Considering this show came out the same year as arrested development, I think it actually still managed to stand out as one of the only good sitcoms made for kids. All the characters are pretty likable, even the bullies, and the whole idea of a guide with tips is really clever. Come to think of it, arrested development is actually pretty similar to ned's declassified in its style, goofiness, sense of humor, etc. Here's some stuff both shows have in common:
Running gags (an example for ND is the hall pass joke, and an example for AD is the chicken joke)
Wacky characters (ND had backpack boy, coconut head, toot-toot, etc. And AD had bob loblaw, stan sitwell, j. Walter weatherman, etc.)
Jokes that combine a bunch of events that seem random at first but piece together in the end to make a curb-your-enthusiasm-style payoff
Three consecutive seasons that never lose steam (not including the 2 extra sub-par seasons of AD)
Both narrated by a somewhat omniscient narrator
Both goofy but wholesome shows with flawed but lovable main characters that were taken from us far too soon
Come to think of it, ned's declassified kinda reminds me of scrubs too. Here's some stuff THOSE shows have in common:
Narrated by the main character
Episode plotlines are usually didactic and have a speech at the end that ties the central theme together
VERY similar daydream cutaways that usually show what the main character is thinking
Unrealistically silly representation of a well-known type of facility (school vs. Hospital)
Characters have an almost constant will they/won't they relationship, and are seemingly fine with hooking up interchangeably
On that note, ned's declassified also reminds me of community. Here's some stuff THOSE shows have in common:
Takes place at a fictional school where everything is off the walls crazy and revolves around the main characters (James Polk Middle School vs. Greendale Community College)
Many side characters, made up of both students and teachers, some of which are only in the show for a short time
Epic battle royale showdowns that overdramatize mundane events into action-packed awesomeness
Jokes that are so niche or happen so fast the audience doesn't catch them (obviously ND's jokes are less complicated than comminity's because the audience is all kids, but still very impressive writing)
So yeah, that's THREE groundbreaking sitcoms that can be compared alongside ned's declassified, and community came out two years after ND went off the air! So if you still don't see what was so special about this show, it just wasn't meant for you. The disney channel was, though.
Running gags (an example for ND is the hall pass joke, and an example for AD is the chicken joke)
Wacky characters (ND had backpack boy, coconut head, toot-toot, etc. And AD had bob loblaw, stan sitwell, j. Walter weatherman, etc.)
Jokes that combine a bunch of events that seem random at first but piece together in the end to make a curb-your-enthusiasm-style payoff
Three consecutive seasons that never lose steam (not including the 2 extra sub-par seasons of AD)
Both narrated by a somewhat omniscient narrator
Both goofy but wholesome shows with flawed but lovable main characters that were taken from us far too soon
Come to think of it, ned's declassified kinda reminds me of scrubs too. Here's some stuff THOSE shows have in common:
Narrated by the main character
Episode plotlines are usually didactic and have a speech at the end that ties the central theme together
VERY similar daydream cutaways that usually show what the main character is thinking
Unrealistically silly representation of a well-known type of facility (school vs. Hospital)
Characters have an almost constant will they/won't they relationship, and are seemingly fine with hooking up interchangeably
On that note, ned's declassified also reminds me of community. Here's some stuff THOSE shows have in common:
Takes place at a fictional school where everything is off the walls crazy and revolves around the main characters (James Polk Middle School vs. Greendale Community College)
Many side characters, made up of both students and teachers, some of which are only in the show for a short time
Epic battle royale showdowns that overdramatize mundane events into action-packed awesomeness
Jokes that are so niche or happen so fast the audience doesn't catch them (obviously ND's jokes are less complicated than comminity's because the audience is all kids, but still very impressive writing)
So yeah, that's THREE groundbreaking sitcoms that can be compared alongside ned's declassified, and community came out two years after ND went off the air! So if you still don't see what was so special about this show, it just wasn't meant for you. The disney channel was, though.