Top 20 Anticipated but Disappointing TV Shows

Taking a franchise in an entirely new decision is risky – fans have certain expectations, and can get angry when a piece of media strays from them. “Gotham Knights” was intended to be a fresh take on the D.C. universe– one that exists in a world where Batman has been killed. Initially, people were excited to see how the twist would be handled. Unfortunately, the new characters’ edgy personalities made it hard to connect with them, as they ended up as caricatures of anti-heros. Additionally, the darker plot came across more as fanfiction than a genuine exploration of a post-Batman world. While the potential was undeniable, many felt the concept was better handled in video game form.

For decades, these puppets were considered a family act. However, this reboot tried appealing to a more adult audience with “the muppets.”-- a sitcom based around their lives as famous celebrities. While many were looking forward to the modern approach, others weren’t quite as excited. Even before it was released, there were complaints of it being inappropriate. When it aired, there was a mixed response– with most of the criticism coming from concerned parents. They felt it was too mature for children, with moments like the Muppets drinking alcohol being cited as particularly problematic. Beyond the complaints, the show also struggled to find a core fanbase– which led to it being canceled after just one season.

One experience that was common among younger Americans of a certain age was enjoying the “George Lopez” show. Not only did this sitcom solidify his legacy for a generation, it also helped his popularity live on even after the show ended. When it was announced he’d be returning to cable with “Saint George”, excitement was high. However, it ended up having little of the charm of his breakout role. The new characters were mostly one-note, which made it harder to care about them. The show also attempted to appeal to adults with mature jokes, but went too far, and ended up coming across as crass instead. It was canned after 10 episodes, and fans were left disappointed that their TV dad went out this way.

“Happy Days” was so successful that it spawned multiple spin-offs– some more successful than others. “Joanie Loves Chachi” was one that unfortunately didn’t resonate with the public. It was based around the couple attempting to start their music career. While they were popular characters, they quickly proved why not every beloved character deserves their own show. They seemed to lack their original chemistry, and the inclusion of musical performances every episode came across as a way to pad the runtime. While the show seemingly had everything it needed to succeed, it just couldn’t connect with audiences. After it was canceled, the couple returned to “Happy Days”-- proving that they never needed to leave in the first place.

Rebooting a beloved TV series is a huge risk to take, but this show almost pulled it off. After a genuinely impressive premiere, viewers were excited to see where “Bionic Woman” would go from there. However, the rest of the season made people question if they were watching the same program. Complaints ranged from the way the fight scenes were choreographed to the dark tone, which was a stark change from the original. There were even debates around the casting of the protagonist. While it showcased plenty of potential right up front, by the end of the season, that energy had completely petered out. It was a shame, as past supporters were excited to see a modern version of a classic hero.

Video game adaptations are becoming more popular, thanks to the success of shows like “The Last of Us”. When it was announced that “Halo” would be adapted into a longform show, there was mass enthusiasm. Fans had waited for years to see their favorite characters brought to a wider audience. However, they were watching like hawks to find any discrepancies from the original game. When it aired, critics came out of the woodwork. They felt that the show strayed too far from canon, and questioned why they even bothered using an existing IP. It’s too different for current fans, and not engaging enough to bring new ones in. Despite it being renewed for a second season, many had already sworn it off.

Kelsey Grammer is an icon of the small screen, so people were rightfully excited when a new sitcom starring the “Cheers' ' and “Frasier' ' alumnus was announced by ABC. Sadly – Hank was not even good enough to be called a poor man’s Frasier. Grammer is a business executive who is let go from his CEO job and moves his family from New York to Virginia. Obviously, hijinks ensue. Ten episodes were shot for this family comedy, but ABC only ended up airing five of them. Hank was so unfunny, Grammer himself asked the network to drop the series.

It’s hard enough to capture lightning in a bottle once, let alone twice. “Sex and The City” has been one of the most popular programs of the new millennium, particularly among female audiences. It’s gone through a renaissance in recent years, with new generations enjoying the characters’ antics. So when the sequel series was announced, anticipation was high across all age groups. Fans couldn’t wait to see what kind of lessons they would be able to impart from experience. Unfortunately, the show couldn’t live up to its previous reputation. It’s even been called inauthentic– which is a word that would’ve never been used to describe the original. From the lack of Kim Cattrall to the main cast’s regression, it’s clear it doesn’t have the same spark.

If there’s one genre with a dedicated fanbase, it’s crime shows. One of the most popular, “Criminal Minds”, set itself apart by focusing on criminals’ behavioral patterns. It was a hit, which eventually led to the creation of several spin-offs, including “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”. With actors like Gary Sinise signing on, it seemed like a sure shot to reach similar levels of popularity. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Audiences couldn’t help but notice that the new team had very similar traits to the original, which caused them to seem unoriginal. Beyond all else, it didn’t really have the heart of the original, which ultimately led to its failure.

You’d think that after creating a hit like “Mad Men”, the only way to go would be up. That seemed to be the case for Matt Weiner’s next series, “The Romanoffs”. It had an interesting concept; focusing on families that believed they were direct descendants of the infamous clan. The cast changing each episode was also an interesting twist. While the premise was undoubtedly ambitious, viewers learned that it couldn’t quite stick the landing. The pacing in particular was called out, along with the poor character development. While the idea was great, many felt that it would’ve been better executed if there were only one plotline. It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how impressive a premise is if the final result falls short.

On paper, this show also had everything it needed to succeed. From a star-studded cast consisting of accomplished entertainers to “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson at the helm, it seemed that “The Idol” would be an instant success. The dark aesthetic alone was enough to draw people in. Unfortunately, the final product couldn't live up to its glamorous reputation. Even before it aired, people were making fun of clips that had been published to promote it. Many audiences found it boring, even with the gratuitous sexuality. Beyond that, The Weeknd’s portrayal of Tedros was unintentionally funny at times, turning supposed dramatic scenes into comedic ones. It may have been swiftly canceled, but it will always live on, thanks to the power of the Internet.

Maybe they should’ve let this one go hungry. Clyde Phillips is an accomplished TV writer and producer, who contributed to Dexter’s early success as its showrunner. In “Feed The Beast,” he cast David Schwimmer as Tommy Moran, a man with alcohol use disorder who’s struggling to launch a restaurant in the Bronx, but whose dream is rendered difficult by criminals and corrupt officials. Good acting and visuals aside, this crime drama was taken to task by critics for an overall bland plot and generally unlikable characters. It was canceled by AMC after just a single ten episode season.

While not an entirely new show, the 21st season of this beloved fan fave built on the show’s anniversary 20th season and came full circle by featuring older characters. This news was huge with past and present supporters, with many speculating over how the new and old cast would interact. But unfortunately, the acting wasn’t great, the story wasn’t that impactful and the writing was lacking, which led many fans to conclude that the concept was pretty much wasted. While it could have been an excellent way of connecting multiple generations of “Power Rangers” audiences, all it did was remind them of what it used to be.

Marvel has proven in the past that their television shows can be just as well made as their movies, with “Luke Cage” and “Jessica Jones” being considered the cream of the crop. Between that track record and Iron Fist’s popularity as a hero, it seemed like his story would be an instant hit. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Viewers found that it was lacking the excitement and intensity usually found in Marvel’s repertoire. Beyond that, the protagonist was handled differently than he had been in other series, which led to confusion about his portrayal. Fans were disappointed that Netflix dropped the ball.

A sequel to “That ‘70s Show” starring Dennis from “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”? Doesn’t that sound great? “That ‘80s Show” follows Eric Forman’s cousin Corey Howard, a struggling musician who works at a record shop. Despite being created by the same minds responsible for the hit series “That 70’s Show,” this spiritual sequel struggled through its first and only season before Fox gave it the chop. While its predecessor used the ‘70s as a backdrop for its lovable cast, “That ‘80s Show" is just a series of heavy-handed references to its decade, creating a mostly laugh-free experience.

With a fanbase as loyal as the one “The Witcher” has cultivated, it only makes sense that fans would have high expectations for any retelling. After the success of the original series, the studio moved forward with a prequel that would be set over a thousand years beforehand. Fans were excited to see more worldbuilding, and the exploration of Xin’trea before it was destroyed. Their hopes were quickly dashed. Not only had the writers not stayed faithful to the source material, they also altered the lore. This made it come across as a marketing tactic for the main show, rather than a genuine continuation of the story. It quickly became one of Netflix’s worst-reviewed projects, and any eagerness for future adaptations was gone.

A massively successful and influential sitcom, “Friends” is seemingly set to flourish forever in the form of re-runs. With that sort of impact, a spin-off was inevitable, and Matt LeBlanc’s Joey was the one to receive the push. Unsurprisingly, removing five of the six reasons people loved the original series had an adverse effect on the end product. Lasting less than two seasons, NBC’s spin-off plummeted in ratings during its second year due to airing in the same time slot as Fox’s “American Idol.” “Joey” was unlikely to ever match the high standards set by “Friends,” but even so, most expected better.

“Scooby-Doo!” is one of the most beloved series in American history, and has maintained its popularity for several decades. While many spin-offs and movies have been created, one in particular became controversial: “Velma.” The bespectacled detective was a fan favorite, which led to an initial wave of excitement for the series. The announcement of Mindy Kaling playing the titular role also piqued viewers’ interests. However, that interest quickly faded once episodes started rolling out. The show was mostly panned for poor attempts at self-aware humor to a lack of character development. Fans were also unhappy with how much the gang had been Flanderized, particularly Fred. It could have been a great continuation of the franchise, but the poor execution quickly killed any support for it.

Getting a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes is considerably harder than earning a 100, especially for TV Shows. If nothing else, the reboot of “Charlie’s Angels” can take pride in having earned membership in that exclusive group. The original 1976 series was hardly a critical darling, but the first two seasons found a huge audience. This remake, on the other hand, was criticized for an uninteresting cast, terrible action scenes, and was promptly canceled before airing the season finale. This ill-advised series is basically just a footnote in the franchise’s history.

Suddenly, Iron First looks pretty good. Based on the comic book property of the same name, “Inhumans” centers around an inhuman royal family forced to hide out on Earth after a military coup. Originally planned as a movie, Marvel Studios tried to have the best of both worlds by screening an IMAX version of the first two episodes. Sitting at only 11% on Rotten Tomatoes as of November 2023, Inhumans lacked the budget to do its source material justice. Criticized for a bland story and weak characters, sadly, there is little good to be said about this huge disappointment.