by Justin Martinez | News Editor

Everybody loves a good TV show. There really is something for everyone. Whether you’re a gossipy teenage girl that likes a good drama (and maybe a little romance now and then) or a class clown funny guy that loves a good comedy, everyone has that one TV series that is worth clearing out their schedule for. There are some shows that rack up awards for being “the best in television”, but there are a lot of other shows that never get the spotlight on them.

While everyone is watching the ‘best shows,’ tons of other shows are producing consistently entertaining episodes right under your nose! It’s kind of sad actually. That’s why I’m writing this article. It’s time that those underappreciated shows get their shining moment. Here’s the list of underrated shows you probably aren’t watching but should start watching.

Underrated Shows:

1. The Middle: The Middle began airing in 2011 and is currently making new episodes for season five every Wednesday night on ABC. It’s a sitcom of a middle class family of five residing in the small town of Orson, Indiana. Frankie Heck (played by Patricia Heaton) is not only the mother of the family, but the glue that holds (or at least tries to hold) the family together. The comedy relies on the relatability factor of an everyday family in order to attract viewers. It’s clean, relatable, and overall entertaining. Unfortunately, it airs an hour before the Emmy Award winning comedy Modern Family. When you compare the two, The Middle gets overshadowed and it doesn’t receive nearly as much praise as it should.

2. American Dad:  American Dad began airing in 2005 as an extension of Seth MacFarlane’s  Family Guy success. It’s currently producing new episodes every Sunday at 8:30pm as a part of  Animation Domination on FOX. This is another example of being overshadowed by a similar tv series. Of course when you compare it to Family Guy, arguably the most popular animated comedy ever, it falls short of expectations. However, people seem to forget that it has been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Emmys and the Annie awards. If you don’t really follow it, you should seriously consider taking a second look at it. Stop comparing it to Family Guy and you’ll see just how good it really is.

3. Wilfred: Wilfred made its debut in 2011 and is currently airing new episodes on FX.  As of right now, they’re working on season 4. Unlike the other two shows on my underrated list, they don’t have ‘big brothers.’ The Middle has Modern Family, American Dad has Family Guy, and Wilfred has none. That’s exactly why it’s so surprising that they aren’t receiving as much credit as they should. The show provides a unique spin on a bond between a man and his dog. Seems boring right? Well you’re wrong. Wilfred (played by Jason Gann) provides a comical factor due to his originality. Ryan Newman (played by Elijah Wood) emphasizes their contradicting personality. The show has won three awards so far and if they keep up what they’re doing, they’ll have plenty more coming in their near future.

Now that I have shed some light on underrated TV shows, it’s time to dim the lights on shows that have had too much time in center of attention. Here is a list of shows that are overrated and deserve a decrease in time you dedicate to them.

Overrated Shows:

1. Two and a Half Men: Two and a Half Men began airing in 2003 and was a huge hit at one point. The show raked in 65 nominations and won 28 awards. However, as you probably know by now, the show took a huge hit when Charlie Sheen left the show due to drug related problems. As a result, they attempted to fill Sheen’s shoes with Ashton Kutcher in 2011. Granted, it was a valiant effort, but it’s been blatantly obvious that the show is not nearly as popular or funny anymore. Two in a Half Men continues to air new episodes and has managed to gather up enough “funny” material for the 11th season that they are currently working on. The show simply is not the same and they should really consider quitting while their reputation is still somewhat in tact.

2. The Big Bang Theory: The Big Bang Theory began airing in 2007 and is still making new episodes on CBS for their 12th season. The show is running out of material quickly. The storyline (or at least I think they have one) progresses every three or four episodes. 99% of the episodes per season are pointless and don’t contribute to the storyline whatsoever. The storyline is primarily about a physicist by the name of Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki) who is in an on and off relationship with a girl named Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco) who is clearly out of his league. Oh yea, and there’s an obnoxious smart guy named Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) that greatly resembles a praying mantis. That’s basically it. If only my english reading assignments were that easy to summarize. If you want to see a funny TV show on Thursday, I’d recommend you stay away avoid CBS from 7:00-7:30.

3. American Idol: American Idol should seriously consider changing their name because its not the same show it used to be at all. They don’t have any of the original three judges from the first season (Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson). It all started when Simon Cowell left the show in 2010. The ratings took a big hit to say the least. Personally, when Simon left I was borderline ready to stop the show. I stuck with it though. However, when Randy left, I decided I had had enough. You can’t get rid of Randy, dawg! I haven’t watched the show since he left and I have no plans to watch it any time soon.