Very often, television series attain a momentum of their own, a level of popularity, either among critics or among viewers, that earns them a consistent renewal from their networks. However, it is just as often the case that even a great series may not run for quite as long as its most devoted fans think that it should.
In fact, television history is littered with just these types of series, shows that struggled to go going despite devoted (if small) fan bases and heaps of critical praise. Many of them have only grown in estimation since their untimely cancellations. The users of the website Ranker have laid out what they think are the best of the series that were canceled before their time.
Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013-2019)
Streaming On Netflix
Few comedies have had quite the impact of Arrested Development, which focuses on a wealthy family who have to contend with drastically reduced circumstances. The family in question, the Bluths, are as dysfunctional and hilarious as one would expect, and the series is notable for its many strong performances, particularly from Jason Bateman and Jessica Walter.
Though it was canceled before its time, it has gone on to have several revivals, revealing the extent of its popularity and its enduring appeal for its many fans.
The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
Streaming On Disney +
There are few puppets who have become quite as famous as the Muppets, and they have appeared in many great movies and TV series. Arguably the best of them all, however, was The Muppet Show, which stands as one of the most iconic shows of the 1970s.
While it lasted much longer than might have seemed possible, given the zany nature of its premise, there are many who no doubt would have loved to see more of these lovable creatures (to say nothing of the many celebrity guests on their show). The movies and revival attempts have tried to rekindle the magic, to varying degrees of success, but it’s never been quite the same as the classic ’70s variety show.
Animaniacs (1993-1998)
Streaming On Hulu
Animaniacs is widely regarded as one of the best animated shows of the 1990s. With its slapstick humor and its ability to satire almost every aspect of American culture, it had a cleverness that was, and still is, rare in children’s entertainment.
Indeed, it was something of a throwback to earlier periods of Warner Bros., when such sophisticated animation was the rule rather than the exception. Small wonder that the users of Ranker felt that five seasons wasn’t quite enough time to spend with these delightful characters.
Pinky And The Brain (1995-1998)
Streaming On Hulu
Though they began their existence on Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain soon proved to be so popular that they earned their own series. Though it lasted only three seasons, it still managed to possess the same sort of humor as their shorter sketches, as the two mice do everything in their power to take over the world (even if Brain’s schemes are often undercut by Pinky’s idiocy).
The two characters have retained their appeal, so it’s easy to see why they would also make their appearance in the revival of Animaniacs.
My Name Is Earl (2005-2009) – Streaming On Hulu
My Name is Earl was one of the more unusual series to have emerged out of the 2000s, focusing as it did on a man who, after winning the lottery, determined to turn his life around in order to gain good karma. Though the character of the title initially appears to be the sort of dunce character so common in the sitcom, the show’s genius was in its ability to show his inner complexity.
However, despite the series’ popularity with both critics and audiences, it was ultimately canceled before its time, and efforts to revive it on another network did not bear fruit.
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
Streaming On Paramount+
There’s no question that Star Trek is one of the most enduring franchises in the history of entertainment, comprising an entire fictional universe. Of course, it can all be traced back to the original series, which set out to break as many boundaries as it could. It may come as a surprise to modern audiences that the original series suffered from low ratings, which helps to explain why it was canceled after only a few seasons.
However, while the original run was short, it managed to grow a devoted audience in reruns, leadin gthe original cast to appear in several Star Trek movies in the 1980s, the launch of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. The franchise has endured ever since.
Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
Streaming On The Roku Channel
Quantum Leap is another science fiction series that, according to the users at Ranker, didn’t receive nearly as many seasons as it should have. The weekly adventure series had a unique premise: Dr. Sam Beckett is forced to bounce through the past, inhabiting the bodies of people from all walks of life, “setting right what once went wrong” to change the future for the better.
Quantum Leap earned fans by deftly walking the difficult tightrope between quirky comedy and emotionally affecting drama, but it lasted five seasons before CBS unceremoniously pulled the plug. While the finale did help to tie up some of the loose ends, there was clearly still a great deal of material left to explore. This helps to explain why, like so many other series, it has been revived for a continuation.
Futurama (1999-2003, 2008-2013)
Streaming On Hulu
Matt Groening may be better known for creating The Simpsons, but for some fans, Futurama is the better and funnier of Groenings TV series. With its story about a group of interplanetary delivery drivers a thousand years in the future, it is a spoof of many science fiction tropes, but it’s really a hilarious workplace comedy at its core.
Though its original run was truncated, reruns on Comedy Central proved so popular that the network revived it for several more seasons. It was eventually canceled again, but it’s set for another revival next year.
Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)
Streaming On Hulu
The teen comedy is one of the most enduring genres in both movies and TV. Thus, it’s not surprising that Freaks and Geeks would make it onto the list of shows that were canceled before their time, especially given that it lasted only one season.
Despite its premature exit, the 1999 series about awkward 1980 high-schoolers would go on to exert a powerful influence over the television landscape, continuing to appeal not only to its original fans but also to those who came to it later, discovering it in reruns on ABC Family, then through a popular DVD release, and eventually on streaming services.
Firefly (2002)
Streaming On Hulu
Though he is one of the most successful creators in Hollywood, Joss Whedon is no stranger to failure, at least in the short term. A notable example of this phenomenon is Firefly, the space opera/Western that was one of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator’s projects in the early 2000s.
Despite having the signature Whedon style, with its snappy dialogue and its blending of genres, it lasted only one season, though it would go on to develop a cult following of its own. A movie sequel followed in 2005, but as Whedon has since fallen from grace, a further revival is unlikely at this point.
