3. Freaks and Geeks

We didn’t fight hard enough to save this NBC high school series, which was co-created by Judd Apatow before he hit it big with "40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up." And so only one season was filmed. But it was one perfect season. Maybe we’re lucky; the show, with its indelible cast of teens on the fringes, might have declined in future years. But I think not.

From left, James Franco, Busy Philipps, Seth Rogan, Linda Cardellini, and Jason Segel.