Great Non-Firefly Cancelled T.V. Shows [Archive]

Lumenskir

07-20-2007, 11:42 PM

So, between reading up on the death of Traveler and watching pirated episodes of the Loop, my mind started to drift towards thinking about all the great shows that have been canceled before their time.

Personally, I'm like a Canceled-whore; Dead Like Me, Undeclared, Stella, Arrested Development, Futurama, and a host of shows I started to watch when they were brand spankin' new only to have the network cut them down in the middle of their premiere season. It's gotten to the point where I get nervous hives towards season finales and I hear rumors about shows I currently like being 'on-the-bubble'.

Fuck money networks! Let the small and dedicated fans of quality television enjoy their entertainment without fear of developing ulcers!

Major Blood

07-20-2007, 11:55 PM

Jericho.

Why on earth did they cancel such a great show?

Aerozord

07-21-2007, 12:02 AM

Megas XLR, some people might argue that it wasn't a great show, but I loved it. It turned deus ex machina into an artform

Also Samurai Jack, especially since it doesn't really have an end.

POS Industries

07-21-2007, 12:27 AM

Blah blah blah Invader ZIM blah

Fifthfiend

07-21-2007, 12:46 AM

Strange Luck, and that one show about the detective who got sent back from hell to hunt down the souls of the damned.

Basically any kind of scifi/fantasy drama aired on Fox for several episodes and then abruptly terminated.

I did really enjoy the first episode of Undeclared, but then I never felt obliged to watch it after that ever again so I guess I can't complain that they cancelled it.

Tyrazial

07-21-2007, 05:19 AM

I might be the only one, but Wonder Falls. It was a really really good show.

The Wandering God

07-21-2007, 11:00 AM

The Tick animated series.

Still, at least it had 3 seasons worth.

The Wandering God

Demetrius

07-21-2007, 11:51 AM

Undergrads, Clone High and Freaks and Geeks all should've kept going. Linda Cardellini is also a very good reason F&G should've stayed on the air.

Lumenskir

07-21-2007, 12:24 PM

Jericho.

Why on earth did they cancel such a great show?
Hey, this here is a thread for shows that are done. Try to keep up (http://jerichoboard.cbs.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=CBSMBJericho&tid=13329).

I think you could have a pretty strong network comprised solely of the good shows that Fox has shit-canned early in their run.

Seil

07-21-2007, 01:21 PM

The Live Action Tick

ArlanKels

07-21-2007, 02:26 PM

Reboot. how dare you all forget about Reboot!

shiney

07-21-2007, 02:37 PM

Fifthfiend

07-21-2007, 02:50 PM

Reputable source like you made it the fuck up.

TheBlindMime

07-21-2007, 04:11 PM

Strange Luck, and that one show about the detective who got sent back from hell to hunt down the souls of the damned.
The show you are thinking of was called Brimstone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brimstone_%28TV_series%29). I too enjoyed those short lived shows.
Reputable source like you made it the fuck up.
I found similar information on Billy West's Blog. (The voice of Fry, Zoidberg and many more) So :p

And Brisco County Jr. the writing was crap but dammit, it had Bruce Campbell in it.

Aerozord

07-21-2007, 04:34 PM

Zilla

07-21-2007, 07:06 PM

Reboot. how dare you all forget about Reboot!

I too am shocked this wasn't even metioned on the first page (what with me even bringing up an RP about it (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=22243) and everything.)

Another one I loved was Sam and Max, way back when on Fox. The cartoon about the dog and rabbit detective group.

Freakazoid and Sheep in the Big City were good ones from Cartoon Network.

PCD

07-21-2007, 07:08 PM

Futurama IS coming back. It's been official'd that they're making some new DVDs, and I think they're comin' out in 2008. Though, I don't think they're going to actually air on television.

I'm backing up Poetisch on The Tick live-action. You can't top Apocalypse Cow.

EDIT: Also, Danny Phantom. I LIKED IT SHUT UP.

Kenryoku_Maxis

07-21-2007, 07:12 PM

Freakazoid

Don't really need to say more.

Seil

07-21-2007, 07:21 PM

Ooh! Ooh!

Rocko's Modern Life! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocko%27s_Modern_Life) and Mega Babies! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Babies)

Aerozord

07-21-2007, 07:30 PM

Earthworm Jim, Mighty Max (I know it basically did end but, I still miss it), and I am sure I will think of more soon

edit: oh and lets not forget Teen Titans and JLU, both had pleanty of source material to atleast gone a few more seasons

Nayno

07-21-2007, 10:46 PM

I might be the only one, but Wonder Falls. It was a really really good show.

Seconded. That was the one I was gonna say.

ArlanKels

07-21-2007, 11:06 PM

What do you mean Danny Phantom.
It got canceled?
O.o

Also: teen titans and JLU are over because the creators said "It's time to end it", not due to being canceled.

mazx

07-22-2007, 03:49 AM

Megas XLR, some people might argue that it wasn't a great show, but I loved it. It turned deus ex machina into an artform

Also Samurai Jack, especially since it doesn't really have an end.

Couldn't agree more.

Odjn

07-22-2007, 07:57 AM

I want a JLU universe cartoon about The Question. He's like Batman, but funny.

Titus was an awesome show, it made me laugh lots.

ArlanKels

07-22-2007, 01:31 PM

It's DCAU, and yeah a Question show would be nice, especially given his links to all the other heroes(cameos galore).

XLR was awesome...

Zilla

07-22-2007, 04:19 PM

It wasn't really a TV show itself, but I TERRIBLY miss the oldschool Toonami with Moltar. It had a rock solid lineup and DBZ hadn't gone bad yet.

PCD

07-22-2007, 04:20 PM

What do you mean Danny Phantom.
It got canceled?
O.o
Yeah, Nick does that stuff a lot.
Action against cancellation

In January 24, 2006, Butch Hartman announced the decision made by Nickelodeon to cancel the production of Danny Phantom, giving the show 53 episodes in three seasons. The dedicated fans of the program as a result fought to keep the show and produce more episodes--from producing mottos such as “Save the ghost we love the most!", getting dozens of requests signed, and sending hundreds of letters, as well as voice for more merchandise of Danny Phantom--all in an order to convince Nickelodeon that the program is sufficient enough to justify more episodes. In July 2006 a rally was held near Viacom's Offices in New York City to try to save the program. Another rally is planned for 2007.

Despite these protests, the production of Danny Phantom finished in February 2007, with no plans for future episodes other then Nickelodeon special Phantomania which had shown five new episodes.

Aerozord

07-22-2007, 06:14 PM

Mannix

07-23-2007, 11:34 PM

Basically Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network follow this logic.

"Ok we have this well made series that is both deep and entertaining. It is well loved and popular, and not made in japan. Clearly this show must immediately be cancelled"
Fox has a similar policy. It's gotten to the point that I don't have to watch a show to know how good it was; I just look at when Fox canceled it.

On that note, I really enjoyed Drive.

Toastburner B

07-24-2007, 12:11 AM

Fox has a similar policy. It's gotten to the point that I don't have to watch a show to know how good it was; I just look at when Fox canceled it.

On that note, I really enjoyed Drive.

I was going to say Drive, and I basically agree with the other comment. The only show seems to have escaped Fox's "its good so we much cancel it" policy is 24.

Mauve Mage

07-24-2007, 01:50 AM

Not sure if it's been cancelled or if BBC America just stopped showing it, but I miss Black Books. It was a comedy by the makers of Father Ted (another show I loved that no longer runs. :( ) and I was just starting to get into it when BBCAmerica stopped showing it.

Damn you BBC America. BRING BACK BLACK BOOKS! And while you're at it, show more Blackadder and Monty Python reruns.

And I don't think this counts, but I want MST3K back too.

ArlanKels

07-24-2007, 01:46 PM

I still can't believe danny phantom was cancelled...

Aerozord

07-24-2007, 08:39 PM

I still can't believe danny phantom was cancelled...
I swear if they ever cancel Avatar before its done and I will show them my version of fire bending, I call it c4 bending.

Roy_D_Mylote

07-25-2007, 01:53 AM

The Black Donnellys, Studio 60, Standoff. Those were awesome shows and then it was like, what happened? And the Black Donnellys never even got an ending. Studio 60 aired on the same network and it was cancelled and then its remaining episodes were aired later, but the Donnellys never got that. Its episodes aired over the NBC Online player thing which doesn't work.

And Standoff is a FOX show, so you can see how that worked.

Random-Villain

07-25-2007, 05:30 AM

Reboot wasn't canceled, the story finished and it was ended with very little opening for new episodes. I watched it religiously along with DBZ so long ago.

Loyal

07-25-2007, 12:44 PM

ArlanKels

07-25-2007, 01:30 PM

Reboot wasn't canceled, the story finished and it was ended with very little opening for new episodes. I watched it religiously along with DBZ so long ago.

Incoorrreect.

The storyline finishes off with a cliffhanger, with the story unfinished and it's unknown if they're ever going to go back and finish it off.

Did you miss the "My Two Bobs" storyline? If you did you must watch it. Oh yes, you must.

What was the last episode you saw? :whee:

Mike McC

07-25-2007, 01:49 PM

Futurama is coming back I heard. Once Groening's contract expires with the current run of Simpsons Fox supposedly agreed to release rights of Futurama back to him...

I don't know how true this rumor is but it came from a reputable source of mine so who knows?Futurama IS coming back. It's been official'd that they're making some new DVDs, and I think they're comin' out in 2008. Though, I don't think they're going to actually air on television.Comedy Central obtained the rights to air Futurama in October 2005, and will start to air them in 2008. They also plan to produce at least 13 new episodes. They announced that on June 22nd, 2006. The new episodes will probably be cut out of and reconfigured out of the planned 4 direct to DVD movie scripts, and will be aired sometime in 2008.

Aerozord

07-25-2007, 07:52 PM

Incoorrreect.

The storyline finishes off with a cliffhanger, with the story unfinished and it's unknown if they're ever going to go back and finish it off.

safe bet they wont. The creators aren't even still working for the company so if they do make more episodes it will probably just be Reboot GT

And I hope people get the referance

ArlanKels

07-25-2007, 08:02 PM

It's a very blatent, hideous reference that makes me sob in fear.

Aerozord

07-25-2007, 08:08 PM

*sighs* it is a referance showing what happens when you continue a show even though the creator of said show is gone

Roy_D_Mylote

07-25-2007, 08:17 PM

I am pretty sure he got it.

Lumenskir

07-25-2007, 08:43 PM

Roy, I would agree with you on Studio 60 if I had stopped watching at the first episode. For the first episode, I truly thought that I would get to see what a (highly melodramatic, true) comedy sketch show looks like behind the scenes, and being a lover of SNL it was like a dream come true.

Then the second episode came and it turned into "I AM FUCKING AARON SORKIN AND MY WORD IS GOD!", which, I mean, I could have taken, if he actually wrote likable characters or believable arguments or, I dunno, funny sketches for his comedy sketch show. I finally stopped watching when Tom's parents came in (from another comedy-less universe where Abbot and Costello didn't exist apparently) and said the most unintentionally funny line in the show's entire run: ""your little brother is STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF AFGHANISTAN!"

I'm reminded of a line from Dead Like Me, where Rube tells George that she doesn't want to see what a living body with a dead soul looks like. Studio 60 was a show with a dead soul.

Roy_D_Mylote

07-25-2007, 08:47 PM

Well, see, that's the thing about the sketches. For the first six or seven episodes they weren't supposed to be funny, because Matt was still getting set up and Ricky and Ron were mostly running the writers' room and, as was mentioned several times, they were unfunny guys.

And the characters were likable! Simon, Tom, and Cal in particular were some of the most likable characters ever.

Of course, I do agree that the Aaron Sorkin Show about Aaron Sorkin's Real Own Life could have been toned down. But then we might not have got that great episode, I don't remember which one, K&R, maybe, where Matt and Hariette had that flashback fight thing.

Lumenskir

07-25-2007, 08:55 PM

Well, see, that's the thing about the sketches. For the first six or seven episodes they weren't supposed to be funny, because Matt was still getting set up and Ricky and Ron were mostly running the writers' room and, as was mentioned several times, they were unfunny guys.
I thought the big conflict in the first few episodes was because Matt was doing all the writing, no help from R&R, alleviated some when he fired the entire staff in favor of a neurotic English girl and an emo Black guy (black capitalized because that's the only reason he was hired).

And...ok, I liked Tom's character, but Nate Corddry is just so damn likable it's unfair.

Roy_D_Mylote

07-25-2007, 09:01 PM

Matt does do most of the writing in all of the episodes, but that fact only becomes central after most of the staff leave (they don't get fired, they go with Ricky and Ron to their new FOX show).

Kenryoku_Maxis

07-25-2007, 09:57 PM

Basically Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network follow this logic.

"Ok we have this well made series that is both deep and entertaining. It is well loved and popular, and not made in japan. Clearly this show must immediately be cancelled"

Nickelodeon, CN and the like doesn't 'Cancel' shows like Danny Phantom and such. They grant them Episodes at a time, on the basis that they remain popular.

The major show that has been a sleeper hit created by the same person who created Danny Phantom has been this way for 6-7 years now. Fairly OddParents. Its constantly been Nickelodeons #2, #3 and #whatever most popular show, always considered to have been 'cancelled' by many people but magically out of the blue after a 6 month to even a year hiatus, it'll have a few new episodes or a TV movie appear out of nowhere.

The same happens for most of Nickelodeons popular Animated series, aside from Avatar because it was planned as an ongoing series and very popular at the moment. The same can happen for Danny Phantom as long as popularity stays constant...or at least enough that they warrant a few episodes to be made every few months.

Nickelodeon just did this for Spongebob, after an unusual long dry spell for new episodes for their most popular animated icon.