every year, i try and pick between 3 and 7 new tv shows to watch. this used to be quite tricky back in the days of the vcr. fortunately, with the advent of the dvr/tivo and most networks hosting the programs on their own websites or someplace like hulu combined with the ability to calculate ratings from these other mediums, for the most part it is only those programs that perform especially dismal that are cancelled quickly. of course, back before these were viable options to keep up with new programs along with the old favorites, some brilliant programs were killed well before their time and would have been the types of programs that would have flourished given the opportunity to watch via digital recorder or with an internet option available.
overall, i've had a pretty good track record when it comes to choosing what to watch in terms of cancellation. every so often, though, i miss the mark. these are the five shows that i feel were cut too soon. the one thing all of them share is that they were all pre-dvr, pre-internet hosted programs. for those who may be wondering, i didn't include Arrested Development because i didn't watch the show until it had already been cancelled and was only available on dvd.
#5: Homicide: Life on the Street
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Baltimore, do as I tell you to.”
-Lt. Al Giardello
Homicide is quite possibly my favorite television program of all-time. Throughout its seven season run, Homicide raised the bar for primetime police dramas. The cast was top-notch and the writing contained some of the sharpest dialogue ever written.
The technical aspects of the show were also ahead of their time – it was shot mainly using a steadicam, the quick-cut editing was not a staple of network shows at the time, and it was shot purposely grainy to give it a gritty urban feel.
They also performed several show crossovers with Law & Order and one memorable crossover with The X-Files. On top of that, up-and-coming directors (Nick Gomez, John McNaughton, Mark Pellington) top draw actors (Robin Williams, Steve Buscemi, Joe Morton) and famous residents (Barry Levinson, John Waters) of Charm City made many notable guest appearances, helping to cement Homicide’s standing as a bright star in a large galaxy.
NBC showed tremendous loyalty in keeping the show alive for so long. However, it remained buried in NBC’s Friday night 10PM EST dead zone. Eventually, due to the consistently poor ratings from that time slot and an exodus of the show’s best actors, Homicide suffered an untimely demise despite the years of good faith from the network.
The complete series is available on DVD. Go buy it now. Do it.
#4: Carnivàle
“And so it was that the fate of mankind came to rest on the trembling shoulders of the most reluctant of saviors…”
- Samson
Carnivàle was an amazing concept with brilliant acting and great writing. That combination usually spells doom. However this show was on HBO, who has a track record that is nearly unbeatable when it comes to dramatic series. They also are more willing than the broadcast networks to nurture a show and let it blossom into something magnificent. That’s why it was such a shock to hear of Carnivàle’s cancellation.
Set during the Great Depression, Carnivàle follows unwilling hero Ben Hawkins and the charismatic, but wicked preacher Justin Crowe as they move towards a showdown between good and evil for the fate of mankind. Equal parts David Lynch and The Grapes of Wrath, only one of these characters can survive in order for divine provenance to be achieved.
Carnivàle was intended to last for six seasons with the first two being a prologue, the second two being the true meat of the story and the last two seasons wrapping things up as neatly as possible. What we are left with is a magnificently unfinished masterpiece.
#3: Harsh Realm
“Are you kidding me? This is Harsh Realm. Kindness is when your buddy robs you and shoots you and DOESN’T rape your woman.”
-Mike Pinnochio
Harsh Realm was the third foray by Chris Carter (The X-Files, Millennium) into the science-fiction arena. Unfortunately for Chris and the cast, the show was pulled after three episodes. The concept involved a soldier sent into a virtual reality in order to stop a general who had turned the virtual world into his own playground. Unfortunately, none of the others who had gone before him had survived.
Harsh Realm had the potential to be an X-Files type hit, but like many great shows before it, it was buried on Friday nights. FOX placed it in the timeslot once occupied by The X-Files, however they expected X-Files ratings and were obviously disappointed when they didn’t get them. Ultimately, only three episodes aired on FOX and the remaining six aired on cable affiliate FX.
It also featured some pretty hip music.
Buy it on DVD. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
#2: Keen Eddie
“Hi, my name’s Eddie. How do you like me so far?”
-Det. Eddie Arlette
Keen Eddie also aired on the FOX network, and suffered a nearly similar fate to Harsh Realm. Keen Eddie was also undermined by the fact that it started its season as a summer time-filler in 24’s Tuesday night timeslot.
The show revolved around Eddie Arlette, a New York City police detective who screwed up a major bust and has now been sent to London in order to track the criminals who got away. Once in London, his life becomes a series of tragically amusing incidents – the daughter of his landlord has dropped out of school and moved back in to the house he is renting, their pets don’t get along, there is obvious sexual tension between this odd couple, his partner is a sex addict, his boss doesn’t trust him or his American police methods, he has a crush on his boss’s secretary whom he calls Ms. Moneypenny.
Six episodes aired in its initial run, and it eventually aired in its entirety on cable network Bravo.
Keen Eddie is also conveniently available on DVD.
#1: Sports Night
“If you’re stupid, surround yourself with smart people. If you’re smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you.”
-Isaac Jaffe
Sports Night was the first television show by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). It aired on ABC for two seasons. Sports Night died its untimely death because ABC couldn’t figure out what to do with it. Was it a comedy? Was it a drama? Well, it was a little bit of both and we all know that is a recipe for disaster since shows are not allowed to be two things at once. ABC even forced Sorkin to include a laugh track for part of the first season.
Sports Night was about the fictional upstart Continental Sports Channel (CSC) and the behind-the-scenes lives of the people who put on the nightly sports wrap-up show “Sports Night”. As is often the case with shows that are quickly given the axe, Sports Night had smart dialogue, terrific acting and was technically spectacular. The on-screen story lines also seemed to parallel the real life tribulations of the writers and producers of the show:
- Episodes in which management tries to help fix the show
- Episodes involving cost-cutting
- Episodes in which a consultant is brought in to turn the show into a hit
Perhaps it hit too close to home for ABC.
Once again, I’m pimping the DVDs.
I feel no shame in doing so since I own all of these on DVD.
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