Top 20 TV Shows CANCELLED Too Soon
Summary
TLDRThe video script from Watch Mojo counts down the top television programs that were prematurely cancelled, deserving of at least one more season. It highlights shows like 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,' 'Timeless,' and 'Lovecraft Country,' among others, discussing their critical acclaim, audience love, and unfortunate early ends. The list includes a mix of genres, from sitcoms to dramas, showcasing the breadth of creativity that was cut short, leaving fans yearning for more.
Takeaways
- 📺 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' was a rare spin-off that arguably improved upon its original material but was cancelled due to low ratings and high production costs.
- 🕰️ 'Timeless' was cancelled after one season but was uncancelled for a second due to fan support, only to be cancelled again without a proper finale.
- 👻 'Lovecraft Country' received critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations but was cancelled by HBO due to low viewership, despite its potential for mainstream success.
- 💀 'Dead Like Me' was a beloved offbeat sitcom that was cancelled after its second season due to behind-the-scenes issues and lack of creative direction.
- 🗣️ 'Speechless' was an important show for representation but was cancelled by ABC after its third season due to low ratings.
- 🕵️♀️ 'Agent Carter' started as a popular one-off and was brought back for a second season, but was cancelled by ABC with an unresolved cliffhanger.
- 😹 'The Mick' was an edgy comedy that stood out but was cancelled by Fox due to low ratings despite its comedic wit.
- 🏭 'Jericho' had a passionate fan base but was cancelled due to its post-apocalyptic narrative not fitting traditional network programming.
- 👶 'My Name is Earl' had a long-running potential but was cancelled by NBC on a major cliffhanger, leaving fans with unresolved questions.
- 🕵️♂️ 'Veronica Mars' was a classic detective show that was cancelled after three seasons but later received a final season and a fan-funded film due to its continued recognition.
- 🧛♀️ 'Santa Clarita Diet' was a unique blend of horror and humor but was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons without closure.
Q & A
What was the main reason 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' was cancelled?
-The main reason 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' was cancelled was due to low ratings and the high cost of producing the special effects-heavy series, which the audience numbers did not justify.
How did fans react to the cancellation of 'Timeless'?
-Fans of 'Timeless' were so passionate about the show that their unwavering support led NBC to 'uncancel' the show for a second season, although it was eventually cancelled again.
What recognition did 'Lovecraft Country' receive during its short run?
-'Lovecraft Country' was nominated for six Emmy awards, including one for Outstanding Drama, during its short run.
Why was 'Dead Like Me' cancelled after its second season?
-'Dead Like Me' was cancelled due to alleged behind-the-scenes turmoil and a perceived lack of creative direction, despite its popularity and critical acclaim.
What was unique about the representation in the show 'Speechless'?
-'Speechless' was unique in its representation as it focused on the Deo family's daily life with their son, JJ, who has a disability, making it an important story on television in terms of representation.
Why was 'Agent Carter' cancelled by ABC?
-'Agent Carter' was cancelled by ABC due to its low ratings and the network's decision to end the series on an unresolved cliffhanger, despite its narrative importance in the MCU timeline.
What was the main reason 'The Mick' was not renewed for more seasons?
-The main reason 'The Mick' was not renewed was due to its low ratings, even though it was well-received for its edgy comedy and Caitlyn Olsen's comedic wit.
What was the initial reception to 'Jericho' and why was it cancelled?
-The initial reception to 'Jericho' was positive, with a passionate fan base, but it was cancelled due to its narrative not fitting well with traditional network programming and resulting in low viewership.
Why did 'My Name Is Earl' end with an unresolved storyline?
-'My Name Is Earl' ended with an unresolved storyline because NBC cancelled the show on a cliffhanger, leaving the question of who is L Junior's dad unanswered.
How did 'Veronica Mars' eventually get a final season?
-'Veronica Mars' eventually got a final season after a successful fan-funded film in 2014, which led executives to recognize the continued demand for the show and greenlit a fourth season.
What was the main reason 'Santa Clarita Diet' was cancelled by Netflix?
-The main reason 'Santa Clarita Diet' was cancelled by Netflix was due to the quality not being enough to justify its continuation, despite its unique blend of campy horror and quirky humor.
What was the impact of 'My So-Called Life' on teen dramas?
-My So-Called Life had a significant impact on teen dramas as it authentically portrayed the struggles of youth and was groundbreaking in its honesty, being often regarded as one of the best teen dramas of all time.
Why was 'Party Down' cancelled after two seasons?
-'Party Down' was cancelled after two seasons due to low audience turnout despite being highly rated and having a strong ensemble cast.
What made 'Pushing Daisies' stand out among other shows?
-'Pushing Daisies' stood out due to its unique blend of crime drama, off-the-wall comedy, and zombie film elements, as well as its creative storytelling and aesthetic.
What was the initial question that captivated viewers of 'Twin Peaks'?
-The initial question that captivated viewers of 'Twin Peaks' was 'Who killed Laura Palmer?', which became a water cooler phenomenon in the 1990s.
Why was 'Arrested Development' cancelled after three seasons?
-'Arrested Development' was cancelled after three seasons due to its off-the-wall humor not resonating with general audiences, resulting in low ratings.
What was the reason behind the indefinite hold of 'Mindhunter'?
-The indefinite hold of 'Mindhunter' was due to high costs and David Fincher's busy schedule, leading Netflix to put the series on hold after its second season.
What contributed to the short run of 'Freaks and Geeks'?
-The short run of 'Freaks and Geeks' was due to poor scheduling and behind-the-scenes frustrations, which prevented it from achieving success at the time of its release.
What factors led to the early cancellation of 'Firefly'?
-The early cancellation of 'Firefly' was due to bad time slots, out-of-order airings, and a lack of opportunity for audiences to watch and follow the show's story, resulting in low ratings.
Outlines
📺 Top TV Shows Cancelled Too Soon
The paragraph discusses the premature cancellation of several television shows that deserved more seasons. It starts with 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles', which was cancelled due to low ratings despite its quality, and 'Timeless', which was revived for a second season thanks to fan support but still ended prematurely. The paragraph also mentions 'Lovecraft Country', which was cancelled by HBO despite critical acclaim, and 'Dead Like Me', a sitcom that was cancelled after its second season due to behind-the-scenes issues. Other shows like 'Speechless' and 'Agent Carter' are also highlighted, with 'Agent Carter' being a notable example of a show that ended on a cliffhanger.
😔 Beloved TV Shows with Unfortunate Endings
This paragraph continues the theme of television shows that were cancelled before their time. It covers 'The Mick', a Caitlyn Olsen-led sitcom that was cancelled by Fox due to low ratings, and 'Jericho', a post-apocalyptic series that was not a good fit for traditional network programming. The paragraph also discusses 'My Name is Earl', which ended on a cliffhanger after nearly 100 episodes, and 'Veronica Mars', a detective show that was cancelled after three seasons but later revived due to fan support. 'Santa Clarita Diet' is mentioned as a Netflix original that was cancelled after three seasons without closure.
🏆 Critically Acclaimed Shows That Didn't Last
The paragraph delves into shows that, despite critical acclaim and unique concepts, failed to maintain viewership. 'Arrested Development' is highlighted for its off-the-wall humor and Emmy win, but was cancelled after three seasons due to low ratings, later revived by Netflix. 'Pushing Daisies', a creative blend of genres, won seven Emmys but was cancelled due to low viewership. 'Hannibal', with its high-quality storytelling, was set up to fail with a poor time slot and was cancelled after three seasons, leaving a six-season plan unfulfilled. 'Twin Peaks' had a tumultuous history with network interference leading to cancellation, but fan support led to a film and later a third season.
🚀 Cult Classic Shows That Ended Too Early
This paragraph focuses on cult classic shows that ended their runs prematurely. 'My So-Called Life' is noted for its groundbreaking portrayal of teen struggles but was cancelled after only 19 episodes. 'Party Down', a series about Hollywood catering, was cancelled due to low audience turnout but later revived in 2023. 'Mindhunter', overseen by David Fincher, was put on indefinite hold by Netflix after two seasons due to high costs. 'Freaks and Geeks', a coming-of-age tale with a now-famous cast, was cancelled due to poor scheduling and behind-the-scenes issues. The paragraph concludes with 'Firefly', a one-season wonder that gained a cult following despite bad time slots and out-of-order airings.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Television Programs
💡Cancellation
💡Ratings
💡Special Effects
💡Cult Following
💡Cliffhanger
💡Representation
💡MCU
💡Emmy Nominations
💡Revival
💡Cult Classic
Highlights
The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a rare spin-off that arguably improved upon its legacy but was cancelled due to low ratings and high production costs.
Timeless was cancelled by NBC after one season but was uncancelled for a second due to fan support, though it was still cancelled after that.
Lovecraft Country received six Emmy nominations but was cancelled by HBO due to low viewership despite critical acclaim.
Dead Like Me was cancelled after its second season due to behind-the-scenes turmoil and lack of creative direction.
Speechless, a show with important representation, was cancelled after three seasons because of low ratings despite its quality.
Agent Carter was cancelled by ABC despite being one of the few MCU shows with a narrative purpose in the franchise's timeline.
The Mick was cancelled by Fox due to low ratings, despite being an edgy comedy that stood out among its competition.
Jericho was cancelled due to not fitting traditional network programming and low viewership, despite passionate fans.
My Name Is Earl was cancelled by NBC on a cliffhanger after nearly 100 episodes, leaving the question of who is L's father unresolved.
Veronica Mars was cancelled after three seasons but was later given a final season due to continued recognition and a fan-funded film.
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons without closure, despite its unique blend of horror and humor.
My So-Called Life was cancelled after 19 episodes despite being regarded as one of the best teen dramas of all time.
Party Down was cancelled after two seasons but was later revived in 2023 due to continued audience support.
Pushing Daisies was cancelled due to low viewership despite winning seven Emmys and having a unique aesthetic.
Hannibal was cancelled after three seasons due to low viewership, despite having a brilliant six-season plan.
Twin Peaks was cancelled but later received a third season 25 years after a prequel film due to fan support.
Arrested Development was cancelled after three seasons but was brought back by Netflix in 2013 for more episodes.
Mindhunter was put on indefinite hold by Netflix after two seasons due to high costs and David Fincher's busy schedule.
Freaks and Geeks was cancelled due to poor scheduling and behind-the-scenes issues but is still hailed as one of the greats.
Firefly is considered the most famous one-season wonder in TV history, cancelled due to bad time slots and out-of-order airings.
Transcripts
welcome to watch Mojo and today we're
counting down our picks for the best
television programs that deserved at
least one more season yeah you wouldn't
like it anyway it's really boring no no
it isn't Neil you love
it number 20 Terminator the Sarah Connor
Chronicles come with me if you want to
live most TV shows based on beloved
films should be approached with caution
and yes the Sarah Conor Chronicles was
the rare spin-off that didn't just live
up to its Legacy it arguably improved it
but while the quality was there the
ratings were not we don't kill just a
kill I never have the first season was
cut short by the 2007 riter strike and
the lengthy Hiatus spelled Doom for the
show's audience the numbers simply
didn't justify such an expensive special
effects heavy serial and the Sak Conor
Chronicles was quickly cancelled and
it's a shame the time bending premise
could have easily gone on for a few more
seasons but sadly there's no time
traveling Shenanigans capable of saving
this show I love you too number 19
Timeless you're
insane after two short entertaining
years it was time up on Timeless but you
can't say it didn't go out swinging
technically NBC pulled the plug after
one low-rated season gone where gone as
in erased from history however at that
point fans had already fallen in love
with the quirky time hopping procedure
thanks to their unwavering support the
network uncancelled the show for a Hail
Mary second season sadly timeless'
second lease on life didn't last much
longer than the first at the very least
it did get a 2-hour special to tie up
any Loose Ends but it still feels like a
consolation prize compared to what a
full third season could have been I'm
not at all comfortable with
this by the way number 18 love craft
country the scariest part of this
monster show is how quickly HBO brought
down the axe what's so strange is that
love CRA country was basically a
sensation waiting to happen the potent
blend of Horror history and racial
issues had viewers hooked and critics
weren't shy either the Freshman series
ands six Emmy nominations including one
for Outstanding
Drama course even in the face of all
that praise HBO didn't seem to care of
all the television casualties over the
years Lovecraft country is one of the
most maddening with a few more episodes
it could have easily exploded into the
mainstream but instead HBO cut their
losses and buried Lovecraft country
right before it made it big what you
told me
happened something doesn't feel right
number 17 Dead Like Me How many people
are supposed to die again just one given
what happened it's kind of an ironic
title to be fair that's exactly the type
of humor that made this offbeat sitcom
so beloved in the first place following
a newbie grim reper collecting The Souls
of The Departed Dead Like Me Drew large
viewership and near unanimous praise
just feel so alive again enjoy that
while you can but despite all that the
show faced a different kind of grim
reaper at the end of its second season
allegedly behind the scenes turmoil is
to blame as well as a general lack of
creative Direction but the show's
consistently gut busting punch lines beg
to differ whatever the reason it's clear
Dead Like Me face the Scythe way before
its time sorry man you're dead number
six
speechless dude what are you doing it's
got a out of tone Oh yeah you want to go
chair let's go it's a sad fact of
Television that sometimes the best most
well-intentioned shows just don't bring
in the audience they deserve case in
point speechless the Deo family's daily
life with JJ cbel py was one of the most
endearing and important stories on
television especially in terms of
representation not to mention it's all
but guaranteed to leave you on the floor
laughing every single time use that good
foot go good foot go good go go goodford
go goodford go sadly its tactful
advocacy couldn't keep its third season
from becoming ABC's lowest rated program
at the time you can probably guess what
happened after that even though
speechless didn't get the lengthy run it
deserved 3 years of groundbreaking
representation is plenty to talk about
God bless us
everyone number 15 Agent Carter we are
standing before an incomprehensible rip
in the fabric of our world
world it was a seven iron what began as
a one-off test drive became so popular
ABC had no choice but to bring it back
for another season but just one year
later they decided to cancel Agent
Carter for good yeah that's right
they're the ones who asked for more
episodes and then had the ner to end the
series on an unresolved Cliffhanger I
mean what's that
about it's especially frustrating
because Agent Carter remains one of the
few MCU shows that serves a real
narrative purpose in the franchise's
timeline plus who doesn't love seeing
more Peggy apparently the answer is ABC
if they wen't in it for the long haul
they should have just left good enough
alone as impossible as that may
sound we have to let him go number 14
the
mick
we by the time 2017 rolled around we
were all well overdue for a Caitlyn
Olsen L sitcom thankfully the mick came
to the rescue and was more than worth
the waight the edgy comedy easily stood
out amongst its glossy overproduced
competition though with Olson's comedic
wit at the center what else would you
expect no if anyone ask you about this
you lie but you said not I said lie it's
just a shame Fox didn't feel the same
way the screw ball comedy was never a
ratings Juggernaut and eventually it
dropped too low to Warrant more episodes
the one silver lining is that the mick
went out exactly as it lived
unflinchingly honest uor justly funny
and just weird enough to keep you
guessing take
yes number 13
Jericho these days a post-apocalyptic
serial is a great hook for a breakout
hit in 2006 though it was a different
story Jericho's intricate narrative
wasn't a good fit for traditional
Network programming and that spelled
doomed for its viewership from the very
beginning it's always sad when a shows
only floor is that it was ahead of its
time still the people who did watch
Jericho were passionate
in fact their online favor is the only
reason it got a second season at all
while the same trick didn't work for its
next cancellation the show did get
closure in the form of an official comic
book series number 12 my name is l that
Karma stuff is going to kill me unless I
make up for everything on that list on
the outside this sitcom had all the
makings of a long running classic good
ratings good reviews and a crazy
invested fan base but after nearly a 100
episodes and a literal to be continued
end screen NBC canel L on a huge
question mark who is L Junior's dad and
asking the show there just feels mean
everybody just calm
down on the bright side this
cancellation did get some justice L's
Creator later went on to make Raising
Hope for Fox and he couldn't go by
without making a few cheeky jobs at
NBC's treatment of his show a swift kick
to the NDS is just the kind of eulogy
ear would have
wanted that's for canceling My Name is
Earl number 11 Veronica
Mars unless it's a video from the future
that's not possible not even Veronica
herself could tell you why this classic
detective show only got three seasons
while its ratings weren't Stellar they
weren't bad either and it had plenty of
critical Acclaim to back it up and yet
that didn't stop Veronica from being
forced into retirement after just a few
painfully short years you're going to
make some very powerful men very unhappy
won't be the first time naturally she
left behind a slew of unresolved story
lines too following a successful
fan-funded film in 2014 Executives
finally came to their senses and gave
Veronica Mars the final season always
deserved if anything its continued
recognition just proves that this show
should have never been canceled to begin
with bowing out this way doesn't seem
like the worst way to go number 10 Santa
Clarita diet it's amazing it was so
there's always something cozy about a
family sitcom preheat your oven add in
an undead mum and you have Santa clar
diet a full course laugh fest that
everyone can enjoy at least anyone who
can stomach the blood although quality
wasn't enough for Netflix who buried or
should we say reburied the Hammond
family after only three seasons and of
course there's no closure to be found
either
[Music]
Jo hello unresolved endings always sting
but this one in particular hurts more
than a zombie bite after all you won't
find Santa claresa diet's unique blend
of campy horror and quakey humor
anywhere else definitely not on Netflix
that's for sure what's the right answer
you kiss me on the lips and then place a
silk pillow over my face and shoot me
through the temple with a pearl handled
revolver number nine my so-called life
now she hates me so she never liked you
that much to start off with no but now
she really hates me there's aairs for
everything and when it comes to teen
dramas that authentically portrayed the
struggles of Youth that was my so-called
life the groundbreaking honesty took
critics by storm and that's put in it
lightly what about drugs I need names I
know she took ecstasy how much I don't
know sadly being the first of its kind
also meant my so-called life struggled
attracting viewers away from already
established formulas all the Acclaim in
the world couldn't keep it from a brief
19 episode life either way my so-called
life is often regarded as one of if not
the best teen drum of all time a season
2 would have been nice but a legacy like
that is a pretty good runner-up prize
I'm
sorry person Number Eight party
[Music]
down you can milk me if you like my
Tee's are
fool they may play down on their look
actors here but this Ensemble has
already found their hit show and it's
called party down the series tackles the
realities of making it in Hollywood with
wit humor and refreshing New Perspective
by putting the focus on the character's
day job at a catering service party down
opens the door to all kinds of clever
commentary and hilarious guest stars oh
oh am I going to die well you can't OD
on marijuana unfortunately these highly
rated events had low audience turnout
leading to a full staff layoff at the
end of season 2 but this dish was just
as good reheated and the continued
audience support led to a well deserved
Revival season in 2023 and you know what
that means drinks all around ate it so
much yes like with every fiber of my
being I want to drink all of this and
blow the entire thing up number seven
Pushing Daisies I just thought my world
would be a better place if you were in
it Ned may be able to bring people back
to life but not even he can resurrect
Pushing Daisies part crime drama part
off-the-wall comedy and part zombie film
this show stood out on its creative
merits alone though the seven Emmy wins
couldn't have hurt either regrettably
these daisies wilted to the plague that
infects most great shows low viewership
rent the girl a hand truck and get this
crap out of here the same story book
aesthetic and fast-paced dialogue that
turned Pushing Daisies into a critical
darling also made it difficult to
attract casual viewers the cause of the
darling mermaid darling's emotional
relapse was this Awards don't keep the
lights on and disappointingly the
numbers didn't add up to a season 3
renewal 22 Episodes is nothing to scuff
at but Pushing Daisies could have bloed
for so much longer events occurred that
are not were not and should never be
considered an ending number six Hannibal
don't psychoanalyze me you won't like me
when I'm psychoanalyzed after three
seasons of bloody good storytelling
Hannibal leor learned firsthand how it
felt to be caught I wish a speedy
convalescence and hope he won't be very
ugly to be fair it felt like his
namesake show was set up to fail despite
its gory subject matter being much
better suited for streaming Hannibal was
instead exiled to the low traffic Friday
night time slot on NBC there it earned
consistently High marks but poultry
viewership it's a definition of unfair
Hannibal had worldclass performances
incredible writing and a brilliant six
season plan that would adapt Silence of
the Lambs very interesting very
interesting even for a Layman but at the
end of its three season run all we have
to show for it is a fantastic pitch and
half of what could have been an
all-timer
[Music]
rushing
through number five Twin Peaks how's
Annie how's Annie how's Annie so who
killed Laura Palmer if you owned a TV in
1990 that was the question on your mind
everyone was enamored with twin peak's
unorthodox Mysteries and it had God
gantu and ratings to back it up
however Network meddling and a lack of
satisfying answers quickly turned the
water cooler phenomenon into a cancelled
hasb but fans weren't content leaving
Twin Peaks unfinished their support led
to the production of a theatrically
released prequel film firewalk with me
25 years after that they got an entire
third season greenlet it's a good thing
this cancellation didn't stick there's
clearly a lot more stories to tell in
Twin
Peaks number four Arrested Development
but in this business of show you have to
have the heart of an Angel and the hide
of an elephant just like there's always
money in the banana stand there's always
fun to be had with Arrested Development
there's no way to accurately describe
how bizarre funny and unhinge the show
gets so we'll let this Emmy win for
outstanding comedy series speak for
itself oh my God we're having a fire
sale oh the burning however that same
off-the-wall humor made it a T self for
General audiences after three acclaimed
but low rated Seasons the blutes finally
reached the end of the line at least for
a few years in 2013 Netflix brought
Arrested Development back for a few more
rounds of hilarious family hinks it's
only right that this comedy went out
with laughter Not
Tragedy number three mind Hunter if
there's one thing I know it's this
a mother should not scorn her own son a
streaming show overseen by legendary
film director David Fincher practically
markets itself but in a devastating turn
of events Fincher's involvement ended up
being both mind Hunters claim to fame
and its fall from Glory despite
overwhelmingly positive reactions
Netflix put the series on indefinite
hold Following season 2 citing high
costs and Fincher's busy schedule we
need to know exactly how worried we need
to be all at once the planned five
season Arc and Bevy of untapped cases
became nothing more than dropped plot
lines for what it's worth viewers tried
their best to reverse the decision Bor
in 20123 finer himself announced mind
Hunter was over leaving the drama as a
hollow shell of what it could have been
can you make him shut up I have not been
able to do that sir number two Freaks
and Geeks so I wake up this morning and
guess what is sitting on the end of my
bed a
turd yes Bill a turd Against All Odds
this Coming of Age tale connected with
audiences in a way few shows ever have
as if to prove it almost every member of
its main cast has become a household
name I beg your pardon that's funny it's
a joke right it's really no wonder
Freaks and Geeks is still a door to this
day unfortunately poor scheduling and
behind the scenes frustrations kept it
from achieving the same success at its
release but a third of the episodes
almost never Air at all no matter what
though Freaks and Geeks can rest easy
noan gets still hailed as one of the
greats I'm never going to cheat on my
wife even if she gets old and
fat yeah i' be Happ just to get a wife
before we continue be sure to subscribe
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you're on your phone make sure you go
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notifications number one Firefly that
ain't Fair
crime and politics little girl here it
is perhaps the most famous One season
Wonder in television history rest
assured Firefly deserves every bit of
its reputation which is why it's so
disheartening to learn that it never
really had a chance bad time slots and
out of order airings meant audiences had
an uphill battle just to watch the show
let alone follow its story and fox
wonders why it had low ratings you
understand I'm sort of on the clock here
it's frustrating luckily the few who did
watch Firefly fell head over heels with
and they spread the word until it became
an underground Triumph the series didn't
last long but at this point that's kind
of part of its charm plus there's always
the sequel film Serenity if you did need
a bit more closure do you really believe
that I do so what's a show you'd pay to
get another season of let us know in the
comments
below did you enjoy this video check out
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