Entertainment
These 10 Great Sitcoms Were Cancelled Too Soon
Developing the perfect sitcom is what every writer dreams of doing. Given the legacy of the genre, getting your foot in the door can sometimes be a challenge in and of itself. But then, keeping it on the air is the battle. There have certainly been some wallops of flops over the years. Not just because you have a major name—Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, even Emeril Lagasse—doesn’t mean it’s going to be a surefire hit.
But then there are the cases of really strong shows that, for reasons beyond our control, get axed well before their expiration date. Maybe it was low ratings, too much competition, a risky concept, or simply the timing; losing a beloved sitcom can be a gut punch for the creators, actors, and fans alike. It’s time to take a trip down memory lane and remember the sitcoms that got the axe before we were ready. Let’s raise a glass and give them one last hurrah as they live rent-free in our minds.
1
‘Rutherford Falls’ (2021–2022)
Being one of the first shows to help launch a streaming app is not an easy task. When Peacock first went live in 2020, it just so happened to be the same year as the COVID-19 pandemic. While we were all stuck at home, not everyone was eager to turn to something new. Especially a new streamer. Among some of the first titles to join Peacock was the severely underappreciated Rutherford Falls. Created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, the series follows the unlikely friendship between history buff Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Native American museum curator Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) in their quirky titular small town. A crisis of friendship is tested when the mayor (Dana L. Wilson) decides to move a statue of Nathan’s ancestor, the town founder, because drivers keep hitting it. Nathan embarks on an idealistic campaign to keep the statue in place. Reagan has to juggle loyalty to her friend and to her people, the Minishonka Nation. Using comedy and irony to highlight the biases that are present in today’s society surrounding Native Americans.
Rutherford Falls used a marginalized community and a white community to compare and contrast society’s views on their heritage and preservation throughout. It was praised for its authentic Native perspectives to mainstream comedy, focusing on community, identity, and everyday colonialism with heart and humor. But then, it was yanked. Despite critical praise, it was a battle between acclaim versus performance. Because of low viewership, the ultimate excuse was that Rutherford Falls was cancelled as a result of a cost-cutting measure. Ornelas attempted to shop the series around, but it didn’t pan out. The reality was that timing was everything. Perhaps if it had arrived a hair sooner or after lockdown was lifted and Peacock was more established, we’d be celebrating Rutherford Falls as a triumphant series.
2
‘The Ropers’ (1979–1980)
Spin-offs are hard. Not only do you have to live up to the hype of the original series, but you also have to expand upon it and make it even better. After the massive success of Three’s Company, ABC was desperate to capitalize on the series, and fast. After the first season, Norman Fell and Audra Lindley were asked whether they would move their characters, Stanley and Helen Roper, to their own series. They passed, but the network was persistent. With Fell fearful of the series flopping and thus being out of a job and an iconic role, it eventually took some convincing, and a guarantee that he could return to the main series, The Ropers was finally born.
At first, the show did well. Feeding off the new iteration of Three’s Company, now with Don Knotts as the new landlord, The Ropers put the married couple in a new light. Having sold their apartment building, they move to Cheviot Hills, where social climber Helen attempts to fit in with the community, as Stanley does little to acquiesce. And thus, the comedy of the series. Believing it was a surefire hit anywhere ABC put it, the show was moved from Tuesday nights to Saturdays, and it bombed. Somehow, believing the show would appeal to a younger demographic, it failed, and thus, The Ropers was cancelled. While Fell tried to return to Three’s Company, the popularity of Knott’s Ralph Furley essentially prevented Stanley from returning full-time. Though the Ropers made one final appearance, the two iconic characters were forced into retirement.
3
‘Happy Endings’ (2011–2013)
When your cancellation is deemed the “worst TV decision,” you know that’s worth something. Yet, that doesn’t soften the blow of having your series end before it should have. This is the story of the three-season hit Happy Endings. The series followed the antics of six best friends in Chicago: loving married couple, the overacheiver Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.) and perfectionist Jane (Eliza Coupe), ditzy Alex (Elisha Cuthbert), daydreamer Dave (Zachary Knighton), slacker Max (Adam Pally), and party animal Penny (Casey Wilson). As the dynamic shifts, the comedy remains. The 2010s response to Friends and How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings was a tight relationship sitcom that still managed to be refreshing. But if there’s one type of refreshing that can kill a series, it’s when you refresh the weekly lineup.
Despite the third season earning critical acclaim, ABC took a drastic measure and moved the series from Wednesdays first to Tuesdays and then eventually the death spot of Friday night. Back in the ’90s, ABC triumphed with a Friday night block, but that heyday had been so far removed that attempting to revitalize the evening with a beloved show was simply just a risk. Even being applauded as an underrated and under-watched series, ratings are everything. As much as fans tried to get the show shopped and revived, it was of no use. Happy Endings was a great series gone too soon.
4
‘Better Off Ted’ (2009–2010)
With the rise of single-camera comedies taking over the ’00s, every network tried to capitalize on the new fad. But that also meant exploring an array of risky concepts. Not that satire is that brazen, but alas. Created by Victor Fresco, Better Off Ted followed the titular Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), a single father and head of research and development at the soulless conglomerate of Veridian Dynamics. With the use of narration, Ted tends to break the fourth wall for comedic purposes. A witty approach to the workplace comedy, Better Off Ted lived in a similar realm to Arrested Development, and not just because Portia de Rossi was in the main ensemble.
Critics loved the concept, noting it as ahead of its time; but that didn’t translate into viewership. Audiences didn’t tune in enough. Fresco had felt that the series was not given fair promotion or enough time to build an audience, but the bigger problem was Better Off Ted was too smart for the time slot. ABC tended to place classic sitcoms in Better Off Ted‘s space, so audiences expecting a wholesome comedy instead found a surrealistic, rapid-fire show. Though the cast has reunited from time to time, the series lives on through its cult following.
5
‘Samantha Who?’ (2007–2009)
After making her name as a young actress on Married with Children, it was finally time for Christina Applegate to lead her own show. Proving that she could handle the pressure thanks to an array of guest spots, including her brilliant recurring role on Friends, she got her shot on ABC’s Samantha Who? The title went through a few name changes before settling on the final answer. The series followed Applegate as Samantha Newly, who develops retrograde amnesia after a hit-and-run. Upon awakening, she discovers that her old self was selfish and unlikeable, so she sets off on a mission to rectify her past, making amends with everyone in her life. A brilliant concept with a strong cast, which also included Melissa McCarthy and Jean Smart, Samantha Who? had all the makings of a hit, and it did. Until that pesky schedule change.
For the first season, Samantha Who? was the highest rated sitcom on television, surpassing Two and a Half Men, which had previously held the honor. As a Monday night series that had a strong lead-in with Dancing with the Stars, Samantha Who? was golden. Then, by Season 2, things changed. Moving the air slot, the series featured a new lead-in: the failed series In the Motherhood. While the ultimate excuse was the inability to slash its budget to warrant a third season, its move to Thursday destroyed the following it once had. A truly smart series with a wonderfully mature performance from Applegate, Samantha Who? deserved a longer journey on television.
6
‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’ (2021–2022)
Riding high off of the success of Schitt’s Creek, it was finally time for Annie Murphy to go solo. Created by Valerie Armstrong, AMC picked up a bold and incredibly risky series called Kevin Can F**k Himself. A riff off of the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, which was criticized for how the lead character’s wife was written off the series, the AMC show took the incident as a jumping off point. The premise followed Allison McRoberts (Murphy), a woman struggling to redefine her life amid an unhappy marriage to her husband, Kevin (Eric Petersen), a narcissistic man-child whose treatment of Allison was borderline domestic abuse. The twist of the series was how the show was presented through contrasting perspectives. In one format, it was through a typical mutli-cam sitcom. The other, when Allison was navigating her personal struggles, was told through a dramatic single-camera approach.
By breaking television conventions, Kevin Can F**k Himself set itself apart from anything on TV. Especially what was on the network it was airing on. Perhaps the struggle was this was not the typical AMC show viewers watched on the cable channel. AMC made the decision to end the series after two seasons, similar to other series at the time. Further, it came down to a creative decision from Armstrong who felt, after Allison’s liberation, the story had concluded. Now, this did not bode well with the fans. Murphy’s star vehicle was exceptional, but in a self-contained world of television, some shows prefer not to overextend themselves to the dismay of its viewers.
7
‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999–2000)
Surely you’ve heard of the mythical teen comedy Freaks and Geeks. Maybe you didn’t watch it, but the series has been discussed for decades thanks to the individuals involved who became some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, Freaks and Geeks was set in the fictional town of Chippewa, Michigan at a suburban Detroit high school at the start of the ’80s. Lindsay Weird (Linda Cardellini) and her younger brother, Sam (John Fracis Daley), attend the same school with different friend groups. Lindsay is part of the freaks, alongside Daniel Desario (James Franco), Ken Miller (Seth Rogen), Nick Andopolis (Jason Segel), and Kim Kelly (Busy Philipps). Sam’s friends are the geeks, comprised of Neal Schwieber (Samm Levine) and Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr). And thus, the title Freaks and Geeks. Littered with nostalgia, Freaks and Geeks was the show that never had the chance to soar.
The series’ ability to lampoon adolescence was a major draw into the show’s success. Even with Emmy nominations and critical praise, if you’re a victim of erratic scheduling, there’s little hope of remaining on screen. Compared to the network’s massive hits like Frasier and Friends earning double the viewers, Freaks and Geeks was an easy target to give cancellation to. Further, having to compete with the juggernaut game show Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, it was near impossible to have any safety net. The direction of the series did not align between network and creator, so they cut the chord. While many sitcoms have come and gone, essentially being lost to time, the legacy lives on thanks to the success of the individuals involved. As Apatow put it, “Everything I’ve done, in a way, is revenge for the people who cancelled Freaks and Geeks.”
8
‘Two Guys and a Girl’ (1998–2001)
I like to believe I have an eye for talent because I was obsessed with Ryan Reynolds on Two Guys and a Girl, or Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place as it was originally titled. Unlike some titles on this list, Two Guys and a Girl did have a decently healthy run. However, when you end on a cliffhanger, the devoted fans will riot. I know I certainly did! Let’s back up to the premise. The original premise follows Pete (Richard Ruccolo), Berg (Reynolds), and Sharon (Traylor Howard), three friends in their twenties, as they navigate life, love, and careers in Boston. Starting at the pizza place they worked at during college, the series eventually expanded to focus on their post-collegiate lives, including the expansion of recurring characters, Johnny Donnelly (Nathan Fillion) and Ashley Walker (Suzanne Cryer).
Built upon the extraordinary chemistry of the lead trio, Two Guys and a Girl was a major hit during its run. But then, like other titles, ABC decided to move the series to the Friday night death spot, where it had a steep decline in ratings. After the shock result, the network tried to place it back to Wednesdays to restore its former glory, but it was too late. The series finale ended up being an episode called “The Internet Show.” It was an interactive show in which the fans of the show voted on the outcome online. The premise of the episode led to four different endings in whch each of the women believed they might be pregnant. The hope was to have the winner, who was Ashley, give birth by the end of Season 5. But that season never came to fruition as the show was canceled. It was a major blow, but that’s the business!
9
‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)
This one still stings. It’s time to discuss the uniquely whimsical Pushing Daisies. Created by Bryan Fuller, the series followed Ned (Lee Pace), a pie-maker with the ability to bring things back to life with his touch. Of course, this power came with a stipulation. Alongside his formerly deceased childhood crush Chuck (Anna Friel), co-worker Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth), and private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), Ned and co use his special ability to solve murders. With a cast that also featured Swoosie Kurtz as Lily, Chuck’s agoraphobic birth mother, and Ellen Greene as Vivian, Chuck’s aunt, the brilliant ensemble helped make the series wonderfully charming and aesthetically delightful. But after two seasons, Pushing Daisies died, and it was unable to be brought back to life by Ned.
Timing is everything, and because of the 2007–2008 writers’ strike, Pushing Daisies suffered from fully coming to fruition. With the first season being impacted, Fuller went on to focus on the ordered second season. But when ratings declined, presumably due to the aftermath of television limbo, ABC opted not to order additional episodes beyond the second season’s initial pick-up. With so many more stories to tell, Fuller had hoped to expand the series into other media, but it never happened. A quirky and distinct series, Pushing Daisies truly never had its time to blossom.
10
‘Sports Night’ (1998–2000)
One of the greatest entertainment writers of all time is Aaron Sorkin. If there is one thing he knows how to do, it’s write a story about the inner workings of a workplace. Before The West Wing or Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip or The Newsroom was Sports Night. Pulling the curtain back on a SportsCenter style show, Sorkin’s series focused on the professional and personal lives of the on and off-air staff producing a live nightly cable sports news show. Centering on anchor duo Casey McCall (Peter Krause) and Dan Rydell (Josh Charles) and executive producer Dana Whitaker (Felicity Huffman), Sports Night was notorious for Sorkin’s infamous “walk and talk,” as well as his fast-paced dialogue that captured the thematic elements of journalism ethics and the navigation of network pressure. A brilliant series that featured a dynamite ensemble that also included Joshua Malina and William H. Macy, it seemed as if ABC had a hit on its hands, but when the new millennium arrived, Sports Night departed.
Even through its smart writing, stellar cast, and unique direction, Sports Night struggled to find a devoted and dedicated audience. Because audiences expected a laugh riot and received something more in line with a dramedy, there was a disconnect. Perhaps it was ahead of its time or even on the right network. Sorkin did have the opportunity to move the series to another network, including Showtime; yet, he opted to dedicate all of his time to The West Wing on NBC. History tells us that it was the right decision, but the reality remains that Sports Night was one of Sorkin’s greatest projects.