“The Middleman” (”Monster Hunters Inc” meets comic book — short series, but cute)
“Corner Gas” (but you already got that suggestion?)
“Wonder Falls” (the same people went on to make “Pushing Daisies”)
(heck, add “Pushing Daisies” if it’s on DVD yet)
“Dead Like Me”
And just let me add: ABC, release Vengeance Unlimited on DVD, DAMMIT!
Given your choices, may I recommend some of the darker anime series:
Darker than Black (crackerjack plots and characters, very violent, however)
Cowboy Bebop (brilliant music, animation can be superb, subtle comedy, very downbeat overall)
Moribito (best plotline of an anime I ever saw)
Last Exile (best overall animation. great begin, even better ending, middle so/so)
I had great hopes for Spice and Wolf because it was built on authentic monetarism placed in a late medieval European setting. However, the church became a whipping boy, the two main characters got into a ridiculous romantic plot and the originally-suggested ending never even occurred. Oh well...
Most of the anime is streaming. Sadly some of my faves are not: Ballykissangel, Life on Mars (BBC version ONLY), Brisco County Jr. (Bruce Campbell's only starring vehicle, written by Carlton Cuse) and Spaced (Simon Pegg). All are on DVD at NetFlix, though, so that's good.