TVSquad

In 1994, I was excited about My So-Called Life and Friends, but not much else on the TV schedule caught my eye. A friend of mine loved ABC's Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, so I would go over there to hang out and watch it.

Being sci-fi buffs, we decided we should check out Earth 2, a new show that aired an hour before L&C on NBC. I have this tendency to at least try out all the new science-fiction shows, knowing that even if I like them, the odds of them surviving beyond one season are slim. I quickly gave up on M.A.N.T.I.S. over on Fox, but found myself more intrigued by Earth 2.

What a fascinating and sophisticated look at a science fiction world. It was so much more realistic and grounded than the Star Trek series could ever be. The characters were horribly flawed and they felt much more human. As expected, the show failed, but not before I got 22 great episodes that still resonate in my memory.

Long-time readers of this site might remember the recurring feature "Short-Lived Shows." While this column may bear a resemblance to that beloved early TV Squad staple, there are notable differences. In particular, I'll be going much more in-depth about the show's fate, its cast, continuing fan support, and possible story continuations in different mediums.

Also, to make this column, a show must have actually been good. Shows that are canceled and deserve it certainly aren't "Gone Too Soon." They're perhaps not gone soon enough. Furthermore, a GTS could just as easily have been on the air for years before ending abruptly. If I'm sitting here wondering what happens next and now I'm never going to find out, that's gone too soon.

Which brings us to our first entry. HBO is known for groundbreaking television, but even they didn't know how much ground they broke with Carnivàle in September 2003. On the surface, it was yet another brilliantly produced period piece, perfectly capturing the look and feel of the Great Depression era United States. Underneath, it was nothing short of the epic struggle between good and evil.

(S01E08) I remember thinking after episode two that it was good, but mostly setup for the good stuff that would eventually come along as we follow the Malloy's story. With the return to traveler camp last week, and the big scam this week, that setup has really started to pay off.

This episode is very much what I envisioned when we first met the family. It's a classic con, with all manner of stumbling blocks along the way. And each of those is handled creatively by the ever inventive team Malloy. If that wasn't good enough, how about a little Clancy Brown to go with it?

Fionnula Flanagan's scene-stealing guest spot on the "Flashes Before Your Eyes" episode of Lost got me thinking about some of the other memorable guest stars the show has had over the years. It was difficult to commit to only five performances, with so many to choose from. Below are my picks for the most entertaining guest roles over the last three seasons.

1. Clancy Brown ("One of Them"; "Live Together, Die Alone"): This actor owns every role he plays, from Brother Justin in Carnivale to Byron Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption, so it was no surprise when Clancy Brown rocked both Sayid's and Desmond's flashbacks. It is still unclear if Joe Inman and Kelvin Inman are the same person, but at least one of them has a major role in the history of the DHARMA hatch. Here's hoping that Inman's (and Brown's) part in the Lost story continues in the future.