2002 might not have been a memorable year for pop culture but it did have its fair share of milestones — at least in the movie world. Television, on the other hand, struggled to come into its own, especially with so many great TV shows either ending organically or being canceled outright.
Oddly enough, children’s programming was hit the hardest in 2002, with many beloved cartoons ending their run. Dramedies geared toward young adults also suffered losses in 2002 and failed to regain dominance in the TV world for quite some time. The bottom line is that 2002 lost some great shows, but thankfully, with the power of streaming, fans new and old can tune in once again.
The Amanda Show (1999 – 2002) Stream On Paramount+ – 6.8
The Amanda Show was born out of the success of Nickelodeon’s original sketch comedy show, All That. After watching Amanda Bynes succeed on that show, Dan Schneider created an entirely new sketch variety show that Bynes would headline by herself.
The series featured a small cast but mainly involved Bynes acting in various sketches. Some of the most iconic sketches included “Judge Trudy,” which featured the iconic dancing lobsters, and a dramatic sketch called “Moody’s Point.” 2002 was a different time, so fans can stream The Amanda Show on Paramount+ to see if it still holds up today.
Ally McBeal (1997 – 2002) Stream On Hulu – 6.9
Ally McBeal was one of the most successful legal comedies of its time, winning consecutive Golden Globe awards and an Emmy award the year after. Created by David E. Kelley, the show follows the titular character who joins a prestigious law firm where her ex-boyfriend also works.
The series was ultimately canceled by Fox in its fifth season due to low ratings. It was also the only season of the show not to win a Golden Globe or Emmy award. Still, the show has a devoted fan base, which has led to rumors about a limited-series revival.
Felicity (1999 – 2002) – Stream On Hulu – 6.9
Prior to creating Lost, J.J. Abrams created the college drama Felicity, alongside Matt Reeves. Keri Russell played the titular role of Felicity Porter, a college freshman at the fictional University of New York. Though Felicity wants an education, the real reason she left home for New York was to follow her high school crush to college.
The series ran for four seasons, which allowed the show to follow the characters through all four years of American post-secondary schooling, and it continues to be one of the best TV shows set at college.
Jackass (2000 – 2002) – Stream On Amazon Prime – 7.3
Despite its popularity, it might be surprising to learn that MTV’s Jackass only ran for three seasons over two years at the beginning of the millennium. The comedy reality show featured nine friends who regularly participated in dangerous stunts and public pranks.
While the series was a massive hit for MTV and teen audiences, it also faced severe controversy for the dangerous and inappropriate actions of the cast. The hit series ultimately ended after three seasons due in part to MTV’s need to censor the series and the cast’s annoyance at the fact.
Dark Angel (2000 – 2002) – Not Currently Available To Stream – 7.4
Before Jessica Alba and Jensen Ackles were massive household names, they were appearing opposite each other in the Fox sci-fi drama, Dark Angel. Despite being created by movie mastermind James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee, the series only ran for two seasons after suffering a drop in ratings.
Starring Alba in her breakout role, the series follows a genetically enhanced supersoldier who escapes her military facility and decides to live a normal life in a dystopian near-future Seattle. Sadly, the show is not currently available to stream, which is a shame for fans of Alba and Ackles.
Roswell (1999 – 2002) – Stream On Tubi – 7.5
2002 saw the death of another young adult-driven sci-fi show when Roswell ended its three-season run after switching networks. Based on a young adult book series, the show centers on two unlikely friends whose friendship threatens to unravel a secret supernatural universe.
While Roswell had a devoted fanbase from the start, the writers failed to deliver the types of stories the fans desperately wanted, largely because the fanbase was divided on the issues. Despite this, the series was reimagined more than a decade later as Roswell, New Mexico, for The CW.
Fear (2000 – 2002) – Not Currently Available To Stream – 8.1
Besides children’s horror shows of the ’90s, horror shows didn’t really have a place on TV until MTV’s paranormal reality series, Fear, debuted at the turn of the millennium. Inspired by a horror film, Fear centers on a group of contestants who are left at a haunted location and are dared to explore the location over two nights to see if it is actually haunted.
Despite having extremely short seasons, the show was massively successful. It quickly became MTV’s second most popular series at the time. However, the show was later canceled because of the high production cost that went into each episode.
Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999 – 2002) – Stream On HBO Max – 8.3
Courage the Cowardly Dog might be one of the scariest children’s shows of all time. The cartoon centers on Courage, a beloved pet dog who lives with his elderly owners in the middle of “Nowhere.” The episodes often featured Courage and his owners in weird, supernatural adventures.
Despite its darker tone, the series cultivated a devoted cult following which helped the series launch a successful franchise. Though the creators have tried to revive the series, no such deal has been made.
Invader Zim (2001 – 2002) – Stream On Paramount+ – 8.4
In the 2000s, Nickelodeon set out to create content for their older demographic and thus Invader Zim was born. The animated dark comedy sci-fi follows an extraterrestrial who is on a mission to conquer Earth and enslave the human race.
Despite receiving high praise from critics and fans, Nickelodeon decided to cancel the series before the second season was even completed. This kept six episodes from airing until they were finally released on DVD. The series is now considered a cult classic and one of the best cartoons of the 2000s.
Firefly (2002) – Stream On Hulu – 9.0
Once powerful TV producer Joss Whedon put his creativity to the test when he created the space Western drama that became known as Firefly. Set in 2517, the series centers on a group of characters who live on a spaceship and take any job they can get in the hopes of staying alive.
The series premiered in September of 2002 and was canceled mid-season in December, meaning three episodes of the show never made it to air. Thus, the series joins the ranks of the infamous “canceled after one season” club.
