During the course of this season, Alex and I will be discussing an oft-overlooked television subgenre: the college. Whether it’s a young adult's first bold foray into independence or an older adult’s opportunity to explore different sides of themselves, the college experience is unique, compelling, and unforgettable. That’s why we decided to pay homage to some of the most popular college series of our time!

Season 12: Off To College!

We’re debuting this 12th season, Off to College!, with one of the most popular, critically-acclaimed sitcoms of this millennium: Community! Community follows an unlikely group of friends who meet upon attending Greendale Community College, and chronicles their personal antics, burgeoning camaraderie, and their wildly inappropriate relationship with their dean. What is it about this mildly over-the-top show set in a fictional town in Colorado that kept audiences hooked? Stay tuned.

Community

104: Community

Today, we’re discussing the first half of Syfy’s fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the exploits of our protagonist after he is granted admission into Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, an exclusive, and secret, university for magicians. Often referenced as an aged-up Harry Potter for adults, The Magicians gives us magic, mystery, and friendship. So what do we think made this series so captivating? Stay tuned!

The Magicians, Part I

105: The Magicians, Part I

Today, we’re discussing the back half of Syfy’s fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the struggles, danger, adventure, and growth of a group of friends at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, as well as their magical friends. The Magicians wasn’t perfect, but it left an indelible impression and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. So what do we think made this series great? Stay tuned!

The Magicians, Part II

106: The Magicians, Part II

Today, we’re discussing the hit ABC Family college comedy-drama, Greek! Greek follows a group of young adults at university who are a part of fraternities or sororities, otherwise known as Greek life. This series observes the college experience from a lens that’s often seen on the periphery of the college experience rather than the forefront, and chronicles the characters’ various highs and lows during their first real foray into adulthood. So what do we think made this series so unique? Stay tuned!

Greek

107: Greek

Today, we’re discussing The WB’s hit college drama, Felicity! Felicity is a series in which the title character scraps all of her plans for college in order to chase her high school crush across the country. We follow the adventures of our heroine in love, academia, and adjusting to life in a new city with new, adult responsibilities. Felicity was one of the most iconic shows of its era, so how do we think the show has held up almost 20 years after it ended? Stay tuned!

Felicity

108: Felicity

Today, we’re discussing Global and E!’s short-lived college drama, The Best Years! The Best Years is a Canadian series set in the U.S. which follows a young woman’s journey into womanhood when she is awarded a scholarship to an Ivy League university after having spent the past 10 years in foster care. Our protagonist, Samantha Best, doesn’t really have any family when she arrives at college, but soon makes close friendships and even begins to explore romance. So what do we think of this almost forgotten relic of the early 2000s? Stay tuned!

The Best Years

109: The Best Years

Today, we’re discussing NBC’s college sitcom, A Different World! A spin-off of the critically-acclaimed Cosby Show, this series began by following the Cosby’s second-eldest daughter, the aimless Denise Huxtable, as she started her journey of higher education at Hillman College, a fictitious amalgam of Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. This sitcom chronicling the HBCU experience was much-needed and hadn’t been attempted before, or since. So what do we think made this series so enjoyable? Stay tuned!

A Different World.

110: A Different World

Today, we’re discussing the BET college drama, The Quad! The Quad chronicles the growth and growing responsibilities of a newly-elected president at a financially struggling university. Dr. Eva Fletcher, the first female president of GAMU, must manage her students, her faculty, and her not-so-stable love life, all while trying to manage a healthy relationship with her rebellious daughter. This was only the second series to attempt an HBCU perspective, and one of the first to center the head of the university rather than its students, so how did The Quad fare? Stay tuned!

The Quad

111: The Quad

Today, we’re discussing the Netflix original series, Dear White People! Based on the satirical dark comedy film of the same name, Dear White People uses the fictional Ivy League of Winchester University to explore race relations among the student body and America at large. With each episode focusing on the personal life and inner world of a different character, Dear White People attempts to explore ideologies, loyalties, and motivations in a complex way. So did the series succeed? Stay tuned!

Dear White People*

112: Dear White People*

Hello, world! This Alex and Em! Welcome to our corner of the Internet! The Good. The Bad. The Basic. is a podcast where two Black Millennials wax nostalgic on the TV shows and movies we grew up on as well as intellectualize and throw shade at what we're watching now! Join us for obscure pop culture references and organic, fair trade teas as we analyze what makes all of our faves good, bad, and mildly problematic! Enjoy, and check out our Patreon for more exclusive content!