In search of information about the absolute, total, non-return of Love Monkey, I came across an
interesting article in, of all places, The Calgary Sun. The article, written by Kevin Williamson, counts down
the top 25 best series that were canceled before
their time.
Some of the entries on the list are those that many others (including those fabulous writers who post on this fantastic site) have mentioned as dying premature deaths. For example, the recently departed Arrested Development falls in at number two on the list. Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night appears at the number 12 spot.
Some shows listed are surprises. At number one on the list is Twin Peaks, which many reviewers thought had gone past its initial premise as the show came to an end. Cupid, which starred Jeremy Piven (and which I barely remember) is number 18.
What really shocks me is that Cop Rock is not listed anywhere on this list. Now the cancellation of THAT show was an injustice. Or, was the airing of the show an injustice? I can't remember.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-20-2006 @ 2:15PM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
Doesn't anyone remember Shannon's Deal? Created by John Sayles and boasting a score and theme music by Wynton Marsalis, it was a briliant NBC from 1990-91.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 2:18PM
Jason said...
First off, the AIRING of Cop Rock was not so much an injustice as an inhumane form of torture. I still wake up in a cold sweat cursing the name Bochco to this day. Anywho, on to the shows they list.
I agree with a lot of their choices to be perfectly honest, Wonderfalls was, as many others have said before me, really quite fantastic but probably just a bit too quirky (and Canadian feeling... sorry neighbors...) for an American audience. Cupid, to my mind, still stands as one single greatest roles Jeremy Piven ever did. He was just phenomenal and I'm glad I have all the episodes still to go back and watch. The dynamic Judd Apatow duo of Freaks & Geeks/Undeclared both could have gone on for quite a good stretch longer before getting old, without question, and Arrested Development, well. Sorry, it's still too hard to talk about.
I would question shows like The Job, The Critic, and Brisco County Jr., not because I didn't enjoy them, but because I really don't consider any of them to be all THAT impressive or noteworthy. Love Monkey could probably go either way simply because while the first few episodes were good, they weren't great, but the show just never got a chance to try and realize its potential in such a short lifespan.
Frankly, I would put Nowhere Man on the list well before I would Twin Peaks. That show jumped the shark as soon as David Lynch jumped ship. Sorry to you diehards, but really, the show just was not the same. And it's time to accept that.
Alright, I'm done now.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 2:35PM
Scott said...
25 choices and no "My So-Called Life"? Ridiculous. I agree with many of his other choices (except for things like Andy Richter--really??) but leaving out maybe the quintessential example of a show killed before its time is unforgivable. (And "Boomtown" had already morphed, through network interference, into a show not worth saving anymore when it disappeared.)
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 2:47PM
salem said...
And I am really surprised "Oposite Sex" starring Milo Ventimiglia & Allison Mack is not on the list at all!
But the vision of this guy (Dawson's Creek creator, right?) is very close to mine, and i'm not "critic" nor creator, at least in the TV industry...
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 2:48PM
bojac said...
One vote here for "Profit" (1996), one of the most amazing tv shows ever. Way, way ahead of its time, years before "The Sopranos" made evil characters sympathetic, Profit was the story of Machiavelli come to life in 20th century corporate America. I still remember the scene with Profit as an adult sleeping in a Gracen and Gracen packing crate as one of those rare "holy sh##" tv moments that made my jaw just drop.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:06PM
johnnymac said...
I can't believe that Murder One was not on the list. It would be on the top of mine. This show was 24 before 24 had a clue.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:07PM
RLJ said...
I just finished watching the third season of Titus on DVD and even though it had a run of three seasons, it sill ended too soon.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:20PM
just some dude said...
I have to disagree about Homicide: Life on the Street. Don't get me wrong, it was my favorite show for most of its run, but it jumped the shark when Andre Braugher left the show. Jon Seda and Callie Thorne's characters were just not enough to carry the show. By the time the show was cancelled, even the most die-hard fans were crying "enough!"
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:24PM
Grumpy Old Man said...
One great show that never had a chance to reach it's apex was the first "E/R", the comedy with Elliot Gould and Conchata Ferrell, and Mary McDonnell...sooo funny...
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:36PM
chris said...
i completely disagree what they say about Alias. This show is gonna wrap things up completely in the next 8 episodes.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 3:46PM
Robb said...
What about Popular on the WB??? It was a great show and ended with no resolution. I was thrilled though it was put out on DVD. I just hate watching the last episode knowing it would be the last one. No more Mary Cherry shenanigans.. *sigh*
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 4:12PM
Elliott said...
Soon to be added to the list: Joey
Haha, gotcha!
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 4:32PM
Lori said...
I agree with the above poster that "My so called Life" should have been on the list...I also was very upset when the show "Jack & Bobby" was cancelled way too soon !
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 4:44PM
vanlandw said...
Love Monkey, Firefly, Nowhere Man, and Boomtown are a few of the shows I wish got a bigger run. Such potential. But I thank god every week when a show like 24 that started out with a small following is still on TV. Now it's breaking the top 15 in ratings and still kicks ass because the station gave it a chance.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 4:45PM
John said...
I can't believe Police Squad wasn't on the list.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 5:37PM
TVLover said...
Thanks for the props :)
I LOVE that Briscoe made it on the list...and the comment by it was completely too true!
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 6:02PM
doc said...
That's a pretty good list. I'm glad to see him mention Cupid because that one was just too good. One not mentioned on his list that would definitely be on mine is Going To California. Hopefully it will eventually come out on DVD so everyone can get a chance to see it.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 6:38PM
R-Bro said...
I agree with most of the choices on this list, but don't forget thirtysomething! That was a show that needed at least one more season to resolve those wonderful, complex characters.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 7:04PM
Rich E said...
Cupid was fantastic! I stumbled on to it accidentally, and I was hooked after one episode. Hooked enough that I actually sent complaint mail to ABC when they cancelled it.
It's floating around on teh torrents now, so you can reaquaint yourself with it, if you wish.
Reply
3-20-2006 @ 7:07PM
LC said...
No Eyes on their list? Other than that, I agree with most of their choices.
Reply