You know when you see a show that’s really great, checks all of your show boxes? It’s funny, witty, or maybe dramatic and draws you into the mystery and then it ends? I think one of the greatest tragedies of all time is a show that doesn’t have enough seasons and really didn’t get to live to its full potential, so here’s my list of shows that really did deserve better.
1. The Carrie Diaries (2 seasons)
I loved the Carrie Diaries, it’s based off a book series also written by Candace Bushnell under the same name, and ever since I loved Sex and the City so much, this show really did check off all my show boxes! For the 2 seasons it was on, it was my favorite show on the air! It had great actors, great costumes, and great plot; but sadly the ratings weren’t there and the show didn’t get renewed for a third season.
- Selfie
The title of this show had me cringing, especially with all of the marketing they did. But one night I left the tv on and it happened to come on, and I loved it! This one I feel got stinted simply because of bad marketing. Really, a show called “Selfie” just sounds idiotic, but it was actually cute and had good actors (Karen Gillan, John Cho) and it was based off the musical “My Fair Lady” so what this one really deserved is better people to make it happen. - Any show with Mathew Perry in it since “Friends”
Jeez, this guy can not catch a break! When I was researching for this article I found quite a few shows he’s been in that after a short time were canceled. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (1 season, 22 episodes) surprisingly, actually picked up an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. I feel this is only adding to the feeling that we’re missing out on some great television here! Also, his show Go On (1 Season, 22 Episodes) was a comedy about a sportscaster who’s wife died and had to go to therapy before heading back to work. This was also nominated for a People’s Choice award for Favorite New TV Comedy. Finally his show Mr. Sunshine didn’t even last an entire cable season, with only 13 episodes it only ran from February 9th- April 6th of 2011, Perry was even an Executive Producer on the project only adding to the sting of the loss. It sounds like it would have been great, kind of like if The Office was in a sports arena.
Photo from:GIPHY
- Best Friends Forever (1 Season, 6 Episodes)
Another one that didn’t even finish out a cable season, this was almost like A Streetcar Named Desire but if Stanley wasn’t an abusive rapist. A girl, Jessica, gets a divorce and moves to Brooklyn to move in with her best friend Lennon who now has a boyfriend who has been living with her and doesn’t like that her former best friend is now bunking with them. The show was created by two real best friends of the same names based on their personal experiences and was on NBC. There were 6 episodes filmed but NBC canceled it so soon that the last 2 weren’t going to air! But Lennon Parham insisted they at least be shown on the NBC website after much negotiations they finally came to an agreement that the remaining two episodes would air June 1st of 2012, about 2 and a half months after the 4th episode had aired. But I can thankfully tell you that after the series ended, both Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair have had much success, with Parham having roles in shows such as Veep, How I Met Your Mother, and Parks and Recreation, along with film roles in Confessions of a Shopaholic and Horrible Bosses 2. While St. Claire has appeared in She’s Out of my League and Bridesmaids and has been in more shows than you can count, most recently she’s lent her voice to the likes of Portlandia, Bob’s Burgers and the new Tangled: The Series.
Photo from: gregfitzsimmons.com
I hope this short but comprehensive look at TV shows lost too soon was interesting for you! I feel like most of the time when I read lists like this they always include the same few and you never really hear about any other great shows that got canceled.
I wouldn’t really say Mr. Sunshine. That one seemed to be a bit off. Nothing against Matthew Perry because I really like him as well, however, the rest of the cast seemed to be “phoning it in in.” Well, except for Alison Janney. She’s good. PS. The Odd Couple REALLY deserved better. CBS never gave it much of a chance and then in the last season when they put it on after that abortion they called 2 Broke Girls (how the hell did that last six seasons?), it was the kiss of death. That show was smart comedy in a world full of dummies.