August was a big month for Peacock as it released some brand new original shows like The Undeclared War and Everything I Know About Love but while those are intriguing series, the streaming service’s back catalog is where it truly shines. Peacock is the home of major hits from the 2000s like The Office, House, and Friday Night Lights.
Although those are the shows that will stand out whenever someone logs into the platform, anyone who digs deeper for something from the past can stumble upon some high-quality series that were underrated upon release or have been forgotten over the years.
Starveillance (2006)
A fun but underrated show from the late ’90s was MTV’s animated seriesCelebrity Deathmatch. The claymation series pitted celebrities from all entertainment mediums into wrestling matches contested to the death. The creator behind that show, Eric Fogel, tried something different in 2006 with the release of Starveillance.
In some ways, it followed the same concept as it centered around claymation versions of celebrities but it parodied many of their real dramas and scandals. From George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger filming Batman & Robin to P. Diddy trying to pick a new name to go by, there are six hilarious episodes that encapsulate the era of pop culture.
Flight 29 Down (2005-2007)
Following the massive success of Lost upon its debut in 2004, it seemed like nearly every series was trying to capture that magic. One network that nobody expected to pull that off was Discovery Kids but they did just that with Flight 29 Down. The idea was similar to Lost in that it focused on people stranded on an island.
The twist here was that Flight 29 Down centered on a group of teenagers and had a comedic edge to it. The series lasted three seasons but not many people have memories of it but if they’re fans of the High School Musical franchise, they’ll recognize Corbin Bleu in the cast, which is always a treat.
Kong: The Animated Series (2000-2001)
Like his counterpart Godzilla, King Kong has been the focal point of plenty of adaptations over the decades. Most recently, there was Peter Jackson’s 2005 film and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island which led to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong. However, the start of the millennium saw Kong: The Animated Series, which isn’t nearly as well known.
This show picked up after the original 1933 film as a scientist stole some of Kong’s DNA and cloned him. Of course, that led to some unwanted arrivals on Skull Island that set up the adventure aspects of the series. Despite not being overly popular, Kong: The Animated Series was well-received and actually landed a few sequel films afterward.
East West 101 (2007-2011)
Cop shows are a staple of TV and it has been that way for years. Not all of them can hit the highs in terms of fame that Law and Order or Brooklyn Nine-Nine have, leaving many of them to fly under the radar despite being highly entertaining. Australia had one near the end of the decade titled East West 101.
The series came from the creators of other similar shows like White Collar Blue and focused on the Major Crime Squad located in Sydney. Although many of the actors might not be household names in the United States, they are all talented and any fan of the genre is bound to find something to love here.
The Goode Family (2009)
A major name in the world of comedy is Mike Judge. He wrote and directed films like Office Space and Extract, while also creating iconic TV shows like Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, and Silicon Valley. One project of his that not many people are aware of is The Goode Family, which is more animated greatness from him.
The premise centered on a working class family that is environmentally responsible but also struggles with being liberals and social aspects of their lives. With voice acting from Nancy Carell, Linda Cardellini, Dee Bradley Baker, and more, and the legendary Mike Judge behind it all, it’s worth a watch, especially at just 13 total episodes.
Warehouse 13 (2009-2014)
It’s rare that a show lasts five seasons and can still be considered a hidden gem. Warehouse 13 falls into that category because it did span more than 60 episodes, yet remains relatively unknown thanks to its airing on SyFy and having a small but passionate fan base.
Warehouse 13 followed a group of agents who are sent to retrieve artifacts charged with special energy that can lead to dangerous powers. The series expertly blended the sci-fi aspects with layered characters, some funny bits, and a whole lot of action. Throw in some notable guest stars over the years and this one is easy to binge.
Code Monkeys (2007-2008)
It’s common to see different styles of animation all throughout the world of television but rarely do you see anything that looks like Code Monkeys. Created by Adam De La Peña, the series told the story of two game developers in the ’80s who must deal with the everyday struggles of their billionaire boss who knows nothing about the industry.
The cool thing is that the show actually is designed to look like a video game from the ’80s, with 8-bit graphics. Those who loved games from the era are going to find this eye-catching and they’ll likely end up getting invested in the story and comedy.
The Triangle (2005)
This is another show that seemed to take aim at captivating the audience that thrived on a blend of mystery and sci-fi. The Triangle is a miniseries that was a joint German-British-United States project focused on the iconic myth of the Bermuda Triangle and its many unexplained events.
The show saw experts from various fields investigate the Bermuda Triangle. At only three episodes, this is the kind of miniseries that is easy to finish in one sitting and will give you some answers much quicker than most other mystery shows.
