Caroline Madden

"True Detective" is one of the best detective television shows of all time, but the HBO anthology series has had an erratic journey. Created by Nic Pizzolatto, known for his gritty crime novels, the neo-noir series interrogates whether justice is even possible in a morally bankrupt world. As the title — lifted from the famous pulp magazines — suggests, a "True Detective" questions what it means to seek the truth when the very concept of "truth" can be subjective and elusive.

Before Jennifer Lawrence became one of the youngest Oscar nominees for "Winter's Bone," her first jobs involved modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch (with photos that were never released, she confessed on "The Graham Norton Show" ), tormenting Tony Shalhoub on "Monk," and getting her big break on the forgotten TBS sitcom "The Bill Engvall Show."

The 1990s was a golden age for the television sitcom, and a host of crossover episodes revealed that several the era's top shows existed in one big universe, with characters popping up across multiple series.

Before he became the ultimate American Everyman and an Academy Award-winning prestige star, Tom Hanks guest appeared in the NBC sitcom "Family Ties." "Family Ties" centers on liberal, former hippie parents Steven and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter) — one of the all-time best sitcom couples — raising their conservative, Reagan-era son, Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox), alongside their children Mallory and Jennifer (Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers). It's a funny, heartwarming sitcom about political disagreement that could never be made today.

"I Love Lucy" not only established the tropes of future sitcoms — like kooky next-door neighbors causing domestic disharmony and exasperated husbands dealing with their trying wives — but also the way they were filmed.

Bill Paxton was not happy when first reading through the script for the final episode of "Big Love." One of the show's producers, Mark Olsen, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that, "Bill had trouble that his character was going to die. It's not how he envisioned the end of his character's journey nor the end of the series."

Matthew Modine developed his own special lore for his "Stranger Things" character, Dr. Brenner: Since Vecna is subject 001, "Papa" must be 000.

Tony Shalhoub seems born to play handwringing, tightly wound personalities. Long before he solved crimes as the brilliantly obsessive detective of "Monk," he was a contender to play George Costanza on NBC's "Seinfeld."

Farrah Fawcett quit Charlie's Angels after one season over creative frustration, merchandising disputes, and a desire for more challenging roles.

When someone thinks of Farrah Fawcett, they picture her billowy hair, the famous poster of her in a red swimsuit with a beaming smile, and her role