A 2005 Short-Runner American sci-fi series that has three people (Lake Bell, Jay R. Ferguson, and Carter Jenkins) having their lives changed when a new species of sea life is found in the ocean and the government tries to keep it under wraps.
The show also stars Ian Anthony Dale, Rade Šerbedžija, Leighton Meester, and Eddie Hassell.
It aired from September 19, 2005 to February 6, 2006 for one season on NBC.
Tropes for the series:
- Contagious Powers: Nim somehow gives powers to Miles through prolonged contact. It goes poorly for the jock who opts to bully Miles shortly after they start fully manifesting.
- Downer Ending: The main cast ultimately survives the seismic events caused by the mass migration of lizard creatures though the earth's crust, but is now stuck in a blasted wasteland that is simultaneously flooded with water, lava, and genetic abominations with electrical powers.
- Fanservice: For some reason, the amount of this that marine biologist Laura Daughtery (Lake Bell) and Miles (Carter Jenkins)' sister Savannah (Leighton Meester) provide seems to increase over the series' duration.
- Mega Maelstrom: One episode has a boat (and an unfortunate parasailer) get sucked into a mega-maelstrom that was created by the show's monsters burrowing up into the lake from deep underground.
- Mix-and-Match Critters: Most of the genetic conspiracy's work, including the gigantic lizard monsters that are causing the events of the series and a nightmarish ape/human hybrid capable of speech.
- One-Word Title: Surface.
- Pet Baby Wild Animal: Miles (Jenkins) keeps a violent baby green lizard named Nim, and after Nim knocks a policeman unconscious somehow, Miles racks up charges for assault, grand theft auto, and driving under the age limit in an attempt to save Nim from the police - he eventually ends up freeing Nim into the sea, but still has to do community service.
- Previously on…: The show used a montage that was far too long and had a deep-voiced guy who sounded like he'd just smoked five packets of cigarettes and eaten a roll of sandpaper.
