# Shows I wish had lasted longer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918 "2008-02-24T03:57:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/141 "2008-02-26T23:12:31Z")
According to Wikipedia (Great source I know), [Crusade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusade_%28TV_series%29) was canceled because TNT (the network it was on) noticed that their audience didn’t watch it, and the people who watched it didn’t watch anything else on TNT. So they did there best to make JMS’ life hard so they could get out of the contract. SciFi tried picking it up but didn’t have the money in their budget to do it (Probably because they were spending it all on that crap they self-produce). ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/142 "2008-02-26T23:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=Hirka T’Bawa] According to Wikipedia (Great source I know), [Crusade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusade_%28TV_series%29) was canceled because TNT (the network it was on) noticed that their audience didn’t watch it, and the people who watched it didn’t watch anything else on TNT. So they did there best to make JMS’ life hard so they could get out of the contract. SciFi tried picking it up but didn’t have the money in their budget to do it (Probably because they were spending it all on that crap they self-produce). [/QUOTE] Right, sorry, TNT’s stupidity, not Sci Fi’s. Yeah, Sci Fi’s Saturday movies, like **Hive** and that worm thing that God only knows how they roped Bruce Campbell into doing. Those are sure a better way to spend their money than on something like **Crusade**. Both networks have their share of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/143 "2008-02-26T23:44:06Z")
I could probably come up with a ton, but for now I’ll just say-- any show that starred Andy Richter. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/144 "2008-02-27T02:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=Roadfood] Not everyone does. I thought it was just dumb. But then, I think Whedon is a hack, so what do I know? [/QUOTE] When I saw it on TV, I went “eh”. But my buds insisted I watch the whole season on DVD, in the ocrrect order and everything. Then, I liked it, but I still don’t understand the super-fan-boyz. It was good, but hardly **GREAT!!!** ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/145 "2008-02-27T03:18:06Z")
**Sci Fi** must have picked up **Crusade** in syndication. I’m pretty sure that’s where I saw it. I mostly liked it, but man, that “operate the ships weapons by going into a special room and doing Karate moves” was among the stupidest things I ever saw. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/146 "2008-02-27T04:06:32Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] I think Dilbert the cartoon series could have gone on longer. There were some fantastic moments in it (even though they admittedly were needed to counter-balance the lame moments). They got the voices virtually spot on I thought, although Dogbert wasn’t great. [/QUOTE] Dilbert had the sad misfortune of being up against, first, _Buffy_, and second, _Angel_. As Scott Adams has remarked, there is apparently a _remarkable_ overlap between the fandoms. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/147 "2008-02-27T04:39:34Z")
[QUOTE=ZenBeam] **Sci Fi** must have picked up **Crusade** in syndication. I’m pretty sure that’s where I saw it. I mostly liked it, but man, that “operate the ships weapons by going into a special room and doing Karate moves” was among the stupidest things I ever saw. [/QUOTE] That was _Legend of the Rangers_, not _Crusade_. I actually read an excellent explanation of that weapons control system on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated by Charles Cohen, a Human Computer Interaction specialist. His quick review is [QUOTE=Charles J. Cohen] I believe that this Liandra’s method of weapon control is a well designed system to allow a person to actively target ships, while ensuring appropriate system response (i.e. weapons firing) when desired without false positives (i.e. a weapon firing when it is not desired). There are some clear areas for enhancing the system, such as adding higher level gesture commands, as well as voice. [/QUOTE] At the time, I asked for and received permission from him to repost his review on the SDMB, but I was unable to secure permission from a mod to post it (it is quite lengthy). You can read the entire post [here](http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated/browse_thread/thread/80f759a44ea1d37d/e4bc7ba260f33e5a) . Think about this, though: Isn’t the Wii a very, very primitive version of that weapons control system? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/148 "2008-02-27T04:49:46Z")
[QUOTE=kalex] ‘..I am the only one who saw it…Keywest 1993 with Jennifer Tilly’ Gonzo - I was IN that series! They shot in Key West while I lived there! I was and extra in the scene in the post office when Fisher Stevens picks up his lottery check. I was in front of him on line! Of course, every in town was an extra in that show at some point. [/QUOTE] It had a Key West understatement that I loved. Tilly has a way about her too .The scenery was great. It had a laid back rhythm that Key West seems to suggest. It was enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/149 "2008-02-27T05:00:49Z")
[QUOTE=tds1273] I could probably come up with a ton, but for now I’ll just say-- any show that starred Andy Richter. [/QUOTE] Like the Conan show? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/150 "2008-02-27T11:53:47Z")
In addition to dozens of shows mentioned here, I miss **Special Unit 2**. And **Now and Again** always comes to mind when threads like this come up. Dang cliffhanger series ends. I really want to visit the [Library for Artifacts of Potentiality](http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/070321.html). ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/151 "2008-02-27T12:11:42Z")
Herman’s Head ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/152 "2008-02-27T12:23:48Z")
[QUOTE=chorpler] In addition to dozens of shows mentioned here, I miss **Special Unit 2**. And **Now and Again** always comes to mind when threads like this come up. Dang cliffhanger series ends. I really want to visit the [Library for Artifacts of Potentiality](http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/070321.html). [/QUOTE] I should have included **Special Unit 2** on my list too…I caught the reruns when SciFi aired them last year, and would have added them to my archives but all that crap that Scifi runs over the shows made it not worth the trouble. And the commercials that Allstate has been running were driving me nuts trying to figure out where I had seen their spokesman before, until I finally recognized him as the project director from **Now and Again**. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/153 "2008-02-27T15:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] I should have included **Special Unit 2** on my list too…I caught the reruns when SciFi aired them last year, and would have added them to my archives but all that crap that Scifi runs over the shows made it not worth the trouble. And the commercials that Allstate has been running were driving me nuts trying to figure out where I had seen their spokesman before, until I finally recognized him as the project director from **Now and Again**. [/QUOTE] Yeah! He is the Allstate guy. And I think he was the president on **24** , although I’ve only seen a couple episodes from the first season so far. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/154 "2008-02-27T15:46:02Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] [Early Edition](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Edition). Hey, I liked the cat, okay? [/QUOTE] Oh, and belatedly can I say - eurgh! That show was so appalling I’m amazed it made it past the pilot. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/155 "2008-02-27T15:47:35Z")
Smith. THE best show of the 2006-07 season, which was also cancelled really fast (after about 5 episodes), apparently because some CBS executive actually watched an episode and was traumitized to find out that it was about a gang of thieves (led by Ray Liotta) who weren’t the COOL-thieve type like Oceans 11, but actually killed people, and didn’t want his network to promote this behavior. Its such bullshit that a year later, they’re airing Dexter, a show about a SERIAL KILLER. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/156 "2008-02-27T17:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=Smid] I also liked the first season of the Dragnet remake, however, when the dropped the main detective and filled it with young good looking people, it lost a hell of a lot. [/QUOTE] Absolutely! I thought Ed O’Neil was the perfect “Joe Friday for the 21st century”. The change in emphasis from “gritty crime show” to “pretty-people showcase” was puzzling, especially from Dick Wolf, whose shows don’t follow that formula. I would have thought he had enough “juice” in the business to resist that change. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/157 "2008-02-27T18:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=fusoya] Smith. THE best show of the 2006-07 season, which was also cancelled really fast (after about 5 episodes), apparently because some CBS executive actually watched an episode and was traumitized to find out that it was about a gang of thieves (led by Ray Liotta) who weren’t the COOL-thieve type like Oceans 11, but actually killed people, and didn’t want his network to promote this behavior. Its such bullshit that a year later, they’re airing Dexter, a show about a SERIAL KILLER. [/QUOTE] Yeah, Smith was pretty good. If you google around, you can read what they were planning on doing the rest of the season. Hey, Dexter is a cute lovable serial killer. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/158 "2008-02-28T02:37:38Z")
[QUOTE=chorpler] Yeah! He is the Allstate guy. And I think he was the president on **24** , [/QUOTE] Yep. He was known as “President Allstate” in the threads here. 😃 ---
**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:** [February 29, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/159 "2008-02-29T19:58:45Z")
Wanted to add two: “Wonderland”; show about a mental hospital based on Bellevue in New York; I think they showed two episodes. “Tru Calling”; just starting to get really interesting, and ended at what looked like a major turning point, after a season and a half. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918/160 "2008-02-29T20:14:24Z")
I may have to start adding **24** to my Netflix queue; I’ve never seen any episodes of it. I had missed “Tru Calling” when it first aired, but have been watching the reruns on SciFi channel. I don’t know if I’ve managed to catch the last few episodes or not, but it was definitely taking some interesting twists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-i-wish-had-lasted-longer/438918.md?page=9)