Popular

I think this is one of the best shows on television today. Its fresh and smart, with great writing and terrific actors. The writers delve into deep topics concerning eating disorders, child abuse, cancer, and drug use. I'm amazed watching every week, that the writers manage to cram so much into just one hour of programing. They use comedy and drama, to make the show truly worth-while. And is what I'd truly call Must See Tv compared to NBC's lackluster Thursday lineup. However, this year its been moved to Fridays at 9 PM on the WB. If you must go out, make sure to set your VCRs for the best hour of programing on television today.

This is one of the few TV shows I can think of that was always consistent during its time on-air. There was a great ensemble cast who never failed to entertain week after week and could perform both comedy and drama to a high standard. The writers managed to bring out every emotion. A great example is the episode 'Ch-Ch-Changes' (#118) about a male teacher going about a sex change. The first half of the show was extremely funny, but then it seamlessly changed in tone to be about discrimination and had an ending that couldn't help but leave a tear in your eye. Despite some great dramatic storylines the show never took itself too seriously, and characters like Nicole and Mary Cherry were always around to provide some light relief. The show has been sorely missed since its cancellation.

It was doomed from the start, I guess... Finally, a show with some intelligence, placed (unfortunately) in the prime time spot of what was it? Friday NIGHT?! Lucky for me, I was under 21 at the time the show was on, just barely too young to partake in the bar scene. So I looked forward to watching TV on Friday nights while my boyfriend (at the time) was whooping it up. I think Popular was directed toward what I call "the forgotten years," those people born between "gen. X" and "gen. Y". (or "gen. why?" ...if you will) I am a member of that demographic, Too young to remember the birth of MTV or the whole "Grunge" thing, yet too old for IPods, Rap-Rock, and vocational schools. But maybe the lack of marketing toward people in my age range has been beneficial to me. (I have very little credit card debt.) But at the same time I challenge network execs to try and entertain me again. And this time, don't cancel my favorite show prematurely. Or hell, sell me a DVD of 'Popular' or 'My So-Called Life' for God's sake! ---Christina B, Portland Oregon

"Popular" has to be one of the most clever series to be developed in recent years. To those who think it's an unrealistic depiction life, you need to look deeper. I highly doubt anyone in high school ever depended on constant popularity polls to the degree that the people on this show do, or had "ghettofabulous" limousines, or had former prom queens sabotage the prom votes, etc. This show exaggerates those petty aspects of high school life in order to expose them for what they are: petty! It exaggerates popularity contests, it exaggerates materialism. In doing so, one realizes how silly those things were. It's brilliant. Not to mention that the situations are well-written, the dialogue is crisp and fresh, and the acting is perfect. But aside from the exaggeration and the camp, the show also touches on some serious aspects with a refreshing sincerity that comes off much more realistic than on other, more "serious" shows. This is definitely not a teen series. It is an adult series dealing with teenage situations.

Popular is a really great teen sitcom about the popular and unpopular kids at Kennedy High. A mix and match of a cast here too with Leslie Bibb playing the most popular girl and the likes of Carly Pope and Tamara Mello playing the unpopular girls. I'm not to keen on that Ms. Glass though. The show always keeps you interested all the time. So, catch it if you can. It's really good.