These days, being called a “nerd” and “geek” are badges of honor, to be worn with pride. But there was a time when these were meant as insults. We have come a long way from when being nerdy meant being relegated to the edges of popular groups. Today, nerds are the popular kids, running mainstream media and shaping cultural movements. Growing up, though, a lot of us didn’t often see nerds represented in relatable yet respectful ways on screen. They were reduced to plot devices, bearing the brunt of cruel jokes and pranks. The Big Bang Theory was instrumental in shifting the perspective and prejudices society had about nerds. Interestingly, though, it was not the first or only TV show to offer a glimpse into the unique worlds and minds of geeks. Listed below are 10 such shows that are about nerds, for nerds, and often by nerds that are hilarious, heartwarming, hopeful, and endlessly enjoyable:

Created by Dan Harmon, Community is a sitcom like no other. It tells the story of a bunch of misfits of different ages and backgrounds who join a community college. Thus, a social activist, a nerd, a religious single mother, a football jock, an overachiever, and a bigot form a study group led by Jeff, a disbarred lawyer with a fake law degree trying to earn a real one. Hilarity, heartbreak, and utter chaos ensue as the group does everything other than study, mostly to help their Dean position the college as a respectable one. Community is irreverent in its dealing with genres, doesn’t pay much heed to the rules of storytelling, and turns tropes on their head. It’s experimental, self-critical, and parodic enough to have a cult following despite being cancelled by NBC after a few seasons. Overall, this feels like a show by and for misfits, featuring a bunch of other misfits, making it an essential watch for all those nerds and geeks who never quite fit in.