Why were your favorite TV shows canceled?

[Chancetobe]

Over the past decade countless brilliant tv shows have been prematurly canceled. I'm writting a paper on why it is that these shows are unappealing to the majority of the American public and what that says about the American taste and values. So, what are your favorite short-lived television shows and why do you think they wern't popular enough to last?

[Justin_stacy]

Freaks and Geeks hands down........I also miss the PJ's alot, but it had 3 seasons so F+G's wins.

[drudo182]

The American population is stupid.

Freaks and Geeks
Undeclared

[Chancetobe]

The American population is stupid.

Freaks and Geeks
Undeclared

Care to expand upon that?

[Justin_stacy]

Explaining why one show makes it and another doesn’t is next to impossible, so much of it is centered on pure luck. Kidnapped failed last year, even though it was original and had a raising star in the lead....yet the UNIT which is basically a cheap A-team ripe off made it? Why? Is it as simple as CBS vs NBC? Or more favorable time slots? Or lead-ins? Cost?

With so much on TV today networks are giving shows less and less time to build an audience, this may explain why we’ve seen a rash of failed shows. Seinfeld probably should have been canceled after its first season, and certainly after its second, but it found a believer and was able to mature into one of the greatest sitcoms ever. But with out luck it wouldn’t have been, and we today would never know Kramer. Freak’s failed because it wasn’t given a chance. It had nothing to do with American "stupidity", the show clearly wasn’t on long enough for word of mouth to grow. Popularity, particularly on a “big” show with no name leads, doesn’t happen over night.........

[Kif]

Dude The Unit is so not a cheap A-Team rip-off. And that's the problem right there. It's just down to personal taste. People bitch and baw because others don't like their taste in television, which leads to shows getting cancelled. There will always be backlash against a TV channel when a show gets cancelled. Some shows more than others (I really wish people would stop bitching about AD getting cancelled, drives me up the wall), but they all do.

Personally, most shows I watch that have been cancelled were cut off way after their prime. Buffy and Angel for example just killed themselves in the last seasons. The X Files after Mulder left.

[Jeer At Rome]

I was gutted when Over There was cancelled due to poor viewings in the US.

[Bob Payne]

The reason is because 90% of all television is lowest common denominator escapist bull. The vast majority of people don't want to put effort into their television watching, which is why shows like Arrested Development are booted in favor of multi-camera laugh track comedies, and why The Office will be canceled inside the next two years, but Everybody Loves Raymond managed to stay on the air for a decade before it folded. Most of television is written for lower middle-class Caucasian families, with cheap laughs and values that parallel this. There's long been an argument that television and film alike are simply opiates of the people. This is also the reason why those family sitcoms continue to do well: Middle Class America is constantly searching for validation of their own existence, and these sitcoms mirror that. Television and film have been doing this since the beginning. Don't try to prove me wrong. I'm not.

[chokeychicken]

because people assumed a show named veronica mars would be super lame.

[Kif]

The reason is because 90% of all television is lowest common denominator escapist bull. The vast majority of people don't want to put effort into their television watching, which is why shows like Arrested Development are booted in favor of multi-camera laugh track comedies, and why The Office will be canceled inside the next two years, but Everybody Loves Raymond managed to stay on the air for a decade before it folded. Most of television is written for lower middle-class Caucasian families, with cheap laughs and values that parallel this. There's long been an argument that television and film alike are simply opiates of the people. This is also the reason why those family sitcoms continue to do well: Middle Class America is constantly searching for validation of their own existence, and these sitcoms mirror that. Television and film have been doing this since the beginning. Don't try to prove me wrong. I'm not.
Of course you aren't wrong. For most people, television is just a form of escapism and shouldn't need effort to be put into it to enjoy television shows. Even I'm like that. As surprising as this is, you don't need to put effort into television shows to enjoy them. Take Lost for example. I know a lot of people are fanatic about the show, looking for hidden easter eggs and such. Me, I can watch it for the drama and writing and still think it's brilliant.

And you can't blame AD's cancellation purely on that. FOX didn't promote the show at all, and the humour relied a lot on characters instead of plot, so you had to watch a few episodes to get really into it.

[JimmyIymmiJ]

I was a big fan of Sons & Daughters a couple of years ago. They won't even release it on DVD because of some kind of music royalty issue. It was great while it lasted.

[dashboard1190]

Arreseted Development
The Mole
Kenan & Kel

[Trainsaw]

because fox doesn't know actual comedy if it bit them in the ass

/arrested development

[niveK]

The storyline of Arrested Development was too hard to catch up on. A lot of the great moments of the show built on story and events of previous episodes and it wasn't easy to catch up on unless you went far out of your way.

[readingliars]

me and my girlfriend use to watch veronica mars together, it was taken off the air to make room for the pussycat dolls reality show.

[chris1152]

I was gutted when Over There was cancelled due to poor viewings in the US.

that show was great.

and nobody has mentioned Firefly yet? Come on!

[stinson reliant]

I was a big fan of Sons & Daughters a couple of years ago. They won't even release it on DVD because of some kind of music royalty issue. It was great while it lasted.

Oh, that was ABC's Arrested Development rip-off, right? I saw an episode. I don't miss it.

Mission Hill was one of the best animated comedies of the past ten years, and certainly had the potential to become as popular as The Simpsons (okay, maybe more like Futurama) if only the WB had known how to market it. If there were a show that deserved to be resurrected and given Family Guy's animation budget and production offices, Mission Hill would be the one.

Andy Barker, P.I. was just too good for this world.

[Hamlet]

John Doe, due to low ratings. Apparently a drama about a guy who knows everything was too intelligent for the general population.

[gilatron5000]

mostly, money. The costs of making shows like Angel apparently outweighed the money it brought in. Of course, the poor marketing and ever-shifting schedule placement(a different time slot or two every season) certainly didn't help. I suppose the serialized storytelling can also take some blame, as the new episodes did well, but the reruns ran with horrid ratings.

[krishasaheadake]

my list of shows that were canceled:

Over There
Arrested Development
Veronica Mars
Undeclaired
Freaks and Geeks
Love Monkey

I hope they dont cancel Chuck. I really enjoy that show

[Mitch]

Arrested Development
Undeclared
Life As We Know It

[invincibleXL]

unfortunately, Seinfeld decided to stop so they could remain on top as the king.

best sitcom ever created.

[SJms1026]

My So-Called Life.
Even though I was too young to watch it, I caught up on reruns.

[duhpunk]

The Angry Beavers- they used the phrase "shut up". Nickelodeon didn't like it, so they bleeped it out, making it sound vulgar.

[aolsux]

Tru Calling
Freaky Links
Fastlane
John From Cincinnati
Carnivale
Life As We Know It
Point Pleasant

[Smash Adams]

Andy Richter controls the universe- no one else watched it

[notoaststereo]

Arrested Development because i don't think America is smart enough to realize how funny it truly was.

[johnx]

Third Watch

People don't want another cop drama, even though it was good.

[noisefloor1989]

Andy Richter controls the universe- no one else watched it
AGGHGH
I was WONDERING if someone was gonna say this!
It was the only one I was gonna put down.
hilfuckinglarious show.

[unwritten]

my list of shows that were canceled:

Over There
Arrested Development
Veronica Mars
Undeclaired
Freaks and Geeks
Love Monkey

I hope they dont cancel Chuck. I really enjoy that show

ED!

[krishasaheadake]

ED!

I loved Ed during the beginning, but the charm faded away fast for me

[Smash Adams]

AGGHGH
I was WONDERING if someone was gonna say this!
It was the only one I was gonna put down.
hilfuckinglarious show.

remember the episode where they were at the guy's funeral and Andy imagines him dancing to the hustle?
it's the greatest scrubs moment that wasn't on scrubs

[jamison1386]

greg the bunny....only lasted like 12 episodes or somethin like that
probably because no one watched it
i enjoyed it though

[Illuminate]

traveler
reunion
drive
6 degrees
the list goes on..

[WakingTheMisery]

Point Pleasant was the worst show I have ever seen.

[Skadrist]

Heads up to fans of two cancelled shows Veronica Mars seasons one and two were selling for $15 each at Target. At least two seasons of Arrested development were selling for $20 at Target as well.

[B-Bones]

I liked Invasion the one season it was on.

[B-Bones]

Heads up to fans of two cancelled shows Veronica Mars seasons one and two were selling for $15 each at Target. At least two seasons of Arrested development were selling for $20 at Target as well.

Is this Arrested Development deal all across the country? I'm not finding it in the weekly ads. I need those DVD's.

[recall reality]

Is this Arrested Development deal all across the country? I'm not finding it in the weekly ads. I need those DVD's.

At Target? I think so... I know I've seen them for that much here for a while now. if not, those dvds aren't really expensive anyway. I actually got all 3 seasons off amazon for a little under $50 a while ago, but now you can find them fairly cheap at a number of places.

[fantasma]

I just watched the whole series of Freaks and Geeks and when I finished with the last episode I found myself really sad that I would never get to see the rest of everyone on the show's lives. Definitely one of my favorite TV series of all time.

[B-Bones]

Nevermind I just picked up all three seasons for 20 apiece. yahtzee!!

[doyouhas?]

greg the bunny....only lasted like 12 episodes or somethin like that
probably because no one watched it
i enjoyed it though


im glad someone mentioned this show. beyond funny. especially tardy the turtle. i have the dvd and it never gets old. i think it probably got cancelled because pretty much no one has seen. theres no way to think that shows not funny.

and arrested development obviously. i do have a very good feeling were going to get a movie though.

[recall reality]

and arrested development obviously. i do have a very good feeling were going to get a movie though.

ha, I almost forgot about how the show ended... that'd be great if they actually did it.

Futurama's cancellation was depressing, one of my favorite shows. I'm really looking forward to the new dvds.

[secretemily]

Arrested Development because it had too many inside jokes that wasn't enough to catch the occasional viewer coming in halfway during a season.

[allhourcymbals]

My So-Called Life.
Even though I was too young to watch it, I caught up on reruns.

I loved that show. It's now an Online Exclusive on ABC.com, you can watch full episodes online. As of now, it's only the pilot.

[SJms1026]

I loved that show. It's now an Online Exclusive on ABC.com, you can watch full episodes online. As of now, it's only the pilot.
Sweet! I want the whole series on DVD for Christmas.

[allhourcymbals]

Sweet! I want the whole series on DVD for Christmas.

Haha I don't.. I find that a lot of shows I loved even 2 years ago seem really old or boring now, but I'm still going to watch every episode ABC airs :)

[SJms1026]

Haha I don't.. I find that a lot of shows I loved even 2 years ago seem really old or boring now, but I'm still going to watch every episode ABC airs :)
They should air them on the network. Especially since there's barely any new stuff because of the strike.

[i breathe music]

sports night- probably my favorite show of all time. to this day i do not understand why it got cancelled.

[RichoTB]

Haha I don't.. I find that a lot of shows I loved even 2 years ago seem really old or boring now, but I'm still going to watch every episode ABC airs :)

Your logic lacks sense. Using your brain, any music I like that I liked 2 years ago is old and boring. If that were the case, any middle-aged man would be listening to Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance instead of the stuff they enjoyed in their youth. :uhno:

Its different from person to person I guess. I still find myself adoring Buffy, Angel and The OC many years after they got axed, and I still watch a Simpsons episode from time to time even though I haven't watched that series regularly since I was 10. Then again, my taste is incredibly different to what a 15 year old girl's would have been. What would you have liked? The Saddle Club? Neighbours? That makes sense you would lose interest in them then.

Tru Calling
Freaky Links
Fastlane
John From Cincinnati
Carnivale
Life As We Know It
Point Pleasant

Tru Calling and Point Pleasant were the shit! I have all the episodes on DVD.

traveler
reunion
drive
6 degrees
the list goes on..

Oh hell yes, Drive was pretty damn good, it could have been a really big show for FOX if they gave it more of a chance. Six Degrees is one of my favourite TV series ever, J.J.Abrams can do no wrong and I cannot believe it was axed in favour of shitty Big Shots, which has pulled off even worse ratings and has been axed as well. It really is a fantastic show.

Additional ones for me include Buffy, Angel and The OC (shut up). I won't bother getting into reasons as I really can't be assed, but IMO those 3 lasted as long as they should have without getting too stale (except for Angel, I would have liked to see it last at least another 2-3 seasons. A post-apocalyptic Los Angeles in Season 6 would have been sweet, and the comics just don't do it for me).

Others include Day Break, Drive, Hidden Palms, and who can forget Traveler? Best show on the ABC in decades (apart from LOST), and they axe it after 8 episodes. Matthew Bomer and Logan Marshall Green had fantastic chemistry between them, and the whole series was like an 8-hour rush of non-stop adrenaline. Oh well.

[RichoTB]

Oh, and Firefly. I can't believe I forgot that. Then again, the movie wrapped up pretty much every leftover plot device.

[allhourcymbals]

Your logic lacks sense. Using your brain, any music I like that I liked 2 years ago is old and boring. If that were the case, any middle-aged man would be listening to Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance instead of the stuff they enjoyed in their youth. :uhno:

Its different from person to person I guess. I still find myself adoring Buffy, Angel and The OC many years after they got axed, and I still watch a Simpsons episode from time to time even though I haven't watched that series regularly since I was 10. Then again, my taste is incredibly different to what a 15 year old girl's would have been. What would you have liked? The Saddle Club? Neighbours? That makes sense you would lose interest in them then.

Who are you to say that my logic lacks sense? It is different for different people, so just because it doesn't make sense to you that I could like something for more than the time that it's "cool to like", doesn't mean that it lacks sense. My music taste hasn't changed at all in the past two years, and why would I lose interest in some TV shows and not others? That doesn't "lack sense" to me at all that I would question that.

[chokeychicken]

veronica mars :-(

[fromoc2dc]

As someone else mentioned, Firefly. I was pretty disappointed, but was lucky to get a movie.

I didn't watch it until long after it was cancelled, but Sports Night was an amazing show that got cancelled after two seasons b/c it couldn't find an audience. It was like Arrested Development in that other channels offered to pick it up, but Sorkin decided to let it go.

As for why it didn't get more of an audience, I will quote Family Guy "I finally get Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night: It's a comedy that's too good to be funny." I remember hearing that Sorkin didn't want a laugh track, but ABC included one, but eventually it faded away through season one and was gone in season two.

[Joe DeAndrea]

I'm still pissed about Drive getting canceled.

[Illuminate]

im gonna add more...journeyman

[hxchairstylist]

firefly and earth 2.

[hxchairstylist]

veronica mars :-(

seconded. I loved that show. so well written.

[Tanya Marie]

life as we know it, loved that show.

[asmolitor]

Andy Richter controls the universe- no one else watched it

i thought i was the only one who remembered that. i was hoping andy barker, p.i. would've been given a chance to evolve into something at least comparable to 'controls the universe.'

sports night- probably my favorite show of all time. to this day i do not understand why it got cancelled.

As for why it didn't get more of an audience, I will quote Family Guy "I finally get Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night: It's a comedy that's too good to be funny."

my god, thank you. that still is one of my favorite shows, all-time. i'm probably one of the few people to even have the DVD box set. i still have a crush on natalie.

as for why it didn't last: well, it's hard to find an audience when the audience can't find out what time/day it's on. ABC switched the schedule for it on a weekly basis, if i remember right, but always in terrible timeslots to begin with. also, aaron sorkin had another show in production at the time, about the white house or something.

[PaulsRightNut]

Firefly
American Gothic
Strangers With Candy
Eek The Cat
Clone High


firefly and earth 2.

I loved earth 2.

[WordzandDreamz]

seconded. I loved that show. so well written.

Man, I miss this show.

[Chancetobe]

Wow, looking back at this, I've loved a ton of shows that other people mentioned.
-Life as we know it
-Tru Calling
-Clone High
- Ed
- Veronica Mars
- Invasion
- Traveler
And then I also loved
- Joan of Arcadia
- The Days
- Commander in Chief
- Everwood
God, tv land needs to get their act together.

[Jessooker]

I really liked The 4400.

[Spicoli hey bud]

Other than Arrested Development, the only other ones I can think of are...

Lucky Louie
Off Centre

[chokeychicken]

i'm watching freaks and geeks now; i'm on disc 6. man, this show was so good. i can't believe it got canned.

[drudo182]

Thinking of cancelled shows, I really want to get The Black Donnelly's sometime. I only saw the ones on TV and I really liked them.

Probably pick that up this week.

[drudo182]

Wow, looking back at this, I've loved a ton of shows that other people mentioned.
-Life as we know it
-Tru Calling
-Clone High
- Ed
- Veronica Mars
- Invasion
- Traveler
And then I also loved
- Joan of Arcadia
- The Days
- Commander in Chief
- Everwood
God, tv land needs to get their act together.

I like several of those. Everwood was my favorite show and Ed was up there as well. At least with those, they got proper endings. The Everwood ending is amazing.

I miss that show more than any other.

[open mind]

rome

[chokeychicken]

rome

i got season 1 for christmas. i cant wait to start watching it

[Trainsaw]

I don't believe Rome was cancelled, i think it was only supposed to be 2 seasons, it was a very expensive show to make

[gloriousmuse]

i fucking loved Rome. i wish the DVDs were't so expensive to buy :-(

[fedhed7]

I just watched seasons 1-3 of Arrested all over again, and I'm amazed how perfect that show was.

Journeyman
4400

a bunch of other shows I can't remember.

[Chancetobe]

I like several of those. Everwood was my favorite show and Ed was up there as well. At least with those, they got proper endings. The Everwood ending is amazing.

I miss that show more than any other.

It is without a doubt the worst thing ever when a show doesn't get a proper ending. There are way too many questions left unanswered.

[silverstein91]

Malcolm in the Middle
Life on a Stick
Teachers - had so much potential but nbc is an idiot

[Sargent Sausage]

the o,c