Cancelled Too Soon

[jennyk]

I just finished watching the TV series "Firefly" on DVD a week or so ago, and it got me thinking about TV shows that were cancelled too soon. "Firefly" only ran about 15 episodes before getting the ax from Fox - way too short of a time to build up an audience, especially for a quirky sci-fi show. Fox also aired episodes out of order and basically messed up the show before it even started. It now has a huge cult following.

What shows did you get into that were cancelled too soon into their runs? One of my favorites, besides "Firefly," was Aaron Sorkin's "Sports Night," which lasted for about two years. It was an incredibly clever show about a late-night sports show. ABC started shifting around the time slot until nobody could figure out when it was on, and then they axed it.

Another favorite of mine was "Freaks and Geeks," which lasted for not quite a season.

Yes, I would agree that these shows were a bit more sophisticated and had a little bit more of a niche audience. However, I feel like they hardly got a chance to succeed! Meanwhile, the networks keep shows like "Deal or No Deal" and "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" on TV. I've really stopped watching shows on TV, instead opting for DVD.

I also wonder if the TV executives know that shows like "Seinfeld" took a season or so to catch on.

What do you think? What shows were cancelled too soon? Or should shows like "Firefly," "Freaks and Geeks," and "Sports Night" been cancelled?

[jennyk]

Aaaand, I thought of another one: "The Prisoner," 1967-68 British sci-fi/drama. If you've never seen it, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's a cult classic.

[evilkumquat]

Sledge Hammer!, Remington Steele, Futurama and Family Guy... all killed too soon, and all treated poorly by their network overlords, all shifted from slot to slot in the schedule (or pitted against way too popular competing shows in the same timeslot).

Fortunately for the last two, DVD sales and huge ratings on cable reruns allowed them to be resurrected to increased popularity.

I wonder if the first two could have been brought back had there been a network like Cartoon Network that aired the shows after cancellation, giving them the respect they deserved, or a home video market geared toward rapid release of seasonal television programs before they become stale.

Evil Kumquat

PS. The original Star Trek was also cancelled way too early, since the 1970's brought a huge revival in intelligent science fiction programming.

PPS. I know Pierce Brosnan was supposed to be the new James Bond at the time of Remington Steele's first cancellation (after season four), so it may have been doomed regardless. Still, a more satisfying (and respectful) season five would have been nice.

[Night Fire]

Firefly, being a cross between western and sci-fi was to much for many viewers!

[hideaway70]

Two words: Cop Rock

[hideaway70]

A lot of good ones get the axe. Family Guy was one that got to try again luckily.

I liked The George Carlin Show and I also liked Get a Life with Chris Elliott

Get a Life is on DVD though and Carlin is available to watch free on AOL

[james_t]

Farscape got cut short by the Sci-Fi channel, which was a niche channel.

I was also a Remington Steele fan. If I remember right, Brosnan's jump to James Bond was delayed (with Timothy Dalton taking the role for a couple movies) because NBC pulled him back for that last stretch on Steele.

[evilkumquat]

If I remember right, Brosnan's jump to James Bond was delayed (with Timothy Dalton taking the role for a couple movies) because NBC pulled him back for that last stretch on Steele.

Yup- literally at the eleventh hour, too.

NBC waited until the final day of their contract with Brosnan, the last day they had to exercise their right, to pull him into another season of Remington Steele. This came after the show rebounded in the ratings after it was announced Brosnan would be the next Bond.

Sadly, Broccoli refused to have a Bond who was also appearing on television, so he rescinded the offer and went with his D choice, Timothy "The Beautician and the Beast" Dalton. This may have helped cement the last season of Remington Steele as the weakest, but at the time, I was just thrilled it came back, Scalia notwithstanding.

Though people who cling to their Connery worship often claim Brosnan was one of the weaker Bonds, it should be noted that his first outing, Goldeneye, was one of, if not the highest grossing Bond to date.

Myself, I liked Brosnan the best, though since I grew up with Roger Moore's version, that is who I always picture in my head when someone mentions Bond.

Evil Kumquat

PS. I am a bit of the Bond aficionado.

[james_t]

... though since I grew up with Roger Moore's version, that is who I always picture in my head when someone mentions Bond.

That can't be good, can it?

[matt_s]

Though people who cling to their Connery worship often claim Brosnan was one of the weaker Bonds, it should be noted that his first outing, Goldeneye, was one of, if not the highest grossing Bond to date.



With ticket price inflation being what it is, that really isn't that difficult to accomplish.

I still hold that Connery was the best, but I don't think Brosnan was that weak. Goldeneye is one of my favorites. Dalton and Moore can just go away and I'd be happy (Octopussy, The Spy who loved me, and Moonraker have their moments, but not enough for me to consider Moore to be a success as Bond. I actually thought Lazenby did an ok job and I wouldn't have minded him having another crack.

I won't weigh in on Craig until after his second.

[evilkumquat]

I actually thought Lazenby did an ok job and I wouldn't have minded him having another crack.

I could never get behind Lazenby's version. I can quote line and verse from most of the Bonds and can successfuly name all the films in sequential order as well as the names of the Bond girls in each one, but I have not seen OHMSS more than once (if that).

His acting wasn't that great, to be honest, not suprising since Broccoli picked him SOLELY based on his looks. Seriously. OHMSS was his first English-language film. He had no real experience as an actor, but Cubby thought he looked too pretty NOT to be cast as Bond!

Which is odd, because Lazenby is easily the ugliest of the Bond actors. Hell, NASA scientists could test rovers in that crater in the center of his chin for crying out loud.

Evil Kumquat

[matt_s]

But he carried the suave that Connery cultivated without taking it to that over the top place (even for a iconic Brit) that Moore and Dalton wallowed in. He also was believable in the action sequences. I hadn't heard that it was his first english-language film. He definitely was not Connery (nobody has been since), but he had potential.

[matt_s]

Other "Noteable" Bonds: Larry Niven and Peter Sellers :)

[jennyk]

A lot of good ones get the axe. Family Guy was one that got to try again luckily.

Of all the shows to get a second chance, why "Family Guy?" I mean, the show is OK, especially when I used to watch it at 3 a.m. in college (everything is funny at 3 a.m.), but there were MANY more cancelled shows that deserved a second chance. "Family Guy" is just sort of stupid. If anything, I would have rather that they brought back "Futurama" and left "Family Guy" for reruns, instead of vice versa.

As far as Bonds go, I'm a Sean Connery girl. He's suave and manly! I liked Pierce Brosnan, but he's more of a "pretty boy" - not really my type. The series also got QUITE silly (a camouflage car? Really?), so I was really happy when they hit the "reset" button with "Casino Royale." Daniel Craig is a great Bond, and he reminds me of Sean Connery quite a bit.

Speaking of Bond, the BBC is reporting on numerous Bond-related casting choices (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7176310.stm), but I believe that would be a good subject to start on a new thread.