Looking for the Best USA Original TV Shows? We’ve got just the list for you. When we think about the finest programs on television, our minds automatically go to the series that are shown on premium cable, basic cable, and streaming services. This is because we have grown to associate these types of programming with the highest quality. Yes, there are always a few stand-out network programs, and they undoubtedly draw the most people, but for the most part, the critical darlings are displayed on the networks that are permitted to push the rules, and these networks often bear the TV-MA classification.
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Consider this fact: the most recent time a program on a network television channel won an Emmy for outstanding original drama was in 2006 for the show 24. Since then, the prize has been taken home by the casts of Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and Homeland. Every one of these programs can be seen on either standard cable or premium cable channels. Even while the success of the network comedies can be attributed in large part to Modern Family, Veep on HBO remains the undisputed champion of the comedy genre.
There has been a recent uptick in the number of cable television channels that are striving to capitalize on their capacity to innovate and produce captivating comedies and dramas of their own creation. American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and The Americans are just a few of FX’s critically acclaimed original shows. A number of critically acclaimed television programs, such as “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead,” and “Better Call Saul,” are archived and available to watch on AMC. What HBO and Showtime have to offer is common knowledge at this point.
On the other hand, you may be astonished to learn that the USA Network has been producing award-winning original shows that are not only engaging and entertaining but have also been airing for over twenty years. They have been doing it for a longer period of time than cable networks FX and AMC, which are considered to be virtually on par with the premium channels in terms of quality. In point of fact, they held the title of the most-watched cable network for a considerable amount of time.
Because of this, we believed that the cable network that has been continuing strong for such a long time deserves to have its own list, similar to the lists that we have previously compiled for other prominent networks. The following list ranks the Best USA Original TV Shows. Let’s begin.
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In 2004, the USA Network adapted the British television series Touching Evil specifically for viewers in the United States. Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Donovan, who are both recognized for their roles in another USA original, Burn Notice, appeared in the series (Bates Motel). In spite of the fact that it was well received by critics, viewers were not interested in watching it, and as a result, the USA decided to end the show after just one season.
Touching Evil was an early critical triumph for the USA, despite the fact that the show only lasted for a total of twelve episodes, and the network thought that it did not generate enough viewers. The series featured Detective David Creegan (Donovan), who had just been reinstated after a year-long psychological leave from the police due to a gunshot wound to the head. The absence was caused by Creegan’s recovery from the traumatic experience of being shot in the head. Detective Creegan, together with Detective Susan Branca (Farmiga), has the responsibility of locating the most dangerous criminals while also coping with the loss of his inhibitions as a direct consequence of the brain injury he sustained.
It was an early take on more intricate police procedurals that made proper use of the cable format and probably pushed the bounds of narrative farther than another network. This show was Touching Evil.
If there is any kind of programming that the USA Network seems to be most at ease with, it is the comedies and legal dramas that it broadcasts. Let’s take a look at Fairly Legal for the time being, but expect to see a lot more of these legal programs on this list in the near future. Sarah Shahi, who had a cameo role on Psych and went on to act in Person of Interest, is one of the stars of the legal drama Fairly Legal. In the show Fairly Legal, Shahi portrays the role of Kate Reed, a lawyer who works at the business that her late father founded. Reed comes to the conclusion, after the death of her father, that she can no longer find a way to combine her ethical and moral principles with the profession of law. As a result, she chooses to pursue a career as a mediator.
Michael Trucco, well known for his role in Battlestar Galactica, plays Reed’s ex-husband, Justin Patrick, in the series. Virginia Williams plays Lauren Reed, Kate’s stepmother, who is so young that she might be her sister. Both Trucco and Williams had previously been on Battlestar Galactica. The program lays a significant amount of attention on the intricate connections that are a part of Kate’s life, such as her on-again, off-again romance with Patrick and, more critically, the fluctuating degrees of trust that she has with her stepmother.
The show ran for a total of two seasons and was, all things considered, a worthy addition to the canon of television programs offered by the USA Network.
Rush is an original series from the USA that is worthy of a second look despite the fact that it was canceled after just one season and received a variety of negative and positive reviews. The show is comparable to Ray Donovan, except with the protagonist as a physician rather than a fixer. Tom Ellis, who plays Lucifer on Fox’s Lucifer, appears as Dr. William P. Rush in the series. Rush is a hard-partying physician who treats patients who have a lot of money and even more secrets. In point of fact, the job doesn’t vary all that much from Ellis’s interpretation of DC’s Lucifer.
Rush is one of the Best USA Original TV Shows portraying a medical drama that moves at a breakneck speed and centers on a physician who is deeply flawed, despite having some problems with the story. As long as he is paid in advance and in cash—a lot of cash—Dr. Rush doesn’t give a hoot about his patients’ situations, and this gives some people the impression that he is a fairly self-centered physician. The show’s protagonist, the eponymous doctor, has a serious drug problem, much to Hugh Laurie’s character on the more popular medical drama House. In the end, Rush is not a drama that will win any awards, but it does have its moments and is something that you should absolutely check out.
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The USA Network presented a comic spin on the difficult connection that exists between two murder investigators in the show Common Law. Instead of trying to pass the program off as a straightforward police comedy in the vein of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, USA decided to integrate humorous and tragic elements in the Common Law setting. The abbreviated version of the idea is as follows: two Los Angeles murder detectives hate each other, and as a result, their commanding officer does the only rational thing he can do: he sends them to couples counseling.
Michael Eealy and Warren Kole play the lead roles of Detective Travis Marks and Detective Wes Mitchell, respectively, in this series. After their tumultuous relationship spirals out of control, their commanding officer, Mike Sutton, who is portrayed by Jack McGee, is the one who recommends that the two attend couples counseling as a solution. Dr. Emma Ryan, a couples therapist for the detectives, is portrayed by Lost star Sonya Walger. The lovely comedy-drama Common Law was centered on the complicated dynamic that exists between business partners on a day-to-day basis.
Unfortunately, Common Law was canceled after just one season because fans were not interested in watching it.
Even while the USA Network probably would like to stick to its regular wheelhouse of legal and medical dramas, they do sometimes dabble in the science fiction genre, which is more often associated with its sister station, Syfy. One of these efforts at science fiction was the drama “The 4400,” which was shown for a total of four seasons and was very popular.
The plot of The 4400 centered on 4400 persons who had gone missing at one point or another, dating all the way back to 1946. The show featured an ensemble cast. At the beginning of the series, the various governments around the globe are initially under the impression that a significant comet will be colliding with the earth. The planet prepares itself for impact after many efforts to kill the comet prove unsuccessful. Instead, the oncoming object slows down and frees 4,400 individuals who had been lost in the mountains of Washington state. These are the same 4,400 people who had gone missing. Even worse, given that none of this could be considered typical, none of those who resurfaced had grown older since the day on which they had each vanished individually. Many of the 4400 starts exhibiting a variety of exceptional powers (picture any X-Men character, and you’ll get an idea of what I’m talking about), and the majority of them find it difficult to go back to their regular lives.
If you are a lover of the science fiction genre, or if you just like fascinating character-driven storylines, The 4400 is one of the Best USA Original TV Shows that you should absolutely take into consideration. Netflix presently has all four seasons of the program accessible for streaming for anybody who is considering whether or not they would like to watch it.
The USA Network is home to more than just a dramatic series. In point of fact, they provide a wide selection of comedies, many of which are hilarious and original. Sirens, one of the comedies, ran for two seasons and was created by actor Dennis Leary, who also starred in the show. In medical comedy, the protagonists are not physicians but rather EMTs who have committed their lives to help others, or maybe they are simply seeking a job. The show focuses on three of those EMTs: Johnny Farrell (played by Michael Mosley, known for his role on Scrubs), Hank St. Clare (Kevin Daniels), and Brian Czyk (played by Kevin Bigley).
This series is well-known for the comic exchanges that take place between the paramedics and the people who want their assistance, as well as for the comedic mocking that often takes a sexual or otherwise improper turn. The American version of the British show Sirens, which aired under the same name in the United Kingdom and received positive reviews from critics, was adapted from that show. Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season of Sirens a score of 73%. Netflix now has both seasons of Sirens accessible for streaming on their platform.
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Benched was a show that was produced by the USA Network but only ran for a single season because the network had a very hard time getting viewers to watch it. And that is a pity since it is a well-made comedy that takes a new look at a section of the judicial system that many people know very little about – the office of the public defender. Eliza Coupe, who previously appeared on Scrubs, plays the lead role of Nina Whitley, while Jay Harrington, who formerly starred in Better Off Ted, plays Nina’s coworker Phil Quinlan. The program does a terrific job of packing in the laughs, with Nina’s efforts to rein in her fury being a highlight of the show’s overall comedic performance.
The first episode of the series focuses on Nina, an up-and-coming corporate attorney who, after being laid off from her previous position, decides to work for the public defender’s office (she has a bit of a breakdown). The on-screen connection that Coupe and Harrington have has garnered a lot of attention, and the series as a whole has been widely commended for the direction and emphasis it has taken. In spite of the widespread praise for the show, it was never successful commercially, and not a single episode was seen by more than one million people.
Political Animals, a star-studded political drama, was created in 2012 by the USA Network in collaboration with Greg Berlanti (The Flash), who was the show’s creator. The television show portrayed the life of a previous first family, which was the family of the President, and included a cast that was so excellent that it was destined for HBO. In the series, Sigourney Weaver (Alien) played the role of Elaine Barrish, who had previously served as both the First Lady and the Governor of Illinois. Ellen Burstyn (House of Cards), Carla Gugino (San Andreas), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: Civil War), and Ciarán Hinds were among the other actors that appeared with Weaver (Game of Thrones). I mean, come on, how amazing is that cast?
The program focuses on political scandals, the taboo nature of homosexuality in political circles, and the pressures politicians face in trying to maintain a healthy balance between their personal and professional life. This latter aspect is very clear in Elaine Barrish’s (Weaver) life at the moment, since she is the one serving in the role of Secretary of State. Even though Political Animals was not an enormous success for USA, the show was nominated for three Emmys: Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Actress (for Weaver), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (for Burstyn). Burstyn ended up winning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
One of the Best USA Original TV Shows that ran for an exceptionally long time was titled “In Plain Sight,” and it starred Mary McCormack (The West Wing). Fred Weller (Missing Persons), who portrayed Deputy United States, Marshal Michael Mann, appeared with Mary McCormack, who played the role of the United States Marshal Mary Shannon. In this drama series, the main character, Mary, is a United States Marshal working in the state of New Mexico’s witness protection program. In addition to the pressures of her job, Mary is also coping with the complexities of her own personal life.
The sitcom did not become an overnight sensation, but it did pull in a respectable audience for its premiere and managed to keep the majority of its viewers throughout its duration. Mary separated out from the other characters, and she had a demeanor that was quite different from what one would anticipate from a United States Marshall. Throughout the course of the series, Shannon struggles with challenges related to commitment as well as a troubled personal life (to put it nicely).
In general, In Plain Sight was a good USA original series that managed to remain fascinating over its five seasons and more than 61 episodes.
Necessary Roughness is a play on the phrase “unnecessary roughness,” but I probably shouldn’t have pointed out the pun in the title. Callie Thorne (Homicide: Life on the Street), who played the role of Dr. Dani Santino, a psychiatrist who started treating players for the New York Hawks football club, was the show’s star. The series ran on USA for three seasons. In addition, Marc Blucas portrayed the role of Matt Donnally, the athletic trainer for the squad, and Scott Cohen played the “fixer” for the Hawks. Mehcad Brooks, who portrays Jimmy Olson on Supergirl, is the star player for the New York Hawks, and it is the problems that he is having with his personal life that provide the impetus for the New York Hawks to invite Dr. Dani Santino into their club.
The show does a good job of balancing the personal lives of individuals who work in sports with the stern demeanor of Dr. Santino, who, after treating the star player for the Hawks, starts treating other celebrities as well as regular patients. A nomination for a Golden Globe was given to Callie Thorne for her outstanding performance in the role of Dr. Santino in the series. Necessary Roughness was a pleasant addition to the collection of programs that the USA has to offer, despite the fact that the third season of the series brings about a little shift in the show’s primary emphasis.
Now you know all you need to know. It is clear that the USA Network has been providing subscribers with high-quality cable television for a longer period of time than many people are aware of. In your opinion, which is the Best USA Original TV Show? Tell us in the comments below!
Published On : February 15, 2023 by: Sakshi Sharma/Category(s) : TV Shows
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