The Collegian
Friday, April 19, 2024

Tune In: Come back!

Just as some shows overstay their welcome, others are cut down in their prime. Here are some shows that should not have been canceled:

"Pushing Daisies" was a detective fairy-tale comedy in which a piemaker can mysteriously bring the dead, be they fruit or people, back to life with one touch and with the second touch reverse the effect. He uses this ability to solve murders, bringing the victims back to life long enough for them to tell him what they know. If he does not give the second touch within one minute, another living thing in the relative vicinity will die instead. The show does a very good job of creating a unique tone and atmosphere. "Pushing Daisies" combines fast-paced witty dialogue, with the warmth of a fairytale or a Christmas story and it is a shame that it was canceled.

"Better Off Ted" was an office comedy. However, it was not just another workplace sitcom. It had a fast-paced quirky style, similar to "Pushing Daisies," giving it an edge over other office comedies. The show focused on Ted (Jay Harrington), a single father and head of R&D at Veridian Dynamics, a giant corporation lacking any scruples or business ethics. Ted often breaks the fourth wall and becomes the on-screen narrator. Portia de Rossi is perfect in her role as Ted's cold, calculating, yet funny and likeable boss, Veronica. All in all it was a good show that, despite critical acclaim, wasn't able to find a big enough audience.

"Damages" is a legal thriller starring Glenn Close which originally aired on FX. "Damages," unlike most law or crime dramas, has season long storylines, each season covering one case. Its style is defined by its non-linear story and plot twists. Although FX canceled "Damages," DirecTV has picked it up for two more seasons. We'll see what direction DirecTV takes the show, but things look hopeful. According to Glenn Kessler, the series' creator, DirecTV is encouraging them to take things even further than they did on FX. So while the show shouldn't have been canceled, DirecTV is giving it a chance to continue; a rare happy ending.

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