Acting for a living can take you down some peculiar avenues. Consider Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg. In the 2010s, they lent their voices to the "Rio" movies as an oil and water pair of blue Spix's macaws who fall in love. But a decade before becoming animated amorous avians, the duo pretended to be sister and brother on Fox's short-lived dramedy series "Get Real."

Developed by Clyde B. Phillips — who, pulling a proper 180, later became the chief creative on the "Dexter" franchise — the show marked both Hathaway and Eisenberg's screen debut when it hit the airwaves in September 1999. Over the course of its first and only season's 22 episodes (two of which didn't even air), "Get Real" chronicles the various ups and downs (but mostly the downs) of the Green family. First, you've got the parents, Mary (Debrah Farentino) and Mitch (Jon Tenney), who come to realize they're dissatisfied with their careers and relationship alike. Then there's their underachieving son Cameron (Eric Christian Olsen), Eisenberg as their (what else?) awkward youngest son Kenny, and Hathaway as their daughter Meghan, a model student who throws her mom and dad for a loop by revealing she's (sorta) done being "the good kid" just as she's readying to head to college.

Much like Jennifer Lawrence's own pre-stardom turn as a mildly rebellious teenager on "The Bill Engvall Show," Hathaway's award-nominated work on "Get Real" patently signaled that she was meant for much bigger things. Naturally, that goes double for Eisenberg and Olsen (then roughly a decade out from becoming a staple on "NCIS: Los Angeles"). Still, the show around them is just as notable as not only a time capsule of cultural attitudes at the start of the 21st century but also the network TV trends at the time.

A Show Ahead of Its Time, Yet Firmly Rooted in the Late '90s

"Get Real" quickly presents itself as being more emotionally grounded than its fellow '90s teen series "Dawson's Creek" but cheekier than the early '90s coming-of-age teen TV classic "My So-Called Life." And by that, I mean Anne Hathaway's Meghan Green explicitly tells us this while interrupting her voiceover narration mid-stream to address the camera directly during her first scene in the show's pilot. More than that, characters breaking the fourth wall and parading out then-timely pop culture references into their dialogue is a core tenet of the series, which made it either sharply funny or smugly irritating to critics.

It's why "Get Real" is kind of a fascinating entry in turn-of-the-21st-century network TV. When it premiered on Fox in January 2000 (its official launch after the pilot aired the previous fall), "Malcolm in the Middle" made familial dysfunction fun by embracing the vibe of a live-action "Looney Tunes" show. In contrast, "Get Real" sought to live up to its name in its treatment of teen and adult sexual desire, middle-aged malaise, youthful ennui, and even accidental pregnancies of the non-teen variety, but with a wry sense of humor. You have to admit: It's an ambitious tonal juggling act, whether you think it works or not.

That unavoidably wobbly approach may explain why more folks got their teen TV fix from the more straightforward genre mashup "Roswell," which aired on Wednesdays around the same time as "Get Real." (That's assuming they weren't simply watching the all-timer political drama that is "The West Wing.") Its pop culture nods and outlook are sometimes painfully late '90s-ish from our present vantage (the pilot alone has Jesse Eisenberg as Kenny warning off viewers from trying to be "PC"), but like the best media relics, this one's worth studying.

The Cast's Rise to Stardom

Anne Hathaway was already a working actress before "Get Real," having appeared in the short-lived TV series "Rose Hill" opposite her mother, Kate McCauley Hathaway. But "Get Real" gave her a breakout role as Meghan Green, a role that earned her a nomination for a Young Artist Award. Her performance caught the eye of Hollywood, and soon she was cast as Mia Thermopolis in the 2001 film "The Princess Diaries," a role that catapulted her to international fame. From there, Hathaway built a diverse career, earning an Academy Award nomination for "Rachel Getting Married" (2008) and winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "Les Misérables" (2012). She also starred in blockbusters like "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Interstellar."

Jesse Eisenberg, meanwhile, followed "Get Real" with a string of film roles, including "Roger Dodger" (2002) and the comedy "The Squid and the Whale" (2005). His big break came with the Facebook drama "The Social Network" (2010), for which he earned an Oscar nomination. He later played Lex Luthor in DC films and won acclaim for his work in "The End of the Tour" (2015). Eric Christian Olsen became a regular on "NCIS: Los Angeles" as Marty Deeks, a role he has played since 2009. Debrah Farentino continued acting in TV guest spots, while Jon Tenney went on to star in "The Closer" and its spinoff "Major Crimes."

The Cultural Legacy of 'Get Real'

Despite its short run, "Get Real" offers a unique lens into the late '90s television landscape. At a time when teen dramas were dominated by flashy, melodramatic series like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Party of Five," "Get Real" attempted something different: a realistic portrayal of family life with a self-referential edge. The show's use of direct address and pop culture references anticipated the meta-humor that would later define shows like "Community" and "The Office." Its willingness to tackle subjects such as parental infidelity, teen sexuality, and midlife crisis was ahead of its time, predating the more mature family dramas of the 2000s like "Brothers & Sisters" and "Parenthood."

For fans of Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, tracking down episodes of "Get Real" offers a fascinating look at their earliest work. The series has never been released on DVD or streaming services in its entirety, though clips and occasional reruns surfaced on Fox's digital platforms. In an era of reboots and revivals, some have wondered if "Get Real" could be resurrected. Clyde B. Phillips, busy with the "Dexter" franchise, has not publicly expressed interest, but the show's cult status among TV historians ensures it isn't forgotten.

As a piece of television history, "Get Real" stands as a testament to the experimental spirit of the late '90s, when networks were willing to take risks on unconventional dramedies. It may have been short-lived, but its impact on its young stars is undeniable. For viewers today, it's a time capsule of attitudes, fashion, and references that define the period. And for those who appreciate the early careers of two of Hollywood's most respected actors, it's a gem worth discovering.

Source: AOL.com News