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Top Ten Cancelled Shows

April 11, 2007

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Forget i-tunes playlists, the following is a TV Lover list of my all-time favorite gone-too-soon TV shows.

10. "Grosse Pointe" (FOX)
Darren Starr's parody of his 90210 creation was ahead of its time. He skewered the off-screen tabloid personas of Luke, Tori, Jason and especially Shannen. Particularly funny was Tori's bulimia and Shannen's general misbehavior. It was a cable show lost on Fox. Worth checking out on DVD.

9. "The Comeback" (HBO)
Similarly to "Grosse Pointe," this was an unflinching look at a TV show through the eyes of Lisa Kudrow, a faded 80's celebrity making a comeback as the wacky neighbor in a sitcom which simultaneously was being taped as a reality show. Critics and fans fled from this show after the depressing first few episodes, but the show tremendously grew into a fascinating look at our "Surreal Life" culture of stars willing to go to degrading extremes to stay in the game. The whole supporting cast was equally strong.

8. "My So-Called Life" (ABC)
Creator Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick's now classic one-season-wonder still resonates 12 years later. As complex Angela, Clare Danes headlined the cast of this authentic depiction of high school awkwardness and angst in a post-grunge 90s. The show is also noteworthy for introducing Jared Leto, now a neo-alt rock star/movie star/TMZ.Com personality as brooding Jordan. Ask most 25 year old girls and they will be recall being 15 year olds having their first online chats about this show. They and many fans could still cite episode descriptions from ten years ago.

7. "Square Pegs" (CBS)
It's hard to believe this was a 1982 CBS sitcom about 80s high school. Sarah Jessica Parker, fresh from Broadway's Annie and years prior to Carrie Bradshaw played an awkward teenager alongside , and Amy Linker weres dealing with the cool 80 kid archetypes including a punk and a valley girl. Written by SNL alum Anne Beatts, this show was ahead of its time and there's some of its DNA in everything from Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion to "Ugly Betty."

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Comments

Sean wrote:

Firefly is definitely the best show ever cancelled. The movie Serenity....just the fact that it exists showcases the fan furor over it being cancelled.

IMS wrote:

"My so-Called Life" was once of the best shows for teenage girls ever. I rememeber staying home in Thursday nights to watch it. It was my favorite. I now own it on DVD!

ED wrote:

I really miss "Quantum Leap". It was creative, original and I just loved Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). It's hardly ever on reruns anywhere, though sometimes I see it on the Sci-Fi channel.

Funnypie wrote:

I agree with ED, big time! I think Quantum Leap was one of the best shows ever done. I was very disappointed with the way it ended, and at the time they said there might be movies and such to add to the story. I wish some channel, like scifi or USA, would redo the show. Scott Bakula (Dr. Sam Beckett) is no longer starring on Star Trek Enterprise, so I'd think he'd jump at the opportunity to continue the Quantum Leap story and we would LOVE to see him there again (it wouldn't even matter that he's older now...that could easily fit the story, that he's been leaping around for years now)! I just wish it would be back, NEW EPISODES, as well as repeats of the old ones!

Ian wrote:

In no particular order:
Sports Night (look at that cast), Commander-in-Chief, Dark Angel, Day Break (intense original show), Mr Sterling (fantastic show, if west wing wasn't starting to get old this might have hit. plus they put it on Friday nights), Firefly(ditto friday nights). Hey here's an idea. quit putting shows (ALIAS - but you had a good run) on year long hiatuses and maybe people won't lose interest. Also, game shows 5 nights a week will destroy your regular programming. hello ABC - who wants to be a millionaire to 3rd place. There were 3 or 4 shows that that show killed including Sports Night.

Tom in Dallas wrote:


American Gothic still haunts me,and of course EZ Streets. Joan of Arcadia was kind of special too.

kevin wrote:

30 rock would have definately been on this list, but luckily, we got our 2nd season...also, this will have to be adjusted of "the class" gets the cut

cari wrote:

My favorite cancelled shows? Firefly, Dead Like Me, Carnivale, Wonderfalls, and most recently The Black Donnelly's. There are more on this list, but these one take the cake. DLM at least had 3 seasons and some sort of closure. But with Firefly and Carnivale there were SO MANY QUESTIONS! sigh.

Moral_Bankruptcy wrote:

"Action" with Jay Mohr, FOX, about 1999, may still be the funniest show ever aired about show business. Y'know how everyone says about a show that they like that got cancelled that it should have been on HBO? This one really should have been on HBO. These guys went about as far as they could within the confines of broadcast TV to portray a completely debauched and immoral movie producer and it was hilarious. Jay Mohr has never been funnier, and Illeana Douglas was brilliant as the former child-star hooker turned producer. The supporting cast was terrific, including the late great Buddy Hackett! One of the characters was rumored to be based, quite grossly, on Barry Diller. I always suspected that the reason that Fox never really got behind this show is that it was ticking off too many Hollywood bigwigs.

Jason wrote:

Sci-fi has a load of brilliant but cancelled victims. I liked Space Rangers when I was a kid. I liked the fallability of the characters and the "interesting" stories. Space Above and Beyond was one of the best shows ever cancelled (In my opinion). Sliders was good for a while. While it did last for 5 seasons (with the last three on Fox), they were constantly on the chopping block and would have faired better with network budgets as opposed to the very limited cable one that seriously hurt the series.

Also, on potential show that I think could have been classic was a TV movie/pilot that came on fox back in 1995 called "White Dwarf". I was very interesting and was never given a chance. If you guys can do an article on it, maybe tell what happened, I would be very interested.

Miles wrote:

Hi All, Wow, nice to meet you. Trying to mention some that havent been mentioned, Flying Bind (from Fox with Tea Leoni), Cupid (from ABC with Jeremy Piven), Ned and Stacey (Debra Messing & Thomas Hayden Church), Hermans Head (Fox again, Titus (Another Fox failure move), and then some favorites that still ended too early Quantum Leap, The Pretender, Highlander and now Stargate SG1 (yea 10 seansons, but its a big universe...). I dont know how the studio execs can justify their decisions sometimes, but it certainly isnt objective, financial or in any way sensical. Even when they have a hit, they can purposely sabotage it by their own whim, as evidence by Titus. Must be nice to have a self-serving job without any true responsibility for results, as evedence by todays "successes".

Miles

toni wrote:

I loved Reunion and that got scrapped. I also liked DLM, Flamingo Road, and the Black Donellys Justice, Kidnapped, too many to mention and I even remeber Action and loved Illena Doglas in that role. And the Comeback, I hated it at 1st but by ep 3 I was so hooked. I am sick of these networks getting me hooked and the pulling the plug out of the blue as soon as you get hooked! It's to the point I just hope a show can finish a season.

tv_diva wrote:

My fave canceled show is "The Single Guy." It was on NBC in the '90s and starred Jonathan Silverman. The show's strongest moments (in my opinion) were scenes featuring his best friend, Sam (Joey Slotnick) and his wife, played by actress Ming-Na. It was a top ten show, too. I can't remember why it was pulled.

Jstn wrote:

As the administrator of the web's leading site for returning "Surface" to the air, I can assure you that the nearly 10 million people who regularly watched that show, in spite of NBC's scheduling, feel this was one of the best shows in the history of TV. We, at savesurface.com, are also aligned with the Fireflyfans.net website, as Firefly was an equally great program killed in it's prime.

Some network needs to realize that bringing these two shows back would lock in the most loyal TV audience ever. Remember NBC cancelled Star Trek once.

jeff wrote:

couldnt agree more re Grosse Pointe.. the dvd is a treasure.. but it got lost on the wb, not fox.

bronson wrote:

Wonderfalls (FOX), The Tick (Live-action, again FOX), Dead Like Me (Showtime), NewsRadio (even though it had five seasons).

AMANDA wrote:

HUFF!!!! This was only on Showtime for 2 seasons. It won a few Emmy's and was an incredible show!! I wish it would come back! Season 1 is on DVD and Season 2 is probably sitting on many people's DVR's. Anyone that has seen the show would probably agree. One of the best character's EVER to be on TV was Russell, Huff's best friend. OMG!! Just go track down Season 1 & 2 you'll understand what I mean!!

Denise Kennedy wrote:

Where did Studio 60 go? Is it for sure canceled? This was my favorite show of the season. Please say it isn't so. I am so tired of the reality crap. I watch TV to ESCAPE reality.

TV Junkies wrote:

Frank's Place... a show too good for its time.

Bob Early wrote:

I am irate that The Black Donnelly's show was cancelled. It was one of the best shows on television. With all of the "crap" that is on television now, such as How I Met Your Mother, The New Old Christine and Thank God You Are Here, I can't believe they wouldn't take that trash off. I would just as soon as turn off the television and watch the blank wall as to watch any of those shows.

Geraldine wrote:

I loved The Naked Truth (Tea Leoni is such a natural comic), Sports Night (so clever, well-written, amazing cast) and (sniffle, sniffle) Arrested Development.

truthiness wrote:

How in the heck could you leave off Arrested Development? It belongs on any freaking top 10 best shows list, especially gone-too-soon shows.

EColt wrote:

If you're going to talk about shows about high school, don't forget Freaks and Geeks. That show was brilliantly funny, and a much more emotionally real look at teen drama than most of what's out there.

Paula wrote:

I really liked the class too. Was the problem that not enough people were watching, or that they do not take into account the people who have TiVo or DVR's who are recording the show to watch later? I know I recorded mine.

Erin wrote:

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, quite possibly one of the funniest shows ever on the FOX network. Dead like me was cut way too soon. I loved and lost other shows such as Freaks and Geeks, The Single Guy, and The Tick.

Brian wrote:

Star Trek Enterprise

It was just really getting good, and the axe fell. That was the worst day in television history, but when you are on a useless network I guess you just cant compete. Of course every one here is gonna flame the heck outta me, but I am VERY used to it by now.

One question... Why cancel a show that is making money??

jphrose wrote:

LOVED My So-Called Life... HUGE That 70's Show fan. but when the actor that plays your main character decides to leave the show, it doesn't always work to keep it going.. we tend to forget about the actual people that play these parts, and all the other people involved in these incredible productions... like how many different individual personalities have to all work well together to air a single 30 minute (more like 20 after commercials?) show.... as a person that has a hard time making it to one year at any job i've ever had because of at least one person i work with, i'm pretty impressed at the entire casts that have made shows together for more than one season!!!! ooohhh... that reminds me... i hope the Surreal Life comes back for one more, even if its another Fame Games! gotta love CelebReality!!!

Gary wrote:

Sorry people...FARSCAPE is the best show that was cancelled ahead of its time

Joe wrote:

I agree, I am furious that The Black Donnelly's has been canceled. What a great show. How can they give such a half hearted attempt at keeping an amazing show on. I was looking forward to the development of this story and the characters. So disappointed.

JK wrote:

I thought "Freaks and Geeks" was a great show, with Linda Cardellini(ER), Busy Philipps(ER), and James Franco. Would have liked to see HBo or another network pick it up. I also agree with all the Arrested Development suggestions-how does this not get on the Top 10? Two others from this season are "Kidnapped" and "The Black Donnelly's"(still can't believe this show has been canceled).

Nardo wrote:

Here are my top 10 BBC shows.

1. Arrested Developement (Fox)
2. Life as we know it (ABC)
3. Paradise Hotel (Fox)
4. Windfall (NBC I know this one is up for debate)
5. The Jamie Foxx show (WB CW WHATEVER)
6. Hot Properties (Not sure what network)
7. Help me help you (ABC EXTREMELY funny)
8. The days (ABC yet another very good ABC show)
9. The O.C (Fox I still thought this show was cool)
10. Knights of prosperity (ABC 2 words Sofia Vergara! I'd like to add that she was also in Hot Properties)
11. Alias (ABC Fox I know this was a top 10 but I really did like this show!)

What do you guys think?? I know there has to be some REALLY good ones I forgot about, what are your thoughts?

BETH wrote:

I miss Reunion. They had to cancel it just before they told the killer. I planned my week around that show. That was a real disappointment.

Steve Miller wrote:

At the top of my list is without a doubt FIREFLY. Next is DEAD LIKE ME. TITUS, CARNEVAL, DEADWOOD, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, JOHN DOE, FREAKYLINKS, OVER THERE, and FUTURAMA round out my top ten.

Melissa wrote:

Partners was a hilarious show on FOX. It had Jon Cryer, Maria Pitillo, and Tate Donovan. One of the few shows ever that could guarantee a few belly laughs each episode not just chuckles.

zica_supercharger wrote:

Hmmm I didn't see *Jeremiah* in that list at all!!
http://www.tv.com/jeremiah/show/4029/summary.html

Simply put: Greatest TV show ever!

I really hope Jericho doesn't end up like them...

I hate american idol!

What is it with some people? It's like they have a Vendetta against post-nuclear shows!!!

Kacey wrote:

I dont like any of the comedies out now, theyre just not funny to me. Good Morning, Miami and Less Than Perfect were pretty much my 2 favorite sitcoms ever on tv. LTP only got 2 seasons and Miami barely finished one :(
I also loved Early Edition, but I think that did actually last for a few seasons. And Ed but I also am pretty sure that one got at least a decent run. I also used to watch the reality show The Family or something like that a few years ago hosted by George Hamilton which was so incredibly annoying because it aired for a couple episodes then suddenly had a "series premiere" and showed the same episodes, but we never got to see who won!

JD wrote:

"Boomtown" with Donnie Wahlberg and Mykelti Williamson, was one of my favorites. One of the more original cop dramas out there. Too bad it couldn't get past 6 episodes of it's second season.

Barb wrote:

The best show to be cancelled was a few years ago....
"Boomtown"... best cop show. Ever.
Total shame it was cancelled way before it should have been....

Keith wrote:

I really miss "American Gothic". It was brilliant! and way ahead of it's time. Shawn Cassidy is a very talented writer. He should consider a series of books to flesh that series out. "John Doe" was well done, and cancelled as it was just catching on. I also really miss "Once and Again" and "Joan of Arcadia". Really good acting, scripts, etc. (though I wish they hadn't introduced a "nemesis" for Joan. That is probably what got it cancelled.)
"Space Above and Beyond" should have been given a second season, at the least. And don't get me started about the massacre of "Crusaders" (the Babylon 5 spin-off)! Talk about a series that was abandoned...
"Quints" should still be on, as should "Still Standing".
And "Commander In Chief" was shafted, plain and simple.

Mike wrote:

Already mentioned:

-Arrested Development (#1 by far).
-The Single Guy (1st season was great. 2nd season they changed some of the supporting cast and it went down hill.)
-John Doe
-The Tick
-Futurama

Some not mentioned yet:
-Misfits of Science (mid-80's)
-Sledge Hammer (also mid-80's)
-Men Behaving Badly (Again 1st season was funny then they changed the some of the cast in the 2nd season and it was awful)
-Working (same as Men Behaving Badly)
-Committed (Tom Poston as the clown in the closet was great)
-Greg the Bunny
-Angel (ok, it had 5 Seasons)
-And to round out my long list... anything that Andy Richter is/was in (Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Quintuplets and the soon to be canceled Andy Barker, P.I.)

Tracy wrote:

"The Book Of Daniel" Now that was a show! Aidan Quinn was genious. I guess it was too controversial for people. But I loved the story line, it was very entertaining!

Robb L wrote:

Taking a cue from Mike, I've composed a few that weren't mentioned:
-Mr. Show
-The State
-Boston Common
-Johnny Bravo
-Norm
-The Weird Al Show
-The Idiot Box
-Liquid TV
-Grounded For Life
-Father of the Pride
-The George Carlin Show
-Lateline
-Keeping Up Appearances
-The Young Ones
-The Young Riders
-Bill Nye The Science Guy
And a few honorable mentions:
-Win Ben Stien's Money
-Oblivious
-Distraction (I realize it aired for a while in the UK, but not very long here in the colonies)

Brian wrote:

For comedy, Arrested Development. The fact that something like The War At Home is still on tv boggles my mind. AD may be the funniest show i've ever seen.

I also miss a show called Nowhere Man that was on UPN for one season. Luckily it's on DVD now, just wish it had been on a few more seasons.

And of course anything with Andy Richter. Andy Barker was just hitting it's stride. Maybe someone else will give it a chance.

Blake wrote:

What about Mission Hill? It was an animated series created by ex-Simpsons writers Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein. The show took place in a big metropolitan city. It hit issues of morality, pride, sex, laws, and Character. It was a comedy but it also had dramatic & brilliant moments.

Smooth wrote:

I'm glad you said it..
Andy Richter Controls the Universe is the funniest show EVER. EVER!
Andy Barker, P.I (already canceled I heard)
Huff
Arrested Dev
Freaks and Geeks
Get a Life

Camille wrote:

I don't watch a lot of TV, but it seems like anything I get hooked on gets cancelled. Out of all of them I miss Surface, Invasion, & Smith the most. It's one thing if the networks give us some closure, but these three were left wide open. I'm so tired of them cancelling the interesting shows and keeping the ridiculous ones forever.

Attila wrote:

Get a Life with Chris Elliot was one of the funniest shows i ever saw. I don't think it even made it a full season.

Firefly should have run for 10 years. Man that was a good show.

theltgirl wrote:

Flying Blind! That was the name of that show! Thank you Miles! Exclamation! Enough.

I cannot comprehend how Firefly's not on this list. And Now and Again, with Eric Close, just disappeared one day. Also still reeling from the end of Studio 60.

A list of not so brilliant but cancelled:
McKenna (came on after My So-Called Life, one of the Jennifer-Love-Hewitt-shows-up-in-a-show-and-immediately-it's-cancelled victims)
Homefront
The Days
...

Heather wrote:

I'm tired of watching shows that get cancelled. Never watch anything on the WB/CW that is a 30 min. sitcom. There have been so many I've liked over the years that got only a year or two (or less), like "Maybe Its Me" (with Fred Willard), "Twins" (with Sarah Gilbert), "What I Like About You" with Amanda Bynes, and of course, "Reba". I also enjoyed "Legacy" with Brett Cullen on UPN, not to mention many other shows already named, like "Early Edition","The Pretender", and "SportsNight".

anon wrote:

even though i've only ever seen it on dvd...i'm a huge fan of twin peaks and can't believe it didn't last longer. firefly, the black donnelley's and arrested development rank high up there as well...

Marlene wrote:

I love The Black Donnellys and it sucks so much that NBC had to cancel it and replace it with the Real Wedding Crashers! Gimme a break, TBD was way better than that sh*t! I still watch the episodes online but it's not the same! Also, Studio 60 had the best writing and acting but NBC also canned it. There are a lot of great shows that get the ax because the network wants more viewers or whatever, even if those shows are getting all the praise in the world. I also loved Reunion on FOX and Over There (which no one mentioned yet) on FX. Those shows were so entertaining and awesome but they had to be replaced with garbage.

The Fuzz wrote:

Early Edition! The genius of Kyle Chandler usually goes unappreciated, so let's hope Friday Night Lights lasts for a while.

MissMeliss wrote:

The canceled shows I thought were brilliant? Some have been named already, but still - easy:

1) Studio 60
2) Threshold
3) John Doe
4) Joan of Arcadia
5) Odyssey 5
6) Jeremiah
7) Any Day Now
8) Firefly
9) Commander in Chief
10) Roswell

steve wrote:

Have to agree with Arrested Development being the top show to be cancelled, but another brilliantly funny show was Sons & Daughters (Lorne Michaels producer). Equally as funny as any show from the past 10 years. Came out in the summer and never really got going. It's on UHD if you want to catch the reruns.

Moral_Bankruptcy wrote:

There was a short-lived second series of Fantasy Island with Malcolm McDowell as Mr. Roarke and a great supporting cast. I detested the first series, but the second one was really creepy in a good way. It was much more like a Rod Serling version of the idea, full of ironic twists and people with strange abilities. Roarke was almost a satanic figure. Also, there were hilarious bits at the travel agency booking the trips(Fyvush Finkel and Sylvia Sydney played the elderly travel agents). Lasted a few weeks as I recall.

Ange Oldham wrote:

Firefly
and
Farscape
Oh the agony!:(
and the last episode of Studio 60 was when everything started to gel-and they just dropped it?
and now Drive is hanging under the axe - wonderful show in awful time slot.

Erika wrote:

Everybody seems to think that if a show makes it into season two or three (or ten?) that if the stars/writers/producers/networks decided to call it quits, It should be included in brilliant but cancelled-land.

Come on! Stargate? Quantum Leap? Farscape? these shows had more than their chance at being a hit. I think also, that we should exclude cable shows (I know, I know...) just because of the brutal process a show has to go through to get a slot in September on one of the big 5.

Anyway, I'd like to mention a couple that only lasted less than a season...

Strange Luck - D.B. Sweeney as a strangley cursed airline crash survivor turned P.I.

John Doe - That guy on Prison Break as a know-it-all who has amnesia and can only see in black and white.

Jonny Zero - Frankie G as an ex-con who was trying to go straight.

Dr. Vegas - Joey Pants as a Casino Boss, Rob Lowe as a down-and-out Doctor... what's not to love.

anyway... just thought i'd stick my two cents in...

Erika

Michelle wrote:

FARSCAPE...that was teh absoultely best ever!
and the the show where it had the smart-ass bunny puppet (forget the name) living with the family...and early edition. but wha about the show that made anna karkerides (sp?) carrer? i miss that show too!!

Bedussey wrote:

This is the first time i've visited this site. i was reading through everyones posts and not once did i see Everwood! I thought that was a amazing show that always got good reviews yet it was cancelled. does anyone agree??? other shows that i love/like that got cancelled are: THE OC, american dreams, tru calling, reunion, in a heartbeat...hopefully jericho, veronica mars, and supernatural dont fall victim this time around!!

toni wrote:

I can't believe I forgot Arrested Development, PURE GENIUS! I also loved Committed and Johnny Zero. I am SO glad I tivoed Drive and waited to watch it *deleted*

Anna wrote:

I really miss Firefly and Freaks & Geeks.

Brian wrote:

My list contains some programs noted above, but also includes some not mentioned, but needed to be!

1. Freaks & Geeks (NBC)
2. Strangers with Candy (Comedy Central)
3. The Black Donnellys (NBC)
4. Undeclared (FOX)
5. TV Nation (NBC, then FOX)
6. Stella (Comedy Central)
7. Hidden Hills (NBC)
8. Parenthood (NBC)
9. Starved (FX)
10.Andy Richter Controls the Universe (FOX)

leah wrote:

Some of these shows listed are so brilliant, but the networks don't give them a chance to find an audience.
My favorites:
Dead Like Me
Arrested Development
Sportsnight (one of my favorite shows ever!)
Studio 60.
Another favorite was Queer as Folk. I know a lot of the actors didn't want to come back, but if that show had received the accolades it deserved, it could have lasted. No Emmy nods in 5 seasons - please!

Play-Doh wrote:

Here are my Top Ten, in no particular order:

1 - Deadwood
the best show HBO ever cancelled
2 - Huff
ditto, Showtime
3 - Veronica Mars
Apparently, The CW has TOO MANY hit shows!
4 - Firefly
FOX is run by morons
5 - Arrested Development
I mentioned that FOX were morons, right?
6 - Lucky (with John Corbett)
Uuum, isn't FX a FOX channel?
7 - Andy Richter Controls The Universe
This show was sweet, funny, and original - it HAD to go!
8 - Eyes (with Tim Daly)
They were opposite CSI and Law & Order
- what kind of ratings did ABC expect
them to pull in?
9 - Buffalo Bill (with Dabney Coleman)
A terrific adult, bittersweet, comedy;
in a country that prefers treacle.
10 -T.H.E. Cat
So long ago, Robert Loggia was the
romantic lead! An ex-tightrope walker,
ex-jewel thief, now hires himself out as
a bodyguard; a truly odd show.
Robert Duvall memorably guested
as an assassin.

Nancii wrote:

My top 10 (in no order):

1. Now & Again - great sci-fi show.
2. American Gothic
3. Surface
4. Sports Night
5. The Pretender
6. Boomtown
7. The Book Of Daniel
8. Invasion
9. Studio 60
10. Luckie Louie

I miss them all!!

Rob wrote:

A couple of short-lived shows that I don't think were mentioned are "Maximum Bob" and "It's Like, You Know". Does anybody else remember these?

maurice wrote:

I cant begin to explain how much i miss this show.

1. Arrested Development.- This show was groundbreaking. All the little clues left in every show that would pop up in later shows were great. But oh well. I shall miss that show a lot.

2. Studio 60- i was beginning to become a fanilow, but i think this show is for sure cancelled.

3. Grounded For Life- this show was so funny for a sitcom. it had some really racy topics and portryaed them in such a funny manner.

4. Sons and Daughters- this was getting funny. too bad.

5. dead like me- man i really loved this show. it was so morbid but i loved it.

but if i had to choose one of these shows to bring back it would be Arrested, or i would settle or a feature film (unlikely). one could dream.

Ken wrote:

Excellent lists above but a few that are missing are:

C-16: an ABC drama starring Eric Roberts and DB Sweeney among an outstanding supporting cast that revolved around the Criminal Investigation division of the FBI based in the Westwood Federal buidling.
Vengeance Unlmiited: starring Michael Madsen
of course Crime Story: Michael Mann's favorite of his own shows and arguably the best thing he's ever produced
Boomtown: a show that NBC admitted they shouldn't have let go so soon (only 2 brilliant seasons)
Farscape: maybe the best original show ever on SciFi
The Invisible Man: another great show that SciFi gave up on way too soon (I love the Sci Fi Channel but they have become the FOX of basic cable)
Witchblade: way to go TNT joining the chicken club of TV programming
and most recently: Rome: I'm gonna end with 7 instead of 10 because so many other greats were already mentioned and I would have to come up with way more

Nicholle wrote:

I just thought I'd put in some of my favorites, in no particular order:
- The Pretender- Michael T. Weiss
-American Gothic- Gary Cole, Lucas Black (out now on DVD)
-Dead Like Me - Ellen Muth, Mandy Pankin ( though Sci- Fi picked it up for sindication)
-Nowhere man- Bruce Greenwood
-Profit
-Arrested Development
-The Handler- Joey Pants ( after he was killed off the Sopranos)
-Kindred: The Embraced- Vampries living in the modern world( sort of like the Mob- C. Thomas Howell)
-Space Above and Beyond ( really good show)
- MTV's Liquid Televison- The Head- (An alien invades the head of this guy, so instead of a normal shaped head it's like a big oval, and the alien lives and does work in there)
Finally, Dead at 21, - MTV show, (where this kid, Jack Noseworthy, is implanted with this chip that gives him better senses, but reduces his life span, so he and a friend are searching for answers and looking for the doctor who implanted him)

chris wrote:

cant believe you left out the nine only 7 shows? i dont understand you americans how can you cancel a show mid season? crusade was a show that got cancelled far too soon. agreed with deadwood possibly the best show on tv. i dont understand it.

Chris wrote:

Even though it only had one more season left (The writer had 4 seasons planned all along), DEADWOOD is my number one choice.

Although it ran for a number of seasons and it has run it's course I also feel as though MARRIED WITH CHILDREN was given the premature boot and should have been at the very least able to shoot a final episode.

JOHN DOE, FASTLANE, FIREFLY and the most recent show to get the FOX treament, DRIVE. I don't even understand as to why a writer would even consider doing a show on Fox... ridiculous as to how quickly they give up on shows.

buckazui wrote:

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, FIREFLY, AND THE SOPRANOS my three fav shows all canceled i hate all of the people responsible

Robin wrote:

Firefly definitely. It was such a clever series, funny, sweet and an unexpected blend of sci-fi and western - neither of which genre I'm into. But Joss Whedon certainly made it work. Shame on Fox for cancelling it.

Tara wrote:

Homefront was such an amazing, brilliant show. It really captured the attitudes and perceptions of post WWII America. The writing and acting was spot-on as well. Too bad the execs at ABC had their heads up their you-know-whats and kept switiching the air dates and times. Homefront never had a chance to find an audience because the audience could never find the show!

dawn quiett wrote:

My fave cancelled shows include Profit and Vengeance Unlimited. Both were just crazy dark. I am getting tired of giving shows a chance only to have networks just pull them. I loved Invasion and I really liked Drive and it looks like is pulling it.

Keli wrote:

The Sopranos didn't get cancelled, it ended.

Anyway, here are my choices.
This season:
-Drive
-The Class
-Andy Barker P.I.
-Six Degrees (it was just ridiculous how ABC "retooled" it, shot more episodes and then brought it back on friday nights only to cancel after two eps. why did they bother if they weren't going to give it a chance?)
-Smith
-Veronica Mars... let's face it, this one is a goner.

Past seasons:
-Everything's Relative (like an early AD)
-Carnivale
-DLM
-Committed
-My so called life (I was in 8th grade and was DEVASTATED when this got cancelled)
-EZ Streets
-Pasadena
-Related (on the WB)
-Relativity (with Kimberly Williams)

I'm sure there are tons more, but I think my list is too long already.

Amy wrote:

I miss Committed sooooo much! That was a great series. I can't believe they didn't make more of them. I would love to see it come back, only with the same cast though.

Megan wrote:

AMERICAN DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best show ever by far! Not only did it get cancelled, but Season 2 is still not out on DVD. Those bastards at NBC left me hanging on the finale. I will never forgive them.

Pearl wrote:

Does anyone remember a show called STRANGE LUCK? That was one of my favorite TV shows.

Tara P. wrote:

Good to see your comment Pearl, my hubby and I thought we were the only ones that missed STRANGE LUCK, or even knew what that show was.
Also missed:

Joan of Arcadia
Boomtown
Harsh Realm
The Nine (and now I will never know what happened in that bank!)
Invasion
Cover Me (with Melora Hardin, now on The Office)
The Huntress
Sometimes you wonder if it is worth taking the time to watch a new show, so many never even finish out their first season.
I also already miss THE SHIELD, even though it is still on, an end date has been discussed, and I am not looking forward to that day.

Revrac wrote:

Sorry if this is not the correct blog for this query but I'm trying to figure out if Bravo has picked up and airing the Welcome to the Parker Show that they financed. Anyone know if and when it will air?? thanks.

Anna wrote:

Firefly is definitely at the top of my list. It was witty, sarcastic at times, and inventively entertaining. I'm also going to miss Gilmore Girls now. I was really hoping for one more season to really have a chance to wrap things up in a satisfactory way. None of this cancellation crap. I was so disappointed to learn of its demise just two weeks beforehand.

Jstn wrote:

I posted earlier and mentioned Surface and Firefly (I am the adminstrator of SaveSurface.com), but since reading this entire list tonight wanted to make a couple of other comments.

I have to agree that shows like Farscape, The O.C. and several others mentioned were on for multiple seasons, and while they may be missed hardly qualify as prematurely cancelled.

I noticed several people mentioned Freaks And Geeks, which certainly was one of the greatest cancelled shows ever, and I can't believe someone mentioned T.H.E. Cat I loved that show, but it was dated even when it was on, with it's Raymond Chandler style. Invasion was another show, which, after really growing on me, should have had at least another season.

Anyway, I appreciate the chance to "update" my opinions. Thanks.

Any other Surface fans, feel free to drop by Savesurface.com (It's a fansite, not a commercial one)

Lana wrote:

What about "Freaks and Geeks"?

Sam wrote:

My top choice would have to be Firefly. I only started watching it on Universal HD, but it was just a great show. All of the characters made it one of the best shows to date. Two other shows that ended entrirely too soon were Invasion and Surface. Surface also plays on Universal HD so I get a few more chances to see it, but that still doesn't change the fact that there was no second season.

Martin wrote:

My canceled favorites are:

1) Firefly
2) Dead like me
3) Wonderfalls

Jeff Godsey wrote:

China Beach, China Beach, China Beach!

Carol Nestrud wrote:

What about "BIG DAY"? That was hilarious. And tHE LOOP and MARRIED TO THE KELLEYS and HOPE AND fAITH. GET REAL (with the now famous Anne Hathaway) Now it is Jericho--I can't stand it.

Carol Nestrud wrote:

What about "BIG DAY"? That was hilarious. And tHE LOOP and MARRIED TO THE KELLEYS and HOPE AND fAITH. GET REAL (with the now famous Anne Hathaway) Now it is Jericho--I can't stand it.

Stephen wrote:

Joan Of Arcadia
Life As we know it

I liked those corny shows.

Somebody should create a network specifically for cancelled shows. I guarantee there have been more quality shows cancelled than there are quality shows on ABC, NBC, FOX combined.

Lost is the only scripted TV show I watch now. At least that has an end date of 2010. We'll see if it gets there. I doubt it.

Michelle wrote:

Best shows that got cancelled:
1)Veronica Mars...I still can't believe it
2)Reunion....My guilty pleasure
3)Roswell...they could have done so much...
4)The O.C....It started getting GOOD
5)Grosse Point....LOVED it
6)Daria on MTV

Cindy wrote:

I don't get how so many good shows bite the dust while the networks keep bringing on more and more stupid reality TV shows. I hate realty TV! I mean who REALLY wants to see ANOTHER "Bachelor"?

So, here's my list:

-Commander In Chief (Cancelling this show was just pure stupidity!)
-Enterprise (Loved this show!)
-Invasion (I was so into this and then it was gone!)
-Alias (I know it ran for a while but I hated to see it leave.)
-The Nine (Not a favorite but I would have like to see it get a little more time.)
-Six Degrees (Also, not a true favorite but I think this needed a little more time too.)
-The Pretender (Loved this show!)
-Profiler (Remember this one? Hayden Panetierre played the profiler's daughter. Loved it!)

dr pepper wrote:

Nowhere Man
War of the Worlds (forget the stupid seconmd season where the aliens got replaced)
Cupid
Surface
Invasion
(what was that other "aliens in the deeps" show?)
Jericho
Forever Knight

Jamila wrote:

My top 10:

1 My so called life
2 The Black Donnolleys
3 Firefly
4 Veronia Mars
5 Profit !!!
6 Gilmore Girls
7 Murder One
8 Dead Like Me
9 Square Pegs
10 Roundhouse

Sam wrote:

Best shows that got canceled:
Veronica Mars -- all time favorite
Carnivale
Dead Like Me
Freaks and Geeks
Alias
Andy Richter Controls the Universe
Everwood
Wonderfalls
Drive
Joan of Arcadia

CH wrote:

Does anyone remember a show called Legacy that aired on UPN? It was about the Logan family and their trials and tribulations on their horse ranch.
I also miss a really short lived TV show called The Kindred that aired on Fox in 1996 - I think. This show was about several clans of vampires and how their lives intertwined.
Anywho... I like most everyone else really miss
Surface and Firefly
So those are the four I miss (Surface, Firefly, The Kindred, and Legacy.)

jamie wrote:

I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned it yet, but my #1...
1. Wonderfalls (sigh, please watch Pushing Up Daisies this fall...)
2. My So-Called Life
3. Freaks and Geeks
4. Arrested Development
5. Studio 60
6. Malibu Shores (horribly wonderful in its cheesiness)
7. Fifteen
8. Mr. Show
9. The Ben Stiller Show
10. Veronica Mars =(

And some honorable mentions of those that were cancelled but had plenty of seasons...Alias and Angel

Clarke wrote:

1. Strangers With Candy
2. Veronica Mars
3. Action
4. Dead Like Me
5. Arrested Development
6. The Job
7. Smith
8. Wonder Falls
9. Twin Peeks
10. Law and Order: Trial By Jury
11. Firefly
12. The Lone Gunmen
Most of these were great shows. Those that weren't had more potential than most of what has been on broadcast television in the past few years.

ashley wrote:

***I just have to say the best all time show..(even though it was not cancelled) was FRIENDS!!

1. Freaks and Greeks
2. My So-Called Life
3. The Comeback
4. Studio 60
5. Joan of Arcadia
6. The Ben Stiller Show
7. Singled Out (the 90's MTV dating show-loved it)
8. Ricki Lake
9. The Megan Mullally Show
10. Luckie Louie

Lyndz wrote:

Point Pleasant....I want to know what happened! hahah I really enjoyed that show...it made it what? 4 weeks tops?
And I agree with one of the posts from april....Queer as Folk was my quilty pleasure. It was amazing! And I will have the seasons on dvd.

Nick wrote:

Futurama

Mike wrote:

What about Dark Angel? Thought that was a great show cancelled to soon. Drive another show that FOX gave up on way to quickly. Threshold another good sci-fi genre series that was yanked before its time. Dead Like Me was definitely cancelled way too soon only to be replaced by the HUFF. What are these Execs smokin' when they make these decisions?

Kelly wrote:

Sports Night is the most egregious cancellation ever. That was the smartest, funniest, most touching show on TV. If only Rob Morrow had overestimated his movie potential, Northern Exposure could have gone much further, but Joel leaving really killed that show. And, even though it was a little weird, my wife and I liked Wedding Bells this season....it made us laugh.

terri wrote:

I loved Popular. I think I was the only one watching Method and Red but I thought it was hilarious. And Bakersfield P.D.

stan wrote:

George & Leo! Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch. Wonderful. CBS never gave it a chance.

Briana wrote:

Veronica Mars (saveveronicamars.tv)
Joan of Arcadia
Carnivale
Deadwood
The Class (best sitcom since Friends)
Kidnapped
Studio 60 (dodged a bullet?)
Jericho (still hope?)
Freaks and Geeks
Arrested Development
Daybreak (what happened?)
Runaway (had potential)
Grounded For Life

BiggerGunn wrote:

Thief and Day Break (the only shows I know of with black leads and white casts)
Firefly,
Dead Like Me (ooh Daisy Adair)
Once and Again (just when we're about to have a meaningful dramatic teen lesbian relationships on TV ...)
Odessy 5, very cool
Now and Again, what a cliff hanger! (and also main black character.
Is america racism shown thru in its ratings? lily white shows still do better? are grey's anatomy, ER, Heroes, Everybody hates chris, just flukes and exceptions? Is the sure buck to go like "Friends" and Dawsons creek?

Jessica wrote:

1. Arrested Development
2. Firefly
3. Strangers With Candy
4. Freaks and Geeks
5. State of Grace (does anyone remember this one from 2001-2002???)
6. Wonderfalls
7. Dead Like Me
8. Veronica Mars
9. Carnivale

That's all I can think of right now...

AC wrote:

Top ten for me:

1. Soap - funniest comedy ever. Ends with a cliffhanger in fourth season.
2. Arrested Development - agree that FOX are morons.
3. Profit - see #2
4. Undeclared - see #2 and #3
5. Firefly - ditto
6. Sports Night
7. Andy Richter controls the Universe - Thank goodness for HDNet
8. Eyes
9. John Larroquette Show - got jerked around for a few years on NBC (just like Scrubs), great cast
10. Fastlane - guilty pleasure

Others considered: Dark Angel, Futurama, Kindred, Herman's Head, Titus.

Ryan wrote:

Sliders was one of the best shows that was cancelled.

Patricia wrote:

Freaks and Geeks,Dead Like Me,Queer As Folks,Futurama,Any of the Star Trek Series except the original.

Pat5ricia wrote:

Tour Of Duty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BillieO wrote:

There is only one television program that I truly miss and will probably always miss....and that is STARGATE SG-1.

The Sci-Fi (aka Sigh-Fi) Channel in it's infinite stupidity has cancelled one of the best and longest running science fiction shows made for television...

Do they think that they can just jerk around the huge global fan base?! Now they have scheduled shows like ECW Wrestling...granted, it is fake but it is NOT science fiction......

Keep this up SIGH-FI and you will find that you have very few viewers left!

TravB wrote:

Freeks and Geeks
Undeclared
Wonderfalls
Tru Calling
Dead Like Me
Black Donnlys
there are more but my mind is blank
But if those MFers dont make more then 7 eps of
Jerico then that goes to the top of my all time list. Im glad they brought it back but the 7 ep thing shows that their heads are still half way up their asses.

Darious wrote:

Actually a question...Anyone Remember a TV show on the WB or UPN...it was about a Guy a paper salesman.. who went back in time after falling on his head and became a Young kid again reliving his life with his family and High School......it was a funny show then it just disappeared ..but i don't remember the name of the Show..Any Ideas Anyone?

Alice wrote:

It was called DO Over and it was on the WB

Tyler wrote:

Who came up with the top 10 list?
Am I missing something because every post on here seems to have a better list than the article.

My list is just repeating what others have already said: Firefly, American Gothic, Twin Peaks, Sports Night, Freaks and Geeks, Dead Like Me, Carnivale, Futurama, Wonderfalls etc...

Tyler wrote:

And how could I forget Farscape.

Brooke wrote:

Everyone misses FIREFLY.

Karen wrote:

My husband insists I mention Stargate SG-1 and Farscape. We both loved Frank's Place, which was about New Orleans. We also loved Fast Eddie, about an American cop in London. One of the cast members was Siena Miller.

Kristin wrote:

Totally agree with American Dreams, though, that's the one that still hurts the most of all the cancelled shows out there. I wish My So Called Life could have seen a second season as well. American Dreams didn't have the chance to end properly, as it was just getting really good and going into a turning point, NBC decided to rip the show off the air without giving the show even half a chance. Studio 60 is the other show that NBC messed up on. The chance to bring back Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry and have them on the same show at that?! How could they be so blind... it was a great show!

Top 3 cancelled shows:
American Dreams
My So Called Life
Studio 60

Gilles wrote:

I miss Huff, Dead Like Me, Invasion, Drive, Boston Public, Carnival, Six Degree, The Nine, Traveler, Good Morning Miami

pakopako wrote:

TITUS was a kickass show, but I don't think it was "cancelled." Didn't a tragic accident halt production? (At which time, the network just dropped it in favor of new shows that were still being made.)

FIREFLY (Duh. It made me curious about the world with each episode.)

EARLY EDITION (A poor man's QUANTUM LEAP, but I'll take it.)

DILBERT (Another UPN tragedy. It was snide and abstract and could have lasted 2-3 seasons.)

THREE (A very early UPN action show. Like a smaller, modern version of the A-TEAM.)

SPECIAL UNIT 2 (Another UPN action show that, well I suppose could be the grandpa of SUPERNATURAL.)

HEIST (NBC's forgotten light-hearted show about crooks. Would have liked to see the first season finish.)

JOHN DOE (A great show... up until the season finale. Although I could say the same about the first season of HEROES.)

BIRDS OF PREY (A decent superhero show that ended with a cliffhanger of all things. Imagine the tie-ins it could have had with SMALLVILLE.)

QUINTUPLETS (A funny sitcom with a lineup that included OLIVER BEENE that could have continued.)

NERO WOLFE (A mystery show with a unique premise: It woudl recycle its cast for various characters in future episodes. It had a big Broadway feel about it, and the characters were all very enjoyable. But mystery series that don't use periods or ampersands in their title have survivability issues.)

LATE NIGHT WITH DICK DEITRICH (See NERO WOLFE, but instead of mystery, apply "lampooning talk show parody.")

ALL AMERICAN GIRL (Asian-American comedy hit the airwaves a few years too early.)

DOG EAT DOG ("Survivor" done in an hour!)

KEEN EDDIE (Come on! This show may have been raunchy, but it was HILARIOUS.)

THE CLASS (Just as it was getting funnier too. Though I have to say, even though the focus of the show was on 6, it didn't mean that characters had to be cut.)

BARELY LEGAL (Critically acclaimed, funny, and moralistic, this was CW's version of the legal drama. And it worked, in a small-time Boston Legal sort of way. I really liked this series, even though I knew as a CW show, it's life was limited.)

TEAM KNIGHT RIDER (An older show, but how can you go wrong with KNIGHT RIDER?)

DAY BREAK (Come on! Groundhog's Day! On TV! I have no idea why this was canned. The ratings weren't even that bad.)

KIDNAPPED (A solid series. Watch the episodes of the first arc to see just how MacGuyver everyone is.)

RAINES (A quirky solo-detective mystery that I thought had better legs than say LIFE. I thought it was NBC's answer to SHARK which was CBS' answer to HOUSE which popularized the whole anti-hero hero trend on Tv.)

TRAVELER (Just finished airing. It ended with a cliffhanger. A very good drama series. With younger heroes, it is easier to forgive their stupidity as opposed to PRISONBREAK/24 situation.)

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (ABC's version made for great story telling with a larger cast and in-depth world.)

BATMAN BEYOND (The network decided the show was pushing the envelopes of a non-primetime animation and puleld the plug. Strange considering it premiered it during primetime. A very good show that continues the tradition from "Batman: the Animated Series.")

Other shows that I would have liked to see a bit more of:
DINOSAURS (Though this had a great run, and a chilling finale episode, but ABC disavowed that episode and put more out anyway. If they kept going, it could have been ABCs SIMPSONS.)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Though the 3 seasons it had were awesome.)
VERONICA MARS (I'd give it the same comment as "Arrested," except each season ends in a cliffhanger!)
NIGHT COURT (Like BECKER, it's unfair to put this here as it is my own memory that can't remember if this series ever had a concluding episode.)
7 DAYS (I thought it was a good UPN show, like JAKE 2.0 which is now called CHUCK. And I've always been a sucker for time manipulation -- just see DAYBREAK and EARLY EDITION.)
PRETENDER (Another good NBC show that finale'd before it should have.)
OFF CENTRE/100 CENTRE STREET (A younger, diverse version of FRIENDS. Was in the great WB-Rename with shows like ZOE. This show had another season in its tank.)
REBA (It had a series finale, but it didn't have to.)
KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (An excellent series that came out with HERCULES and XENA and despite not being filmed in New Zealand, should have shared in their longevity.)
TIME TRAX (There was a finale episode, but the main villain still ran off. Great actors pushed a basic 'villain of the week' mixed with 'man out of place' premise.)
MONK (Unsure why ABC didn't want to leave this as a network show; it is an excellent show, but I suppose ratings for mystery shows that don't have abbreviations or ampersands in their title are very dicey.)
EVERWOOD (This had a finale episode, but it felt rushed.)

Joe Louthan wrote:

I will give props for My So Called Life being on this list (that may be because of my everlasting crush on Claire Danes).

However the list fails because it doesn't list Firefly.

Redo your list and check back in with us.

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