Jack who wants fate to remain unaltered. The series combines supernatural elements with a procedural mystery format.

‘Dark Angel’ (2000–2002)

A genetically enhanced super-soldier named Max Guevara escapes from a secret military facility and tries to live a normal life in a post-apocalyptic Seattle. She works as a bike messenger while searching for her siblings who escaped the same facility. The show is set in a world impacted by an electromagnetic pulse that destroyed the economy. James Cameron created the series which focused heavily on action sequences and cyberpunk themes.

‘The Comeback’ (2005)

Lisa Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish who is a fading sitcom actress trying to revitalize her career by starring in a reality show. The series uses a found-footage format to document her humiliations and desperate attempts to remain relevant in Hollywood. Audiences initially found the cringe comedy difficult to watch but it has since been reevaluated as a brilliant satire of the entertainment industry. HBO revived the show for a second season nearly a decade after its original run.

‘Drawn Together’ (2004–2007)

This animated reality show parody places eight archetypal cartoon characters into a house where they are filmed constantly. The cast includes a superhero, a fairy tale princess, and a video game character who all engage in crude and offensive behavior. The series relies on shock value and gross-out humor to deconstruct the tropes of both animation and reality television. Comedy Central aired the show which remains controversial for its deliberate lack of political correctness.

‘The Oblongs’ (2001–2002)

A family living in a polluted valley beneath a wealthy hillside community serves as the focus of this animated sitcom. The characters suffer from various physical deformities and health issues caused by the toxic environment created by the rich elite above them. The show satirizes class disparity and social stratification through its bizarre character designs and cynical humor. Will Ferrell and Jean Smart provided voices for the parents of the eccentric clan.

‘Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law’ (2000–2007)

A former superhero becomes a lawyer and represents other cartoon characters in bizarre legal disputes. The show repurposes animation from classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons and places the characters in a modern office setting. Clients include Shaggy and Scooby-Doo facing possession charges or Fred Flintstone dealing with organized crime. The series became a staple of the Adult Swim block for its absurdity and rapid-fire jokes.

‘Undergrads’ (2001)

Four friends from high school attend different colleges but stay in touch as they navigate their freshman year. The show focuses on Nitz and his struggles with social awkwardness and his unrequited love for a girl named Kimmy. The animation style is distinctively simple and the dialogue reflects the specific slang and concerns of early 2000s internet culture. A dedicated fanbase has campaigned for a movie conclusion for nearly two decades.

‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’ (2006–2007)

Aaron Sorkin created this drama about the backstage production of a late-night sketch comedy show similar to Saturday Night Live. The series features fast-paced walking-and-talking scenes that explore the politics of television networks and censorship. The cast includes Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford as the executive producers trying to save the failing program. NBC canceled the high-budget show after one season despite significant initial hype.

‘Reaper’ (2007–2009)

Sam Oliver learns on his twenty-first birthday that his parents sold his soul to the Devil before he was born. He must work as a bounty hunter for Satan and capture souls that have escaped from Hell using household items as vessels. The show balances supernatural adventure with workplace comedy involving Sam and his slacker friends. Ray Wise received praise for his charming and debonair portrayal of the Devil.

‘Jericho’ (2006–2008)

Residents of a small Kansas town witness a mushroom cloud on the horizon and realize the United States has been attacked. The community becomes isolated as power and communication fail and they must survive against internal conflicts and external threats. The show focuses on the breakdown of society and the efforts to maintain order in a post-apocalyptic world. Fans sent thousands of pounds of nuts to the network headquarters to save the show from cancellation.

‘The Black Donnellys’ (2007)

Four Irish-American brothers become involved in organized crime in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The narrative is told by a quirky unreliable narrator currently in prison who describes the brothers’ descent into violence. Paul Haggis created the gritty drama which featured intense brutality and moody cinematography. NBC pulled the series from the air after only a few episodes due to low ratings.

‘Kings’ (2009)

This drama reimagines the biblical story of King David in a modern alternate reality kingdom called Gilboa. Ian McShane plays King Silas Benjamin who fights to maintain his power against corporate rivals and political insurrection. The show features grand set designs and Shakespearean dialogue that set it apart from typical network fare. The ambitious scope and high production costs contributed to its short lifespan.

‘Day Break’ (2006–2007)

Detective Brett Hopper finds himself reliving the same day repeatedly after being framed for the murder of an assistant district attorney. He retains his memories and injuries from previous loops as he tries to uncover the conspiracy behind the setup. The show combines the time-loop mechanics of Groundhog Day with a gritty police thriller. Each episode reveals new clues that allow Hopper to alter his actions in the next cycle.

‘Invasion’ (2005–2006)

A hurricane in Florida provides cover for water-based alien creatures to infiltrate a small town and replace the inhabitants. The series focuses on a park ranger and his family as they notice subtle changes in the behavior of their neighbors. The show builds tension through psychological horror rather than relying heavily on visual effects. ABC canceled the series on a cliffhanger that left the fate of the characters unknown.

‘Surface’ (2005–2006)

Mysterious sea creatures appear in oceans around the world and spark a global naval investigation. The story follows a marine biologist and a teenager who raises one of the hatchlings in his bathtub. The series explores the genetic origins of the new species and the government cover-up surrounding their existence. The show was one of several science fiction procedurals that emerged following the success of Lost.

‘Threshold’ (2005–2006)

A contingency plan is activated after an extraterrestrial object lands in the Atlantic Ocean and begins mutating nearby ships. A team of experts including a linguist and a biologist is assembled to assess the threat level of the alien presence. The series focuses on the psychological toll the first contact event takes on the team members. Carla Gugino leads the cast in this suspenseful drama that mixes science fiction with horror elements.

‘John Doe’ (2002–2003)

A man wakes up on an island with no memory of his identity but possesses the sum total of all human knowledge. He uses his encyclopedic brain to help the Seattle police solve crimes while searching for clues about his past. A secret organization known as the Phoenix watches his every move and complicates his investigation. The series ended without revealing the protagonist’s true name or origin.

‘Special Unit 2’ (2001–2002)

A secret division of the Chicago police department is tasked with controlling the city’s population of mythological creatures. These creatures are explained as the missing links of evolution and include gargoyles and gnomes. The tone is campy and comedic as the officers use specialized weapons to capture the monsters. The show gained a loyal following for its creative creature designs and lighthearted approach.

‘The Lone Gunmen’ (2001)

This spinoff of The X-Files focuses on the trio of conspiracy theorists who frequently assisted Mulder and Scully. They run an independent newspaper and investigate government cover-ups and corporate espionage. The pilot episode famously featured a plot about a government conspiracy to hijack an airplane and crash it into the World Trade Center. The tone is lighter than its parent show and emphasizes the camaraderie between the three leads.

‘Greg the Bunny’ (2002)

Puppets and humans coexist in this sitcom where puppets are treated as a minority group seeking employment. Greg is a naive rabbit puppet who gets a job on a children’s show and navigates the complex social dynamics of the studio. The show satirizes the entertainment industry and features appearances by Seth Green and Eugene Levy. Fox canceled the show quickly but the characters later appeared in spin-off projects.

‘Andy Richter Controls the Universe’ (2002–2003)

Andy Richter plays a technical writer who daydreams elaborate fantasy sequences to escape the boredom of his corporate job. The show blurs the line between reality and Andy’s imagination as he narrates his daily frustrations. The humor is absurd and observational with a focus on office politics and dating mishaps. Conan O’Brien’s former sidekick received praise for his performance in this surreal sitcom.

‘The Tick’ (2001–2002)

Patrick Warburton stars as the blue-suited superhero who protects The City with his sidekick Arthur. This live-action adaptation parodies comic book tropes and focuses on the mundane aspects of a superhero’s life. The characters spend more time arguing in diners and waiting in lines than fighting supervillains. The show was praised for its witty script and Warburton’s deadpan delivery.

‘Titus’ (2000–2002)

Comedian Christopher Titus stars in this dark sitcom based on his own dysfunctional family and life experiences. The show uses black and white segments to depict the protagonist’s internal monologue and flashbacks to his childhood. Stacy Keach plays his abrasive and alcoholic father who provides much of the conflict. The series tackled serious subjects like mental illness and domestic abuse with biting humor.

‘Grounded for Life’ (2001–2005)

An Irish-Catholic couple on Staten Island tries to raise their three children while dealing with their own immaturity. The storytelling is non-linear and often starts with a chaotic situation before flashing back to explain how it happened. Donal Logue and Megyn Price play the parents who often make selfish decisions. The show captures the gritty and chaotic reality of working-class family life.

‘Boston Public’ (2000–2004)

This ensemble drama centers on the faculty and administration of a troubled public high school in Boston. The show tackles controversial social issues such as school violence and teacher misconduct with a sensationalist tone. David E. Kelley created the series which balances character drama with procedural elements. The large cast allowed for multiple intersecting storylines involving both students and teachers.

‘Ed’ (2000–2004)

A lawyer named Ed Stevens loses his job and his wife on the same day and decides to return to his small hometown in Ohio. He buys a bowling alley and opens a law practice inside it while pursuing his high school crush. The show is known for its quirky humor and the charm of its lead actor Tom Cavanagh. It explores themes of second chances and the eccentricities of small-town life.

‘Boomtown’ (2002–2003)

Each episode of this police procedural tells a crime story from the varying perspectives of the different people involved. The viewpoints include the detectives, the beat cops, the paramedics, the reporters, and the criminals. The narrative structure reveals new information with each perspective shift that changes the viewer’s understanding of the event. Critics hailed the show for its innovative storytelling technique within a standard genre.

‘Karen Sisco’ (2003–2004)

Carla Gugino stars as a U.S. Marshal in Miami who hunts fugitives while dealing with her complicated personal life. The character originated in an Elmore Leonard novel and appeared in the film Out of Sight. The series features a cool noir tone and a close relationship between Karen and her retired father. Robert Forster plays her father and serves as her confidant and sounding board.

‘Lucky’ (2003)

John Corbett plays a professional poker player named Lucky dealing with a severe gambling addiction. The show takes place in Las Vegas and follows his attempts to rebuild his life after losing a million dollars. The tone is dark and melancholic as it explores the seedier side of the gambling world. FX aired the series which received critical praise for its realistic portrayal of addiction.

‘Oliver Beene’ (2003–2004)

This sitcom is set in the 1960s and follows the life of a young boy named Oliver living in Queens. The show uses a narrator to describe the events from the future in a style similar to The Wonder Years. The humor is often broad and slapstick with a focus on Oliver’s eccentric family members. David Cross provides the voice of the adult Oliver looking back on his childhood.

‘Grosse Pointe’ (2000–2001)

Darren Star created this satire about the behind-the-scenes drama of a teen soap opera similar to Beverly Hills, 90210. The characters are exaggerated versions of difficult actors and clueless producers. The show mocks the egos and insecurities of young Hollywood stars. It was ahead of its time in deconstructing the teen drama genre that was popular on the WB network.

‘Undeclared’ (2001–2002)

Judd Apatow created this sitcom about a group of college freshmen experiencing their first year of independence. The show features a young Seth Rogen and explores the awkwardness of dorm life and new relationships. The writing is naturalistic and captures the uncertainty of early adulthood. Many guest stars including Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell appeared in the short-lived series.

‘Jack & Bobby’ (2004–2005)

The series follows two teenage brothers, one of whom is destined to become the President of the United States in the future. Flash-forward segments feature documentary-style interviews that discuss the future President’s legacy. The main timeline focuses on their relationship with their eccentric professor mother played by Christine Lahti. The show is a character study that examines how childhood experiences shape future leaders.

‘Dirt’ (2007–2008)

Courteney Cox plays the ruthless editor-in-chief of a tabloid magazine who exposes the secrets of Hollywood celebrities. The show depicts the symbiotic but toxic relationship between the paparazzi and the stars they cover. The protagonist suffers from schizophrenia and hallucinates conversations with the subjects of her stories. The series offers a cynical look at the obsession with fame and the lack of privacy in the modern world.

‘Swingtown’ (2008)

This period drama is set in 1976 and explores the sexual revolution through the lives of couples in an upscale Chicago suburb. A wholesome couple moves into the neighborhood and is introduced to the concept of open marriage by their new neighbors. The show examines the shifting social mores of the era and the impact of liberation on family dynamics. The production design authentically recreates the fashion and decor of the 1970s.

‘Kid Nation’ (2007)

This reality show placed forty children aged 8 to 15 in a ghost town in New Mexico to build a functioning society without adult supervision. The children were required to cook their own meals, clean the town, and run businesses to earn money. Controversy surrounded the show regarding labor laws and the safety of the participants. It remains a fascinating social experiment that captured genuine moments of leadership and conflict among the youth.

‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ (2008–2009)

Lena Headey stars as Sarah Connor as she travels through time to protect her son John from Skynet’s assassins. The series ignores the events of the third film and continues the story directly from Terminator 2. Summer Glau plays a reprogrammed Terminator named Cameron who attempts to understand human behavior while protecting the family. The show is praised for its intelligent expansion of the franchise’s mythology and strong character development.

‘Dollhouse’ (2009–2010)

A secret organization programs people known as Actives with temporary personalities and skills to fulfill the needs of wealthy clients. Eliza Dushku plays Echo, an Active who begins to retain memories of her missions despite the memory wipes. The series explores themes of identity, consent, and the ethics of technology. Joss Whedon created the show which gradually evolves from an episodic procedural into a serialized conspiracy thriller.

Please discuss which of these shows you remember watching or want to try out in the comments.