Any time seems like a good time to talk about Judd Apatows' shortlived but beloved series, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. But with the tenth anniversary of the latter coming up soon and the PaleyFest reunion happening shortly, it seems appropriate to take a look back at a college show that might have been more successful in this decade.

Of two fairly underrated shows, Undeclared is definitely the most underrated. Airing in the 2001-2002 season on FOX, it centered around a group of freshmen living in the dorms of the fictional University of North Eastern California. The main character, Steven (Jay Baruchel) is an awkward but loveable nerd desperately hoping college will turn him cool. Still "undeclared", he's not sure what he's doing with his life, and neither is his father, Hal (Loudon Wainright III), a recent divorce. Steven
shares adventures with his British roommate, Lloyd (Charlie Hunnam), and dorm mates Ron (Seth Rogen), Marshall (Timm Sharp), Rachel (Monica Keena), and Lizzie (Carla Gallo), his love interest.

College shows often have a hard time with ratings, and that may be partly why Undeclared didn't last very long. But it's my feeling that had it aired now, it would have lasted longer than a season. Obviously, Judd Apatow has since become a superstar and Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel are getting lead rolls in blockbusters, but pretend none of that has happened yet. There's been a huge geek appreciation trend in the last few years. Jay Baruchel's dork status is nothing compared to Michael
Cera's, and Jesse Eisenberg got an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg. The problem is Undeclared was ahead of it's time, thus causing Steven to be underappreciated.

The other factor is that since Undeclared ended, the typical sitcom has died. The single camera comedy is much more popular for networks now, and Undeclared would have fit in a lot better with what's currently airing than the laugh track show of ten years ago. And, let's go back to college. Undeclared was all about navigating a new confusing world, finding the money to pay for it and figuring out what to do with your life. The post-recession job market and enormous debts today's grads are facing would have been great circumstances for Undeclared to air in, and it might have gotten a wider audience.

Unfortunately we'll never know it things would have really been different, but we can take a look at some of the best moments on the show like when Amy Poehler had a crush on Lloyd, or when Rachel's boyfriend woudn't stop doing Mike Myers impressions, or when Adam Sandler visited.

Erica Elson is an aspiring screenwriter looking to get rid of the aspiring part. Her skills involve always being right, counting to ten in Hebrew (while drunk) and owning a dog. Some people say she's like Ellen DeGeneres, except not a lesbian.