Best of Television - Canceled

I probably could have done a top 20 list for this one but I think these are the best shows that weren't given their proper due. My criteria for making this list was almost exclusively that the series aired for less than three seasons. Something of note is that six of these shows were on FOX. Could there be a trend?





#10 Reunion (2005, FOX)

Friendships that span twenty years are investigated after one friend is murdered at their twenty year high school reunion. This show had an interesting premise in the way every episode covered a different year. The pop culture references were more than a little heavy handed and I often wondered how they would do a season two as twenty years would be a complete season. But FOX didn't even let the investigation get past the mid-nineties.





#9 Aliens In America (2007-08 The CW)

What happens when a Muslim Pakastni foreign exchange student comes to live with a white, middle class Wisconsin family? Can you say culture shock? The awkward humor and cultural miscommunication say a lot about a post 9/11 America and our perceptions of others. The CW put this gem in a Sunday night death slot and it lasted only one season. I would have loved to see how Raj viewed our last Presidential election.





#8 The Loop (2006, 2007 FOX)

Sam Sullivan has graduated college and is on the fast track at his work with a major airline. At home his brother and two female roommates are still partying and threatening to ruin his career. FOX aired both seasons during the summer and cut the brother and both female roommates before season two without any explanation. Still, Sam's misadventures were fun but season two arrived DOA. Luckily Hulu has both season's available to watch.





#7 Wonderfalls (2004 FOX)

Jaye Tyler comes from a family of overachievers who cannot figure out why she works at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Then one day fate talks to her in the form of a wax lion. Wonderfalls was a mid-season replacement that was never given a chance. It drew unfair comparisons to Joan of Arcadia and FOX seemed to chang its time slot every week. The dvd set was released with nine episodes that never aired. Funny and offbeat without any explaination or apologies.





#6 Fastlane (2002-04 FOX)

McG produced this show about undercover cops who drive fast cars and party like gangstas. It's true that this series was all style over substance but damn it was fun. Of course FOX put it in the Friday night death slot and resorted to gimmicks like a kiss between Tiffani-Amber Theissen and Jaime Pressly to try and increase ratings. As you can tell we aren't talking about Fastlane's seventh season here.





#5 October Road (2007-08 ABC)

This show could have easily been called Beautiful Girls: The Series. Writer Scott Rosenberg borrowed liberally from his movie script and penned this nice little piece of television. The first season was only six episodes and the second only thirteen but there still was enough heart in those nineteen episodes to keep me coming back. At the very least we were introduced to Odette Yustman (Cloverfield, The Unborn) in this series. Hulu has the entire run available to watch.





#4 Undeclared (2001-02 FOX)

This was Judd Apatow's return to television after the wonderful Freaks and Geeks was treated horribly by NBC. Surely FOX wouldn't do the same.... A half hour dramedy about a co-ed dorm suite of freshmen this show was everything great about Freaks and Geeks but slightly older. All of the Freaks and Geeks cast made appearances as well as Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller and Amy Poehler. But just like NBC did with Freaks and Geeks FOX moved the show to so many time slots that it was impossible to find. It was considered "on the bubble" at the end of the season but did not get at pick up. I wonder what ever happened to that Apatow guy...?





#3 Jericho (2006-08 CBS)

Jericho is a show who's legend has outgrown its reach. It wasn't supposed to last past the initial thirteen episode order but much to the surprise of CBS it was a hit in the fall of 2006. So of course the best thing to do is go on hiatus from early November to late February and then return opposite American Idol. By season's end the ratings had sagged and CBS thought the show too expensive to save so they canceled it. Then the fans revolted by bombarding CBS with twenty tons of nuts. Two weeks later Jericho was picked up for a second season...sorta. Seven episodes were filmed and aired during the spring of 2008 then the show was promptly canceled for good...sorta. In November of 2009 Devil's Due Publishing began printing Jericho Season 3 in comic book form. We win!




#2 Firefly (2002-03 FOX)

How do you beat Jericho's story about a fan base that causes the network to solicit a second season? How about a fan base who forces the production company to make a major motion picture? Joss Whedon's space western is a masterpiece of bizarre. No aliens or lasers (sorta) but plenty of drama and family to go around. Even though Firefly was canceled Whedon did get to finish telling his story once Serenity hit theaters. We win again!





#1 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006-07 NBC)

Aaron Sorkin is a hell of a writer. I never cared much for The West Wing's political commentary but it was still well written. His follow up was about the backstage workings of a sketch comedy show that was based on Saturday Night Live. Unfortunately NBC had another show called 30 Rock that premiered the same season as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. And it was funny unlike Studio 60 which focused on the off stage drama behind the scenes. People didn't get it and complained about the obscure entertainment references and preachy rants. Ratings plummeted from those of series lead in Heroes and the show was canceled. But Sorkin had a clause in his contract that made NBC produce and air all twenty-two episodes so he had time to write and film an ending to this wonderful show. Do yourself a favor and got to Hulu to watch the entire run.