Undeclared: The Complete Series (2001-2002)

(Primarily at the University of North Eastern California; contemporary)

A smart but sadly short lived comedy about college freshman from the team that did ‘Freaks and Geeks’. In fact the program is sort of a follow up to the earlier series about high schoolers, and many of the performers from that show appear in small parts over the course of the latter’s single season. The characters are all so likeable and well developed that you can grow attached rather quickly, it makes me wish (as any number of things already do) that I’d gone away to college, even for a short time, if it meant I’d have a chance to meet people anywhere near this colorful and entertaining.

Jay Baruchel plays the quintessential freshman Steven Karp, whose hopes for a social life removed the ‘greekhood’ of his high school career, seems jeopardized by his newly separated dads (Loudon Wainwright III) constant visiting. Steve’s roommates are British theater major Lloyd Haythe (Charlie Hunnam), hapless music major Marshall Nesbit (Timm Sharp) and Canadian business major Ron Garner, played by the great Seth Rogen (who also wrote for the show), but’s whose character I can’t do just to in any quick summation. Steve’s love interest is Lizzie Exley (Carla Gallo), and her roommate, Rachel Lindquist (Monica Keena).

Again, a real smart, funny and fulfilling program, though some of the college topical humor may not be to all tastes.