The 5 best TV shows you might not know (that were also cancelled too soon)

Whenever someone asks me if I prefer TV or movies, I always go with TV. I like my visual entertainment in short, episodic packages because unlike feature-length films, TV allows both characters and storylines to develop over a longer time. Plots (and subplots) can last one episode, or they can last the entire length of the show. Characters can date around, introducing viewers to a plethora of new people. Or maybe the gang decides to go to Hawaii for a special two-part episode. The possibilities are endless! Well, at least until the show gets cancelled. Booooo.
Of course, sometimes TV shows get too carried away with the idea of "endless possibilities" and wind up jumping the shark*. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, there exists a number of shows that were axed before their prime, like Firefly and Firefly, or the cult classic Firefly. We all miss Firefly, but this post isn't about Firefly. Instead, let's focus on some cancelled-too-early shows you might have missed:

* Caution! Clicking on this link will open the TV Tropes entry on Jumping the Shark, meaning you are at risk for getting sucked into the Tropehole and have little to no chance of ever escaping. Only the strong will be able to only read a few entries before breaking away from the computer. You have been warned.

Party Down

source: eonline.com

Number of Seasons: 2
Why it was great: Despite the fact that it was on the Starz channel, it was the perfect comedy for every young adult in America. The show follows a group of Hollywood burnouts who work at Party Down, a catering company. Adam Scott plays Henry Pollard, a washed up actor who can't shake off his only role (although you never see the actual beer commercial, every time you hear "Are we having fun yet?" you feel like you've seen it a million times.) Other cast staples include Lizzy Caplan, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, and Martin Starr.
Each episode has the group catering a different event, allowing for a variety of fresh environments and an abundance of cameo appearances. Also, it's fucking hilarious. Party Down is packed with dry humor and quick wit.
Where you can watch it: Amaon Prime (paid) or Hulu Plus
Clip:

Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23

Source: tvguide.com

# of Seasons: 2
Why it was great: It's a show about two girls, but it's not inherently a "girly" show - not that there's anything wrong with being girly, but some people are put off by it. Yes, it's about a Bitch (Krysten Ritter of "Breaking Bad" fame as Chloe), but that Bitch rules, and the dynamic between her and her roommate, June, puts a fresh spin on the straight man/foil pairing. Dont Trust the B-- also launched Eric Andre's career, and if you watched The Eric Andre Show before DTTB, he's almost unrecognizable. Oh, and James Van Der Beek plays a washed up version of himself, and it's pretty fantastic. My S.O. and I aren't fans of Dawson's Creek or Varsity Blues but we got a huge kick out of The Beek.
Clip:

Bored to Death

Source: www.play.google.com

# of Seasons: 3
Why it was great: Jason Schwartzman plays Jonathan Ames, a struggling writer who decides to become a private detective after his girlfriend dumps him. Jonathan's best friends are Zach Galifinakas as Ray, a comic book artist and Ted Danson as George, a rich editor. Each episode follows the nerdy, but affable Jonathan on a different case, usually with disastrous results. It becomes abundantly clear to Jonathan that being a detective for hire via Brooklyn Craigslist ads is nothing like the classic noir films and novels he's so fond of, but he peppers on, weaving through the show's quick-witted dialogue and assortment of New York weirdos. It's important to note that even when Bored to Death gets wacky and zany, all of it feels so real. It's an incredibly thought-out show.
Where you can watch it: Amazon Prime
Clip:

Flight of the Conchords

# of Seasons: 2
Why it was great: Okay, so this one is kind of a stretch because FoTC is probably the most well-known show on the list. But I'm just gonna pretend that you haven't heard the musical stylings of Bret and Jermaine so I can talk about them for a moment.
Now, I'm not normally a fan of musical comedy. I think it's restrictive and predictable. But Flight of The Conchords (the name of the band and the show) is different in that their songs don't necessarily stand alone; instead, relying on the context of the show's events. That makes it sound bad, doesn't it? Well, it's not bad. These New Zealanders know how to both rock and roll. Also, Arj Barker plays Dave, the douchebag, deadbeat "friend" to the 'Chords, and Kristen Schaal plays Mel, the duo's number one fan forever/stalker. Both characters are equally pee-your-pants funny.
Where you can watch it: Nowhere! Well, at least not on Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Netflix, so that means it's okay to use one of those "Is this legal or not?" European streaming sites.
Clip: Spoiler alert! This is the ending to the "Racism" episode, my personal favorite.

Better Off Ted

Source: simplysyndicated.com

# of Seasons: 2
Why it was great: Oh Portia De Rossi, you are no stranger to short lived cult TV shows (grumble grumble Arrested Development grumble.) While Arrested Development's Lindsay Bluth has some similar traits to Veronica in Better Off Ted, her role as Ted's boss really flexes her "lovable sociopath" muscles.
The show centers around Veridian Dynamics, a truly evil and soulless corporation filled to the brim with cynical employees. Even though the show teeters on the hyper-unrealistic (weaponized pumpkins and cryogenic chambers are the norm in this universe), Better Off Ted's characters and their interactions are relatable enough to make you believe.
Where you can watch it: Netflix
Clip: Two clips! The first is a Veridian Dynamics "commercial," and the second is a clip from the actual show. Enjoy!

Now it's time for life tips!
if a cop pulls you over, give him a mirror instead of your license. He will look into it and arrest himself.
if that doesn't work, simply tell him you're the King of Italy and you have diplomatic immunity. He'll have to let you go, even though Italy abolished the monarchy in 1946. What a stupid idiot!

Photos from my childhood in Guam

When people ask me what it was like to grow up in Guam, I usually reply, "Well, there were a lot of power outages." But for some reason, that answer isn't enough, so I uploaded some photos I found from my childhood to share with everyone. I hope you enjoy!

March 1997 - A rogue brown tree snake gets tangled in a transformer and causes an island-wide power outage - in the middle of Social Studies! Here's me and my BFF (right) working on our multiplication tables.

December 2002 - Guam was hit by Supertyphoon Pongsona, the worst typhoon to hit the island. This photo was taken right after the heavy winds knocked down the power lines in my village.

February 2005 - Hanging out with the gang, drinking beer at night. Guam's drinking laws sure were a lot more relaxed back then! I'm pretty sure this was Matapang Beach in Tumon, but I'm not sure.

September 1999 - My first boyfriend! I kept trying to take a picture of him, but he kept running away, screaming, "Get away from me you psycho! I don't even know who the hell you are!" He then picked up a coconut and threw it at my camera the second I finally took a picture.

January 2000 - First day back from winter break! Oh, and the power was out. 

June 2001 - Sunset from Jones Cliff. Well, seven hours after sunset.

How to Write a Profile for OKCupid

In my previous post, I shared a message I received on OKCupid. For those of you who are interested in who the author of this totally-not-creepy (he can give you a list of 5 references to attest to this within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays) mass proposal. Interested? Take a look at his "Self Summary" section on his profile. This is exactly as it appears, paragraphed to enhance readability, and even though this is a public profile, I took out information that would easily make him identifiable:

My self-summary
https://www.facebook.com/[removed]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/[removed]
Old Autobio from Grad School Apps:
[Actual first and last name]: AUTOBIOGRAPHY
On a characteristically chilly day in March, I was born near the Brigham Young University in the city of Provo, Utah, a proverbial empty canvas. There was no fanfare to herald my birth, but it was still a day that has great relevance in my life. After all, it was the humble beginning of my life and my journey. A few years later in Albuquerque, New Mexico, my sister became a welcome addition to the [last name] household. My father was very content with his first job in the United States upon successful completion of his Masters in Civil Engineering at Brigham Young University.

Unfortunately, the economy began to dip not long after he began work and after a couple of months my father was laid off. Heeding the advice from family and friends, my father decided that our family was going to move out to California in search of new opportunities. It was not long before we made Southern California our home. I completed all of my schooling in Southern Californian public schools which are collectively known for their emphasis on academic excellence. 

How to Get a Date on OKCupid

I have a couple of trollfiles on the OKCupid, which I know, is completely lame, maybe even lamer than having a legitimate OKCupid profile. More on that later.

Yesterday I received an interesting message from an OKCupid user. It was lengthy and free from grammatical errors, which is a nice break from the typical "how u diung" or the less friendly "hey bitch can i have ur number?" messages I'm used to getting.

It started out normal enough: 

"My Modest But A Tad Blunt Proposal IV (one (in)decent proposal deserves another!) To meet up with you in person because I consider you to be interesting/attractive based on your profile."