The news that HBO Max and Discovery+ will launch a combined streaming service in 2023 has been met with controversy and some concerns, especially from HBO subscribers. That being said, some good news has come to light with some shows getting renewals on HBO Max and it still boasts a strong back catalog.
HBO Max is home to some iconic shows from the 2000s including The Wire, One Tree Hill, and True Blood. Beyond that though, there are also some true hidden gems available to stream from animated greatness to short-lived series to shows with small but ionate fan bases.
Eve (2003-2006)
It's easy to forget that rapper Eve actually had a TV series back in the 2000s. The talented performer was at the height of her popularity thanks to hits like "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" and a strong ing role in Barbershop. The show was designed to work in a similar fashion to Brandy in the '90s, capitalizing on the fame of a music star.
Airing on UPN, Eve had a simple premise of following a group of friends, including Eve, who navigate the various relationships of their lives. Unfortunately, the fun sitcom was one of several Black TV shows canceled during the merger between UPN and The WB, which led to the creation of The CW Network.
What's New Scooby-Doo? (2002-2006)
There have been so many iterations of Scooby-Doo TV shows and movies over the years that it's easy for some to get overlooked. Everyone re the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, the live action movies, and some of the newer takes, meaning What's New Scooby-Doo? has flown under the radar.
It helped revitalize the character as it was the first animated show based on Scooby and the gang since A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. Although the show didn't do anything new with the concept, it was still classic Scooby-Doo fun and the animation style itself was well received.
Hung (2009-2011)
An actual HBO original, Hung features Thomas Jane in one of his best roles, ed by a ing cast including Jane Adams, Anne Heche, Stephen Amell, and many others. The setup followed Jane's Ray as a man in desperate need of money for himself and his family, so he resorts to sex work due to his above-average sized penis.
Though it didn't last nearly as long, this was kind of HBO's answer to Showtime's Californication, which was airing around the same time. Jane racked up a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for each of the show's three seasons, proving how impressive and consistent his performance was.
What I Like About You (2002-2006)
This is a case of a show not being overlooked at the time of its airing but being forgotten over the years. When What I Like About You debuted, Amanda Bynes was a rising star fresh off of a strong run on Nickelodeon and on the verge of appearing in some notable rom-coms of the era.
Combine those films with this show and Bynes was basically an icon of the genre during the 2000s. What I Like About You surrounded her and Jennie Garth's characters as a pair of sisters living in New York City. With nearly 100 episodes and a likable cast of characters, this is an easy watch.
Static Shock (2000-2004)
Although things have gotten better in this department in recent years, the early 2000s were not a good time for the world of Black led superhero shows and films. That's why it's actually surprising that Static Shock managed to last four seasons, even if it has been forgotten by so many.
Based on the DC Comics superhero Static, the show worked in the same vein as Spider-Man: The Animated Series because it focused on a teenager dealing with high school and his superhero alter-ego. It was also historic as the first Black superhero to get a major show like this. Like the Marvel counterpart, it holds up well years later.
Men Of A Certain Age (2009-2011)
These days, everyone recognizes Andre Braugher for his legendary role as Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, while Ray Romano is most known for playing the titular character on Everybody Loves Raymond. However, they came together alongside Scott Bakula for an underrated gem in 2009.
Airing on TNT, Men of a Certain Age followed three guys who have been friends since college dealing with the various hardships that come with being middle-aged. The series featured great acting and relatable storylines, while Braugher scored an Emmy nomination and the show won a Peabody award.
The Brak Show (2000-2007)
Late night viewers of Cartoon Network during the '90s often ran into Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The show took a classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon character and reimagined him and his pals as the hosts of a late night talk show with real celebrity guests.
Among the characters included as part of the show as Brak, who became so popular that he got his own spin-off, The Brak Show. It saw him and his buddy Zorak living in the suburbs with his alien mother and human father, getting into all sorts of sitcom hijinks. It's not as well-ed as its parent show but it's still a blast.
Bored To Death (2009-2011)
It's hard to top a comedic group of males than the trio who starred in Bored to Death. Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, and the legendary Ted Danson led the series, which centered on a writer (Schwartzman) who moonlights as a private investigator and his two friends.
Given the talent of the leads and guest stars like Jenny Slate, Zoe Kazan, Olivia Thirlby, and Kristen Wiig, the show is comedy gold. Unfortunately, it was canceled after just 24 episodes but what viewers got was pretty great.
Chuck (2007-2012)
At the time of its airing, Chuck was on the verge of cancellation at the end of every season. Ratings were never high but the fans were ionate and the show kept getting saved by them and promotions with the likes of Subway.
The show's audience loved it because it had a great blend of action, comedy, and romance as it followed the adventures of a nerd who gets government secrets ed into his head and must work with the CIA and NSA. Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski had electric chemistry and the show boasted a tremendous soundtrack.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008-2009)
Alexander McCall Smith's novels, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, spanned more than 20 years and the latest one arrived as recently as 2021. The stories focus on a Motswana woman who opens her own detective agency and solves mysteries.
HBO adapted the novels for a series with Jill Scott delivering a powerful performance. The show was met with strong reviews and won a Peabody Award but was canceled after just one season. Ideas for follow-up movies also ultimately led nowhere.
