Top 20 TV Shows CANCELLED Too Soon

Most TV shows based on beloved films should be approached with caution. And yet, “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” was the rare spinoff that didn’t just live up to its legacy, it arguably improved it. But, while the quality was there, the ratings weren’t. The first season was cut short by the 2007 writer’s 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 Sarah Connor Chronicles” was quickly canceled. 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.

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. However, at that point, fans had already fallen in love with the quirky, time-hopping procedural. Thanks to their unwavering support, the network un-cancelled 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 two-hour special to tie up any loose ends. But, it still feels like a consolation prize compared to what a full, third season could’ve been.

The scariest part of this monster show is how quickly HBO brought down the ax. What’s so strange is that “Lovecraft Country” was basically a sensation waiting to happen. The potent blend of horror, history, and racial issues had viewers hooked. Critics weren’t shy, either. The freshman series earned six Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama. But, 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.

Given what happened, it’s kind of an ironic title, huh? Well, 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 Reaper collecting the souls of the departed, “Dead Like Me” drew large viewership and near-unanimous praise. 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 punchlines beg to differ. Whatever the reason, it’s clear “Dead Like Me” faced the scythe way before its time.

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 DiMeo family’s daily life with JJ’s cerebral palsy 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. 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, three years of groundbreaking representation is plenty to talk about.

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. That’s right, they’re the ones who asked for more episodes, and then had the nerve to end the series on an unresolved cliffhanger. 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 weren’t in for the long haul, they should’ve just left good enough alone.

By the time 2017 rolled around, we were all well overdue for a Kaitlin Olson-led sitcom. Thankfully, “The Mick” came to the rescue, and was more than worth the wait. The edgy comedy easily stood out amongst its glossy, overproduced competition. Though, with Olsen’s comedic wit at the center, what else would you expect? It’s just a shame Fox didn’t feel the same. The screwball 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, uproariously funny, and just weird enough to keep you guessing.

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 doom for its viewership from the very beginning. It’s always sad when a show’s only flaw is that it was ahead of its time. Still, the people who did watch “Jericho” were passionate. In fact, their online fervor 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.

On the outside, this sitcom had all the makings of a long-running classic: good ratings, good reviews, and a crazy-invested fanbase. But, after nearly a hundred episodes and a literal “to be continued” end screen, NBC canceled “Earl” on a huge question mark - who is Earl Jr.’s Dad? Axing the show there just feels mean. On the bright side, this cancellation did get some justice. “Earl’s” creator later went on to make “Raising Hope” for Fox, and he couldn’t go by without making a few cheeky jabs at NBC’s treatment of his show. A swift kick to the nads is just the kind of eulogy Earl would’ve wanted.

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. Naturally, she left behind a slew of unresolved storylines, too. Following a successful fan-funded film in 2014, executives finally came to their senses and gave “Veronica Mars” the final season it always deserved. If anything, its continued recognition just proves that this show should have never been canceled to begin with.

There’s always something cozy about a family sitcom. Preheat your oven, add in an undead Mom, and you have “Santa Clarita 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. Unresolved endings always sting, but this one in particular one hurts more than a zombie bite. After all, you won’t find “Santa Clarita Diet’s” unique blend of campy horror and quirky humor anywhere else. Definitely not on Netflix anymore, that’s for sure.

There’s a first for everything, and when it comes to teen dramas that authentically portrayed the struggles of youth, that was “My So-Called Life.” The groundbreaking honestly took critics by storm, and that’s putting it lightly. 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, nineteen episode life. Either way, “My So-Called Life” is often regarded as one of, if not the best teen drama of all time. A season two would’ve been nice, but a legacy like that is a pretty good runner-up prize.

They may play down-on-their-luck 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 a 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. Unfortunately, these highly-rated events had low audience turnout, leading to a full-staff layoff at the end of season two. But, this dish was just as good reheated, and the continued audience support led to a well-deserved revival season in 2023. You know what that means; drinks all around!

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. The same storybook aesthetic and fast-paced dialogue that turned “Pushing Daisies” into a critical darling also made it difficult to attract casual viewers. Awards don’t keep the lights on, and disappointingly, the numbers didn’t add up to a season three renewal. Twenty two episodes is nothing to scoff at, but “Pushing Daisies” could’ve bloomed for so much longer.

After three seasons of bloody good storytelling, Hannibal Lecter learned firsthand how it felt to be “cut.” 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 paltry viewership. It’s the definition of unfair; “Hannibal” had world-class performances, incredible writing, and a brilliant six-season plan that would adapt “Silence of the Lambs.” 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’ve been an all-timer.

Who killed Laura Palmer? If you owned a TV in 1990, that was the question on your mind. Everyone was enamored with “Twin Peaks’” unorthodox mysteries, and it had the gargantuan ratings to back it up. However, network meddling and a lack of satisfying answers quickly turned the watercooler phenomenon into a canceled has-been. But, fans weren’t content leaving “Twin Peaks” unfinished. Their support led to the production of a theatrically released prequel film, “Fire Walk With me.” Twenty five years after that, they got an entire third season greenlit. It’s a good thing this cancellation didn’t stick; there’s clearly a lot more stories to tell in “Twin Peaks.”

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 unhinged the show gets, so we’ll let its Emmy win for Outstanding Comedy series speak for itself. However, that same, off-the-walls humor made it a tough sell for general audiences. After three acclaimed but low-rated seasons, the Bluth’s 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 hijinks. It’s only right that this comedy went out with laughter, not tragedy.

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 “Mindhunter’s” claim to fame and its fall from glory. Despite overwhelmingly positive reactions, Netflix put the series on indefinite hold following season two, citing high costs and Fincher’s busy schedule. All at once, the planned five-season arc and bevy of untapped cases became nothing more than dropped plotlines. For what it’s worth, viewers tried their best to reverse the decision. But, in 2023, Fincher himself announced “Mindhunter” was over, leaving the drama as an hollow shell of what it could’ve been.

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. Linda Cardellini, anyone? How about Jason Segel? Or Seth Rogen? You get the point. It’s really no wonder “Freaks and Geeks” is still adored to this day. Unfortunately, poor scheduling and behind the scenes frustrations kept it from achieving the same success at its release. Not only was it promptly canceled, but a third of its episodes almost never aired at all. No matter what, though, “Freaks and Geeks” can rest easy knowing it's still hailed as one of the greats.

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 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. Luckily, the few who did watch “Firefly” fell head over heels, and they spread the word until it became an underground triumph. The series didn’t last long, but at this point, that’s part of its charm. Plus, there’s always the sequel film, “Serenity,” if you need a bit more closure.