# Cancelled, but Brilliant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968 "2003-01-01T00:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/21 "2003-01-01T08:09:35Z")
**Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush** - shortlived Australian show. **Grosse Point** - ok, it wasn’t brilliant, but I liked it and it got the axe after only 1 season. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/22 "2003-01-01T08:45:13Z")
There is an American show called [**Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush**](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0247865)… I wonder if it’s based on the Aussie one? Turns out the Aussie one is based on an English one of the same name! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/23 "2003-01-01T10:07:14Z")
Dark Angel was cool. Brimstone was really cool. What pisses me off is a show will be canceled because it failed to win out against a show in a competing timeslot, regardless how good it was. What REALLY pisses me off is we rely so heavily on Nielson ratings to judge what stays & what goes. I don’t care how “scientific” they claim their sampling is. The people who agree to a Nielson box are people who have nothing better to do than sit at home all day answering telemarketing phone calls & junk mail. I don’t want those people deciding what I watch. The media is catering to people who are gullible enough to fall for crap, not what most people actually are watching, or want to see. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/24 "2003-01-01T11:08:24Z")
The original **Star Trek.** First tampered with, then destroyed, by NBC. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/25 "2003-01-01T16:09:19Z")
_EZ Street_ (if I remember the title correctly). Although it was a bit confusing (who the hell was Frenchy, anyway? And why did only three people work at police headquarters?), this show included some of the most powerful sequences I’ve ever seen on tv. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/26 "2003-01-01T16:21:29Z")
About Firefly: “I definitely think that you have to come out strong right away…” But this may have been Fox’s fault rather than the show’s. The two hour pilot was pretty good but apparently they started with other, less interesting episodes for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/27 "2003-01-01T21:29:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wearia \* > **Futurama isn’t canceled. 😃** Well, maybe not strictly speaking, but Fox has pretty much done the same thing. Over the last few years they’ve pre-empted it and shortened it’s season to the point that, going into the current season, they had enough un-aired episodes sitting on the shelf that they didn’t need to order a new seasons worth of shows from Matt Groening. As far as I know, all the writers and animators have been layed off. Even if Fox decides they need new episodes next year, most of the creators will probably have moved on to other jobs by then. Eric ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/28 "2003-01-01T21:39:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Purd Werfect \* > \*\*Sports Night - Good writing, excellent ensemble cast. Only downside is that they used a laugh track and the show didn’t need that kind of window dressing. > \*\* I agree with you, but the people at ABC forced it on the show. Heck, it even won a “Best show you’re not watching” award, and ABC still fucked it up because the producers refused to tie it into the whole “January Storm” thing. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/29 "2003-01-01T21:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > \*\*As for Invader ZIM, I can definitely understand _why_ it was cancelled by Nickelodeon; it’s not really their audience. What I _don’t_ get is why Nickelodeon picked it up in the first place. Why commit a show to your network when there’s little to no chance of its succeeding there? I just got into the show recently – did it start before there was an Adult Swim on Cartoon Network? \*\* It premiered on March 30, 2001, and this [Nickelodeon press release](http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/press_010117_invader.html) from January 2001 sure sounded enthusiastic: > [@](#): > > “Invader ZIM has a look and feel that is completely unique, with a kid-like yet sophisticated sense of humor that will appeal to kids across all age groups,” said Cyma Zarghami, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon. “Jhonen Vasquez is a fresh new talent who has used an innovative animation style to create a fantastic and hilarious sci-fi world rich with imaginative characters and situations.” Too rich for Nick’s blood, apparently. Given the comments that Vasquez has made about his experience with the network, I seriously doubt he’d be willing to work with them again even if they were to change their minds about the cancellation. I don’t know what his contract looks like, of course, but I Nick apparently owns the rights to ZIM, so he likely has to do things their way or no way at all. It looks like Adult Swim was launched in September 2001. Is the Cartoon Network affiliated with Nickelodeon in any way? I’ve been told that Nick has started to jealously guard its original programming ever since it sold “Doug” to Disney and that ZIM wouldn’t have much chance to go to another network, but I don’t know how true that is. I’d love to see someone else pick it up one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/30 "2003-01-01T22:06:54Z")
Dark Angel and Birds of Prey were taken down far earlier than they should have been, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/31 "2003-01-01T22:37:52Z")
Fox had a series called “Profit” that starred Adrian Pasdar. This was a summer replacement series that aired a few episodes in late 1980’s or early 1990’s. I enjoyed that show. ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/32 "2003-01-01T22:41:52Z")
The younger people won’t even know this and Trio did show it but: _The Ernie Kovacs Show_ It was sort of funny, but the best thing about it was **The Nairobi Trio**. 3 people in gorilla masks, coats, hats, 1 small piano, 1 vase. You have to see it to see how odd it is. Screamingly funny, in my opinion. Am I right, older Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/33 "2003-01-01T23:25:16Z")
I always heard the **Police Squad!** was intended as a short-run series with a finite number of episodes. Dunno how accurate that is. Besides, everyone knows that, when discussing cancelled shows that didn’t deserve cancellation, one lofty tower of comedy casts it’s shadow of justice across the face of The City… **The Tick**. Yeah, I know, it stumbled a couple of times, but it really was just brilliant. But it should have been on cable, where it would have had a chance to flourish instead of on broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![martin\_ibn\_martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@martin\_ibn\_martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martin_ibn_martin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/34 "2003-01-01T23:57:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilt-wearin’ man \* > \*\*Besides, everyone knows that, when discussing cancelled shows that didn’t deserve cancellation, one lofty tower of comedy casts it’s shadow of justice across the face of The City… > > **The Tick**. Yeah, I know, it stumbled a couple of times, but it really was just brilliant. But it should have been on cable, where it would have had a chance to flourish instead of on broadcast. \*\* Neener neener neener! We have every episode of the Real Tick, (The cartoon) on video. grainy bad sound parts of the commercials still recorded but we have it! The Live action sucked, with the exception of casting for The Tick. They messed up too many of the secondary characters for me to be happy. Martin Tick fan since the comic book ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/35 "2003-01-02T00:06:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InternetLegend \* > **It looks like Adult Swim was launched in September 2001. Is the Cartoon Network affiliated with Nickelodeon in any way?** No, Cartoon Network is a Turner network, making it part of the gigantic Time/Warner monopoly. Nickelodeon is (or at least was originally) part of the huge Viacom monopoly with MTV & VH-1 and the like. Thanks for the other info. I really think ZIM would’ve worked better on CN, but then I’m a big fan of the Cartoon Network and have been extremely impressed with how they’ve handled every series. (Except for their inexplicable devotion to crappy shows like “Sheep in the Big City” and “Cow and Chicken”). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/36 "2003-01-02T00:35:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marine\_One \* > \*\*The younger people won’t even know this and Trio did show it but: > > _The Ernie Kovacs Show_ > … > Am I right, older Dopers? \*\* I’ll second that emotion. David Letterman basically copied every bit he ever did from good old Ernie…Timmy p.s. - I ain’t THAT old! ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/37 "2003-01-02T01:59:39Z")
“Neener” indeed…I too enjoyed the animated **The Tick** , and was a fan of the comic book starting with the first issue (I always hoped for a cartoon or live action appearance by Paul the Samurai). In fact, the animated **The Tick** should be listed as a “dead before its time” show as well. The live-action **The Tick** certainly did NOT suck, and the changes to the secondary characters were necessitated by legal issues, some problem between Fox Kids Network and Fox Programming somehow (it always sounded like a stupid non-issue, but I suppose it kept the Fox lawyers off the street.) not being able to share rights to some of the characters that were invented or altered from the comic to the animated show. Sure, a few of the gags missed, and one entire episode was decidedly un-funny, but the rest was brilliant and captured the feel and the insanity of the source material. SPOON! ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/38 "2003-01-02T02:20:31Z")
**Hastur** , I agree with you about **Birds of Prey**. Not even an entire season is given the chance before the show is cancelled. Yes, the writing isn’t all that great, and the plots are predictable…but the chicks are hot, and it is Batman, after all. It could have at least been given a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/39 "2003-01-02T02:26:02Z")
**My So-Called Life** ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968/40 "2003-01-02T02:51:36Z")
**It’s Your Move**. By the creators, writers and directors who would create Married with Children a few years later. The Dregs of Humanity, letter, and game show episodes alone qualify it for greatness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancelled-but-brilliant/145968.md?page=3)