Death is a part of life, in the world of TV as it is in the real world. But sometimes shows are taken from us just . . .too soon.
Here are three top, sad examples:
“Batman†(1966-68)
The mid ‘60s “Batman†was a delightfully campy affair that, in just three seasons, saw 120 episodes air on ABC. But, by the end of the third season, ratings had dropped, and ABC cancelled the show. NBC, seeing a potential goldmine, acted quickly and agreed to take the series. However, it seems as if someone didn’t get the memo, as the sets, which cost hundreds of thousands of 1960s dollars, were destroyed. NBC, perhaps not wanting to pony up the cash, time and effort for new sets, ended the deal instead. “Batman†was finished for good.
“Freaks and Geeks†(1999-2000)
“Freaks and Geeks†is undoubtedly https://giphy.com/gifs/nbc-freaks-and-geeks-1McY1t7x3fWy4a cult classic, and it helped launch the careers of comedians and stars like Seth Rogen and James Franco. Praised for its authenticity in depicting teenage life, many of its episodes were often sad, awkward, and troubling. Unfortunately, this clashed with the network’s vision for the show. NBC wanted the characters to be cooler, and they wanted the storylines to be happier and more uplifting. But, the writers stuck to their guns, and NBC lost all hope in the series and cancelled it after only one season.
“Deadwood†(2004-06)
“Deadwood†is often considered to be one of the greatest television shows of all time, and fans are still hoping that it will return in the form of a movie. Following season three, show creator David Milch was offered a fourth season consisting of six episodes. After Milch declined, he and HBO reached a deal to produce two two-hour movies to serve as a finale. However, these movies never came to be. In 2007, HBO brass put the odds of the films being made at “50/50â€, and even a decade later and a script in place, the possibility of a “Deadwood†film still remains uncertain.
What are your favorite shows that got canned before their time?