10 Most Shocking TV Cancellations of All Time
10 Most Shocking TV Cancellations
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the most abrupt and unexpected cancellations of shows that seemed to have plenty of life left in them. This will entail some spoilers.
“iCarly” (2021-23)
One of Nickelodeon’s most popular programs during its heyday, “iCarly” returned almost a decade later as a Paramount+ series. The revival’s third season left us with two major bombshells. First, Carly and Spencer’s mother returns, crashing the former’s impromptu wedding. Then, shortly after this cliffhanger, it was confirmed that the show had been cancelled. Pulling the plug on one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved brands was one thing, but leaving fans on this unresolved note was a real Nevel move. Thankfully, Miranda Cosgrove revealed in 2025 that a script for a finale film was nearly finished and production would soon commence. While Carly would get closure, the show’s cancellation was confounding nonetheless, especially since it was a selling point for some Paramount+ subscribers.
“GLOW” (2017-19)
A strong ensemble piece led by Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin, this fictionalized look at the real Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling organization was a consistent critical success for Netflix. The first season even got an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. The show was set to wrap up with a fourth season. The first episode was finished in early 2020. That said, COVID naturally shut down production, but surely filming would resume after the pandemic, right? Unfortunately, Netflix cancelled “GLOW,” unsure how a show requiring close physical contact could function under new mandates. Had the final season been completed, it wouldn’t have come out until 2022. Netflix wasn’t willing to wait almost three years, although shows like “Wednesday” had a similarly lengthy gap between seasons.
“My Name Is Earl” (2005-09)
Doing well in the ratings and winning a few Emmys, it was hard to imagine NBC cancelling this series without allowing Earl to cross off the final entry on his list. Not only did the network deny Earl a chance to get on karma’s good side, but the final episode bowed out on the craziest surprise: Earl is the biological father of Joy’s firstborn son, Dodge, and Darnell isn’t really Earl Jr.’s father. According to actor Ethan Suplee, this sudden ending was due to a clash between NBC, which licensed the show, and Fox, which produced it. Fox wanted more money. NBC didn’t respond, and by the time Fox was willing to accept their deal, the network told them, “too late.” That’s bad karma!
“Paula’s Best Dishes” (2008-13)
Between “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Party,” and “Paula’s Best Dishes,” the poster chef for Southern hospitality was a Food Network staple for over a decade. Paula Deen also gained several lucrative endorsement deals, but her empire and reputation came crashing down in June 2013. Lisa Jackson, who managed Deen’s restaurant Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House, accused the owner’s brother of sexual harassment and racial discrimination. The judge threw out the latter part of Jackson’s lawsuit, as the plaintiff was White, although the sexual misconduct claims stayed. While a settlement was reportedly reached, Deen torpedoed her career when she casually admitted to using racial slurs and telling racist jokes. This promptly ended Deen’s relationship with the network, which cancelled her remaining show in due course.
“Westworld” (2016-22)
When “Westworld” premiered on HBO in 2016, it wasn’t just a hit. It was a phenomenon, invading pop culture and sparking numerous theories online. As the plot grew increasingly complicated, even the most diehard fans lost interest. This was reflected in the ratings drop during seasons three and especially four. Since the first season set a viewership record for HBO, many felt Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy had built up enough goodwill to end things on their own terms. Although a fifth and final season was negotiated, HBO passed. We’re not sure what’s more shocking: that “Westworld” ended on such an unceremonious note or that, as of 2025, you can’t even stream it on HBO Max. It’s like the show’s existence was merely a dream.
“Angel” (1999-2004)
Although “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” had ended, it appeared the franchise would live on through the spinoff “Angel,” which was entering its fifth season. “Angel” was still among the highest-rated shows on the WB, making it all the more logic-defying when news leaked that it wouldn’t be getting a sixth season. Creator Joss Whedon was caught off guard, comparing it to a healthy person enduring a fatal heart attack. Meanwhile, head writer David Fury blamed Whedon, who supposedly pushed for an early season renewal. Fury believes that if Whedon had been patient, Season Six would’ve been “guaranteed.” In any case, Whedon reworked the season five finale into a series finale. Yet, the show concludes on an open-ended note, which some found fitting for Angel.
“Law & Order” (1990-2010, 2022-)
“Law & Order” originally ran on NBC for almost two decades, launching one of the network’s most prominent franchises. In 2010, the network renewed the spinoff “Law & Order: SVU” and moved forward with “Law & Order: LA,” which would only last one season. However, NBC cancelled the crime drama that started it all. Creator Dick Wolf was reportedly infuriated, under the impression that “Law & Order” would at least get one more season. Despite attempts to have TNT pick up the series, it never materialized. At the time, “Law & Order” was just shy of surpassing “Gunsmoke” as the longest-running scripted primetime series in history. It took another twelve years, but NBC finally brought “Law & Order” back. Still, we think “30 Rock” best summed up its initial cancellation.
“Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67)
Given its lengthy lifespan in reruns, some might be surprised to learn that “Gilligan’s Island” only ran for three seasons. Few were more shocked than the cast, who creator Sherwood Schwartz had led to believe that a fourth season was a done deal. Some of the actors even purchased property near the show’s filming location. Although “Gilligan’s Island” had seen a slight dip in the ratings, the show won its timeslot. Regardless, CBS gave its slot to “Gunsmoke,” which network president William S. Paley and his wife Babe saved from cancellation. This came at the expense of “Gilligan’s Island,” which was hastily set adrift. The story eventually continued in “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island,” but only a ship of fools would cancel such an iconic show.
“Roseanne” (1988-97; 2018)
After more than two decades off the air, “Roseanne” returned for a tenth season that retconned its widely divisive series finale. The revival was an instant ratings smash, quickly leading to an eleventh-season renewal. It seemed nothing could go wrong until Roseanne Barr got in her own way. Days after the season finale, Barr made a racist comment about Valerie Jarrett on social media. Disney CEO Bob Iger had already advised Barr to “stay off Twitter,” but she didn’t take his warning to heart. While Barr’s behavior was unacceptable, it was surprising to see how swiftly ABC cancelled the revival amid its massive success. The rest of the Conners would return in a spinoff series, but the family matriarch was killed off.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015-)
Whether David Letterman or Stephen Colbert was behind the desk, we assumed that “The Late Show” would always be a flagship franchise for CBS. With Colbert’s tenure having the highest viewership in late-night for almost a decade, it was beyond baffling when CBS announced the show would end in 2026. CBS wasn’t merely replacing Colbert. “The Late Show,” a TV fixture since 1993, would cease to exist. Supposedly, this was because the show had been losing $40 million annually. Many found these claims suspicious, not only because it was #1 in the ratings, but the cancellation coincided with Colbert accusing his parent company of bribing President Trump. This led critics to wonder if other late-night comics might be on the chopping block for criticizing POTUS.
Which TV cancellation shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments.
