The Top Ten Cancelled TV Shows
The best television has to offer is usually slain prematurely due to overreaction by networks and the lazy minds of the average viewer.
Here are the top ten best of the briefest, those stars that brightened our nights for two years or fewer.
10. "Hooperman" (ABC)
Premiered: September 1997
Cancelled: July 1999
Nifty Bocho product that combined good writing with good humor.
9. "Philly" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
One of the more realistic law dramas with a strong lead character and compelling stories. Also a Bocho series.
8. "Brooklyn South" (CBS)
Premiered: September 1997
Cancelled: April 1998
OK, it's clear the networks hate Bocho. This was an intense, gritty, police drama that had "hit" written all over it. The pilot was the most gripping introduction to a tv series in the history of cop drama.
7. "Wonderland" (ABC)
Premiered: March 2000
Cancelled: April 2000
Fantastically compelling drama taking place in a mental institution. Two episodes aired before ABC caved to the absurdly uptight who protested the realistic portrayal of the mentally ill.
6. "Police Squad" (ABC)
Premiered: March 1982
Cancelled: September 1982
Easily better than two of the three "Naked Gun" films that spun off from this short-lived series. It was all the best elements of "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" spun into a neat little package.
5. "Sports Night" (ABC)
Premiered: September 1998
Cancelled: May 2000
"Sports Night" may very well have failed because no one knew what it was. It wasn't a show about sports at all. It was a show about a show about sports. It was a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a fictional "Sportscenter" type show. Fantastic dialog and writing was often wasted by the often hidden or missing comedy/drama on the ABC schedule.
4. "Wonderfalls" (FOX)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
Much too creative, quirky, intelligent and fun to survive in a world where "Everybody Loves Raymond" tops the charts.
3. "Push, Nevada" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
Innovative and unusual; a thinking-persons drama with dynamic characters and addictive storyline, and a real life prize for the person to solve the ultimate mystery. Yet another premature reaction by ABC, which has killed more quality television than any other network.
2. "My So-Called Life" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
The ultimate in "cancelled before its time" TV shows. Clare Danes as a 15 year old angst-filled teenager going through the paces of high school established a connection with women old and young and lead to the most fervent cult following in TV history.
1. "Firefly" (FOX)
Premiered: September 2002
Cancelled: December 2002
The show I miss the most of any shot down prematurely. A western set in outer space, 400 years in the future, with deep, complex characters, dynamic storylines, and a realistic approach to science fiction (no sound in space, no wacky alien life forms, or crazy gadgets and gizmos). Buried deep on no-man's land (Friday Night Television) and released in a confusing manner (the pilot was aired last), Firefly never really had a shot to show its greatness. There has never been a finer TV series and after the way it was treated, there may never be anything close again.
Not all is lost, however. A feature-length film will be released in September of 2005. Hopefully one of many to come.
The best television has to offer is usually slain prematurely due to overreaction by networks and the lazy minds of the average viewer.
Here are the top ten best of the briefest, those stars that brightened our nights for two years or fewer.
10. "Hooperman" (ABC)
Premiered: September 1997
Cancelled: July 1999
Nifty Bocho product that combined good writing with good humor.
9. "Philly" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
One of the more realistic law dramas with a strong lead character and compelling stories. Also a Bocho series.
8. "Brooklyn South" (CBS)
Premiered: September 1997
Cancelled: April 1998
OK, it's clear the networks hate Bocho. This was an intense, gritty, police drama that had "hit" written all over it. The pilot was the most gripping introduction to a tv series in the history of cop drama.
7. "Wonderland" (ABC)
Premiered: March 2000
Cancelled: April 2000
Fantastically compelling drama taking place in a mental institution. Two episodes aired before ABC caved to the absurdly uptight who protested the realistic portrayal of the mentally ill.
6. "Police Squad" (ABC)
Premiered: March 1982
Cancelled: September 1982
Easily better than two of the three "Naked Gun" films that spun off from this short-lived series. It was all the best elements of "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" spun into a neat little package.
5. "Sports Night" (ABC)
Premiered: September 1998
Cancelled: May 2000
"Sports Night" may very well have failed because no one knew what it was. It wasn't a show about sports at all. It was a show about a show about sports. It was a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a fictional "Sportscenter" type show. Fantastic dialog and writing was often wasted by the often hidden or missing comedy/drama on the ABC schedule.
4. "Wonderfalls" (FOX)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
Much too creative, quirky, intelligent and fun to survive in a world where "Everybody Loves Raymond" tops the charts.
3. "Push, Nevada" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
Innovative and unusual; a thinking-persons drama with dynamic characters and addictive storyline, and a real life prize for the person to solve the ultimate mystery. Yet another premature reaction by ABC, which has killed more quality television than any other network.
2. "My So-Called Life" (ABC)
Premiered: August 1994
Cancelled: January 1995
The ultimate in "cancelled before its time" TV shows. Clare Danes as a 15 year old angst-filled teenager going through the paces of high school established a connection with women old and young and lead to the most fervent cult following in TV history.
1. "Firefly" (FOX)
Premiered: September 2002
Cancelled: December 2002
The show I miss the most of any shot down prematurely. A western set in outer space, 400 years in the future, with deep, complex characters, dynamic storylines, and a realistic approach to science fiction (no sound in space, no wacky alien life forms, or crazy gadgets and gizmos). Buried deep on no-man's land (Friday Night Television) and released in a confusing manner (the pilot was aired last), Firefly never really had a shot to show its greatness. There has never been a finer TV series and after the way it was treated, there may never be anything close again.
Not all is lost, however. A feature-length film will be released in September of 2005. Hopefully one of many to come.
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