The Top Five TV Shows That Got Cancelled Before Their Time

 

Number 5: "Freaks and Geeks"

"Freaks and Geeks" was a great little show produced by NBC that aired during the 1999-2000 television season. The show revolves around high school students attempting to fit into their own cliques. On one side, the geeks (who included John Francis Daley from the movie "Waiting" and the TV show "Bones") spend their time making good grades and avoiding bullies. In an effort to fit in, they attempt to be cool here and there, but their overwhelming obsession with sweaters and cowboy movies keeps firm hold on them. The freaks (including Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel) are the typical bad seeds, always looking for the next party. The show is great for several reasons. One, the soundtrack is phenomenal. They actually waited two extra years to release the DVD collection simply so they could acquire all the music rights. Two, the cast is phenomenal. All of these people went on to great movies and TV shows. Three, the storyline. Even if it is set back in the early 80s, you can really see your high school in this show. You were a geek, a freak or one of those kids in between. The show was cut after only 15 episodes, although the other three were run when the show was moved to another network.

 

Number 4: Wonderfalls

"Wonderfalls" was featured on the Fox Network during the 2004 season. Caroline Dhavernas stars as Jaye Tyler, a young woman stuck in a crappy gift shop job after graduating from college. She begins to have conversations with assorted animal figurines including a wax lion, mounted fish and a brass monkey. These animals point her to people who need help with one thing or another in their life, and the animals do not let Jaye rest until she helps them. This show had an intriguing idea that was extremely well completed, but had a tough time gathering fans. After only four episodes aired, Fox canceled the series. The show consists of 13 episodes total, but these were only shown twice on television, and both times the episodes were sired out of order.

 

Number 3: "Dead Like Me"

This has to be one of my favorite series of all time. The series started its run in 2003 and ended after the 2004 season with 29 total episodes. The series revolves around a girl named Georgia ‘George' Lass who was killed on June 27, 2003. Instead of continuing into the afterlife, George only gets halfway. She has been turned into a reaper. Reapers do not kill people; they take their souls and direct them on their way to the afterlife. The reapers are undead and when someone looks at them, like their family, they see someone else. The reapers still need jobs for food and housing, but are required to go and collect the souls of those about to die. Everyday they meet for breakfast at Der Waffle Haus, a waffle house restaurant, to receive their post-its. These post-its have the location and time of death for the souls they are required to reap that day.

The stars of this show included Ellen Muth, Jasmine Guy and Mandy Patinkin (who is famous for his role in Criminal Minds.) The cast is great together, acting as one huge dysfunctional family. The show, or actors on the show, were nominated for eight awards, including two Emmys. The series spawned a movie, "Dead Like Me: Life After Death," though I must say that they totally ruined the movie by replacing one character and writing a whole new one in. In any event, this show is one of my favorites and I suggest it to anyone.

 

Number 2: "Firefly"

"Firefly" is great for several reasons, but none more than these two words: Space Western. How could anyone refuse such a treat that blends the John Wayne era with Captain Kirk? The premise of the show is the arrival of humans into a new star system. The two remaining human super-powers belong to the United States and China, which results in a hilarious mixture of English and Chinese into the dialogue, with Chinese being used mostly for cursing purposes. These two super-powers merge into a government known as the Alliance. Naturally, some fought against this merger and following a civil war, the Alliance emerges victorious. The crew of the Serenity, a Firefly-class ship, now live as outlaws. They live as pioneers, as well as running cargo for both sides of the conflict or smuggling illegal items. 

Nathan Fillion ("Castle," "One Life to Live") led the cast as Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Other cast members included Gina Torres (known for playing Cleopatra in "Xena: Warrior Princess" and appearing in "Alias" and "Angel"), Alan Tudyk (who played Steve the Pirate in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story") and Adam Baldwin (who is now in the NBC series "Chuck"). The show won many awards during its short run, including Outstanding Visual Effects for a Series (beating out "Dead Like Me"!) in 2003. "Firefly" was cancelled in its first season after only 11 of the produced 14 episodes were aired. A movie, "Serenity," was released in 2005, but according to fans, ultimately killed the characters so that there was no hope of a series rebirth.

 

Number 1: "Clone High"

What can one really say of "Clone High? Well, everything. It was an animated comedy created for the MTV Network. The premise of the show can be easily stated following the shows theme song, which was written by the Abandoned Pools. "Way way back in the 1980s/a bunch of government employees/dug up famous guys and ladies/and made amusing genetic copies/Now the clones are sexy teens now/they're gonna make it if they try."

The clones of Abe Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Cleopatra and Joan of Arc are the main characters of this amazing show. The clones are nothing like their famous counterparts, or their traits are more exaggerated. Abe has no confidence and is really shy; Gandhi is a party boy who will do anything to fit in; Joan is a gothic girl who wants nothing more than to be with Abe; Cleopatra is the school skank and JFK is always searching for the next girl to get with. Notable clones include Marie Curie (whose clone is extremely deformed due to the radiation damage of her DNA), Jesus Christ (who is portrayed as a Hispanic Jesus Cristo who is only seen in shop class) and Ponce de Leon (who's DNA was mixed with Arthur Fonzarelli and is known as Poncey). The clones are unwittingly controlled by the Board of Shadowy Figures, which lives up to their name, as you never see their features too clearly. Their principal, Cinnamon J. Scudworth, has alternate plans for the clones (opening a theme park called Cloney Island.)

The cast of this show is spectacular. Will Forte is the voice of Abe, Christa Miller ("Scrubs") voices Cleopatra, Gandhi is the voice of Michael McDonald (MAD TV) and Joan of Arc is played by Nicole Sullivan, who has appeared in several episodes of "Scrubs," provided voices for "Kim Possible" and starred on the CBS show "King of Queens." The show has spectacular guest stars, including Jack Black, Marilyn Manson and Michael J. Fox.

The show lasted one season on MTV, with the last  episodes not aired in the United States. Teletoon, a Canadian channel, ran the show in its entirety.

 

Honorable Mentions

 

First off is the live action comedy "The Tick," starring Patrick Warburton. Due to high production costs and poor decision-making by the Fox Network, the series ran for only nine episodes, with only eight airing. Warburton was a comedy genius and we have to add another great series to the scrap pile due to Fox Network's inability to understand good shows. (Notable exception to this rule would be "House, MD").

"Greg the Bunny" was another funny show, where puppets were as alive as the humans they interacted with. It lasted only one season of 13 episodes. This series showed puppets with the needs, and flaws, of humans, such as alcoholism or a sex addict. While adult in nature, it was a fantastic show and one that Fox Network also killed.

"Spaced" is a fantastic show, starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes. This show normally would have made my list in the top five, but I was unable to procure more than two episodes and as such, could not give it the time required for such a rigorous article. Two strangers sharing the paper to search for apartments (or flats) construct a scheme to act as a couple to get a nicer place, while trying to get their lives together and find real love interests.

So there you have it my friends. Five of the best shows (and some others) that were cancelled way before their time. Many of these are available on DVD, so go gather them up and mourn with me at the loss we all must suffer through.