Lists
Instead of featuring another underappreciated one-hour drama, this time around I'm going with a half hour comedy. Which one? Probably one you didn't watch. Duh.
Adapting movies into TV shows doesn't really happen very often. Unlike revamping old TV shows into new ones, which has been happening a lot recently, and almost never goes well (yeah, yeah, there are a few exceptions to the rule like Battlestar Galactica, but for every one of those you have a Charlie's Angels, Bionic Woman and Knight Rider). ANYway. Back to 10 Things I Hate About You, a show which I was very skeptical about at first, but which quickly won me over.
The basic set up is the same. You've got Kat and Bianca Stratford, two sisters who couldn't be more different, personality-wise, with their overprotective dad (who is even played by the same actor from the movie!). Add in Bianca's dorky and smitten best friend Cameron, and the rebellious Patrick Verona as the love interest for Kat, and I could just as well be talking about the movie right now. And I happen to love the movie. But the show also managed to be fresh while treading the same basic story, and really started to shine when it started to go down its own path.
One of the best examples of exactly this is in how the show dealt with the character of Joey Donner (played by Chris Zylka). In the movie he was basically this repulsive person we were happy to see ultimately get his comeuppance. But in the show he was still a wannabe model, but in a completely lovable dumb puppy way. You actually find yourself wanting him and Bianca together instead of wanting her to get over him and get together with Cameron. You have to wonder whether this was an intentional change from the beginning, or whether it developed based on the chemistry of the actors together.
Of course, most of the show's success (creatively!) was due to this great chemistry between all of the actors. They are all pretty superb, with wonderful comic timing. I won't just keep raving and raving because I think you get it by now! By far the most upsetting thing about the show is that it was so unceremoniously canceled. It was left on something of a tiny cliffhanger, with so much potential for more in the future... it's just sad, really.
The good news is that you can marathon the show either on DVD or Netflix Instant, and there's always the original movie to turn to as well. But seriously, if you liked the movie and haven't given the show a chance, you should. It's legitimately funny.
Top Episodes:
Dance Little Sister (1x08)
Fight for Your Right (1x09)
Great Expectations (1x13)
Just One Kiss (1x17)
- Underappreciated Gems: Fastlane
Guns in our waistbands like what.You may find this latest addition to my underappreciated gems posts surprising. As in, you may be surprised that I watched it. And liked it so much. That show is Fastlane. The show, starring Peter Facinelli, Tiffani Thiessen...
- Underappreciated Gems: Farscape
Cast photo before Zhaan left the show. Sob.I had some internal debate about whether this show should actually qualify as an underappreciated show or not. It did last four seasons and got a miniseries wrap up at the end. But, if you didn't see it when...
- Underappreciated Gems: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
I will be the first to admit that this show wasn't perfect. First and foremost, it should've just been called Terminator: The Connor Chronicles. Placing all of the emphasis on Sarah Connor and not also her son John was, in my opinion, a misstep....
- Underappreciated Gems: Dark Angel
As I mentioned in my inaugural post on The Invisible Man, I'm starting a new series here about underappreciated shows from television's past. There are, admittedly, a lot to choose from. As I don't have a limitless amount of knowledge on the...
- ...set: Life Unexpected 1x09 "formal Reformed"
This week's episode was centered around a staple of any high school TV show or movie: the dance. In this case, the winter formal. Which is where, if you remember, Baze and Cate hooked up back in the days of the Spin Doctors. I have to say that this...
Lists
Underappreciated Gems: 10 Things I Hate About You
Instead of featuring another underappreciated one-hour drama, this time around I'm going with a half hour comedy. Which one? Probably one you didn't watch. Duh.
 |
| 10 Things I Hate About You |
 |
| Most of the high school cast. |
 |
| Joey, you are so hilariously dumb. |
 |
| Kat, you know you want him. |
The good news is that you can marathon the show either on DVD or Netflix Instant, and there's always the original movie to turn to as well. But seriously, if you liked the movie and haven't given the show a chance, you should. It's legitimately funny.
Top Episodes:
Dance Little Sister (1x08)
Fight for Your Right (1x09)
Great Expectations (1x13)
Just One Kiss (1x17)
- Underappreciated Gems: Fastlane
Guns in our waistbands like what.You may find this latest addition to my underappreciated gems posts surprising. As in, you may be surprised that I watched it. And liked it so much. That show is Fastlane. The show, starring Peter Facinelli, Tiffani Thiessen...
- Underappreciated Gems: Farscape
Cast photo before Zhaan left the show. Sob.I had some internal debate about whether this show should actually qualify as an underappreciated show or not. It did last four seasons and got a miniseries wrap up at the end. But, if you didn't see it when...
- Underappreciated Gems: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
I will be the first to admit that this show wasn't perfect. First and foremost, it should've just been called Terminator: The Connor Chronicles. Placing all of the emphasis on Sarah Connor and not also her son John was, in my opinion, a misstep....
- Underappreciated Gems: Dark Angel
As I mentioned in my inaugural post on The Invisible Man, I'm starting a new series here about underappreciated shows from television's past. There are, admittedly, a lot to choose from. As I don't have a limitless amount of knowledge on the...
- ...set: Life Unexpected 1x09 "formal Reformed"
This week's episode was centered around a staple of any high school TV show or movie: the dance. In this case, the winter formal. Which is where, if you remember, Baze and Cate hooked up back in the days of the Spin Doctors. I have to say that this...