Cults moving TV forward

In television, business comes before pleasure. After all, it is called the entertainment business. Every few years a truly brilliant comedy television series is pitched, but after one or two seasons its constant battle between critics raving and ratings plummeting leads to a premature cancellation.

Yet, not all is lost, for the age of the Internet means that we are able to access these classics again to rekindle our love. With the help of this short list, I hope you begin the journey into cult TV comedy classics.

“Party Down”

Before the world cooed at Ben’s proposal to Leslie on “Parks and Recreation,” Adam Scott played Henry Pollard on “Party Down, which follows the stories of struggling actors in Hollywood who work a catering job to pay the bills.

Each episode features a different party they cater, from a sweet 16 to a pornography award ceremony.

Lizzy Caplan, known for her role as Janice Ian in “Mean Girls,” Martin Starr, who played Bill in “Freaks and Geeks,” Megan Mullay and Jane Lynch all bring their hilarious talents to “Party Down.”

This show tragically only lasted two seasons on Starz but has earned a permanent spot in my heart.

“Freaks and Geeks”

 If you have seen a big-screen comedy in the past 10 years, you have probably seen the name Judd Apatow.

As the executive producer of “Freaks and Geeks,” Apatow started the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel by casting them in this one-season wonder. Without the glamour but with all of the angst, family and relationship anxiety, this show is as close to real-life high school as television allows.

The impressive cast, which also includes Lizzy Caplan, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, and Martin Starr, delivers big laughs and big ideas about high school life in the 1980s.

“Arrested Development”

This show’s cult following has grown tremendously since it was canceled in 2006.

The cast, including a baby-faced Michael Cera and gut-busting David Cross, the writing and even the music in this show perfectly blend together to make one of the greatest shows in television history.

It is so great it is being brought back to the little screen exclusively on Netflix for a fourth season, and a movie will be coming out within the year.

If ever there were a reason for an “Arrested Development” marathon, now is the time.