Top 10 TV Cancellations Announced This Year (So Far)
#10: “Bupkis” (2023)
Fans of Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical comedy “Bupkis” are likely surprised to learn that the series will no longer have a second season. Afterall, the show was renewed by the folks at Peacock in June 2023, just two months after it debuted to strong ratings. Why the sudden change? As it turns out, the decision was made by star Pete Davidson himself. As Pete noted, the show was his way of telling his story during a time of immense media scrutiny. Now, the “Saturday Night Live” alum feels that part of his life is finished. The series also featured Edie Falco as Pete’s mother and Joe Pesci as Pete’s grandfather.
#9: “The Brothers Sun” (2024)
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Who cancels an action / comedy / drama series starring Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh? Netflix – that’s who. Starring Yeoh, Justin Chien, and Sam Li, the series focuses on young med-student Bruce Sun and the discovery that his estranged family members are some of the most renowned gangsters in all of Taipei. Michelle Yeoh plays the family matriarch and must traverse her sons’ very different philosophies on life. The series, which came from the co-creator of “Glee,” was released in early January 2024 to positive reviews. Unfortunately, the audience wasn’t strong enough, leading the streamer to ultimately close the curtain on “The Brother’s Sun.”
#8: “Schmigadoon!” (2021-23)
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We’re afraid the curtain has fallen on Apple’s musical series “Schmigadoon!” After two seasons, and plenty of award’s nominations, show creator Cinco Paull announced on his social media that the series will not be getting a third. Making things even worse, Paul noted that the season was already written and included 25 new songs. Yikes. Season one of the Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong-starring show used Broadway musicals of the 40s and 50s as inspiration with season two going slightly darker with the 60s and 70s. Season 3 was set to take on the “mega-musical” era of the 80s and 90s. Alas, the season, and its songs, will not make it off the page.
#7: “Alex Rider” (2020-24)
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From a failed 2006 movie to the cancellation of this Amazon Freevee show, it appears “Alex Rider'' can't seem to catch a break outside the pages of the popular young adult book series. At least fans of the young spy character got three seasons of the Otto Farrant-starring TV series. Based on Anthony Horowitz’s novels, the show documented Alex’s recruitment by a subdivision of MI6 as a teenage spy. From there, Alex Rider infiltrated the many places that were off-limits to others. The first season debuted on Amazon Prime Video to some fanfare. The second (and third) season moved to Amazon’s affiliated streamer, Freevee - previously known as IMDb TV.
#6: “Obliterated” (2023)
Sorry action-comedy fans, “Obliterated” will not see a second season. This axing, courtesy of Netflix, is almost a “second cancellation” for the series. You see, “Obliterated” was originally developed for TBS, earning a straight to series order in 2019. Unfortunately, the cable network cut the show loose in 2022 before it made it to air. It eventually landed on Netflix, premiering in November 2023. From the creators of the smash hit “Cobra Kai,” “Obliterated” follows a special forces team sent to thwart a threat to Las Vegas. However, once they do, they realize things were not as they seemed. It was described as “The Hangover” meets “Archer.” Regardless, the wild fun has unfortunately come to an end.
#5: “Minx” (2022-23)
Like “obliterated,” “Minx” is no stranger to cancellations. The racy comedy series aired its first season on the Warner Bros. streaming service Max before getting axed due to some cost cutting. The series was quickly picked up by Starz however, where its second season played in 2023. “Minx” is set in 1970s Los Angeles and centers around a “young feminist” who embarks on creating the first adult magazine for women. The show was a critical hit with reviews calling it “smart, sexy, and fun.” Alas, all the praise in the world was not enough to keep “Minx” in the mix!
#4: “The Flight Attendant” (2020-22)
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Talk about getting grounded. This Kaley Cuoco-starring series has been canceled following two seasons on Warner’s Max. Based on the Chris Bohjalian novel of the same name, the series debuted in 2020 and followed Cuoco as Cassie Bowden, a stewardess with substance use issues. Bowden’s life gets thrown for a loop after she wakes up in a hotel room with a deceased man. The series, and Cuoco, nabbed a batch of Emmy nominations throughout its run. Interestingly, the first season was meant to be a “one and done,” but its massive success led to a second. Sadly, enthusiasm waned quite a bit afterwards leading to the decision to cut its wings completely.
#3: “Ratched” (2020)
For fans of Netflix’s “Ratched,” it’s been four long years waiting for word on the show’s future. Unfortunately, when it came, it wasn’t the news they hoped for. Series star Sarah Paulson was the one to break the bad news, confirming that “no,” there will not be any more installments of the Ryan Murphy developed show. “Ratched” told the origin story of the villainous Nurse Mildred Ratched – the infamous character seen in 1975’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The eight-episode suspenseful drama landed several Emmy nominations, not to mention plenty of praise for Paulson’s committed performance.
#2: “Evil” (2019-24)
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When it comes to season four of Paramount’s “Evil,” it’s good news and bad news for fans of the supernatural drama series. The good news is that it will feature four bonus episodes! The bad news is that it will be the show’s last. As you might have guessed, the extra episodes are meant to help wrap up storylines. The series, which explores the intersection of religion and science, promises a wild (not to mention nail-biting) final season. The show originally aired on CBS before it moved to the streaming site Paramount+. Despite its lacking audience, “Evil” consistently garnered critical acclaim.
#1: “Our Flag Means Death” (2023)
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Could this silly pirate series about the power of love really be dead in the water? We’re afraid so. The series, starring Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby leading a rag-tag crew of misfits, debuted on Max in 2022. The show received strong reviews and, more importantly, garnered a devoted fan base. The show’s two seasons were seemingly hits – making its cancellation all the more heartbreaking. However, when the announcement came in early January 2024, showrunner David Jenkins held out hope that the series might find a new home. Unfortunately, Jenkins has since confirmed they failed to secure one. Sadly, this means the ship has sailed on “Our Flag Means Death.” What series will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments below.
