10 Lesser-Known Shows That Had Star-Studded Casts

written by Leo Hartwell

October 20, 2023 5:00 am

10 Lesser-Known Shows That Had Star-Studded Casts — Image credit: Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, The WB

Here are some of the lesser-known shows loaded with familiar faces, each delivering captivating plots worth a second look (or a first, if you're just discovering them).

1. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)

Cast: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini

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A teenage drama-comedy packed with a young James Franco and Seth Rogen before they were, well, James Franco and Seth Rogen. The show, set in a 1980s Michigan high school, focuses on two siblings: Lindsay Weir, played by Linda Cardellini, and her younger brother Sam, played by John Francis Daley.

The show doesn't mess around. Lindsay transitions from a "mathlete" to hanging out with the slackers (the "freaks"). They do things like skip class, smoke, and attend local rock concerts. On the other side of the coin, her brother Sam stumbles through life with his geeky friends, dealing with bullies and the angst of teenage love.

2. My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

Cast: Claire Danes, Jared Leto, Wilson Cruz, A.J. Langer

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Remember the '90s? Flannel shirts, grunge music, and My So-Called Life. We've got a young Jared Leto and an even younger Claire Danes! The show follows Angela Chase (Danes), a 15-year-old, as she ditches her childhood best friend to join a group of cool, rebellious kids, including heartthrob Jordan Catalano (Leto).

Things get real quickly. Angela develops a massive crush on Jordan, who is as dreamy as he is emotionally unavailable. She starts dyeing her hair and questioning societal norms.

3. Sports Night (1998–2000)

Cast: Peter Krause, Josh Charles, Felicity Huffman, Robert Guillaume

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What goes on behind the scenes of a sports news show? Sports Night! The show has a dynamite cast, featuring Peter Krause and Josh Charles as co-anchors of a nightly sports news program. These guys are joined by a savvy producer played by Felicity Huffman and the ever-so-wise managing editor played by Robert Guillaume.

Drama and tension brew when the show's ratings start to dip, and the team faces possible cancellation. All this while the co-anchors struggle with their personal lives: Krause's character faces a divorce, and Charles' character falls in love with Huffman's character, the producer.

4. The Ben Stiller Show (1992–1993)

Cast: Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick, Bob Odenkirk

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Wait, Ben Stiller had a show? You bet he did! This sketch comedy program was way ahead of its time. Stiller and crew (which includes Janeane Garofalo and Andy Dick) take on pop culture with spoofs and parodies that leave you in splits. Sketches range from absurd takes on popular movies to zany infomercials. Ben Stiller playing Tom Cruise? Yes, please!

The show got canned after just 12 episodes. Can you believe it? Despite its short lifespan, it covered a lot of ground, hilariously critiquing everything from '90s TV shows to the then-ubiquitous grunge movement.

5. Cupid (1998–1999)

Cast: Jeremy Piven, Paula Marshall, Jeffrey D. Sams, Joaquim de Almeida

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Jeremy Piven plays Trevor Hale, a man who believes he's Cupid, the Roman god of love. He claims to be sent down to Earth to unite 100 couples without using his magical bow and arrow, all to earn his way back to Mount Olympus. His therapist, Claire Allen (Paula Marshall), thinks he's delusional but also finds his case intriguing.

The love stories that unfold are as varied as they are entertaining. From rekindling lost loves to sparking new romances, each episode has Trevor meddling in people's love lives, with or without their consent.

6. Profit (1996)

Cast: Adrian Pasdar, Lisa Blount, Lisa Darr, Jack Gwaltney

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Imagine a corporate setting with House of Cards level manipulation. Adrian Pasdar plays Jim Profit, a junior executive at a multinational company. This guy is the epitome of ruthless ambition, willing to climb the corporate ladder by any means necessary, including blackmail and manipulation.

Each episode has him inching closer to his ultimate goal: taking over the company. He's got his eyes on everyone: Joanne (Lisa Darr), his colleague, who's wary of him, and Pete Gracen (Gwaltney), the insecure son of the CEO.

7. Now and Again (1999–2000)

Cast: Eric Close, Dennis Haysbert, Margaret Colin, Gerrit Graham

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Eric Close plays Michael Wiseman, a man who dies in a subway accident but is secretly revived by the government in a younger, more physically adept body (played by John Goodman in flashbacks). Dennis Haysbert is the stoic government agent overseeing the project.

Michael can't contact his family and has to adjust to a new life as a secret weapon for the government. He's still in love with his wife (Margaret Colin) and yearns to connect with her.

8. EZ Streets (1996–1997)

Cast: Ken Olin, Joe Pantoliano, Debrah Farentino, Jason Gedrick

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EZ Streets goes deep into the dark underworld of a fictional city plagued by corruption and crime. Ken Olin plays a detective, Cameron Quinn, trying to clear his name after a set-up. His path crosses with Jimmy Murtha (Pantoliano), a local mob boss with charm to spare.

Quinn's quest for redemption is a tangled web involving Jimmy’s old friend Danny (Gedrick) and an enigmatic woman named Sarah (Farentino). Murtha, meanwhile, stumbles through the turbulent mess of organized crime, balancing alliances and rivalries.

9. Grosse Pointe (2000–2001)

Cast: Irene Molloy, Bonnie Somerville, Kyle Howard, Lindsay Sloane

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Ever thought about the drama behind the scenes of a teen soap opera? Grosse Pointe is a satirical look at the off-camera lives of the actors in a show eerily similar to Beverly Hills, 90210. The cast, including Irene Molloy and Bonnie Somerville, play exaggerated versions of teen archetypes: the bad girl, the jock, the nerd, you name it.

As you'd expect, things get messy. Love triangles form, egos clash, and agents meddle. The show never shies away from exposing the pettiness and absurdities of Hollywood.

10. Dark Skies (1996–1997)

Cast: Eric Close, Megan Ward, J.T. Walsh, Tim Kelleher

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What if I told you the '60s were not just about free love and rock 'n' roll, but also about secret alien invasions? That's Dark Skies in a nutshell. Eric Close and Megan Ward play a young couple, John and Kimberly, who stumble upon a government cover-up involving extraterrestrials.

The stakes get high as they join forces with a rogue operative (J.T. Walsh). As the series progresses, they're pursued by both alien forces and a shadowy government agency.