Undergrads

I just started watching undergrads a few months ago and have seen almost all of the first seasons 13 episodes, which I hope will not be the only ones. Some people may say that the characters on the show are stereotypical, but they have much more depth than mere stereotypes. I see parts of myself and my friends in all four of the main characters (Nitz is so much like me it's frightening). The four main characters (Nitz, Rocko, Cal and Gimpy) are so good it's hard to pick a favourite. It also has a fabulous supporting cast too. One thing I admire about the show is that it depicts friends who are seemingly so different from each other but still remain friends, and that it shows that clicks and groups sometimes overlap into each other. I sincerely hope that MTV decides to keep the show going.

Thanks to MTV's moronic habit of shifting schedules around, I was only able to catch the first few episodes of this before it was cancelled. I can only say to the MTV execs...YOU D+*#HEADS! You just can't leave a good thing be, can you? This was a show so hilariously familiar, it was disturbing. It reminded me of Henry Rollins' rant on seeing a good movie about disturbed people with a big audience. "I know that psycho!" says the guy next to you; farther back in the theater, you hear: "Know him? Hell, I AM that psycho!" Yes we ALL knew (or know) somebody like this gang from our earlier days. I just hope that I and a whole lot of other folks can--someday--catch the whole series on dvd.

Now, this show only runs late on Comedy Central along with several other overlooked gems like The Critic, Duckman, and Gary and Mike. This show really does deserve a better time slot, as it is really great. Speaking as an Undergrad, it is just the right of amount of fiction and 'it's funny 'cause it's true' humor.

There is nothing quite like "Undergrads". Although tragically cut off after its first season, it was and continues to be (in my opinion) one of the best cartoons ever made.

With only 13 episodes, it develops its characters better than most shows that have run for years -- and surprisingly enough, for a "teen" animated series about college, really makes you care about them.

Truth be told, it actually blends its outrageous (and often what would be considered in "polite" circles as vulgar) teen humour nearly seamlessly with ample wit, homages, drama, heart, and a true-to-life unpretentiousness (is that a word?) -- and does it without coming off as being at all kitschy.

It paints a picture of teenage life, but paints it so vividly that it's hard to take your eyes off it. And all with the accessibility and quotability of Family Guy.

Granted, it has its share of absurd situations and hyperbole, but it is a cartoon after all... And either way, it more than makes of for it with its writing and a solid soundtrack.

A must-see particularly for fans of Clone High, Mission Hill, Family Guy or Drawn Together (and from what I hear, Daria as well).

Undergrads follows the life of "Nitz" Walsh during his first year in state university. The camera focuses not only on Nitz, however, but also on his three friend from high school - Nitz's roommate, the clueless womanizing Cal, drunken frat boy attending community college Rocko, and antisocial elitist Gimpy, who attends "Teckerson Tech."

All of these characters are funny and likable, and are only enhanced by the supporting characters - "The Dougster," the helpless loser RA, Jesse, Nitz's new sarcastic friend, Gimpy's legion of loyal followers, and of course, Kimmy - Nitz's long-time crush from high school, whom he followed to SU.

Undergrads is a show to be loved and cherished, not only because it's a funny, quirky cartoon, but also because of it's realism. Undergrads is, ironically, far more realistic than shows such as Dawson's Creek and Felicity, which is often parodied on the show - it deals with many of the real experiences students go through in university, everything from having to deal with the student loans people to the infamous "Freshman 15."

Sadly enough, Undergrads is an amazing show with incredible potential - meaning MTV canceled it. Like other priceless gems such as Downtown and Clone High, Undergrads was canceled after the first season, leaving only thirteen precious episodes. My advice - watch this show whenever the opportunity comes up, and by all means, buy the DVD.