... Five Cancelled Shows! Here are five shows I used to watch on a regular or semi-regular basis that were cancelled before their time:
1. Andy Richter Controls The Universe - Adam did a Short-Lived Shows post about this a few weeks ago, and it reminded me how much I loved this show. It was a well-written, quirky show that employed fantasy sequences and flashbacks liberally, years before Arrested Development seemingly perfected the practice. The cast was also top-notch, including the lovely Paget Brewster, who I thought finally had a good showcase for the comedic skills she flashed in her well-regarded guest stint on Friends. Unfortunately, FOX never gave Paget or Andy a chance to shine; the show only lasted two abbreviated seasons. The fact that Richter's next show, the formulaic Quintuplets, lasted nearly as long as Universe did depressed the hell out of me.
2. Freaks and Geeks - Not long ago, I wrote about how this show contained the three most accurate geeks in TV history. Freaks was a show that illustrated just how tough high school was for the people who weren't at the top of the food chain, popularity-wise. But it was also sweet, funny, and hopeful, showing that each of the Freaks and Geeks still led pretty good lives even if high school was hell. Oh, and anyone who went to middle or high school in the Eighties was probably freaked out at how closely the clothes, music, and overall atmosphere mirrored their own experiences. Just great quality all around. Too bad NBC only gave it one season.
3. Sports Night - Take the fast pace and snappy dialogue of the Aaron Sorkin years of The West Wing, shorten it to thirty minutes, and place it behind the scenes at a SportsCenter-like broadcast and you have Sports Night. Sorkin found humor not only in workplace tension, but in the relationships between co-workers that are so dedicated to their jobs that they didn't have lives outside the office. The centerpiece of the show was the sexual tension between anchor Casey (Six Feet Under's Peter Krause) and hard-driving producer Dana (Felicity Huffman, in what I think was a more suitable role than the one she currently plays on Desperate Housewives), but the supporting characters all had their own juicy storylines, as well. And, besides, any show that introduced us to the adorable Sabrina Lloyd should be praised to the hills. Given time, this could have been as good or better than The West Wing. ABC only gave it two seasons, even though they were mired in last place and their biggest star at the time was Regis Philbin.
4. Once and Again - I've already told you why I started watching the show: I couldn't take my eyes off Sela Ward. But what kept me watching was the stories that the writers developed for the supporting players, examining how divorce and new romances affected everyone in the Manning and Sammler families. Lilly's sister Judy (Marin Hinkle from Two and a Half Men) was the melancholy single woman who found love in fits and starts. Rick's ex-wife Karen slowly unravels under the pressures of raising teenagers, finding a career, and seeing her ex finding love before she did. All the kids have a tough time coping with the melding of the Sammler and Manning families. Heck, even Patrick Dempsey, who everyone knows now as "Dr. McDreamy", had a meaty guest role as Lilly's mentally-ill brother. It sure as hell wasn't The Brady Bunch, and it showed raw emotions that few series before or since have been able to convey. Along with Sports Night, it was another late-Nineties show that ABC let go far too soon.
5. Arrested Development - Well, it's not officially cancelled, but the writing's on the wall, isn't it?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-12-2005 @ 11:32AM
Chris Coyier said...
It is unfathomable to me that Arrested Development is cancelled and The War at Home is not. Or Stacked. For crying out loud here Fox, it seems like all they do is cancel great shows. Remember Firefly?
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12-12-2005 @ 12:16PM
Erik Cohen said...
I guess I am in the "network" majority because I think Arrested Development shouldn't have made it past the pilot and War at Home is one of the funniest shows I've seen in a while. Maybe it's because I am Jewish and I see myself as the father in a few years from now. I guess if you didn't grow up with people praying your straight and marry a Jew, then it might not be as funny.
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12-12-2005 @ 1:09PM
jOHN! said...
ED
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12-12-2005 @ 1:36PM
Guido said...
maybe i'm the only one, but i dug Medical Investigation
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12-12-2005 @ 1:38PM
El Bandito said...
Can I get a shout out for John Doe and Firefly?
FOX SUX.
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12-12-2005 @ 2:15PM
Natrino said...
I definitely agree with Sports Night and Arrested Development. Both shows are nothing short of excellent.
The only shows I can think to add are Firefly and Farscape.
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12-12-2005 @ 2:19PM
Alan said...
I'll throw in Earth II, Cupid, and Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law.
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12-12-2005 @ 2:44PM
Natrino said...
Crusade! I forgot about Crusade!
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12-12-2005 @ 2:47PM
jOHN! said...
Oh sweet bejesus, I whole-heartedly second Cupid. Now only if they can put it out on DVD.
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12-12-2005 @ 3:15PM
sarah gilbert said...
I loved Medical Investigation too - it had great actors and really compelling plots. I hate Fridays, they destroy my favorite shows and then there's nothing to watch on Friday. paradoxical.
And I second Once and Again... one of my all-time favorite shows.
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12-12-2005 @ 4:34PM
Canton said...
Ditto on Firefly. And Wonderfalls. But those shows didn't really last long enough for anyone to watch them on a "regular or semi-regular basis," did they? Didn't all of the shows on this list last at least a season or so?
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12-12-2005 @ 4:36PM
Chris said...
Sabrina Lloyd's first big appearance in my eyes was on Sliders.
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12-12-2005 @ 5:47PM
Chris said...
Woderfalls. Dear god I curse the exec that thought canning that show was a good idea. thanks for reminding me. now I'm all pissed all over again.
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12-12-2005 @ 7:43PM
Tammy said...
The untimely end of Freaks and Geeks was a tragedy! Sports Night was a great show too. I watched Once and Again, but I don't think I'd put it on my top five list. Maybe I'd add Maximum Bob or Nowhere Man, or perhaps the funny and satirical shows about the industry itself like The Comeback and Grosse Pointe.
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12-12-2005 @ 8:23PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Will you people ever stop whining about Firefly?
You guys are starting to make star trek geeks look like better people.
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12-12-2005 @ 9:20PM
Asher said...
Well I can't talk about cancelled shows without whining about John Doe. I was really really into that show @_@ It's really the main reason I keep giving Prison Break a shot. Speaking of Prison Break, the other brother, Fish appeared in the last episode of another show that should not have been cancelled. Not Fox's problem specifically, but Joan of Arcadia was possibly the best written drama ever for a Family audience. It appealed to EVERYONE in some way, without offending ANYONE. Why cancel something that's getting such high praise?!?! Especially when you've got a 17 year old who just found out, she's gonna be directly pitted against Satan next season?!
Also, I almost cried at Arrested Development for two reasons tonight. Number 1, it may be cancelled, and it's just too freakin hilarious. Number 2, what other show would make references to stuff like Prison Break and Podcasts? :(
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12-12-2005 @ 9:29PM
theratoni said...
I would have liked to see "Playmakers" go on for another season. Even better would have HBO taking it on and continuing it.
On the flip side, I sorta would have liked to see at least 1 -2 more seasons of "Popular" too.
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12-13-2005 @ 6:44PM
Dan said...
I know I am stretching back a few years with these but...
I was really disapointed when they cancelled EZ Streets W/ Ken Olin (Who now produces and Directs on Alias) and Joe Pantoliano. 1996
I also thought that Big Apple W/ Ed Oneil and created by Anthony Yerkovich (The guy that created Miami Vice) and David Miltch (Best known for his work on NYPD Blue) This could have become a great show if given a chance. 2001
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12-13-2005 @ 7:43PM
Jason Anderson said...
The writings on the wall the second you sign a contract with Fox. Eventually show writers will realize this BEFORE they pitch the idea to the networks. "Next time, let's just skip Fox."
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12-13-2005 @ 8:13PM
Jeff said...
It seems i'm doomed for all of my favorite shows to get the boot. thankfully people actually watch lost, or i'd be in real trouble
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