1. The Larry Sanders Show
Before every show had a 'behind-the-scenes' special, there was Larry Sanders. This wasn't just a sitcom; it pulled back the curtain on late-night TV with a cynical, biting wit. HBO let Garry Shandling create something groundbreaking – uncomfortable, hilarious, and often painfully real. It showed you could do smart, serialized comedy without a laugh track, setting a high bar for what 'comedy' could be on cable. It felt like you were eavesdropping.
2. Homicide: Life on the Street
This show was a game-changer for police procedurals. Forget the neatly tied-up cases; Homicide was gritty, messy, and shot like a documentary, throwing out the rulebook for network TV. Its ensemble cast felt like real people, and the serialized storytelling meant consequences actually stuck. It proved you could have cinematic ambition and a serialized narrative on a major network, making you feel the weight of every unsolved case.
3. Oz
Oz wasn't just a show; it was an experience. HBO truly unleashed the hounds with this one, giving us a brutal, unflinching look inside a maximum-security prison. It was violent, morally ambiguous, and utterly serialized, building complex character arcs over multiple seasons. This was early prestige television, proving cable could deliver visceral, challenging drama that network TV wouldn't dare touch, and audiences would commit to it.
4. Sports Night
Aaron Sorkin's distinct voice, with its rapid-fire dialogue and walk-and-talks, first truly exploded here. Sports Night was ostensibly about a sports news show, but it was really a smart, witty workplace drama about relationships, integrity, and the struggle for quality. It blurred the lines between comedy and drama, proving that complex, serialized character development and sharp writing could elevate a half-hour format, even if ABC didn't quite know what to do with it.
5. Party Down
This show was a cult classic before 'cult classic' meant anything on streaming. Party Down captured the bleak humor of Hollywood dreamers stuck catering parties, a perfect blend of cringe comedy and heartfelt melancholy. Its single-camera, mockumentary style felt intimate and real. It was tragically ahead of its time for Starz, but found its true audience years later, foreshadowing the power of on-demand discovery for niche, brilliant shows.
6. Terriers
Terriers was a gem that burned bright and fast, a masterclass in character-driven noir that got overlooked. FX took a risk on this one-season wonder about two unlicensed PIs, crafting a deeply serialized, atmospheric story that was funny, heartbreaking, and thrilling. It showcased how cable was pushing boundaries with anti-heroes and complex narratives, but also how great shows could get lost in the shuffle before streaming truly hit its stride.
