We’ve probably done this before but I’m doing it again.
What I mean by “little” shows for this thread are shows with a small number of episodes per season and just a few seasons. Shows like this typically are found on cable networks, nobody really talks about them, but they’re quality shows that you love(d) watching. They’re like indie films but for TV. Let’s try to keep recommendations at shows that have been on in the past 5 years or so.
Usually shows like this give me a glimpse into the lives of people/communities I never really gave much thought to, or have no access to. Some of them I really identify with, some are all just about learning something new.
I watch a lot of TV and a lot of little shows. Here’s some of my favorites:
Joe Pera Talks With You - (Adult Swim) Absolutely delightful little show on Adult Swim. There’s so far 2 seasons of 9 and 13 episodes. Shows are 11 minutes a piece. The show seems to be like a boring nature documentary but it has a ton of depth with plot and characters. It’s like spending the day with a protege of Fred Rogers.
Better Things - (FX, Hulu) This is a show by Pamela Adlon, starring Pamela Adlon, and is semi-autobiographical. I heard an interview with her this weekend and it was pointed out that the show’s production team is very female, and the production itself “feels female.” I don’t know if there’s a theme to the show. Maybe “mothers and daughters.” Sometimes I find it frustrating, but it’s always endearing.
Shrill - (Hulu) We recently talked about this one in a SDMB thread so I’ll link to that. It’s a show based on the memoirs of a young fat woman trying to live her life, and her struggles. It stars Aidy Bryant, who is co-writing it.
Work In Progress - (Showtime, Amazon Prime) I had no idea about this show until I saw its writer/creator/star on Colbert a couple months ago. The description is “Abby is a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. Chicago improv mainstay Abby McEnany co-created and stars in this uniquely human comedy series.” I had no idea I needed a show about a fat queer dyke with massive depression, but turns out I did and I’m glad I found it!
Please Like Me - (Hulu, Australian TV) This one is a little older (ended in 2016) but it deals with homosexuality, deep friendships, life in your 20s, depression and suicide. Sometimes the characters really grated on me but I grew to love them. It was my first exposure to Hanna Gadsby whom you might remember from her Netflix comedy special.
Search Party - (TBS/HBO Max) This is just a weird show and I’m not sure if it had any deep meaning. Just some self-absorbed 20-something New Yorkers who get themselves mixed up in a plot bigger than themselves. Kind of like *Girls *but more light. It gets really good reviews, tho.
Mike Tyson Mysteries - (Adult Swim, Hulu) This show is just absurd. It’s an animated series with 11-minute episodes. It’s about Mike Tyson (as himself), his 20-something Asian-American adopted daughter, a guy who was turned into a pigeon from a curse (played by Norm MacDonald) and the ghost of the Marquis de Queesenbury (Jim Rash). They all live together and have a “Mystery Team” and go around solving mysteries. It’s crude and ridiculous but it usually gets a chuckle out of me.
Kim’s Convenience - (Netflix, Canadian TV) I don’t think this show is “little” but it’s probably not well known outside of Canada. It’s just a goofy sitcom about a Korean family convenience store. But I really like the actors and the diverse cast. And of course it exposes me to a culture I have no other insight on.
Upstart Crow - (BBC2) This is a sitcom about William Shakespeare, with David Mitchell as Shakespeare. It’s probably only funny to people who know a bit about Shakespeare. Watching it has made me learn more about him, at least. They do a lot of imagining what he must have been like in his day-to-day life based on how he wrote and the sort of jokes he wrote. It’s by Ben Elton so it feels Blackadder-y, of course.
