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* ''{{Jericho}}'': Was famously resurrected by a SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaign, but the respite would last only a season before the ax fell again.
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* ''{{Jericho}}'': ''Series/{{Jericho}}'': Was famously resurrected by a SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaign, but the respite would last only a season before the ax fell again.
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* ''{{Series/Duel}}'', a great quiz show that fell victim to the FridayNightDeathSlot.
* ''EightSimpleRules''. In spite of John Ritter's untimely death, it still managed to pull in solid ratings(at least compared to the rest of the TGIF lineup), but ABC cancelled it anyways, citing its inability to sell it in syndication as a reason for its cancellation.
* ''EightSimpleRules''. In spite of John Ritter's untimely death, it still managed to pull in solid ratings(at least compared to the rest of the TGIF lineup), but ABC cancelled it anyways, citing its inability to sell it in syndication as a reason for its cancellation.
to:
* ''{{Series/Duel}}'', ''Series/{{Duel}}'', a great quiz show that fell victim to the FridayNightDeathSlot.
*''EightSimpleRules''.''Series/EightSimpleRules''. In spite of John Ritter's untimely death, it still managed to pull in solid ratings(at least compared to the rest of the TGIF lineup), but ABC cancelled it anyways, citing its inability to sell it in syndication as a reason for its cancellation.
*
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Unfortunately, the viewers are never told "What would have happened next", because the now unemployed/transferred writers will want to [[RecycledScript recycle their unused ideas into their next job.]]
to:
Unfortunately, the viewers fans are never only rarely told "What [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what would have happened next", next]], because the now unemployed/transferred writers will generally want to [[RecycledScript recycle their unused ideas into their next job.]]
job]].
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* ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM]]'': Was intentionally killed by Fox scheduling ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' into the same time slot to steal its ratings. Twice. That's right; Fox got its start killing ''other'' networks' shows. That was until Kids' WB fought back, and Fox's plans backfired.
to:
* ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM]]'': Hedgehog]]'': Was intentionally killed by Fox scheduling ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' into the same time slot to steal its ratings. Twice. That's right; Fox got its start killing ''other'' networks' shows. That was until Kids' WB fought back, and Fox's plans backfired.
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superlatives AND word cruff.
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An intelligent, well written show, usually a subtle blend of comedy and drama, beloved of a devoted [[{{Fandom}} group of fans and critics]]. So why did it never have a chance? (Or at best, struggled in the {{ratings}} for a couple seasons.)
Well, either the mainstream just isn't interested in this show, or the network never even gives it a chance to build an audience (usual [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html translation]]: it's on {{FOX}})... or it's created by [[TheTimReaper Tim Minear]], JuddApatow, BryanFuller, or JossWhedon. Sometimes, someone high up at the network takes a dislike to the show and [[ScrewedByTheNetwork does everything in his power to kill it.]] Maybe [[NetworkDecay the network doesn't think it fits in]].
If the show is lucky enough to be shown on a cable network in reruns, it may build up a bigger following there than it ever had in its first run.
Well, either the mainstream just isn't interested in this show, or the network never even gives it a chance to build an audience (usual [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html translation]]: it's on {{FOX}})... or it's created by [[TheTimReaper Tim Minear]], JuddApatow, BryanFuller, or JossWhedon. Sometimes, someone high up at the network takes a dislike to the show and [[ScrewedByTheNetwork does everything in his power to kill it.]] Maybe [[NetworkDecay the network doesn't think it fits in]].
If the show is lucky enough to be shown on a cable network in reruns, it may build up a bigger following there than it ever had in its first run.
to:
An intelligent, well written show, usually a subtle blend of comedy and drama, beloved of a devoted [[{{Fandom}} group of fans and critics]]. So why did it never have a chance? (Or at best, struggled in the {{ratings}} for a couple seasons.)
Well, eitherchance?
Either the mainstreamjust isn't interested in this show, or the network never even gives it a chance to build an audience (usual [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html translation]]: it's on {{FOX}})... or it's created by [[TheTimReaper Tim Minear]], JuddApatow, BryanFuller, or JossWhedon. Sometimes, someone high up at the network takes a dislike to the show and [[ScrewedByTheNetwork does everything in his power to kill it.]] Maybe Other times [[NetworkDecay the network doesn't think it fits in]].
in]] If the show is lucky enough to be shown on a cable network in reruns, it may build up a bigger following there than it ever had in its first run.
Well, either
Either the mainstream
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For those shows that manage to pull out a few seasons with plenty of network problems before going under, check out the ''Exception'' section at the bottom of this page. The main entries are about shows that barely managed to get out a single season, if that. Incidentally, some shows end up being canceled only to be UnCanceled by the network or do a ChannelHop.
It's notable that of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is Too Good To Last may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
It's notable that of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is Too Good To Last may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
to:
For those shows that manage to pull out a few seasons with plenty of network problems before going under, check out the ''Exception'' section at the bottom of this page. The main entries are about shows that barely managed to get out a single season, if that. Incidentally, some shows end up being canceled only to be UnCanceled by the network or do a ChannelHop.
It's notable that of Of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is Too Good To Last may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
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* ''TimeSquad'': Surprisingly, it wasn't canceled because someone complained about the rampant HoYay and [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar innuendo that seemed to fly past the radar]]... [[RefugeInAudacity on a stealth bomber]] [[BeyondTheImpossible ...painted white]]. In fact, [[NoodleIncident there really isn't a definite story]] about why it was canceled. One story goes that Dave Wasson (the show creator) had a falling-out with his storyboard crew and the tensions threw production in a loop. Another story is the common "the show got low ratings, its timeslot kept getting shuffled [though, considering [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids its content]], airing it at 10pm before AdultSwim ''is'' actually a good idea], and it didn't get the audience that the other Cartoon Cartoon shows got" story, which is probably the more believable of the two stories.
to:
* ''TimeSquad'': Surprisingly, it wasn't canceled because someone complained about the rampant HoYay and [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar innuendo that seemed to fly flew past the radar]]... [[RefugeInAudacity on a stealth bomber]] [[BeyondTheImpossible ...painted white]]. radar]]. In fact, [[NoodleIncident there really isn't a definite story]] story about why it was canceled. One story goes that Dave Wasson (the show creator) had a falling-out with his storyboard crew and the tensions threw production in a loop. Another story is the common "the show got low ratings, its timeslot kept getting shuffled [though, considering [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids its content]], airing it at 10pm before AdultSwim ''is'' actually a good idea], and it didn't get the audience that the other Cartoon Cartoon shows got" story, which is probably the more believable of the two stories.
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* ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM]]'': Was intentionally killed by Fox scheduling ''[[PowerRangers Power Rangers]]'' into the same time slot to steal its ratings. Twice. That's right; Fox got its start killing ''other'' networks' shows. That was until Kids' WB fought back, and Fox's plans backfired.
to:
* ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM]]'': Was intentionally killed by Fox scheduling ''[[PowerRangers Power Rangers]]'' ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' into the same time slot to steal its ratings. Twice. That's right; Fox got its start killing ''other'' networks' shows. That was until Kids' WB fought back, and Fox's plans backfired.
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* ''InvaderZim'': ExecutiveMeddling was the culprit here--[[YouFailLogicForever the network hired a comic artist best known for a series called]] "JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac", [[YouFailLogicForever but were unprepared for the series' dark humor]].
to:
* ''InvaderZim'': ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': ExecutiveMeddling was the culprit here--[[YouFailLogicForever here--[[LogicalFallacies the network hired a comic artist best known for a series called]] "JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac", [[YouFailLogicForever [[LogicalFallacies but were unprepared for the series' dark humor]].
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* ''UnnaturalHistory'', [[BetterThanItSounds the first]] [[LiveActionTV Live Action]] [[BetterThanItSounds show on]] CartoonNetwork that was good.
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* ''UnnaturalHistory'', [[BetterThanItSounds the first]] [[LiveActionTV Live Action]] [[BetterThanItSounds show on]] CartoonNetwork Creator/CartoonNetwork that was good.
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* ''TheStanFrebergShow'' was canceled by the CBS radio network after running for only 15 episodes, due to failure to attract a sponsor. StanFreberg took favorite sketch requests a week before the final episode to thank fans for their enthusiasm for the show. Thank goodness all the episodes survive.
to:
* ''TheStanFrebergShow'' ''Radio/TheStanFrebergShow'' was canceled by the CBS radio network after running for only 15 episodes, due to failure to attract a sponsor. StanFreberg took favorite sketch requests a week before the final episode to thank fans for their enthusiasm for the show. Thank goodness all the episodes survive.
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* ''{{ReBoot}}'': Did well pretty much everywhere it aired, but ABC yanked it after two. It did well in Canada and on CartoonNetwork for a third season, abruptly canceled upon edging out a fourth season three years later. Always seems to get a good break with talk of being {{uncanceled}} with a series of movies.
to:
* ''{{ReBoot}}'': Did well pretty much everywhere it aired, but ABC yanked it after two. It did well in Canada and on CartoonNetwork Creator/CartoonNetwork for a third season, abruptly canceled upon edging out a fourth season three years later. Always seems to get a good break with talk of being {{uncanceled}} with a series of movies.
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* ''Wrestling/{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedBytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for ''[[Wrestling/WWERAW WWE Raw]]''.
to:
* ''Wrestling/{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedBytheNetwork [[ScrewedByTheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for ''[[Wrestling/WWERAW WWE Raw]]''.
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* ''TheCritic'': Why get screwed by one network when you can get screwed ''twice''?
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* ''TheCritic'': ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'': Why get screwed by one network when you can get screwed ''twice''?
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* ''{{Fastlane}}'' from Fox, '''of course'''. A show that was like ''CharliesAngels'' meets ''MiamiVice.''
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* ''{{Fastlane}}'' from Fox, '''of course'''. A show that was like ''CharliesAngels'' ''Series/CharliesAngels'' meets ''MiamiVice.''Series/MiamiVice.''
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* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': An extremely clever if dark Sci fi with {{Muppets}}, literally it was produced by Jim Henson! Unfortunately, much like ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' the Network had a hard time understanding its brilliance. It was moved around constantly and was eventually {{screwed by the network}} it its forth season, ending on a cliffhanger.
to:
* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': An extremely clever if dark Sci fi with {{Muppets}}, literally it was produced by Jim Henson! Unfortunately, much like ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' the Network had a hard time understanding its brilliance. It was moved around constantly and was eventually {{screwed by the network}} ScrewedByTheNetwork it its forth season, ending on a cliffhanger.
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* ''Wrestling/{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedBytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for WWF.
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* ''Wrestling/{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedBytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for WWF.''[[Wrestling/WWERAW WWE Raw]]''.
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There's always been an emphasis on ratings in television, but it seems to have become much more pronounced since the early 1990s. It is widely commented upon that ''{{Cheers}}'' was ''dead last'' in the ratings among all regular series in its first season (1982-83), and that a show doing that badly today would almost certainly be canceled within its first month or two. This isn't necessarily a new phenomenon, but some shows only survive by [[NetworkToTheRescue having a network president who is a fan.]]
to:
There's always been an emphasis on ratings in television, but it seems to have become much more pronounced since the early 1990s. It is widely commented upon that ''{{Cheers}}'' ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' was ''dead last'' in the ratings among all regular series in its first season (1982-83), and that a show doing that badly today would almost certainly be canceled within its first month or two. This isn't necessarily a new phenomenon, but some shows only survive by [[NetworkToTheRescue having a network president who is a fan.]]
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The observant reader will note that the vast majority of TooGoodToLast shows are from the last 15-20 years. This is likely because of the increased emphasis on ratings above all else. On the other hand, the list might be biased toward the past decade because shows like this have an unfortunate tendency to fall off the face of the earth upon cancellation, so our ability to recall and report them is inversely proportional to how long ago they aired.
to:
The observant reader will note that the vast majority of TooGoodToLast Too Good To Last shows are from the last 15-20 years. This is likely because of the increased emphasis on ratings above all else. On the other hand, the list might be biased toward the past decade because shows like this have an unfortunate tendency to fall off the face of the earth upon cancellation, so our ability to recall and report them is inversely proportional to how long ago they aired.
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It's notable that of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is TooGoodToLast may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
to:
It's notable that of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is TooGoodToLast Too Good To Last may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
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Shows that are TooGoodToLast can be ShortRunners, but sometimes they are longer.
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Shows that are TooGoodToLast Too Good To Last can be ShortRunners, but sometimes they are longer.
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* The U.S. version of ''Coupling'', though your mileage greatly varies on whether or not it was considered "TooGoodToLast," as the reason it was canceled was because it was a watered-down ''Friends'' rip-off in comparison to the UK version.
to:
* The U.S. version of ''Coupling'', though your mileage greatly varies on whether or not it was considered "TooGoodToLast," "Too Good To Last," as the reason it was canceled was because it was a watered-down ''Friends'' rip-off in comparison to the UK version.
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* ''{{Sliders}}'': was cancelled after its first season, brought back as a mid-season replacement the following year after fan protesting, and aired two more seasons on Fox. The [[NetworkDecay SYFY]] channel produced a fourth and fifth season before finally cancelling it.
to:
* ''{{Sliders}}'': ''Series/{{Sliders}}'': was cancelled after its first season, brought back as a mid-season replacement the following year after fan protesting, and aired two more seasons on Fox. The [[NetworkDecay SYFY]] channel produced a fourth and fifth season before finally cancelling it.
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** She was "written out" because she had a prior commitment to another TooGoodToLast show, DisneyChannel's ''Flash Forward'' (which had nothing to do with ABC's ''Flash Forward''.
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** She was "written out" because she had a prior commitment to another TooGoodToLast Too Good To Last show, DisneyChannel's Creator/DisneyChannel's ''Flash Forward'' (which had nothing to do with ABC's ''Flash Forward''.
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** What ''is'' sad is that this may mean the SGA and [=SG1=] movies, already in DevelopmentHell, are off the table as well (WordOfGod says they're "indefinitely postponed"). A franchise of new 'gate films with the level of epicness seen in ''StargateContinuum'' would have been the coolest thing ever - [[TooGoodToLast too cool to last]].
to:
** What ''is'' sad is that this may mean the SGA and [=SG1=] movies, already in DevelopmentHell, are off the table as well (WordOfGod says they're "indefinitely postponed"). A franchise of new 'gate films with the level of epicness seen in ''StargateContinuum'' would have been the coolest thing ever - [[TooGoodToLast too cool to last]].last.
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* ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': canceled after its second season due to poor ratings, it was revived by one of the first [[SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaigns]].
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* ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': canceled after its second season due to poor ratings, it was revived by one of the first [[SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaigns]].
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* ''VeronicaMars'' is right on the borderline, with three seasons on {{UPN}}/the {{CW}} network.
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* ''VeronicaMars'' ''Series/VeronicaMars'' is right on the borderline, with three seasons on {{UPN}}/the {{CW}} network.
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* ''{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedbytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for WWF.
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* ''{{ECW}}'': ''Wrestling/{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedbytheNetwork [[ScrewedBytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for WWF.
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Wayback Machine
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[[redirect:ScrewedByTheNetwork]]
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2009 2012 2013
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%%There's no hard-and-fast rule, but if you're going to add a show that ran more than a season, please consider whether it shouldn't go under "Exceptions", below. If you want to gush about your favorite show, try the SugarWiki.
%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1326860997018298300
%%Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/good_cancel_it_2353_1642.jpg]]
->''We made a land where crap is king and the good don't last too long''
-->--''Music/SpocksBeard'', "The Good Don't Last"
An intelligent, well written show, usually a subtle blend of comedy and drama, beloved of a devoted [[{{Fandom}} group of fans and critics]]. So why did it never have a chance? (Or at best, struggled in the {{ratings}} for a couple seasons.)
Well, either the mainstream just isn't interested in this show, or the network never even gives it a chance to build an audience (usual [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html translation]]: it's on {{FOX}})... or it's created by [[TheTimReaper Tim Minear]], JuddApatow, BryanFuller, or JossWhedon. Sometimes, someone high up at the network takes a dislike to the show and [[ScrewedByTheNetwork does everything in his power to kill it.]] Maybe [[NetworkDecay the network doesn't think it fits in]].
If the show is lucky enough to be shown on a cable network in reruns, it may build up a bigger following there than it ever had in its first run.
The observant reader will note that the vast majority of TooGoodToLast shows are from the last 15-20 years. This is likely because of the increased emphasis on ratings above all else. On the other hand, the list might be biased toward the past decade because shows like this have an unfortunate tendency to fall off the face of the earth upon cancellation, so our ability to recall and report them is inversely proportional to how long ago they aired.
There's always been an emphasis on ratings in television, but it seems to have become much more pronounced since the early 1990s. It is widely commented upon that ''{{Cheers}}'' was ''dead last'' in the ratings among all regular series in its first season (1982-83), and that a show doing that badly today would almost certainly be canceled within its first month or two. This isn't necessarily a new phenomenon, but some shows only survive by [[NetworkToTheRescue having a network president who is a fan.]]
Another theory is that the advent of the Internet and the explosion of cable channels has made it harder for these too-soon canceled shows to be forgotten.
For those shows that manage to pull out a few seasons with plenty of network problems before going under, check out the ''Exception'' section at the bottom of this page. The main entries are about shows that barely managed to get out a single season, if that. Incidentally, some shows end up being canceled only to be UnCanceled by the network or do a ChannelHop.
It's notable that of the exceptions and shows that were UnCanceled, only a handful were aired on non-cable networks. A series that is TooGoodToLast may have better chances on cable than on broadcast networks, in part because cable doesn't demand ratings as high in the first place for the show to be considered a success.
Unfortunately, the viewers are never told "What would have happened next", because the now unemployed/transferred writers will want to [[RecycledScript recycle their unused ideas into their next job.]]
!!Related Tropes
* Contrast with:
** LongRunners, where a show can last for a long time
** BritishBrevity, where a show was always intended to have a short run.
** SeasonalRot, when the duration of the show has far overstayed its welcome
** FranchiseZombie, where the show goes past the time creators wanted to, and its quality may suffer as a result.
* Compare with:
** AwesomenessWithdrawal, a feeling often accompanying this.
** SecondSeasonDownfall, where a show ''is'' permitted to keep going but subsequently proves to have used up most of its potential in that first season.
** TheFireflyEffect, where viewers refuse to commit to a show out of the fear or assumption that its cancellation is imminent.
** TooCoolToLive, when this happens to ''people''.
* Possible causes:
** FridayNightDeathSlot
** ExecutiveMeddling
** TheyChangedItNowItSucks
** ScrewedByTheNetwork
Shows that are TooGoodToLast can be ShortRunners, but sometimes they are longer.
----
!Examples
!!Live Action TV and Western Animation
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:{{ABC}} (American)/ ABC Family]]
* ''BestOfTheWest''. Parody of all things Western by the creators of "Taxi" and "Cheers".
* ''TheBrendanLeonardShow''
* ''CashmereMafia''. Made all the more painful by the fact that the similar, yet inferior, ''LipstickJungle'' showed up later the same season...and returned for a second season -- it ''too'' got canceled after that.
* ''ClerksTheAnimatedSeries'', one of the worst examples of a show being ScrewedByTheNetwork (from the ''very'' beginning it had basically no real time slot). Six episodes were produced, but only two were aired.
* ''CommanderInChief''
* ''CompleteSavages''
* ''TheCritic:'' Poor Jay Sherman.
* ''Series/{{Cupid}}'': the {{ABC}} {{dramedy}}, not the {{CBS}} reality show. The remake was too good to last, as well.
* ''TheDanaCarveyShow''. Apparently too edgy for {{ABC}} executives at the time, who canceled it after seven episodes (and an unaired eighth). A very, very good example of a show being ahead of its time... and why you shouldn't lead off your first episode with Bill Clinton breast-feeding puppies.
* ''DayBreak''
* ''DefyingGravity'' (co-developed by ABC, The BBC, CTV and ProSieben) had been canceled and its sets destroyed ''before all the episodes had even been aired''. That does not even consider that {{ABC}} had all summer to buy and advertise the show, but only purchased the show 3 weeks before the first episode aired.
* ''DirtySexyMoney'', a sharp show that was caught in the crossfire of the 2007 writers' strike.
* ''{{Series/Duel}}'', a great quiz show that fell victim to the FridayNightDeathSlot.
* ''EightSimpleRules''. In spite of John Ritter's untimely death, it still managed to pull in solid ratings(at least compared to the rest of the TGIF lineup), but ABC cancelled it anyways, citing its inability to sell it in syndication as a reason for its cancellation.
* ''EliStone'', also a late casualty of the 2007 strike.
* ''[[{{Flash Forward 2009}} Flash Forward]]'': despite its serious potential as a {{Lost}} replacement.
* ''{{Fillmore}}''
* ''GetEd''
* ''TheGoodeFamily'' picked up by ComedyCentral, and then canceled ''again''.
* ''TheGreatestAmericanHero'' - A short intro season, a full second season, and a third cut in half, with four episodes never even aired until syndication. Was almost uncancelled as "The Greatest American Heroine", but that pilot was turned down.
* ''HappyTown''
* ''{{Series/Homefront}}''
* ''HotLBaltimore''
* ''{{Huge}}'': Despite being acclaimed as novel and body-positive, it only lasted one short season.
* ''HighIncident''
* ''{{Invasion}}'': One season only, just when it was getting started. Such a shame...
* ''JakeInProgress''
* ''{{The Job}}'': Which transmogrified into the more dramatic ''Rescue Me'' on the FX Network with much of the same cast.
* ''LifeAsWeKnowIt''
* ''Series/LifeOnMars'' (US version): The US version of the BBC hit was just finding its own voice and establishing its own mythos when ABC announced that its first season would be its only season.
* ''MastersOfScienceFiction''
* ''MaxHeadroom''
* ''MenInTrees''
* ''{{The Middle Man}}'': a hilariously clever spoof on classic pulp super heros. It was canceled after 12 episodes just as they were introducing the series arch-villain and his nefarious plan.
* ''MightyOrbots'': A well animated and stylish Voltron-style cartoon that was canceled in its first season after an ironic lawsuit was filed by the makers of ''Gobots''.
* ''{{Miracles}}''
* ''Series/TheMole'' had two great seasons, then two full CelebrityEdition seasons which brought its first demise. Years later, it was revived and promptly ScrewedByTheNetwork, when ABC did such a poor job of promoting it that die-hard fans of the series didn't know it had returned until midway through the season.
* ''MrSunshine''
* ''MySoCalledLife'': Slice-of-life teen angst drama that's a quintessential example of this trope: beloved, critically-acclaimed, gone after one season.
* ''NoOrdinaryFamily'': Well-written series that PlayedWith some of the SuperHero genre's most fundamental tropes, but was cancelled after one season and ended on a cliffhanger.
* ''TheKnightsOfProsperity''
* ''TheNineLivesOfChloeKing'': Though somewhat justified becacuse the company thought it was declining in ratings, but fans tried to petition to bring it back.
* ''OnceAndAgain''
* ''TheOuterLimits'': the 1960s original.
* ''PepperAnn'': The terribly clever toon from the original One Saturday Morning lineup.
* ''PoliceSquad'': The series was supposedly canceled because ''[[ViewersAreMorons the viewer had to]]'' [[ViewersAreMorons pay attention]] '' [[ViewersAreMorons in order to appreciate it.]]''
** They were also running out of gags.
* ''{{Prey}}'': Another good show that was canceled after one season and on a cliffhanger.
* ''{{Probe}}''
* ''{{Relativity}}''
* ''PushingDaisies'': Its first season earned it 12 Emmy nominations for 9 episodes shown, but the 2007 writer's strike sapped its audience beyond recovery.
* ''RubyAndTheRockits''
* ''[[SamanthaWho Samantha Who?]]''
* ''TheSlapMaxwellStory''
* ''SledgeHammer!''
* ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM]]'': Was intentionally killed by Fox scheduling ''[[PowerRangers Power Rangers]]'' into the same time slot to steal its ratings. Twice. That's right; Fox got its start killing ''other'' networks' shows. That was until Kids' WB fought back, and Fox's plans backfired.
* ''SportsNight''
* ''TalesOfTheGoldMonkey''
* ''TheNine'': Like the title invokes, it involves nine people who were stuck inside a bank during a 52-hour robbery. After one episode, it went from a tense Dog Day Afternoon-esque thriller into a slow burning psychological drama. It lost many viewers before the show REALLY started getting warmed up, mostly because of that abrupt GenreShift.
* ''{{Traveler}}'': A show about two men on the run, with a smart conspiracy after them, that not only lacked padding, but did not treat the audience like idiots. Ended on a painful cliffhanger that was never resolved.
* ''TheTwistedTalesOfFelixTheCat'': A wonderfully surreal cartoon with a MaxAndDaveFleischer feel. Only lasted 36 episodes.
* ''TwinPeaks''
* ''TheUnusuals''
* ''Series/VengeanceUnlimited''
* ''WhenThingsWereRotten'': 1975 Robin Hood farce created by MelBrooks (later inspiring his ''RobinHoodMenInTights'').
* ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'': Two 26-episode seasons, wrapped up fairly well but they'd [[SequelHook set up for a third season]] and the comics gave them enough material to do at least five more seasons if they'd been able to.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{CBS}}]]
* ''AmericanGothic''
* ''{{Arnie}}'': This satirical early-'70s comedy starred Herschel Bernardi as a loading-dock foreman who suddenly and unexpectedly found himself promoted to corporate management. Poor ratings doomed it after two seasons despite critical acclaim.
* ''{{Bob}}'': Bob Newhart's third sitcom, starring Newhart as a greeting card artist/writer who jumps at the chance when Ace Comics offers to revive a comic book character he created a few decades earlier. The show withered in a bad Friday night timeslot.
* ''BridgetLovesBernie'': This 1972 sitcom about the marriage of a Jewish cabdriver and an upper-class Irish Catholic actually got decent ratings, but CBS canceled it after one season anyway after both Jewish and Catholic groups [[ValuesDissonance objected to the premise]]. (The show did, however, lead to RomanceOnTheSet and eventual marriage between stars David Birney and Meredith Baxter.)
* ''BrooklynBridge''
* ''CenturyCity''
* ''Christy''
* ''CitizenBaines'': moved slowly for many viewers but had a great cast headed by James Cromwell.
* ''CloseToHome'' was a crime drama based around Annabeth Chase, a criminal prosecutor and showed her trying to balance her work and family life (The first episode is basically Annabeth coming back from maternity leave). The show's two lead characters were both female, something not often seen on [[CriminalMinds CBS]] [[{{CSI}} crime]] [[{{NCIS}} dramas]]. [[spoiler:The balancing act only got harder after Annabeth's husband was killed in the season 1 finale]]. The show was cancelled after 2 seasons.
* ''EastSideWestSide'' was about a social worker who focused on the problems of the inner city and was probably the first American series to seriously address racism. It managed to win an Emmy, but is largely forgotten today.
* ''EZStreets'': too raw for CBS, this mob drama from PaulHaggis might have succeeded on cable.
* ''TheFamousTeddyZ'': Created by ''[[WKRPInCincinnati WKRP]]'''s Hugh Wilson, this series starring Jon Cryer and Alex Rocco (who won an Emmy for his character Agent Al Floss) was set in a Hollywood talent agency and was thought in some circles to be too 'inside' to appeal to middle America.
* ''Series/TheFlash'': Based on [[TheFlash the comic book character of the same name]], this series got canceled after one season due to being constantly shuffled around in varying time slots and facing tough competition from NBC and FOX on Thursday nights.
* ''FranksPlace''
* ''GaryUnmarried''
* ''GeorgeAndLeo'': The pairing of old sitcom pros Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch wasn't enough to save this OddCouple-esque show from an early exit.
* ''GoodMorningWorld'': Long before ''WKRPInCincinnati'' or ''NewsRadio'', there was this 1967 sitcom from the creators of ''TheDickVanDykeShow'' set at a radio station. Even the presence of a pre-''LaughIn'' Goldie Hawn couldn't prevent its cancellation after one season.
* ''TheHandler''
* ''HeAndShe'': This 1967 sitcom starring Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin received critical acclaim and Emmy awards and is believed to be the precursor of the more "realistic" brand of '70s situation comedies (''TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' for example). Low ratings doomed it, though, and it only lasted one season.
* ''TheHoneymooners'': incredibly, only ran one season as a stand-alone sitcom, although the characters admittedly were used for many years on Gleason's variety show.
** This one is a bit murky simply because Gleason didn't like the grind of a sitcom, which is the reason why the show ended.
* ''{{Jericho}}'': Was famously resurrected by a SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaign, but the respite would last only a season before the ax fell again.
* ''JoanOfArcadia'': popular, but in the [[PeripheryDemographic wrong demographic]].
* ''ListenUp!''
* ''[[LoveMonkey Love Monkey]]''. Also an example of ScrewedByTheNetwork.
* ''{{Mary}}'': Mary Tyler Moore's 1985 return to situation comedy, and a worthy SpiritualSuccessor to her [[TheMaryTylerMooreShow her classic '70s show]]. Poorer-than-expected ratings doomed it to cancellation after one season.
* ''[[MightyMouse Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures]]'': A massively influential GenreTurningPoint for American television animation which directly influenced (and provided talent) to almost every cartoon show made in its wake. It got canceled due to a contrived [[MoralGuardians moral panic]] involving some crushed flowers which apparently looked a bit too much like cocaine. Most fans of the show claimed that it would've gotten canceled for low ratings anyway.
* ''{{Moonlight}}'': Several reasons for this, including FridayNightDeathSlot. Many fans also feel it was ScrewedByTheNetwork, particularly because the final episode was promoted as the ''season'' finale (rather than the ''series'' finale) and fans were led to believe it would be renewed. Another victim of the 2007 writer's strike.
* ''NowAndAgain'': A well-cast, well-written, well-acted reimagining of the concept of ''TheSixMillionDollarMan''. First season featured one of the creepiest and most inexplicable villains ever. Got the Friday Night death slot, and its one and only season did not even air in its entirety until many years later on Sci-Fi.
* ''ProjectGeeKeR'': Had incredibly good ratings during the time, but only lasted one 13-episode season due to not meeting the educational programming standards set forth by the channel.
* ''{{Smith}}''
* ''[[ThatsLife That's Life]]'': a "chick show," but with an excellent cast (Heather Paige Kent, Ellen Burstyn, Paul Sorvino, Kevin Dillon, Debi Mazar).
* ''{{Threshold}}''
* ''TotalRecall2070''
* ''TheWeirdAlShow''. Damn you, ExecutiveMeddling!
* ''WorstWeek'': The American version.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{NBC}}]]
* ''AmericanDreams''
* ''AndyBarkerPI''
* ''TheBillCosbyShow'': Not to be confused with his later series ''TheCosbyShow'', which if anything ran a bit longer than it should have.
* ''TheBlackDonnellys'' was doomed from early in its only season after one episode was too violent to even be aired on TV (it was only released on NBC's website) and shortly afterward pulled from its primetime slot and aired as a web series for the rest of its all too brief run.
* ''TheBookOfDaniel''
* ''{{Boomtown}}'': showed a crime from multiple points of view (the beat cops, the detectives, the paramedic, the D.A., the reporter, and the criminal.) It aired for one season, winning multiple awards. After its first season it was retooled, the uniqueness drained; and it was canceled six episodes into its second season.
* ''Bret {{Maverick}}'': An '80s attempt to return James Garner to the role he left in a contract dispute in the '50s, this {{revival}} show may have been too good to last, but it wasn't too good to repeat - NBC reran episodes of the '81-82 series twice.
* ''BuffaloBill''
* ''Western Animation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'': Well what do you expect, it wasn't bad at all, though it was a little cheap. Sad since it only lasted three seasons because NBC was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork too hesitant to continue budgeting for their cartoons]]. That's right, this network now ''hated'' cartoons.
* The U.S. version of ''Coupling'', though your mileage greatly varies on whether or not it was considered "TooGoodToLast," as the reason it was canceled was because it was a watered-down ''Friends'' rip-off in comparison to the UK version.
* ''TheDownerChannel'': Despite being produced by SteveMartin and having Mary Lynn Rajskub and Wanda Sykes in the cast, NBC canned it after four episodes.
* ''EerieIndiana'': Got good enough ratings during the reruns that a Canadian production company produced a sequel/spin-off several years later--which had to star new characters because the original actors for the original characters had aged out of being suitable for the parts.
* ''FatherOfThePride''
* ''FreaksAndGeeks'': Possibly the archetypal example; adored by critics and fans alike, but being shuffled around in the lineup didn't help its ratings, and it got canceled halfway through its first season.
* ''GodTheDevilAndBob''
* ''{{Grand}}'' was a TV show about life in a corporate town in the early 90s; but the town business is grand piano manufacture.
* ''[[IllFlyAway I'll Fly Away]]''
* ''ItsAllRelative''
* ''[[ItsYourMove It's Your Move]]''
* ''{{Inconceivable}}''
* ''Joey''
* ''TheJohnLarroquetteShow''
* ''{{Journeyman}}''
* ''KathAndKim'' The U.S. version
* ''{{Kings}}'': ambitious alternate-history retelling of the Biblical story of Jonathan? Say it with me: [[AC:Dooooomed.]]
* ''LawAndOrder: ''TrialByJury''
* ''LawAndOrder: ''LosAngeles''
* ''{{Life}}''
* ''MisfitsOfScience''
* ''MyOwnWorstEnemy''. They ended it [[CutShort on a cliffhanger]]! [[BigNo AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHH!!!!]]
* ''MyWorldAndWelcomeToIt''
* ''NightmareCafe''. Ran for only 6 episodes in 1992.
* ''{{Outsourced}}'' Mostyly due to the controversial subject of the show, it developed a sort of LoveItOrHateIt fanbase. Could also be attributed to PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad
* ''Series/{{Raines}}''. Despite staring Jeff Goldblum, it lasted a mere 7 episodes.
* ''{{Southland}}'' (before being UnCanceled and brought to TNT)
* ''Series/TheOthers''
* ''TheTonightShow with [[ConanOBrien Conan O'Brien]]''
* ''{{Undercovers}}''
* ''AYearInTheLife''
* ''ThePlayboyClub'' has now been cancelled after 3 episodes, which was BetterThanItSounds, although it was probably doomed from the start.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{FOX}}]]
[[TropeCodifier Widely considered the worst offender of them all]].
* ''{{Action}}'' - Jay Mohr at his best as an amoral studio executive.
* ''TheAdventuresOfBriscoCountyJr''
** The Friday night block in which ''TheAdventuresOfBriscoCountyJr'' led in ''TheXFiles'' was one of the best one-two punches in TV history.
* ''Series/AlienNation'' was an epic level example of this. Only one season, though it did manage to resurrect itself in the form of 5 made-for-TV movies... and, in TheNewTeens, talk of a remake.
* ''AllAboutTheAndersons''
* ''AndyRichterControlsTheUniverse''
* ''BreakingIn''
* ''Series/{{Brimstone}}''
* ''Brothers''
* ''TheChicagoCode'': Yet ''ANOTHER'' victim of TheTimReaper, who executive produced this one.
* ''TheCritic'': Why get screwed by one network when you can get screwed ''twice''?
* ''{{Series/Drive}}'': Three episodes over an eight-day period, then gone.
* ''{{Fastlane}}'' from Fox, '''of course'''. A show that was like ''CharliesAngels'' meets ''MiamiVice.''
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}''; see TheFireflyEffect.
* ''{{Freakylinks}}''
* ''GetALife''
* ''GregTheBunny''
* ''HappyHour''
* ''HarshRealm'': got harsh treatment -- canceled after four episodes.
* ''TheInside'': TheTimReaper strikes again.
* ''JohnDoe''
* ''K-Ville''
* ''KeenEddie''
* ''KeyWest''
* ''KitchenConfidential''
* ''LifeOnAStick''
* ''TheLoneGunmen'': Its series-ending {{Cliffhanger}} was resolved on ''TheXFiles''.
* ''Lonestar'': Most critically acclaimed pilot of the Fall 2010 series and the first to be canceled. After TWO episodes.
* ''TheLoop''
* ''MethodAndRed''
* ''NedAndStacey''
* ''NewAmsterdam''
* ''PastLife''
* ''{{The Pirates of Dark Water}}''
* ''PointPleasant''
* ''{{Profit}}''
* ''Quintuplets''
* ''{{Reunion}}'': What makes this example especially glaring is that the premise made it easy to end after one season, yet Fox pulled it after ten episodes with the mystery unsolved.
* ''SamAndMax''
* ''SitDownShutUp'': Comedy Central ran it for a few episodes after Fox canned it. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.
* ''SilverSurfer'': Cancelled within a month and a half and replaced with something completely forgettable.
* ''SonsOfTucson''
* ''SouthBeach''
* ''SouthCentral''
* ''SpaceAboveAndBeyond'': One article said it was unfortunately too sci-fi for the war show audience, and too much war show for the sci-fi audience.
* ''SpidermanUnlimited'': Had fair ratings but was lost in the shadow of the {{Pokemon}} craze, with only one season of thirteen episodes produced.
* ''{{Stacked}}''
* ''{{Standoff}}''
* ''Series/TheGoodGuys'': A BuddyCopShow parody/tribute that only lasted for a single season. Notably came from the creators of BurnNotice.
* ''TrafficLight''
* ''TruCalling'': Outlasted Fox's ''other'' fall 2004 offering about a young woman hearing voices, ''{{Wonderfalls}}'', but still got canceled after just over a season and a half.
* ''{{Undeclared}}''
* ''VisionOfEscaflowne'': The dub anyway. This was FOX's failed attempt to pawn off a fairly mature anime as a kids show. It was pulled off the air after about 10 episodes. It made a full run on {{YTV}} in Canada in large part because they aired it in an age-appropriate timeslot.
* ''TheWarAtHome''
* ''TheWinner''
* ''{{Wonderfalls}}'': TheTimReaper '''and''' BryanFuller? Too much awesome for TV: four episodes, then kaput.
* ''Xyber9NewDawn'': Killed off ten episodes into its 22-episode season, and even then it ended on a cliffhanger.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: FX]]
* {{Terriers}}
* ''TheRiches''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The WB / UPN / The CW]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}''
* ''BabyBlues'': AdultSwim still reruns it, but unlike a [[FamilyGuy certain other animated sitcom]], it never garnered enough interest for a continuation.
* ''{{Battletech}}'': Making an animated show based on a heavy-handed wargame for a Saturday/Sunday run back when they ran cartoons on TV was almost certain doom in and of itself.
* ''BedfordDiaries''
* ''{{Detention}}''
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Dilbert}}'': Scott Adams (the creator of the famous comic strip the show was based on) often blamed the fact that [[ScrewedByTheNetwork the UPN screwed the show over]] by putting it in a timeslot after ''ShastaMcNasty'', a show that appealed to a completely different (and, as Adams argued, a less intelligent) audience than ''Dilbert''s audience.
* ''DoOver''
* ''Drew Carey's Green Screen Show''
* The ''{{WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim}} cartoon'' Sadly only lasted 2 seasons, which was only 23 episodes. Possibly cancelled due to CreatorBacklash.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'': Cancelled after 2 seasons.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'': Reports of ExecutiveMeddling abound.
* ''HomeboysInOuterSpace''
* ''HomeMovies'', season one. Thank God for Adult Swim.
* ''InvasionAmerica''
* ''JackAndBobby''
* ''{{Jake 20}}'': The first season was cut short, leaving both fans and international distributors irked.
* ''LazarusMan''. Addictive, well-written, genre-busting Western (and mystery/fantasy/horror/romance, likely a few others). Took a hiatus in its first season and was never seen again. (In fairness to the network, the lead actor, Robert Urich, had contracted cancer and was no longer able to work... although he sued the producers for that decision, and in fact did continue to work, becoming a regular in ''two'' more series - ''Love Boat: The Next Wave'' and ''Emeril'' - before he passed away in 2002, six years after ''The Lazarus Man'' did.) Died with its boots on.
* ''LivingWithFran''
* ''WesternAnimation/LoonaticsUnleashed'': Has a loyal fanbase in spite of the huge amount of InternetBackdraft and got pretty solid ratings, so it's cancellation is a bit of a mystery.
* ''MissionHill''
* ''[[NikkiAndNora Nikki & Nora]]''. A closeted lesbian couple who happen to be partnered-up homicide detectives, solving crimes in New Orleans with [[CriminalMinds Derek Morgan]] as their boss. MadeOfWin. Made it to a pilot. Still completely frikkin' awesome.
* ''NowhereMan'' Not only was it critically praised, it was UPN's highest rated show. They replaced it with ''Homeboys in Outer Space'' and ''Moesha''.
* ''On The Spot'' was a partially improvised sitcom that had only half of a script and was cancelled after 5 episodes, but still has a relatively strong internet following, and the episodes can be found on YouTube. [[http://www.facebook.com/pages/On-the-Spot/109545779071212?ref=ts&sk=info 230,000 people can't be wrong.]]
* ''PepperDennis''
* ''{{Popular}}''
* ''Series/{{Reaper}}''
* ''Related''
* ''WesternAnimation/RoadRovers''
* ''RunOfTheHouse''
* ''SevenDays''
* ''SmartGuy''
* ''TinyToonAdventures'': Sadly only lasted 3 seasons. It was cancelled to make way for ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}''.
* ''Twins''
* ''ViewtifulJoe'' caught up in the clusterfuck that was the merging with UPN.
* ''[[TheSpectacularSpiderMan The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' (Kids WB/Disney XD). Thank red-tape confusion with the Disney/Marvel deal and Sony giving up Spider-Man's TV rights for this one.
** Especially infuriating as its abrupt and unplanned ending left the show with a ''severe'' case of DownerEnding.
* ''TheOblongs''
* ''[[Anime/TekkamanBlade Teknoman]]'' The dub version of Anime/TekkamanBlade. They showed the first 26 episodes, reran them, then canceled it and replaced it with ''The Mouse and the Monster''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nickelodeon / The N / Nick Jr.]]
* ''100 Deeds For Eddie [=McDowd=]''
* ''InvaderZim'': ExecutiveMeddling was the culprit here--[[YouFailLogicForever the network hired a comic artist best known for a series called]] "JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac", [[YouFailLogicForever but were unprepared for the series' dark humor]].
** Contrary to popular belief, it was canceled due to low ratings, not that the BlackComedy helped any however.
*** The low ratings were likely a result of ExecutiveMeddling. The show didn't have a consistent time slot (much like [[{{Futurama}} another sci-fi cartoon]] which coincidentally featured Zim's original voice actor BillyWest). New episode releases were also inconsistent.
* ''{{Victorious}}'' was a major subversion of this-at some point in season 2 (not long before ''Locked Up!'' aired), there were people on Twitter who believed the show was going to be completely pulled because of its {{hatedom}}, but it managed to escape that.
* ''DannyPhantom'' Unfortunate case of ExecutiveMeddling with the the third season being majorly ScrewedByTheNetwork. The show got good ratings despite its ridiculous mid-afternoon time-slot and little advertising for the last season.
* {{Wolverine And The X-Men}} was canceled on the same day as ''TheSpectacularSpiderMan''.
* ''[[TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete The Adventures of Pete and Pete]]'' Like the broadcast examples above, it only lasted as long (3 seasons) due to its critical acclaim, but poor ratings, executive shuffling, and a show that didn't quite mesh with the little-kid demo helped kill the show far too soon, according to various bits of the DVD commentaries.
* InstantStar (both The N and CTV were responsible for this one)
* ''[[OGrady O'Grady]]''
* ''MightyB''
* ''SouthOfNowhere''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTeddyRuxpin'', even though a second season had been planned.
* ''RadioFreeRoscoe'': Originally aired on the Canadian network Family, then was picked up by the American network The N when Family cut the funding. Then The N cut funding as well.
* ''TheUpsideDownShow''
* ''ElTigre'': A great premise and the show as gearing up for a third season. But for some reason Nick declined to continue it.
* ''KappaMikey'': More for comical randomness and being able to blend cartoons and anime together. Sadly, it only received 2 seasons.
* ''CatDog''
* ''KaBlam''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{Disney}}]]
* ''DaveTheBarbarian''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': only lasted three seasons--and [[CanonDiscontinuity its last season]] was [[ExecutiveMeddling drawn by a different house,]] wasting the show's elaborate backstory.
* ''PhilOfTheFuture'': Fox gets panned for dumping good shows, but the DisneyChannel may be the '''worst''' offender.
* ''TeamoSupremo'': Like with Darkwing (see below), ''Teamo'' had some planned storylines that never came to fruition.
* ''SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo!'' was canned after 52 episodes at ''the start of the final climax''. The creator had an ending planned and everything. The ratings were fine too.
* ''AmericanDragonJakeLong'': Disney decided to cancel it, despite the ratings being fine and there being plenty of story lines for '''at least''' one more season.
* ''PBAndJOtter'': Jumbo pictures got into an argument with Disney shortly after the third season was produced. They then cut off all ties with Disney and production of this, along with various other Disney programming, stopped.
* ''MyLittlePony Tales'': Only one season, due to poor reception as the SliceOfLife format was very new and visionary when the show premièred. It has since obtained a cult following.
* As stated on ABC, W.I.T.C.H. suffered a similar fate to other Disney animated action/adventure shows, ending after two seasons and with a massive hint at a third season to boot. The reason, according to this [[http://www.tv.com/w.i.t.c.h./show/29931/w.i.t.c.h.-faq/topic/13689-485279/msgs.html FAQ]] from tv.com, is there was "little to no interest both from the investors’ and the producer’s side" to continue the series. Coincidentally, GregWeisman was brought on board for the second season which was widely regarded as an improvement over the first. Check the man's page to see how [[ScrewedByTheNetwork the network has ''regularly'' treated him like a two dollar call girl]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Cartoon Network / Adult Swim]]
* ''{{Class of 3000}}'': Was one of the most popular series airing on the network at the time; canceled due to the ratings not justifying the high cost of making the show.
* ''MegasXLR''
* ''SheepInTheBigCity''
* ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats'': Painful because it ''was'' a ratings giant. It was the best-rated Saturday morning cartoon of its time, but killed quite explicitly by Ted Turner for being too violent.
* ''WhateverHappenedToRobotJones'': Got screwed over when the reruns redubbed Robot Jones's voice with a real child's voice instead of using a computer program.
* ''WesternAnimation/EvilConCarne'' (originally combined with ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' in the ThreeShorts show ''Grim And Evil''; got its own show that was the definition of this trope.)
* ''CaveKids''
* ''FriskyDingo'': Not only did the series [[CutShort end on a cliffhanger]], but...
** ...a spinoff series, ''TheXtacles'', was cancelled only a few episodes in. *sob*
* ''LucyTheDaughterOfTheDevil'': Seems to have underperformed SO badly that its not even going to get a DVD release.
** There must have been a resurgence of interest in the show, as it is [[http://www.adultswimshop.com/cat/Lucy-The-Daughter-of-the-Devil-Season-One.html now available on DVD]]
* ''TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee'': Heavily screwed by CN with a bouncing timeslot and neglect of advertising. Ironically as a [[FollowTheLeader rival]] of American Dragon, both shows wound up suffering the same problems from their respective networks. Even ending on a total of three seasons.
* ''TimeSquad'': Surprisingly, it wasn't canceled because someone complained about the rampant HoYay and [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar innuendo that seemed to fly past the radar]]... [[RefugeInAudacity on a stealth bomber]] [[BeyondTheImpossible ...painted white]]. In fact, [[NoodleIncident there really isn't a definite story]] about why it was canceled. One story goes that Dave Wasson (the show creator) had a falling-out with his storyboard crew and the tensions threw production in a loop. Another story is the common "the show got low ratings, its timeslot kept getting shuffled [though, considering [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids its content]], airing it at 10pm before AdultSwim ''is'' actually a good idea], and it didn't get the audience that the other Cartoon Cartoon shows got" story, which is probably the more believable of the two stories.
* ''MoralOrel'' : Sadly cancelled after only 3 seasons because it got too dark and depressing (which ''is'' what Adult Swim wanted). The only claymation able to make you cry.
* The FUNimation dubbed edit of OnePiece, aired after the 4Kids dub ended its run.
* ''UnnaturalHistory'', [[BetterThanItSounds the first]] [[LiveActionTV Live Action]] [[BetterThanItSounds show on]] CartoonNetwork that was good.
* TowerPrep : Another Live-action TV show that was too good to last.
* Now ''{{Robotomy}}'' has been cancelled, due to high production costs, lack of interest from foreign markets, and the simple fact that the show plays out more like an actual AdultSwim cartoon rather than a Cartoon Network show that airs before Adult Swim.
* SamuraiJack: Cancelled after three seasons, leaving the story arc unfinished. TheMovie is stuck in DevelopmentHell, and made even more difficult due to the [[ActorExistenceFailure death of Mako]].
* ''StrokerAndHoop'' Another {{Cliffhanger}} ender.
* ''TransformersAnimated'' may sound like it had a good run what with having three seasons of thirteen episodes and a three-episode pilot aired before the series proper began, but then you remember that it ran for less than a year-and-a-half, and CartoonNetwork [[ScrewedByTheNetwork kept shuffling it around to crappy slots and]] [[InvisibleAdvertising barely advertising it in favor of shows like]] JohnnyTest and CNReal, AND the fact that it had a planned fourth season that sounded AWESOME. This is at least in part due to the CN/Hasbro split that launched TheHub. Plus, the toyline was cut short by the {{Base Breaker}}ing film [[TransformersFilmSeries Revenge of the Fallen]].
* ''SymBionicTitan'' [[http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/36712/pr-cartoon-network-upfront-programming-announcements#post3802894 appearst to be]] [[http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=279890 going that direction]] [[http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/cartoon-network-cancels-sym-bionic-titan.html and it did apparently]]
* ''TitanMaximum'', despite being a ratings juggernaut when it first aired (often beating out new episodes of ''TheVentureBros'', AdultSwim's most popular original show), was unceremoniously canned when creator SethGreen stated he'd rather focus his time and effort to his CashCowFranchise, ''RobotChicken''. Some fans may tell you that the [[SeasonalRot subpar-at-best fifth season]] of that show (with steadily-slipping ratings to match) may be LaserGuidedKarma at its finest.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:MTV / MTV2]]
* ''{{Clone High}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Celebrity Deathmatch}}'': Sure, it DID [[UnCancelled get brought back]] a few years ago on MTV2, [[SeasonalRot buuuuuuut...]]
* ''TheSiflandOllyShow'' - 3 seasons produced, two aired (the third had a DVD release)
* ''WonderShowzen'' - Despite two seasons and respectable ratings, MTV denied a third season. Some of the more experimental episodes during the second season might've also had something to do with it.
* ''{{Downtown}}'' - It was just too intelligent for some exec.
* ''{{Skins}}'': The American Version. A mix of middling ratings and very vocal opposition from parent groups (calling the show Child Pornography), this show got canceled right when it was finding its voice and independence from the British original.
* ''Series/DeathValley'' received only a twelve-episode first season and was not renewed for a second, despite [[MythArc building a single, all-encompassing storyline]] from the very first episode, and ending on a {{cliffhanger}}.
* ''{{Undergrads}}'' was cancelled after 13 episodes which left the show on a cliffhanger. The reason for cancellation was the low funding, but the creator Pete Williams is still very keen on creating a second season. Nowadays the show has a high cult status, one of the reasons being because of it's originality.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Logo]]
* ''RickAndSteve'': Either stuck in DevelopmentHell or cancelled outright after 2 seasons, ending on a cliffhanger that had been built up from the very first episode. Historically ScrewedByTheNetwork, you're lucky if you see a re-run at all, and nothing official has been announced confirming the show's future.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:G4 / G4TV]]
* ''CodeMonkeys'': Arguably the best show {{G4TV}} ever had, and they didn't sink for a third season.
* ''{{Series/Portal}}'': Not canceled due to ratings, as the creator was not shy about letting fans know, but rather due to personal differences between himself and the network head.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:BBC]]
* ''{{AceLightning}}''
* ''TheTripods'' was epic science fiction with astonishing production values. They filmed the first 2 parts of JohnChristopher's trilogy, but the last book never made it to the screen.
** Its demise was blamed on it being ''very'' slowly paced, plus it was scheduled on Saturdays opposite ''Series/TheATeam''...
* ''StarCops'' Intelligent, critically-lauded British sci-fi/cop show crossover about police on the moon, canned after one series (and a lot of in-fighting) despite the first series finale setting up a new season on Mars.
* ''LarkRiseToCandleford'' was the subject of a petition when it was cancelled in 2011 but the Beeb held firm.
* ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'' - ActorExistenceFailure, as the actress who played the title character died half way through filming the fifth season.
* ''{{Outcasts}}'' ended on such a tantalizing cliffhanger - and was then cancelled by the BBC due to poor ratings. Unless some other sci-fi channel renews it, it's unlikely we'll see another season.
* 15StoreysHigh. The BBC really messed about with this series, putting it on a graveyard slot. Then allegedly told Sean Lock he couldn't do a third series.
* {{Zen}}, a crime drama set in Italy that was cancelled after three episodes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:HBO]]
* ''{{Carnivale}}''
* ''{{Deadwood}}''
* ''{{Rome}}'', they originally planned five seasons, chronicling the reigns of a few different Emperors, but had to cut it down to three, then two when funding was cut. A movie may be coming.
* ''TheComeback''
* ''LuckyLouie''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:PBS]]
* ''GhostWriter''
* ''SagwaTheChineseSiameseCat''
* ''{{Wishbone}}''
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Sci-Fi /Syfy]]
* ''Series/TheOdyssey'', a [[MindScrew Mind Screwy]] OntologicalMystery for kids. Not to be confused with ''{{Odyssey 5}}'' (below) or {{Homer}}'s [[Literature/TheOdyssey original epic]].
* ''Mission Genesis'' (known as ''DeepwaterBlack'' in Canada where it originated.) Teen drama plays out with SF themes in the foreground on their way back to earth. Very intelligent, containing a few actors who would go on to fame in other [[StarTrekDeepSpaceNine sci fi]] [[{{Andromeda}} series]]. Canceled after 13 episodes.
* ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' ran for two seasons, then was cancelled "due to cost issues and internal bickering."
* ''{{Caprica}}'': The network's official statement says it all: “Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, ‘Caprica’ has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season.”
** To add insult to injury, the cast and crew have been very clear that (a) the first season finale, which was filmed before the cancellation report, contains multiple cliff-hangers and would not make a satisfying end to the series, and (b) the second season has been planned out in more detail than any BSG season was, and it's a really good plan.
* ''Series/StargateUniverse'' was canceled mid-season, with cast and crew only hearing it from their fans on Twitter. Although the show had divided the Stargate fandom, there's no denying that the show had quality and brilliant acting behind it ([[RobertCarlyle ROBERT FREAKIN' CARLYLE!!]]) - even the haters had started to agree that season 2 was good. Plus, as the series had been planned out to last five seasons, it'll almost certainly end on a massive cliffhanger leaving almost all the main plot arcs unresolved. [[SarcasmMode Thank you so much SyFy!]]
* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': An extremely clever if dark Sci fi with {{Muppets}}, literally it was produced by Jim Henson! Unfortunately, much like ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' the Network had a hard time understanding its brilliance. It was moved around constantly and was eventually {{screwed by the network}} it its forth season, ending on a cliffhanger.
** Farscape only received a conclusion due to a massive outpouring of fan support after its cancellation.
* {{Dresden Files}}: based on the book series by the same name. Although the TV series was very different from its literary inspiration and not very well received by fans of the novels it was charming and clever and had lots of potential. But before it had much of a change to prove itself it was canceled midway through it first season.
* ''Series/{{Tremors}}'': Got decent ratings despite its lack of advertisement compared to other shows and having its episodes aired badly OutOfOrder, Sci-fi pulled the plug anyways.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Showtime]]
* ''DeadLikeMe'': Not even quirk-friendly cable was friendly enough, alas.
* ''{{Odyssey 5}}''
* UnitedStatesOfTara: Even though it lasted for three seasons, it was tragically cut too short.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:USA]]
* ''TouchingEvil''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ITV / CITV]]
* ''BeatTheCyborgs''. There was nothing wrong with this kid's game show. In fact, it was really good and quite well received, and a second series was promised. It just... never came. There was no explanation as to why, and now, seven years down the line, the programme's fallen off the edge of the earth to the point where there are [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no online clips at all and it is never repeated]].
** CITV later stopped all commissions of original material (which killed off MyParentsAreAliens), and MarkSpeight, who was the presenter known as the Borgmaster, has '''[[ActorExistenceFailure died]]'''. Definitely no chance of a revival now.
* ''PalmettoPointe''
* ''{{TUGS}}''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Lifetime]]
* ''Series/BloodTies''. This show had either one season or two half-seasons, depending on who you ask. It might have done better on a different network.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:TNT]]
* ''{{Crusade}}'' (TNT)
* ''RaisingTheBar''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:AMC]]
* ''Remember WENN'': Ran 3 seasons on AMC before that network changed its format. To add insult to injury, it ended on a CliffHanger.
* ''{{Rubicon}}'': One season, also ending on a cliffhanger. Notable because it's the first, so far, of AMC's Original Series to be canceled.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ProSieben]]
* ''Series/{{Stromberg}}'', a German comedy show extremely similar to ''TheOffice'', got recommissioned for several series, even though it was never a success. Still, they've got a large cult-fanbase.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:CBC]]
* ''[[DaVincisInquest Da Vinci's City Hall]]'': A sequel series to ''DaVincisInquest'' (one of the highest-rated and most critically-acclaimed series to ever air in the network's history), ''City Hall'' moved the title character (and former coroner) Dominic Da Vinci from the medical office to the political field. The show was critically acclaimed (and unusually [[ContinuityLockout continuity-heavy]]) - critics and some viewers loved it, but others tuned out, and the network dumped it after a single season (with many loose ends still remaining).
* ''{{Intelligence}}'', made by the creator of ''DaVincisInquest'', won a Gemini Award for Best Dramatic Series during its debut season in 2007, then got unceremoniously canned at the end of its second season. Supposedly, CBC killed it for political reasons.
* ''JPod'' (CBC)
* ''TheBorder''
* ''ThisIsWonderland'' lasted three seasons, but got no promotion and wildly varying timeslots by the network, and got canned with plot threads LeftHanging.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Teletoon]]
* ''{{Cybersix}}'' (Teletoon) was a brilliant series with lots of action, fun characters, and surprisingly mature content (among other things, episodes alluded to the death of a child and Nazism). It was very well received and even won an award, "Special Mention for the Best Science Fiction Program". Yet it only got one season of thirteen episodes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comedy Central]]
* ''TheCritic'': Ran reruns, with the promise of new episodes. Never happened.
* ''TVFunhouse'' - Only ran one season with eight episodes. The reason behind its cancellation was because Comedy Central was disappointed at how each episode went over budget.
* ''KrodMandoonAndTheFlamingSwordOfFire''. Canceled after one season.
* ''StrangersWithCandy''
* ''ImportantThingsWithDemetriMartin''
* ''DrawnTogether'' was cancelled because of the cost to produce it was too high and that Comedy Central wasn't making much profit. They took a break half way through season 3, making fans believe that the second half was the fourth season. The show has a very loyal fanbase and a cult following.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Veronica]]
* Not so much a show, but rather a channel itself devoted to cancelled shows. The Dutch channel Veronica pretty much runs on this stuff. The average plot: 1.) Show is announced with a lot of fanfare. The same teaser is shown over and over again. 2.) Show airs, some people get hooked. 3.) Show disappears without a warning. 4.) People check out the series online and learn that it only ran for a couple of episodes before getting cancelled. This goes for most sci-fi/action dramas listed above. There is a clue though, every time they first announce the show with the teasers, the show will be referred to as 'The hit series <insert showname>'. Latest victim: ''FlashForward''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:AnimalPlanet]]
* TheMostExtreme
[[/folder]]
[[folder:GSN]]
While most of GSN's original programming is highly lambasted by fans of the game show genre, it did turn in a couple gems:
* ''LateNightLiars'': A very unusual hybrid of puppet show and PanelGame. The few people that watched it thought it was one of the network's best show's ever.
* ''Series/RussianRoulette'': Made it to two seasons with an interesting gimmick (dropping contestants through trapdoors) and a very enjoyable host (Mark L. Walberg), but a constant source of reruns.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Whole Television Channels]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_Channel Z Channel]], a pioneering cable television channel showing classic movies, basically a precursor to both AMC and TurnerClassicMovies. It championed many of the same things that cinephiles did (and later the afforementioned TurnerClassicMovies): Letterboxing, showing films that otherwise wouldn't appear on other networks, director's cuts of films, and so on. It lasted a decent amount of time, 1974 to 1989, but its last few years are rife with ExecutiveMeddling and NetworkDecay. Xan Cassavetes, daughter of film director John Cassavetes, made an acclaimed documentary about the channel's heydey, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_Channel:_A_Magnificent_Obsession Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession]]'' in 2004.
* TechTV, before it was acquired by G4.
* Nickelodeon's Nick Gas channel, which broadcast Nick's 90's game shows. It was discontinued and replaced with The N in 2007.
* New Zealand-based public service broadcaster TVNZ 7 will go off the air in mid-2012, after it was announced its funding would not be renewed.
[[/folder]]
----
!!Other Media
[[folder:{{Anime}} / {{Manga}} / {{Comics}}]]
* ''{{Aztek}}'' had a fresh hero, good crossover potential and a promising overarcing plot. Then it ran right into the 1996-97 comic book market crash and got cancelled after 10 issues. Luckily, Aztek had already been set up to join the JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, and his plot got resolved in that book.
* ''DoubleArts'' was an engrossing and fun manga that thumbed its nose at loads of the problematic stereotypes of its genre in wonderful ways and was obviously gearing up for an AncientConspiracy plot...and was cut down in its infancy by low ratings, with barely enough time for the artist to sketch out an ending with a little closure. An example of Screwed by the ''Demographic'' -- Double Arts was a more trope-defying Shonen series in a magazine that usually aims for the 12-18 demographic.
** The same can also be said for ''{{Mx0}}''.
* ''{{Gun Blaze West}}'': The series begun by Watsuki Nobuhiro just after Rurouni Kenshin finished. It only lasted long enough for two or three volumes worth of material.
* DC's "RedCircle" books, The Shield and The Web, had some great promise, but was cancelled after ten issues EACH!
* "{{Zombie Powder}}": {{Word of God}} says that the creator was going through some severe anxiety and depression during its run which was one of the main reasons for its cancellation.
* ''MobileSuitGundam'' got poor ratings in its original run and it was canceled, cutting down the amount of episodes from 52 to 39 and forcing Tomino had to quickly improvise an ending. However, due to good re-run ratings the show was re-cut (with some new animation) into 3 movies, and ''ZetaGundam'' was made.
* The original ''ShamanKing'' manga was canceled RIGHT BEFORE the showdown with the BigBad. It would be {{Uncanceled}} and finished several years later.
* ''{{Nyx}}''
* ''Meister''. Primed to be the hot new sports manga with dynamic characters and stimulating art. Cut from Weekly Shonen Jump two months after it debuted, forced to cobble together a sudden (and not particularly lucid) ending. Only ten chapters. They didn't even get through one goddamn soccer game.
* ''[[Comicbook/{{Excalibur}} Captain Britain and MI:13]]'' was canceled after issue 15, thought it would be hard to see how they could top [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Dracula and his vampire army's invasion from his castle on the moon]].
* ''FutabaKunChange'' Cancelled just as it was setting up some major story arcs, leading to the creator scrambling to wrap everything up for the ending due to time constraints. We can't help wondering if the ending would have made more sense if it'd been given enough time to play out naturally.
* The new series of ''Comicbook/{{Exiles}}'' lasted about six issues.
* BatmanAdventures (the second volume): a comic written by Ty Templeton and DanSlott as a sequel to ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' that did its best to tie in with the DCAnimatedUniverse. It was very sadly killed after only 17 issues to be replaced with a WesternAnimation/TheBatman tie-in comic, leaving all of the plotlines (sadly the creative team planned on to at least 40 issues, some details on the Toonzone boards) except for the ones that they scrambled to cover in the last four issues [[LeftHanging dangling]].
* Although ''{{Voices}}'' had a good run (with exciting action, well-made drama and a unique {{Interactive Comic}}s gimmick that gave the series its name), it only lasted one and a half chapters due to pressure from RealLife on the author, which massively stifled the update rate.
* ''Thor: The Mighty Avenger''. Although for all the complaining about its cancellation; it didn't ever manage to break 10k in issue sales which make its cancellation by Marvel extremely reasonable from a business standpoint.
* ''AoiHana'' was supposed to get a second season, but those plans were canceled when the [=DVD=] sales for the first season turned out to be disappointing.
* ''Hikari no Densetsu'' is based on a best-selling manga, was produced by a highly talented staff and has had more than its share of positive reviews, yet it was a huge bomb on Japanese TV and was yanked off the air after only 19 episodes. The anime [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff was a success in Europe, though]].
* {{Kanamemo}}, which ended having a SequelHook, never got its second season simply due to surprisingly poor DVD sales.
* The anime adaptation of ''TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' was met with [[AndThereWasMuchRejoicing so much rejoicing]] that a deal for a second season was made before the first episode even aired. Unfortunately, despite being a faithful adaptation with solid characterization and some [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome excellent music]], ratings for the show haven't been able to measure up to popularity of the manga. An [=OVA=] is planned, but a third season looks unlikely.
* ''Hakaima Sadamitsu'', a little-known but ridiculously awesome {{seinen}}. Started as a manga in 1999, got an anime adaptation in 2001 that was cancelled after ''ten episodes''. TheOtherWiki says the manga is still going.
* Raijin Comics in the U.S. A weekly anthology series made up of Baki the Grappler, Fist of the Blue Sky, and attempting to bring in political and horror mangas? Hell yes! Only for it to to monthyly within not even two years and then canceled.
* This is the general belief of fans from both the OVA and ''Decode'' series of ''BirdyTheMighty''. The OVA series only had four parts and the ''Decode'' series two seasons and both series still had many loose ends when they ended.
* ''CyberCityOedo808'' was intended as a demo to impress potential investors; had the investors been impressed, they would have expanded out the three one-hour episodes into a full length series... in 1993. Needless to say, the investors were not impressed.
* ''Rion 2990'' was an independent [[{{Animesque}} manga-esque]] comic released in the 1980's and published under the Mirage imprint. Unlike other manga-esque titles, Rion looked absolutely authentic in regards to its visuals that it could be mistaken as an actual Japanese manga. In addition to that, it had a high stakes, cold war era plot about a struggle between war and peace with likable characters. It was proposed to be a 4-issue miniseries, but it got cut short and only two of the four issues were released due to Mirage ballooning and crashing.
* ''IchigoMashimaro.''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Games]]
* Although not a television show, ''BattlefleetGothic'' had only a few months of publicity and attention before being handed over to Specialist Games (then Fanatic Press), a fate shared with many other spinoff games.
* ''LEGOUniverse''
* ''{{XIII}}'' was intended to have a sequel, so the game ended in a cliffhanger. Sadly, too few people bought this great game so the sequel was never made.
* Similar to the above, ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' had a great concept and story, and closed with [[AndTheAdventureContinues the apparent start of another adventure]]. Despite garning a vocal hardcore fanbase later on, it sold poorly.
* Also similar to these, ''VideoGame/{{Beyond Good and Evil}}''. But although this beautiful masterpiece didn't sell that well, it will get a sequel.
* ''AdventRising'', featuring a story written by science fiction god Orson Scott Card. The game was planned from the get-go to be a trilogy, but like ''Psychonauts'', was pushed out the door too quickly by Majesco (who was facing bankruptcy at the time). The result was a unpolished and glitchy (albeit still playable) game. When given just a month to polish it for the rerelease of the game on PC, the average ratings jumped a considerable amount. The game ended on the definition of a cliffhanger, and the original team (who have long since left Majesco, and were recently bought by Epic) has expressed interest in finishing the trilogy, but Majesco won't release the rights to them. They're too busy with ''Cooking Mama'' I guess...
** And who could forget the terrible marketing ploy they used to sell copies of their unfinished game. The main selling point of the game was an in-game contest where players had to find a symbol in one of the levels. Whoever found the symbol first and submitted undeniable proof to the developers would win a large sum of money. Cue a crafty player finding the symbol, sending the proof, then having the developers back out.
* Working Designs. They were mostly known for their excellent localizations of the {{Lunar}} series.
* {{Shenmue}}. Due to high production costs and low sells this epic hardly got of the ground. It's like reading the first half of Fellowship of the Ring and quitting.
* PanzerDragon was an amazing RPG for the Sega Saturn. After a reboot in the form of an on-rail shooter, the series was left to die.
** The prices of Saga alone should show you how much people love these games.
* EvolutionTheWorldOfSacredDevice was a fantastic RPG on the shortlived {{Dreamcast}}. After a mediocre sequel and an amazing reboot on the Gamecube, the series was left out to die. It doesn't help that it was developed by StingEntertainment.
* PhantomBrave is a truly remarkable game developed by NipponIchi (the people behind {{Disgaea}} series). Even though two remakes have been remade for the game on both Wii and PSP, the game has yet to make a sequel.
* ''{{Legacy of Kain}}''. Despite setting a new standard for thought-provoking plots and dialogue, these successes meant gameplay was traded off and resulted in the series' silent downfall, with the most recent game, 2003's ''Defiance'', selling below expectations and without real resolution, and a potential sequel, ''The Dark Prophecy'', quickly became {{Vaporware}}. Adding the fact that the head writer for the series is now working for Naughty Dog and the voice of the series' BigBad is dead, and you can tell they're not going to put out another game any time soon.
* ''ConkersBadFurDay'': It was going to have a sequel, but after Rare being bought out by Microsoft and some ExecutiveMeddling the game was instead just re-made with better graphics...and censored.
* A console example, the infamous SegaDreamcast. Same could be said for most of Sega's systems.
* ''DinoCrisis'' promised an interesting [[XMeetsY premise]], and while not as popular as its sister franchise ''ResidentEvil'' or its inspiration ''JurassicPark'', it won over enough fans largely by emulating the SurvivalHorror aspects of the one and exploiting the dino appeal of the other. ''Dino Crisis 2'' took the series in a new direction, which made it something of a ContestedSequel, but ''Dino Crisis 3'' turned out to be a FranchiseKiller, much to the dismay of fans of the previous titles. No sequels have ever been announced since then.
* ''Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy'': Ends on a "To be Continued." But with the Midway Lawsuit a sequel really looks unlikely.
* ''JetMoto''.
* ''ActRaiser''. The sequel removed the simulation gameplay, and needless to say [[FranchiseKiller flopped]].
* The ''OgreBattle'' series was intended to be a seven-episode game series, but only episodes V, VII, and VI (released in that order) were made. YasumiMatsuno, the series' creator, left Quest during the development of ''Ogre Battle 64'' to work for Squaresoft, where he worked on ''FinalFantasyTactics''. Even after SquareEnix purchased Quest, he refused to work on any ''Ogre Battle'', choosing to concentrate on the so-called "Ivalice series". Now that Matsuno left Square Enix, it seems unlikely we'll ever see any of the first five ''Ogre Battle'' episodes. It might be on its way to revival, however, with the announcement of a remake of TacticsOgre headed by YasumiMatsuno himself. Keep your fingers crossed!
* {{Eternal Darkness}}, while no official word has stated the sequels won't come, isn't actively in production, which probably means we'll never see it. The developers are much more interested in continuing the lackluster ''TooHuman''. ''Penny Arcade'' even wrote a [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/7/10/ comic]] about it.
* ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'', while it did get a trilogy completed, the creators were forced to wrap up halfway through their intended story, making the events in the third game, which should have taken place over several in order to properly develop the characters (especially noticable with all 4 Testements, all of whom are deeply linked to a different main character, having their respective stories wrapped up fairly quickly). Even then, the final game ends with a cliff hanger. In addition, this cancellation also meant that [[NoExportforYou the extra games, including those that went into detail about the events between the second and third game, would not leave Japan]].
* ''TheLastExpress'' was adored by critics and many players, but a complete lack of advertising and a limited distribution by the dying Broderbund company made it a huge commercial flop. What made it worse is that the game's story sets things up for a sequel at the end, [[spoiler: with Cath presumably on his way to Jerusalem to get a look at a mysterious manuscript]]. Though Interplay re-released it for a brief period before going bankrupt, and Gametap now has it available, it is highly unlikely anyone will ever make a sequel.
** Not to mention the fact that it was one of the few good games, at the time, to feature multiple endings.
* HumongousEntertainment constantly received critical acclaim in its day, but with 2D and the AdventureGame markets slowly dying out, the company was eventually forced to shut down. {{Atari}} now owns the rights, but have failed to make a decent game since.
* The ''SystemShock'' series. Both were commercial failures but were critically acclaimed and ''System Shock 2'' in particular is widely regarded as one of the greatest FPSes in history.
* ''{{Anachronox}}'' ended with a huge cliffhanger that thanks to producer ION Storm imploding will never get resolved.
* FearEffect. Fear Effect Inferno was going to be the third game for the series, but Kronos folded. There are clips showing things that were supposed to happen in this game. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojVYDqE_4k first clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsEuBq1mVdg&feature=related second clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovhzvZZ03sE&feature=related third clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TzYuEZ-oaM&feature=related fourth clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mr3492MYh8&feature=related fifth clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UT6A8Yl7vE&feature=related sixth clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEkCDpPWoPY&feature=related seventh clip]]. This is the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRVSA55iTEA&feature=related eighth clip]]. This is the ninth and final [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyKEzNKGZIs clip]].
* ''BatenKaitos'' was an unusual RPG series on the Gamecube, featuring a WorldInTheSky populated by WingedHumanoids. Neither of the games sold particularly well, but over the years, they've gained a small fanbase. A third game was planned, but cancelled due to poor sales and lack of interest.
** There are rumors that a third game ''might'' be in the works, though...
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* The fabulous teen series ''DRAMA!'' never had more than a miniscule yet devoted fanbase, so Simon & Schuster decided to stop publishing it after just four books. Fortunately, they gave Paul Ruditis the bad news before he started the fourth book, so he was able to speed up some story arcs to give his characters the ending they deserved.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Music]]
* Andromeda (UK); power trio featuring future Atomic Rooster guitarist John Du Cann
* At The Drive-In
* The Avalanches
* Syd Barrett
* Black Star
* Music/BigStar
* Blind Faith. [[MeaningfulName Meaningfully named]] by the band members in response to fan hype. They knew it wouldn't last, from the beginning.
* Blodwyn Pig; British blues group featuring ex-Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams. Their first album did real well, but a supposedly lackluster second album, along with the pressures of the music industry, led main songwriter Abrahams to leave, effectively crippling the group.
* DavidBowie's album ''1.Outside'' was supposed to be the first of a trilogy. Unfortunately, Bowie decided to cancel the other two parts.
** If this is unfortunate depends on wether or not you believe that the other two parts could have lived up to the expectations...
* Catherine Wheel
* Chagall Guevara
* Chickenfoot possibly with drummer Chad Smith returning exclusively to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and guitarist Joe Satriani most likely going back to the studio for another solo album.
** A second album is due in the fall of 2011, so it appears that Chickenfoot will be a part-time thing. And Chad and Joe are still in the band.
* Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
* Crucial Three. It tells something when a band that only existed for about six weeks and never recorded a song or at least performed in public in that time still gets a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucial_Three wikipedia]] and an [[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/crucial-three-p199390 allmusic]] entry.
** They get their own pages mostly because of the important post-punk acts founded in its wake, bassist Julian Cope's Teardrop Explodes, guitarist Pete Wylie's Wah!, and vocalist Ian McCulloch's Echo and the Bunnymen.
* Dixie Dregs
* The Exploding Hearts. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen If only]] [[AuthorExistenceFailure their van hadn't flipped over on the highway]]...
* The Flying Burrito Brothers
* The Fugees (and Lauryn Hill's solo career)
* Music/BuddyHolly - AuthorExistenceFailure
* Husker Du
* [=JJ72=]
* Jellyfish. Two commercially ignored [[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fwxq95ldke fantastic]] [[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wvfwxqugldje albums]], two different lineups, end of story. Other members formed groups and solo acts since, but it seems to be the last we'll ever hear of them.
* Josef K
* JoyDivision, though they lived on, in a way, as NewOrder.
* {{Kyuss}}
** Luckily there's still Queens of the Stone Age.
* The La's
* Life Without Buildings (even though it seemed more like an art project than an actual band).
* Richey-era ManicStreetPreachers
* mclusky
* The Minutemen
* Mother Love Bone
* Morphine, thanks to AuthorExistenceFailure
* MyBloodyValentine
* Nailbomb. One studio album, one live album then they deliberately made the decision to quit while they were ahead. The live album was even called ''Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide''.
* Neutral Milk Hotel
* Music/NewKingdom: Pioneering PsychedelicRock and RapRock band. Dropped off the face of the Earth after their second and ''best'' album, ''Paradise Don't Come Cheap''.
* New York Dolls. Two albums with the classic line-up, then they fizzled out just as the punk movement was finding its legs.
* The New Radicals
* {{Nirvana}}
* The Normal are best known for the creepy, ahead-of-its-time, oft-covered and anthologized proto-synth pop song "Warm Leatherette". Unfortunately, if you really like that song, there's only ''one'' other Normal song, "TVOD", which was originally its A-side. There's also The Silicon Teens, who, like The Normal, are [[IAmTheBand an alias for Daniel Miller]], and put out one album consisting of intentionally synthesizer-heavy oldies covers with a few originals mixed in. Beyond that, Miller has primarily stuck with producing, remixing, and occasionally being credited for synthesizer or programming on other people's albums.
* {{NWA}}
* Omaha Sheriff. In spite of copious amounts of talent, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAI3jT2QuvU some]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1JOp9aEiA really]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND7jGbAxSI8 quite]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc5vQdfY7K8 excellent]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZdpvZllzD4 songs]], some airplay on American radio and a big boost from famous producer Tony Visconti, they managed to record only two albums in their lifetime, only one of which was ever released. The release of their album ''Come Hell or Waters High'' at the same time as the [[PunkRock punk explosion]] was devastatingly ill-timed. None of their music has been released on CD.
* Bill Nelson's Red Noise, a fun and inventive New Wave group that lasted for one album and a few singles before Nelson went on to lead a successful solo career.
* TheRunaways
* TheSexPistols, who popularized punk rock, only managed to record a single album (on which the band's best-known member didn't even play a single note) before collapsing under their own self-loathing. Sure, they've toured on and off since 1996, but they've never gotten around to recording any new material in all that time.
* Sleep released 2 albums, the second considered a classic of the Stoner Rock genre. their third album was a single hour long track that the label decided was unmarketable, they were dropped from the label and shortly after decided it was time to call it quits. the member's seperate projects since then make you wonder [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what could have been.]] (had they continued together, the album was finally given a proper release 7 years later)
* The Smiths
* Stone Roses
* The Traveling Wilburys. Roy Orbison's death probably didn't help... not to mention of course they were all superstars to begin with.
* Uncle Tupelo, although their breakup spawned a couple of bands (Wilco, Son Volt) that were pretty damn great in their own right.
* The Unicorns
* Ritchie Valens - AuthorExistenceFailure
* AmyWinehouse - AuthorExistenceFailure
* Young Marble Giants
** Though the Islands are good also.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Radio]]
* ''TheStanFrebergShow'' was canceled by the CBS radio network after running for only 15 episodes, due to failure to attract a sponsor. StanFreberg took favorite sketch requests a week before the final episode to thank fans for their enthusiasm for the show. Thank goodness all the episodes survive.
* Australian comedian Tony Martin's ''Get This'' was a massively clever and energetic show that mocked a lot of radio conventions. Because of this it was axed despite being not only network Triple M's top rating show, but also the ONLY show rating vaguely well. Note it continued to be the top-rating show in spite of undergoing three timeslot shifts.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sport]]
* The FormulaOne race track in Istanbul, introduced in 2005, got called "the best race track in the world" by Bernie Ecclestone (President and CEO of Formula One Management). It got pushed off the calender for the 2012 calender, meaning it only ever hosted six Grand Prix.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Toys]]
* {{Xevoz}} and its tie-in comic. The toyline from Hasbro (with aid from Stikfas) was made up of figures with interchangeable parts and weapons, and a collectible card like game, using the figures themselves and "Battle Helix" dice. It only lasted for four series of figures, but that's two more than it seemed the line would support. After seemingly being cancelled after Series 2, and again after Series 3 (plus some deluxe sets), Xevoz finally disappeared for good (for now).
* Hornby's WereBears were discontinued after 1989 despite them being very well made and original toys. They have become very sought after and collectable toys since then. A few new [[http://www.lsaccounting.com/werebears/ websites]] hint that they may be being made once again and might even have a movie or cartoon series made after them.
* {{Zoids}} models
* {{Transformers}}: The Alternators were Hasbro's finally giving the adult PeripheryDemographic (the TropeNamer for RuinedFOREVER) what they had been begging for since the 80s: big, complex, show accurate "collector" toys. Adult fans loved it, but it turns out they didn't make up as much of the audience/buyers as they thought and the Alternators didn't sell well enough to continue. The Alternators continue to rack up impressive sums of money on eBay, though, and they are pretty sweet.
* [[http://64.207.161.176/indexFlash.html Stan Winston Creatures]], makers of, amongst other things, the [[FurryFandom Furry-friendly]] [[http://gofigureactionfigures.com/page167.html Realm of the Claw]] action figures. Thanks to a dispute with Toys 'R Us, the exclusive distributor of the company's toys, they were forced to put a hold on further toy development. After languishing in DevelopmentHell for years, once Stan Winston died...
* [[{{Barbie}} My Scene]] dolls, had a small but devoted fandom. Now it's not even didtributed out of South America.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video]]
* The Film Crew, a SpiritualSuccessor to ''MysteryScienceTheater3000'' helmed by Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy. The four episodes available on Amazon are the only four there were and are likely to ever be. Fortunately, their second attempt at a spiritual revival of [=MST3K=], [[Rifftrax]], seems to have been a hit.
[[/folder]]
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%%These are the EXCEPTIONS. The real examples go above.
[[folder: Shows that were rescued (Exceptions)]]
* ''{{Angel}}'': While the show ran long enough and the finale was appropriate enough to make it feel like a show that naturally ended, a sixth season was planned but cancelled. JossWhedon was broken up about it.
* ''ArrestedDevelopment'', although this show managed at least 3 seasons, about 2 1/2 more than most of the others on this list, it still stung because of the massive positive critical response and awards won.
* ''BabylonFive'': Canceled after season four, forcing the producers to compress stories intended for two seasons into one. ''Then'' they were picked up for a fifth season on TNT.
* ''BetterOffTed'': ABC did its best to keep it on for a second season despite abysmal ratings but decided to let it go once the second season couldn't turn it around.
* ''TheCritic'' (ABC '''and''' Fox; ''both'' networks cancelled it.)
* ''{{Danny Phantom}}'' ({{Nickelodeon}}): Creator ButchHartman expressed interest in continuing the series but Nickelodeon wouldn't have it. At least he still managed to give it a GrandFinale, despite the third season only being about half as long as the other two.
* ''DarkAngel''. Fox show. Only an exception in the sense of having had two seasons, otherwise characterized by everything it says at the top. Third season greenlit and then abruptly cancelled.
* ''{{Daria}}'': After the end of the series' 5th season, {{MTV}} gave Glenn Eichler an option: a 6-episode 6th season or another MadeForTVMovie. Eichler, running out of ideas, choose the movie, and the series ended with ''Is It College Yet?''
* Two DCU examples: Both ''BlueBeetle'' and ''Comicbook/{{Manhunter}}'', which had been on the very brink of cancellation for their entire runs, were recently canceled at just under 50 issues, managing to wrap up their storylines in a satisfying way. In that time, ''Manhunter'' was canceled and revived ''twice''. Both returned as back up features (in ''BoosterGold'' and ''Batman: Streets of Gotham'' respectively).
** Also: The two 'Red Circle' books ("The Shield" and "The Web") had their plots wrapped up in the current "Mighty Crusaders" mini-series!
* ''{{Dollhouse}}'': Miraculously managed to get a second season in spite of low ratings because Fox was aware of the dedicated fanbase, but was cancelled after episode 2.04 aired. On the one hand, that seems premature; on the other hand, it gave the crew time to write and film a series finale instead of just a season finale.
* ''DueSouth'' ({{CBS}}) had a wobbly history, including getting canceled ''twice'', but it aired four seasons and ended on its own terms.
* ''{{Exosquad}}'' (USA): Note that they DID finish off a couple story arcs before the cancellation hit, so it could also count as a counter example. Its later cousin, ''WesternAnimation/WingCommanderAcademy'', fared far worse (13 eps, cut off right in the middle when USANetwork pulled all of their Saturday morning cartoon lineup.)
* ''ForYourLove'' [[hottip:*:(perhaps the most unusual example on this page as despite airing for 4 years on a major network not all that long ago, hardly anyone seems to have even heard of this show let alone remember it)]] was first aired on NBC and cancelled after six episodes, it was then picked up by ''TheWB'' and managed to last for another four seasons. It was renewed in spite of suffering a 70% drop in ratings during the third season, though it's final years on the network were a bit spotty, as it frequently shifted schedules and came very close to being cancelled after the fourth season, and six episodes episodes of the fifth season(including the series finale and one christmas-themed episode that was held back from the fourth season) were unaired in the original run, though TVOne later picked up ''ForYourLove'' for reruns and the missing episodes were finally aired.
* ''{{Freakazoid}}'': One of the best comedy cartoons of the 90's. Unfortunately, it was built on ParentalBonus, even though it was put on Kids' WB. Only got two seasons.
* ''{{Series/Friday Night Lights}}'': A rather unusual example. After airing on NBC for two seasons, the acclaimed but low-rated show was saved from cancellation by moving to [=DirecTV=]'s "101 Network" channel for three more seasons, with NBC itself re-airing the show each spring after the 101 Network run had ended.
* ''{{Futurama}}'': Vindication was had at last in 2007, when the show was UnCanceled.
* ''{{Home Movies}}'': UPN pulled the plug after just five episodes, but Adult Swim picked it up for the rest of the first season and then another three years.
* The 2002 revival of ''HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse'' (Cartoon Network); shared the same fate as the toyline revival.
* ''{{JAG}}'' was first aired on NBC, and then canceled after the first season. CBS then picked it up partially because of its massive popularity in Australia, and ran it for another nine years, during which it became one of the most popular shows on television (and spawned the MorePopularSpinoff, ''{{NCIS}}'').
* ''KyleXY'': One of ABCFamily's most successful shows, which was canceled after its third season. And right when a dramatic twist regarding Kyle's origin is revealed! The producers soon after revealed what had been planned for later seasons. By no means a ''brilliant'' series, it was still head-and-shoulders above its competition. It had a sci-fi premise, stellar acting, and [[DarkerAndEdgier a great deal of maturity]]. To put it into perspective, ''KyleXY'' died because it wasn't pulling in as much ratings as ''TheSecretLifeOfTheAmericanTeenager''.
* ''LaFemmeNikita'' (USA): The cancellation announcement was made suddenly at the end of the fourth season, with lots of CanonFodder just hanging there. This prompted a massive fan campaign and there was a fifth "half season" to answer some of the major questions and give a BittersweetEnding for some closure.
* ''LandOfTheLost1991'': Was very popular when it first aired on ABC, and ran for two seasons. A third season was planned; however, due to Disney's decision to run its own programming after their purchase of ABC, it never saw the light of day.
* ''MoralOrel'': The show made a nice ending, but the writers were forced to cut plotlines that would have come up in later episodes.
* ''MyNameIsEarl'' (NBC): Lasted a reasonable 4 years, never a ratings giant but had a good number of fans. [[LeftHanging Unexpectedly canceled]] on a {{cliffhanger}}.
* ''Noonbory And The Super Seven'': Easily the best Saturday-morning show that CBS aired after the 2006 break-up with Nickelodeon, CookieJar yanked it out of CBS' Saturday-morning line-up after one season because it wasn't based on a big enough license. However, Cookie Jar decided to place it on one of their Syndication packages in October 2010. However, it was short-lived, as it was off the air AGAIN after only one season due to Cookie Jar cancelling its Syndication deals!
* ''NorthernExposure'': a quirk-fest that began as a mid-season replacement, not usually a recipe for success on network TV, nevertheless managed to air six seasons and rack up plaudits and fans.
* ''{{NewsRadio}}'' was fast paced and witty, but suffered a lot of time slot changes by NBC and it never quite made it to the top of the ratings not to mention the death of an important cast member well into the series, and yet it managed to go on for five seasons.
* ''{{Oz}}''
* ''{{ReBoot}}'': Did well pretty much everywhere it aired, but ABC yanked it after two. It did well in Canada and on CartoonNetwork for a third season, abruptly canceled upon edging out a fourth season three years later. Always seems to get a good break with talk of being {{uncanceled}} with a series of movies.
* ''{{Sliders}}'': was cancelled after its first season, brought back as a mid-season replacement the following year after fan protesting, and aired two more seasons on Fox. The [[NetworkDecay SYFY]] channel produced a fourth and fifth season before finally cancelling it.
* ''SpaceCases'': Guess what other space series this show shares an actress with. [[TheFireflyEffect Go on, guess.]] She got written out of the show after season 1, though... Too bad for Nickelodeon.
** She was "written out" because she had a prior commitment to another TooGoodToLast show, DisneyChannel's ''Flash Forward'' (which had nothing to do with ABC's ''Flash Forward''.
* ''TheGoodeFamily'': FridayNightDeathSlot.
* ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': canceled after its second season due to poor ratings, it was revived by one of the first [[SendingStuffToSaveTheShow fan campaigns]].
* ''{{Terminator}}: TheSarahConnorChronicles'', victim of a {{retool}} that turned off its viewer base.
* ''TheTick'': Not only did the cult-favorite animated series last only three seasons, but its live-action counterpart sadly ended with only one season (and two episodes never even aired).
* ''{{Titus}}'': [[ChristopherTitus The creator]] even said that he preferred it was canceled due to ExecutiveMeddling and risky material then not being popular or funny.
* ''{{Undergrads}}''
* ''VeronicaMars'' is right on the borderline, with three seasons on {{UPN}}/the {{CW}} network.
* ''TomAndJerryTales''. It did alright on Kids WB from 2006 to 2008, but was killed by 4Kids when it took over Kids WB.
* ''{{ECW}}'': Partially due to [[ScrewedbytheNetwork TNN's refusal to advertise]] or even ''acknowledge'' the show, using it as a test drive to drop it for WWF.
* ''Series/StargateUniverse'' was canceled midway through its second season with 10 episodes left; those are set to air as planned but it will not be getting a third season.
** A ''lot'' of people would disagree that the show is an example of this. Ultimately, it died for lack of ratings and not the {{Fox}} treatment. A SoapOpera [-{{IN SPACE}}!-] just wasn't what sci-fi fans, let alone fans of the [[StargateSG1 previous]] [[StargateAtlantis series]] it's [[InNameOnly named after]], wanted and when they went away, so did SGU.
*** The second season's ratings did sink like a stone, but it bears noting that it was after a time-slot change. Funnily enough it was REMOVED from the Friday slot and did worse.
** What ''is'' sad is that this may mean the SGA and [=SG1=] movies, already in DevelopmentHell, are off the table as well (WordOfGod says they're "indefinitely postponed"). A franchise of new 'gate films with the level of epicness seen in ''StargateContinuum'' would have been the coolest thing ever - [[TooGoodToLast too cool to last]].
* ''{{The Wire}}'' had five full seasons. However, considering the widespread acclaim (some even declared it the best series ever), its ratings were dismal.
* Averted (for now) with the OnePiece simulcasts. Before the first simulcast could even be done, real "pirates" stole the episode from Funimation's servers and illegally distributed it, resulting in a four month freeze before it finally came back and started for real. In fact, this led to Funimation instituting new security measures.
[[/folder]]
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"Too Good to Last" may refer to...
* BritishBrevity: It was only meant to last one season.
* {{Cancellation}}: The network has halted production of the show.
* OrphanedSeries: A creator simply stopped making a work (especially a webcomic).
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: When a work is ended due to legal issues.
* ScrewedByTheNetwork: When a show is intentionally sabotaged by a network.
* SeriesHiatus: The creators intend to finish the series.
* ShortLivedBigImpact: They made a mark in media history; too bad they couldn't last too long.
* ShortRunners: A show that couldn't last too long.
* TwelveEpisodeAnime: The anime was only meant to last 12 episodes.
Please only use one of the above if it fits; do not link to this page.
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* BritishBrevity: It was only meant to last one season.
* {{Cancellation}}: The network has halted production of the show.
* OrphanedSeries: A creator simply stopped making a work (especially a webcomic).
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: When a work is ended due to legal issues.
* ScrewedByTheNetwork: When a show is intentionally sabotaged by a network.
* SeriesHiatus: The creators intend to finish the series.
* ShortLivedBigImpact: They made a mark in media history; too bad they couldn't last too long.
* ShortRunners: A show that couldn't last too long.
* TwelveEpisodeAnime: The anime was only meant to last 12 episodes.
Please only use one of the above if it fits; do not link to this page.
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* BritishBrevity: It was only meant to last one season.
* {{Cancellation}}: The network has halted production of the show.
* OrphanedSeries: A creator simply stopped making a work (especially a webcomic).
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: When a work is ended due to legal issues.
* ScrewedByTheNetwork: When a show is intentionally sabotaged by a network.
* SeriesHiatus: The creators intend to finish the series.
* ShortLivedBigImpact: They made a mark in media history; too bad they couldn't last too long.
* ShortRunners: A show that couldn't last too long.
* TwelveEpisodeAnime: The anime was only meant to last 12 episodes.
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* BritishBrevity: It was only meant to last one season.
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* ShortLivedBigImpact: They made a mark in media history; too bad they couldn't last too long.
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* ScrewedByTheNetwork: When a show is intentionally sabotaged by a network.
* ShortRunners: A show that couldn't last too long.
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