We Should Save These Cancelled TV Shows
- 1/19
We Should Save These Cancelled TV Shows
Unfortunately, cancellations are getting more and more common in the current landscape of streaming TV. Well-curated services like Netflix and HBO Max have been gutting shows that have passionate fanbases, and studios have even canceled almost-complete films like Batgirl. Here's a history of tragic cancellations in television, and a wish list of shows we could save if we had the power.
NBC - Getty Images - 2/19
1) Firefly - Fox
This space Western from Joss Whedon was cancelled by Fox before it could even air its 14-episode first season, which is pretty brutal considering Whedon wanted the show to last seven years. At least they were allowed to make the film Serenity which continues the events after the final episode. The show's still worth a watch even if it ends quickly.
Albert L. Ortega - Getty Images - 3/19
2) Rutherford Falls - Peacock
Rutherford Falls was an excellent Peacock sitcom co-created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur and Sierra Teller Ornelas about a small town's relationship with the fictional Native American tribe the Minishonka Nation. It was cancelled in 2022 after only two seasons.
Peacock - Getty Images - 4/19
3) The Wilds - Prime Video
This drama series focused on a group of teenage girls stranded on a deserted island who are unwittingly involved in a social experiment. The first season was acclaimed, but it was still cancelled by Prime Video after two seasons.
Don Arnold - Getty Images - 5/19
4) Freaks and Geeks - NBC
We're a little past reviving this show unless some heavy rewrites take place, but it doesn't change that Freaks and Geeks was cut off far before its time. It started the career of comedy greats like Seth Rogen and Jason Segal, and raised the profile of its creator Judd Apatow.
NBC - Getty Images - 6/19
5) Hannibal - NBC
The psychological horror series Hannibal was an incredible interpretation on the renowned horror character Hannibal Lecter, played by Mads Mikkelsen in this NBC drama which lasted three seasons before it was cancelled due to low viewership. It would have been great to see the show grow with more seasons, but the episodes that exist are chilling and amazing.
Andrew Toth - Getty Images - 7/19
6) Pushing Daisies - ABC
The acclaimed comedy-drama Pushing Daisies was created by Bryan Fuller, who also created Hannibal. It won seven Emmys out of seventeen nominations, including Kristen Chenoweth taking home the Supporting Actress Award. However, it was still cancelled a few episodes into its second season.
Kevin Winter - Getty Images - 8/19
7) The OA - Netflix
This mind-bending supernatural sci-fi series completely defies explanation, and was cut tragically short after its second season came to Netflix in 2019. It's a fascinating collaboration between writer/star Brit Marling and writer/director Zal Batmanglij. They have also made the films Sound of my Voice and The East together, but it would really be amazing if we got to see the rest of The OA through.
Joe Scarnici - Getty Images - 9/19
8) Tuca & Bertie - Netflix/Adult Swim
Tuca & Bertie, the hilarious and odd animation show from Lisa Hanawalt (center-right) had a squadron of dedicated and loyal fans that offered a huge amount of support when it was cancelled by Netflix after one season.
Hanawalt was lucky enough to be able to bring her show to Adult Swim for two more great seasons, but she revealed in 2022 that Adult Swim would be ending support for Tuca & Bertie after three seasons and thirty total episodes.
CHRIS DELMAS - Getty Images - 10/19
9) Raised By Wolves - HBO Max
Raised by Wolves was a mind-bending sci-fi series on HBO Max that didn't get enough seasons to explore its interesting concept of two androids raising a human civilization on the exoplanet Keplar-22b after the annihilation of Earth. The show is not currently available to stream on HBO Max but can be purchased on Prime Video.
HBO Max - 11/19
10) Forever - Amazon Prime
Forever had two great lead stars with Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph, and was written by former Parks & Recreation staff writer and co-creator of Master of None, Alan Yang. Forever was cancelled after only one season, but Yang and Rudolph have reunited on the AppleTV+ comedy series Loot.
Jim Spellman - Getty Images - 12/19
11) Los Espookys - HBO
This surreal sitcom was like nothing else on TV, and featured a group of horror-nerd friends who were trying to build a business that fabricated scary situations for clients. It was co-created by Julio Torres, Ana Fabrega, and Fred Armisen and lasted 2 seasons on HBO. It's still available to stream on HBO Max and absolutely worth the watch.
Pablo Arellano Spataro/HBO - 13/19
12) Altered Carbon - Netflix
This cyberpunk series was set over 360 years in the future and was received positively when it came out in 2018. It was canned by Netflix after its second season came out in 2020, but fans can also watch an anime spinoff film Altered Carbon: Resleeved if they want more time in that universe (also on Netflix).
Earl Gibson III - Getty Images - 14/19
13) Hunters - Prime Video
Not even Al Pacino can guarantee your show a lengthy run. This conspiracy drama thriller was about a diverse group of Nazi hunters working to find former Nazis in 1970's New York. It also starred Logan Lerman, Carol Kane, and Jerrika Hinton, and lasted only two seasons.
Frazer Harrison - Getty Images - 15/19
14) Deception - ABC
Deception from 2018 was an interesting twist on the usual weekly crime show with a lead that's an illusionist who is recruited by the FBI. The show was positively received and a surprisingly huge hit in some international markets like France and Germany, but was cancelled by ABC after one season.
Giovanni Rufino - Getty Images - 16/19
15) Close Enough - HBO Max
This cartoon series was praised for its absurdity, and had all the makings of a cult hit given it was created by J.G. Quintel, who made the excellent Regular Show. Tragically, Close Enough was not only cancelled after season three, but it was one of several shows last year which were pulled from the HBO Max streamer entirely. You can still watch Regular Show there if you want, but it stings for die-hard fans to not be able to rewatch the show they loved as easily.
HBO Max - 17/19
16) Kenan - NBC
The Saturday Night Live veteran Kenan Thompson was given his own NBC sitcom which also starred Chris Redd, Don Johnson and Kimrie Lewis. It unfortunately wasn't renewed after season two, and it would be hard to see any other network picking it up due to Thompson's close affiliation with NBC.
NBC - Getty Images - 18/19
17) Dollface -Hulu
Dollface had all the right ingredients for a stellar long-running sitcom: A great cast with the star Kat Dennings and actors like Brenda Song and Esther Povitsky rounding out the ensemble, plus an imaginative premise which literally brought protagonist Jules' imagination onscreen. But it was still dogged by mixed reviews and was cancelled after two seasons and 20 episodes in May of 2022.
Rich Fury - Getty Images - 19/19
18) Success Story! Minx - HBO Max/Starz
Minx is a comedy starring Olivia Lovibond as a feminist journalist in the 1970s who decides to join a publisher to create the first women's erotic magazine. After one season, Minx was also one of several shows cancelled by HBO Max, but it has recently been revealed that Ellen Rapoport's show will live on with a second season at Starz. It's great to get some good news in this wave of cancellations, and hopefully other shows will land elsewhere too.
Katrina Marcinowski / HBO Max
