May 4, 2018 | Miles Brucker

Short-Lived Facts About Beloved Shows Canceled Too Soon


A short run doesn't always mean a failure in the world of pop culture. There have been many shows whose impact and popularity have long outlived their actual original runs. Whether it's through cult followings, spinoffs and revivals, or just plain old undying popularity, these shows and their fans have never let quantity determine their quality. Here are 42 short-lived facts about some of the most beloved short-lived shows of all time.


Beloved Shows Canceled Too Soon Facts

42. We Used to Be Friends, a Long Time Ago

Veronica Mars only lasted for a tenuous three seasons before being canceled in 2007. The show was a film noir-influenced mystery about a young girl whose best friend is murdered and works to find the identity of the killer.  Like Twin Peaks, the show did some to lose some focus after the killer was revealed and captured, and struggled to get renewed for a third season. Ultimately, it was canceled, but show creator Rob Thomas had grown attached to his tiny, blonde, sarcastic teenage protagonist, and made a 12-minute film that showed the character a few years into the future, on her first day as an FBI agent. It was...not very good, and no networks showed interest. However, years later, when Thomas launched a Kickstarter campaign for a Veronica Mars, he raised a record $2 million dollars in 11 hours. The movie came out in 2014, and was full-on fan service in-jokes and Easter eggs to please all those rabid fans who had contributed. Of course, all these facts pale in comparison to the fact that Paul Rudd almost played Vinnie Van Lowe in the original series. Can you imagine a world where that happened?

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Flickr, Rach

41. Efficiency

Sometimes just a few episodes is all it takes a show to make a serious mark. British sitcom Fawlty Towers was ranked number one on the British Film Institute's 100 Greatest British TV Shows, despite having only run for 12 episodes. According to some, Fawlty Towers may not have been as short-lived as we think. Persistent online rumors from supposed witnesses allege that a 13th episode existed at some point, and that it has somehow disappeared without a trace. What are those hotel people trying to hide?!

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Fawlty Towers (1975–1979), BBC

Advertisement

40. Spider-Hood

The beloved 1960s Spider-Man cartoon series operated on a very low budget, to the point where two entire episodes were composed almost exclusively of reused footage from the show Rocket Robin Hood. Some fans probably felt a serious case of deja vu!

Superheroes FactsWikipedia

39. Monstrous Coincidence

TV's two classic monster family-themed sitcoms, The Addams Family and The Munsters, not only both had similar subject matter—they also both ran for the exact same two year period as one another from 1964 to 1966. Who knows what it was about those two years that made the public so temporarily interested in monster families?

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts The Addams Family (1964 TV),MGM

38. A Future With a Future

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening also had a second hit cartoon sitcom, Futurama, which was surprisingly canceled after a short initial run—but its persistent popularity and fan pushback over its cancellation eventually led to revivals in various formats, and ultimately a few new seasons.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Futurama (1999–2013), 20th Century Fox Television

Advertisement

 37. Know When to Fold 'Em

One of America's earliest hit TV sitcoms, The Honeymooners, was stopped after 39 episodes by its own star, Jackie Gleason, to avoid a decline in quality due to running out of good ideas. A famous legend about Gleason was that he never rehearsed. It turns out that this is true, and the main reason was that he felt his performance would be more fresh and funny if he let it happen spontaneously. It seems like in this case, the public concurs. Over 100 previously forgotten and unavailable sketches from Jackie Gleason's variety show featuring the characters and settings from the Honeymooners were recently uncovered and released as the “lost episodes”—a dream come true for fans of any show.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Wikipedia

36. That What?

Despite the understandable misconception that the short-lived That '80s Show was a spinoff of the popular That '70s Show, there is actually no connection between the characters or storylines of the two series (except that the main character was designed as Eric Forman's cousin), and their connections go no farther than title, basic theme, and production team. Of course, this list is about beloved shows, so let's move on quickly, shall we?

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts That

35. Multidimensional Antics

The Addams Family series and its classic characters were actually based on a comic strip from The New Yorker.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts The Addams Family (1964 TV),MGM

Advertisement

34. Long Time for a Short Run

The 1980s British TV adaptation of Sherlock Holmes is noteworthy for its loyalty to the original books, but also for another reason—despite a run of just 41 episodes, the series took 10 years to be completed!

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984–1985) , BBC

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

33. Famous Cousin

Although Police Squad! only ran for a mere six episodes, it made such a mark that it would eventually be adapted into film format, producing the now classic Naked Gun movies. Not many shows that only last six episodes could wind up with as impressive a guest list as Leslie Nielsen's Police Squad! did. Some of the names included Florence Henderson, William Shatner, Dick Clark, Robert Goulet, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and Tommy Lasorda. Not bad!

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Police Squad! (1982), Paramount Television

32. Early Ending

Although the Dick Van Dyke Show did last for a while, its legendary writer Carl Reiner explains that the decision to end the show right at the height of its popularity was in part to go out on a high note, and in part to allow new opportunities for the career of its young co-star, Mary Tyler Moore.

The Dick Van Dyke Show.Getty Images

Advertisement

38. Fact or Fiction

Matt Groening's Futurama borrowed its name from a real-life exhibit on the future from the 1939 New York World's Fair. If the future really does turn out to be anything like the show or the exhibit, it'll probably be pretty darn cool!

Futurama FactsGetty Images

30. Lady L

In addition to its destined-for-fame cast, Freaks and Geeks is remembered by many for its awesome soundtrack of songs from the period it takes place in, namely the early '80s. Despite its short run, the show found the time to pack in over 120 such songs. The first time the show was re-run by Fox, they unfortunately cut many of the songs, adding in cheaper music in its place, leading to some awkward scenes. That said, they did keep songs that were integral to certain scenes of the show—Nick drumming to Rush in his basement, anyone—the loss of which could've completely ruined the series. 

James Franco factsFreaks and Geeks (1999–2000), DreamWorks Television

29. Just Over the Bridge

Despite only lasting 34 episodes, the series Brooklyn Bridge was nominated for an Emmy after its first season and actually won a Golden Globe award.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Brooklyn Bridge(1991-1993), Paramount Television

Advertisement

28. Return of the Bean

Although Mr. Bean's original TV series only lasted 15 episodes, the character has been revived many times, including in cartoons, movies, and even the Olympics.

Rowan Atkinson factsGetty Images

27. Doomed for Remembrance

One of the most famous incarnations of the Super Friends, an ongoing franchise of cartoon adaptations of the Justice League comics, was Challenge of the Super Friends—which introduced us all to the Legion of Doom. Ironically, this series lasted only 16 episodes, far less than many of the other less memorable Super Friends series.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Challenge of the Superfriends (1978), Warner Bros. Television

26. There's Always Money in the Banana Stand

Before it was resurrected for a fourth and (upcoming) fifth season on Netflix, Arrested Development was the very first show on anyone's lips if you were to ask them the question "What's your favorite show that got canceled prematurely?" Despite its critical acclaim and six Primetime Emmy Awards, its ratings weren't great and Fox canceled the show after three seasons. The ratings had been a problem for a while by that point, and in the second season, when Fox reduced the season order by 4 episodes, the writers made a joke out of it in the show, saying that the Bluth Company's order for houses had been cut to 18 from 22.

Jason Bateman FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

25. Groundbreakers

Despite the Honeymooners sometimes being called “TV's first spinoff,” some would actually give that title to The Adventures of Champion—a spinoff of The Gene Autry Show. The former was a more conventional kind of spinoff than the Honeymooners, which was spawned from Gleason's sketches. TV fanatics can continue debating which one counts as the first for as long as the medium remains around.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts The Adventures of Champion (1955–1956), CBS

24. Long Visit

The two-episode 1983 mini-series V gave rise to a lasting science-fiction franchise about a group of alien invaders called the “Visitors." Many interpret the alien imagery of the 1983 series as an allegory for Nazi Germany.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts V (1983 miniseries), NBC

23. Stacked Platoon

Although the classic '60s military-themed sitcom F Troop lasted only two seasons, it is noteworthy for its cast of multiple classic TV legends—including Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, and Ken Berry.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Wikipedia

Advertisement

22. Makeover, Makeover, Makeover, Makeover...Makeover!

Clone High was one of the funniest cartoons on TV in its time, and that's saying something, as the early 2000s were a great time for hilarious cartoons. Despite its amazing premise—a bunch of clones of historical figures all go to high school together, including Abe Lincoln, Cleopatra and Joan of Arc in an Archie, Veronica and Betty-esque love triangle—it was canceled after one season. An outcry over the show's portrayal of Gandhi as an awkward teen with ADD was just one of the factors that led to its premature cancellation.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Wikipedia

21. Joanie Still Loves Chachi

Of the many spinoffs Happy Days is famous for inspiring, Joanie Loves Chachi may be the most beloved. Despite lasting only 17 episodes, it has remained memorable and well-liked enough to be referenced by Friends, Dodgeball, and the Beastie Boys. Joanie Loves Chachi star Scott Baio thinks that the reason the show didn't last was because the writers of the series were not as intimately familiar with the classic characters as the Happy Days writers had been.

Happy Days factsHappy Days (1974–1984), ABC

20. My So-Called Second Season

Ask anyone who was a teen in the '90s was the most heartbreaking show cancellation was and 9 times out of 10, you're going to hear My So-Called Life. The teen drama was unlike anything else on network television at the time (wasn't there only network television at that time?) but it was pulled off the air 19 episodes into its 22 episode debut season. It was also one of the early examples of a huge (and ultimately) failed fan campaign to bring the show back after its cancellation. Had the show ever made it to its second season, Angela and Jordan would have got into a serious relationship, while things would have got very messy for Angela's parents, with the possibility of an affair and separation.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts My So-Called Life(1994-1995), ABC

Advertisement

19. No-Fawlt Divorce

As crazy as it is that Fawlty Towers stars John Cleese and Connie Booth were married while writing and starring in the show together, it might be even more amazing that they continued to do so after getting divorced partway through the show's run.

Monty Python FactsFawlty Towers (1975-1979), BBC Worldwide

18. Yabba Dabba Don't

Jackie Gleason wanted to sue the Flintstones at one point for basing their characters on the ones from the Honeymooners, but was dissuaded from doing so for fear of going down in history as the “Man Who Killed Fred Flintstone.”

Larry King FactsWikimedia Commons

17. Five Star Hotel

True fans of the Golden Girls will remember its spinoff, Golden Palace, which features three of the original show's main characters running a hotel. Evidently, not everyone was as interested in this as the show's true fans, as it only aired for 24 episodes.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts The Golden Palace(1992-1993), CBS

Advertisement

16. America's Turn

There was an attempt to adapt Britain's beloved sitcom Fawlty Towers for American television, and the product was a show called Amanda's—which featured Golden Girls star Bea Arthur in John Cleese's shoes running a hotel. What is it about former Golden Girls stars trying to do shows about running hotels? It never seems to last...

TV Series Finales FactsGetty Images

15. Radio Days

The Marx Brothers were at height of their popularity when they received a weekly radio sitcom, Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, in 1932. The show received a lot of attention and created some beloved material. However, the show was not renewed for a second season and ended after 26 episodes. The show would later be rediscovered in the '80s when its scripts were released, at which point it developed a cult following and even a modern BBC remake. Nat Perrin, the writer behind the Flywheel radio show as well as many of the Marx Brothers' best-known films, would ironically become the head writer and producer of the The Addams Family series three decades later.

Marx Brothers factsWikipedia

14. Bridge Over Troubled Water

Brooklyn Bridge really went all out for the short time it was on the air in the early 90s—it had the legendary Art Garfunkel perform its theme song! There must be something about bridges that always attracts that guy...

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Brooklyn Bridge(1991-1993), Paramount Television

Advertisement

13. Catchy Song

The theme song from the 1967 Spider-Man series is one aspect of the show that was anything but short-lived—it has not only made its way into later Spider-Man adaptations, but has even been covered by the likes of Michael Buble.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Spider-Man (1967), ABC

12. Fast Impact

Although the original TV version of The Flash lasted only 22 episodes, it made enough of a mark to become the object of homage in the more recent 2014 edition of this superhero's TV escapades.

Superheroes FactsGetty Images

11. All You Need Is Love

The sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie enjoyed high ratings during the one season it was on the air before it was canceled—in part due to the controversy over its subject matter of interfaith marriage. Nevertheless, the cancellation could not prevent the actors who portrayed the show's protagonist couple from marrying in real life.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Wikipedia

Advertisement

10. What's in a Name?

The Marx Brothers' Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel had to change its name from its initial title of Beagle, Shyster, and Beagle. The studio was contacted by an irate real-life New York City lawyer, who felt that Groucho Marx's comedic portrayal of a lawyer by his name would ruin his business. The lawyer character on the show suddenly became known as Mr. Flywheel. The rest, as they say, is history.

Lucille Ball factsFlickr, Insomnia Cured Here

9. Bye Bye

Despite the fact that the Mr. Bean character has often been revived by Rowan Atkinson since the end of the show's original run, Atkinson unofficially retired the character in 2012—citing his feeling that “someone in their fifties being childlike becomes a little sad.” I'm sure most fans would gladly put this kind of judgment on hold to see more of this character!

Rowan Atkinson factsMr. Bean (1990–1995), Central Television

8. Life With Lucy

Lucille Ball is one of those icons where anything she stars in is instantly adored by her masses of fans. But in addition to starring in the legendary I Love Lucy and other hit shows, Ball also starred in a short-lived attempt at a TV series titled Life with Lucy, which was canceled by the network before all 13 episodes had even aired. Nevertheless, true Lucy fans will always hunt this show down and include it in the canon of Lucy shows that helped shape our culture.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Wikipedia

Advertisement

7. Getting Serious

Batman: The Animated Series, a two-season long TV series featuring the Caped Crusader, was one of the first animated shows intended for a serious, adult audience. The show inspired many similar superhero-themed animated series of this style, in a stark departure from the kind of light-hearted Saturday morning fare that Superhero cartoons had traditionally been a part of in the past.

Harley Quinn FactsBatman: The Animated Series ,Fox Kids

6. Shocking Revelation

Joss Whedon initially planned for seven seasons of Firefly before it was canceled. One arc that he’d planned for would have involved a slow, tragic death for of Inara, who was going to at one point contract a terminal illness. This is just one small hint, among countless others, that the show could have ended up becoming so much more, and that it’s premature departure is a real tragedy of the silver screen.

Firefly and Serenity FactsWikipedia

5. Box of Rain

The networks may not have felt that Freaks and Geeks had a formula worth continuing for more than 18 episodes, but the show has become beloved since it's cancellation, thanks in part to the timing of its release coinciding with the rising popularity of DVD releases of TV shows. While the producers ultimately knew it would be canceled, and planned for it, creator Paul Feig did have some plans for the characters should the series miraculously have been renewed. He envisioned Lindsay getting into some trouble during her trip following the Grateful Dead on tour, which would've affected her relationship with her parents, while her little brother Sam would've got into the drama club at school. Each of the "geeks" would actually go their own way, pursuing their own interests at school, while things wouldn't have turned out so rosy for the "freaks"—including a stint in jail for Daniel.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), DreamWorks Television

Advertisement

4. Are We Having Fun Yet?

In the vein of Arrested Development in more than one way, Party Down was a smart comedy with a hilarious cast that lasted only two seasons before its untimely cancellation. Since almost immediately after its demise, rumors have floated around about the possibility of a Party Down movie, which would be a delight, to say the least, especially considering how famous many of its cast members have got since—notably, Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, and Jane Lynch. When Jane Lynch left the show to take her role in Glee, Ken Marino thought it would be hilarious to hire a female stripper to see her off. When the rest of the cast started to go along with it and take up a collection to pay the dancer, Marino backed out. When the stripper did finally arrive and began dancing for Lynch, everyone realized just how awkward it was and stopped the whole thing in its tracks. Despite the fact that Marino backed out long before anything embarrassing happened, Lynch wrote a chapter about the prank in her book, and she blames him.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Party Down (2009–2010), FOX

3. Bad Timing

Popular lore says that Father Ted went off the air due to the sudden death of its star, Dermot Morgan, just a day after the last episode was filmed. However, it actually ended because Morgan did not want to become typecast portraying his comical character—never dreaming that he wouldn't live to pursue future acting jobs.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Father Ted(1995-1998), Channel 4

2. Galloping to Fame

The Father Ted episode “A Song for Europe,” which introduced the world to the now beloved silly song “My Lovely Horse” as Ireland's fictional Eurovision entry, was directed by Declan Lowney, who had actually directed the real Eurovision contest in 1988.

Shows Canceled Too Soon facts Getty Images

Advertisement

1. Silent Sensation

If you've ever wondered why the main character in Mr. Bean almost never speaks, it's so that the show can be easily relatable to all viewers regardless of language barriers. I guess the idea paid off—the show has been carried in almost 200 countries worldwide!

Rowan Atkinson factsMr. Bean (1990–1995), Central Television

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.