It’s happened to all of us. You fall in love with a brilliant TV series and then, POOF, it gets canceled after one season.
While some TV shows never seem to end regardless of the decline in the quality of their programming (I’m looking at you, The Simpsons, Grey’s Anatomy, and Law & Order), many others see their lifespans cut needlessly short. And for most TV aficionados, nothing is more egregious than a wonderful series never being given a second chance.
Although television history is loaded with one-and-done programs, for the purposes of this list, anything that first aired more than 20 years ago is not included. So don’t bother looking for Firefly (2002), Freaks and Geeks (1999), or My So-Called Life (1994). The loss of the shows included here stings a bit more because their departures are more recent.
Love Monkey (2006)
[Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase]
Even though you can’t find this series on any streaming service and can’t buy it on Amazon, Ebay, or the Apple Store, I swear this show that only lasted eight episodes existed. It starred Tom Cavanagh as an AR rep for a small New York City record label where he hobnobs with well-known musicians making cameos (Ben Folds, James Blunt, Aimee Mann, John Mellencamp—to name just a few) and discovers and develops a young Teddy Geiger. Funny, flirty, and with incredible music, Love Monkey was oozing unrealized potential. Until it was canceled.
Limitless (2012)
The Limitless TV show is a continuation of the 2011 film of the same name starring Bradley Cooper. The 22-episode series follows the life of Brian Finch (Jake McDorman), a struggling musician who’s given a mysterious drug called NZT-48 that unlocks the full potential of his brain. Falsely believed to be immune to NZT’s fatal side effects, Brian solves crimes for the FBI while covertly working for Senator Eddie Mora, played by Cooper in a recurring role.
Almost Human (2013)
In the year 2048, Los Angeles police officers are required to be partnered with robots called Synthetics to deal with hyper-violent criminals and an out of control crime rate. After recovering from an attack that cost him the life of a friend and one of his legs, gruff detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) is partnered with an older model android with emotional intelligence named Dorian (Michael Ealy). This 13-episode series produced by JJ Abrams is loaded with action, intrigue, ahead-of-its-time CGI, and fantastic chemistry between its two leads.
Downward Dog (2017)
All dog lovers believe they know what their fur baby is thinking and feeling, but in the sitcom Downward Dog, we learn the human/dog relationship is more complex than we realize. This show focuses on the life of Martin (voiced by series co-creator Samm Hodges) and his roommate Nan (Allison Tolman), who he views as a life partner, not an owner. A thoughtful dog, Martin finds himself having to often “correct” Nan’s behavior by chewing on things and trashing her house because, from his perspective, her life is filled with contradictions and she doesn’t pay him enough attention. Humorous and sweet, Downward Dog shined during its brief eight-episode run.
Pitch (2016)
New San Diego Padres pitcher Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury) is the first woman to play Major League Baseball. Only 23-years-old but with great command on the mound, Ginny is a role model to millions, yet faces a firestorm of criticism for the slightest misstep. This fascinating series, which also stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mark Consuelos, and Ali Larter, unfortunately lasted only 10 episodes.
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (2017)
Depressed and with his life in shambles, Kevin Finn (the always charismatic Jason Ritter) moves from the big city to a small Texas town to live with his twin sister Amy (JoAnna Garcia) and her teen daughter Reese (Chloe East). After a strange encounter with a meteorite, Kevin comes into contact with a celestial guide named Yvette (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) that only he can see, and begins to turn his life around. During its 16-episode season, delicate topics such as depression and spirituality are treated with thoughtfulness and plenty of humor.
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