High school is hell—not just for the nerds, dweebs, band geeks, stoners, or chess club. Nearly everybody suffers through these formative years. Never quite feeling part of a group, never feeling pretty enough, never feeling loved enough, and never feeling smart enough. This is the one time in your life when your peers seem to have the most control over your life and when all expectations are unreal.

Popular, which ran on WB for two seasons between 1999 and 2001, aired over forty episodes and portrayed these hellacious years both realistically and humorously. I was well past my own high school career at the time, still I found great joy in watching the tongue-in-cheek episodes. From the exaggerated characters and stereotypes to the unforgettable situations to the witty dialogue I couldn’t stop watching. The hour-long show was presented as a teen-angst drama yet it was much more. It was honest and real and showed that nobody is quite what they seem. Everybody has problems, everybody has doubts, and everybody is imperfect.

The whole TV on DVD revolution has breathed new life into the series. The complete first season was released in late 2004 by Touchstone while the second was released in 2005. The extras are scant (audio commentary on three episodes by cast and crew), but to me it doesn’t really matter. The heart of Popular is in the actual original shows. I don’t think they need any extraneous crap in order to make them excellent. The creators, writers, and directors have paid attention to the details. This is a show that reminds high schools and adults alike that life isn’t fair—and it does so without playing to the lowest common denominator. Popular is smart TV.

If you can’t enjoy humor, don’t get sarcasm, and don’t like to look at things below the surface then you won’t like Popular. The stereotypes presented are done so because when they are bent or broken they are that much more ridiculous. The popular people are all blonde, the “unpopular” are all brunette. The popular girls are cheerleaders, the “unpopular” are social crusaders. This is the first impression, though as you come to know in time there is a grey area to everything. This grey area is what makes these characters so human.

Central to the whole show is the constantly changing relationship between Brooke McQueen (Leslie Bibb) and Sam McPherson (Carly Pope). Each has a skewed perception of the other, yet they have a great deal in common—including the fact that their single parents are in love and move in together during the first season. Along with the beautiful, well-liked, and oddly gentle Brooke there are others who are blonde and popular. The horrid Nicole Julian (Tammy Lynn Michaels), the nasty and materialistic southern belle Mary Cherry (Leslie Grossman), Brooke’s unusually complex love Josh Ford (Bryce Johnson), and rotund good guy Sugar Daddy Bernardino (Ron Lester) are all popular. The line between the two poles is obviously arbitrary. Consider for a moment those who are less that “popular” along with Sam; Carmen Ferrara (Sara Rue) wants nothing more than to be a popular cheerleader, elfin Lily Esposito (Tamara Mello) is constantly crusading for what she deems “right,” and Harrison John (Christopher Gorham) is in love with Brooke yet forced to deal with his own issues. There really is a character on this show that every single person can relate to despite the fact they are caricatures.

The first season of Popular introduces viewers to the cast, their lives, their problems, and their quirks. We get to know them all a great deal despite the fact that Brooke and Sam are clearly the “most important.” The first season six-disc DVD set includes all twenty-two episodes which deal with topics as broad as homosexuality, death, eating disorders, pregnancy, cheating on tests, and various levels of embarrassment. Watch out for performances from Sandra Oh (Double Happiness, Sideways), Chad Lowe (“Life Goes On,” Unfaithful), Wentworth Miller (“Prison Break,” The Human Stain), and Hank Harris (Pumpkin) but focus should be paid to the characters and story.

As far as episodes go, I have many favorites. Popular is the kind of series best watched in order. You can definitely appreciate each individual episode, but because the characters become rounder and more realistic as the series progresses it is most entertaining to watch it from start to beginning. My favorite characters are Nicole because she’s so easy to love to hate…not to mention spiteful, Carmen because she is so positive and upbeat even when her days are darkest, and Josh because he is so unexpectedly thoughtful and creative (he’s a football player and into musical theater). As far as whom I identify with most it is Sam because she expects so much out of everybody else but has problems looking within. If I am forced to identify my favorite shows, I’d have to go with Windstruck (#4), Slumber Party Massacre (#5), Tonight’s the Night (#8), Fall on Your Knees (#10), Hope in a Jar (#13), All About Adam (#16), and Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle (#19). I won’t go any further into describing them, but what makes these episodes stand out from the pack for me is that they are particularly sarcastic—something I love about Popular.

Popular gets better as the season progresses. The production value is outstanding throughout as is the dialogue and everything else that makes for a good show. It is just that over time I have a vested interest in the happiness, lives, and kindness of all the personalities. This is what unexpectedly great television is all about. If you loved Popular during its original run, you definitely must own this set. I personally am now saving up for the Season Two DVD.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older