# shows canceled first season- that should not have been canceled. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738 "2018-10-10T03:46:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/1 "2018-10-10T03:46:34Z")
I will lead with the obvious- Firefly. Now, of course there are many shows that were canceled too early- Dead Like me, Pushing Daisies, etc. But at least they had a run. How about your faves that got canceled after a very short run? ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/2 "2018-10-10T04:02:51Z")
Almost Human and No Ordinary Family are at the top of my list for shows that only last one season. Also, I enjoyed the one season of Celebrity Apprentice where Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted and wished he could have done more. P.S. Here is are two lists of shows that only lasted one season: [https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003237418/](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003237418/) [https://www.businessinsider.com/25-best-one-season-tv-shows-of-the-last-25-years-2017-8#2-action-1999-24](https://www.businessinsider.com/25-best-one-season-tv-shows-of-the-last-25-years-2017-8#2-action-1999-24) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/3 "2018-10-10T04:09:19Z")
I will add: > **[New Amsterdam (2008 TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_(2008_TV_series))** > > New Amsterdam is an American television drama which aired for eight episodes in 2008 on Fox. The series starred Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as "John Amsterdam" (real name Johann van der Zee), an immortal Dutch man born in 1607, who has lived in New York City on and off since he was 14 years old, and who is a homicide detective in the present day. The series was nominated for an Emmy for Main Title Design. > John Amsterdam (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is an NYPD homicide detective who is 400 years old, but ha... The first (?) \*New Amsterdam. \* Why on earth they copied that title for yet another medical drama, , i don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/4 "2018-10-10T04:10:41Z")
(Fairly) recent ones include \*[Pan Am](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_(TV_series)) \*and [_The Finder_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Finder_(U.S._TV_series)). ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/5 "2018-10-10T04:11:15Z")
_Wonderfalls_–Bryan Fuller’s followup to _Dead Like Me_ with fourteen episodes, thirteen of which were plotted out in an elaborate arc with often unexpected twists, gallows humor, and utilizing largely then and since unappreciated comedic talents of Caroline Dhavernas, William Sadler, Diana Scarwid, Lee Pace, and Tracie Thoms. _Profit_–basically the predecessor to every edgy show with an amoral and sociopathic protagonist that David Chase, Matt Weiner, and Vince Gilligan have made since. _Rubicon_–basically an American version of the John le Carré that the BBC does so well, combined with a _Three Days of the Condor_ pervading sense of paranoia and doom. The ultimate answer is, of course, _Freaks and Geeks_, despite the presence of the now-insufferable James Franco. It perfectly captures being caught in between social groups with everyone telling you what you should be doing with your life and nobody asking, “What do you want to do?” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/6 "2018-10-10T04:18:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > _Wonderfalls_–Bryan Fuller’s followup to _Dead Like Me_ with fourteen episodes, thirteen of which were plotted out in an elaborate arc with often unexpected twists, gallows humor, and utilizing largely then and since unappreciated comedic talents of Caroline Dhavernas, William Sadler, Diana Scarwid, Lee Pace, and Tracie Thoms. > > The ultimate answer is, of course, _Freaks and Geeks_, despite the presence of the now-insufferable James Franco. It perfectly captures being caught in between social groups with everyone telling you what you should be doing with your life and nobody asking, “What do you want to do?” I loved Wonderfalls! You know, zillions of people, even reviewers have said that they LOVE F&G- but then, why did no-one watch it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/7 "2018-10-10T04:23:42Z")
“Clone High” was a funny show. Likewise for “Jeff & Some Aliens”. And I actually thought [“Moonbeam City”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonbeam_City) was fairly funny, even though it got pretty poor reviews. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/8 "2018-10-10T04:42:13Z")
_Limitless_ _Forever_ _Matador_ _Hooten and the Lady_ _Crimson Field_ _Partners In Crime_ (UK murder mystery show) That one where whatsisface lived each day twice. _Awake_. One of my faves was cancelled at first, but very recently renewed again by another network, and that show is called _Agatha Raisin_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/9 "2018-10-10T04:43:16Z")
_Trophy Wife_. Maybe not a ground-breaking sit-com but it was well-written and it had a good cast. _Action_. A pull-no-punches sit-com about the movie business. _Kolchak: The Night Stalker_. Okay, I’ve watched it recently and it shows its age. But Darren McGavin is still great. _Forever_. An interesting detective series where the lead character is a secret immortal. _Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23_. Very funny series with Kristen Ritter playing a great character. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/10 "2018-10-10T04:44:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You know, zillions of people, even reviewers have said that they LOVE F&G- but then, why did no-one watch it? 😕 I never saw it in the original run, and it wasn’t the type of show I would have watched at that point, but it is one of the most authentic shows I’ve seen about high school that nearly everyone can identify with in some way. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/11 "2018-10-10T05:01:59Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I never saw it in the original run, Same here. Once I found out about it I got it on DVD. But, I still haven’t gotten around to watching. Still have way too much other TV to catch up on. But, some day. When I’m in the right mood. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/12 "2018-10-10T05:03:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > _Action_. A pull-no-punches sit-com about the movie business. > > _Kolchak: The Night Stalker_. Okay, I’ve watched it recently and it shows its age. But Darren McGavin is still great. > > _Forever_. An interesting detective series where the lead character is a secret immortal. > . \*Action \*was good I loved Kolchak. 20 epis. Forever (2014) was very good. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/13 "2018-10-10T05:22:32Z")
Quark (for just half a season) Jennifer Slept Here Kolchak: TNS James at 16 Thrill Seekers Trying to recall others ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/14 "2018-10-10T05:58:00Z")
My So-Called Life. It’s the only time I ever wrote the network. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/15 "2018-10-10T05:59:38Z")
_The Riches_ [The Riches - Google Search](https://g.co/kgs/MSuYBa) \*Now and Again \* [Now and Again - Google Search](https://g.co/kgs/Dap4fB) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/16 "2018-10-10T06:01:38Z")
Two that I liked a lot: [Bakersfield P.D.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_in_America), from 1993, starring Giancarlo Esposito as a big-city cop transferred to small-time Bakersfield PD. A fish-out-of-water series, and very funny. [Aliens in America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_in_America), from 2007, about a dorky Wisconsin high-schooler trying to fit in whose family gets a Muslim Pakistani exchange student that he’s responsible for, in a somewhat intolerant town that doesn’t know what to make of a Muslim. Very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/17 "2018-10-10T11:01:44Z")
One that comes to mind: [The Good Guys](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567254/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_52) with Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks. Buddy cop comedy, but Whitford was brilliant as the completely insane, washed up, alcoholic, lecherous Dan Stark. I’ll also second the mention of Profit and The Finder Yes, the Finder reminds me of [Eyes](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419323/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_24) which only lasted a few shows, but I remember it being pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/18 "2018-10-10T12:13:52Z")
_Once a Hero._ Great show about a superhero who ends up on Earth, where Superhero tropes no longer existed. Clever writing, with a love for the form with all its absurdities, as well as a penchant for turning the cliches of the genre on their head. For instance, the 4th episode (never aired) was about an actor who played the superhero on TV years ago and was sick of it. The part was played by Adam West. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/19 "2018-10-10T12:30:25Z")
_Luck_, a series on HBO starring Dustin Hoffman was canceled after one season. Two horses died during filming of season one. A third horse died during filming of the second episode of season two, so they canceled the series due to fear of bad press. Thing is, horses die or are euthanized at the track all the time. ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738/20 "2018-10-10T12:56:49Z")
Mr. Lucky - 1960 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-canceled-first-season-that-should-not-have-been-canceled/822738.md?page=2)