UPN ended its broadcasting this past Friday. Now we'll have to get used to the new CW network and that awful logo.
More often than not, UPN had some terrible shows on the air (Homeboys in Outer Space, The Bad Girl's Guide, Shasta McNasty, Hitz, The Love Boat remake), but it also happened to have some gems in there (and, no, I'm not talking about either Star Trek: Voyager or Enterrprise). Here are five great UPN shows that we can all sit back and reminisce about.
1. Nowhere Man: Bruce Greenwood as a famed photographer who goes into the men's room of a restaurant one night, and when he comes out his wife claims not to know him, his credit cards no longer work, and people are trying to get him. This was a clever, moody show, sort of like The Fugitive (the great 60s show, not the terrible Harrison Ford flick), only with a conspiracy behind it. You can get the complete series on DVD.
2. Veronica Mars. To be honest? I've seen exactly two episodes of this series, but I'm trusting Keith on this one. This show has survived and will be seen on the new CW network.
3. Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. Yeah, I know, this is cheating because it originally ran on the WB network. Still, it ran for a couple of series on UPN too, and it was a great show.
4. Jake 2.0. Why didn't this show do better? It was quite enjoyable and quirky. Sort of a goofy Six Million Dollar Man. I was really looking forward to a second season, but...oh well. The Sci-Fi Channel is going to start showing the show this fall/winter.
5. Home Movies. Animated show with an 8 year-old protagonist, odd animation and heavily improvised scripts. Sort of loses something in the explanation, but you really have to watch it. This show is available on DVD too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-17-2006 @ 3:06PM
Tobey Cook said...
The one show from UPN that I remember fondly is Legend. Richard Dean Anderson and John Delancie in sort of a Wild Wild West style action series with a little Star Trek thrown in (on the technology side).
Definitely one show I wish they would release on DVD.
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9-17-2006 @ 3:26PM
Jason said...
Jake 2.0 is currently airing on HDNet in High Definition. I have recorded a few episodes, and kinda dig it.
I *think* HDNet is a Dish Network only channel, part of their HD package. I also *think* someone told me it used to be part of Voom, which Dish purchased with Voom went belly-up. In any case, they are running Jake 2.0 and will also be running Enterprise in HD this fall. I am not affiliated with Dish in any way (except I am a customer), but HDNet has a number of other really great shows that have been cancelled. I have really enjoyed watching Boomtown for the first time in HD, which is airing on HDNet. They also have some classic shows like Hogan's Heroes. These shows were shot on film, and have been digitally remastered for HD.
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9-17-2006 @ 3:42PM
Ryan said...
I know some people it's Star Trek's often made-fun of ugly stepchild, but man I really enjoyed Star Trek: Voyager. Maybe it's the fact that it's the *only* Star Trek series I saw, but still.
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9-17-2006 @ 4:18PM
Erica said...
Aaaahh...Nowhere Man. One of the (very) few redeeming things about UPN's first season. But at least it got one full season. It had a good mix of themes going on; sci-fi, mystery, drama, and some cool guest stars. Is it out on DVD yet?
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9-17-2006 @ 4:19PM
Joey Geraci said...
Voyager was most definitely not the best Star Trek series, but it was one of the best shows on UPN, period. For it to be not included in the top five is a travesty!!! :)
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9-17-2006 @ 4:27PM
MrAkai said...
There was a show (UPN I'm pretty sure) about a team of "hackers" forced to solve crimes by the govmnt. It's not the WB show "Three" I'm 99% sure. If I remember it was resonably entertaining, didn't trigger my gag reflex to made-up computer stuff, and had a hot/mousey female character (she was mousey until the episode where she went undercover as a cam-girl to catch a stalker).
Anyone know this one?
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9-17-2006 @ 4:35PM
Brett said...
MrAkai, I think the show you are looking for is Level 9.
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9-17-2006 @ 6:42PM
R Poorman said...
To Jason above - HDNet has nothing to do with Dish Network except that Dish carries it. HDNet is owned by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
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9-17-2006 @ 10:47PM
Pip said...
Uh...you forgot Dilbert. Animated and quite faithful to the comic strip. Too bad it got forgotten on UPN.
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9-17-2006 @ 11:49PM
LC said...
Legend was a fantastic show. Richard Dean Anderson was extremely disappointed when it was cancelled and in interviews says it was his favorite show he ever worked on.
Nowhere Man was also great and I was praying another network would have picked it up.
I also liked 7 days
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9-18-2006 @ 12:48AM
John said...
Special Unit 2. I really liked that one.
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9-18-2006 @ 4:16AM
Brent McKee said...
I'll second "Legend" as one of the high points of UPN's first season ("Nowhere Man was actually a second season show), but I was also fond of "Live Shot" which was about TV news. The network tried a lot of odd ideas - remember "Marker" or "Deadly Games" - in that first season before settling down into what seemed like mediocrity punctuated by an occassional great idea that was often executed badly.
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9-18-2006 @ 11:37AM
Jason said...
I completely agree on Nowhere Man. I remember watching every episode, and after seeing the season finale I couldn't wait for the show to come back...and it just never did... So sad.
And I think putting Home Movies on the list is a bit of a stretch, since you're talking about a show that ran 52 episodes, but was cancelled by UPN after the first 5. Sure, it did air on UPN first...but I'd hate to give them any credit, since they didn't have the vision to see the show through like the [adult swim] people did.
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9-18-2006 @ 10:01PM
mark cuban said...
HDNet is available on Satellite and Cable. www.hd.net for more info. We are showing Jake, we just started tonight Starship Enterprise, last week Arrested Development and also air Dead Like Me and Joan of Arcadia.
We have tons of original content as well, from sports (NHL/MLS) to some great music shows and concerts (U2, eminem, Gorillaz, many more). check out the website or call your cable or sat company
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9-19-2006 @ 12:42PM
TVLover said...
Hey, Mark!! Thanks from just north of Dallas btw...I loved Jake 2.0 and wish someone would have had a clue as to how good that show could have been...it made it partway through the second season I believe...spanning 03 and 04...I really appreciate you picking it up!
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9-19-2006 @ 2:26PM
rocko said...
Hello?? The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer? That show was robbed by the Emmys.
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