15 TV Shows That Were Rescued from Early Cancellation

One of the downsides of show business is the inevitability of TV show cancellations. Nowadays, cancellations seem to be increasing in frequency, especially within the streaming industry.

Many streamers, from Netflix to Disney+ to HBO Max, have canceled series as part of their cost-cutting efforts due to hefty TV show budgets, a decrease in streaming demand after the pandemic, and an uncertain economy.

However, the recent streaming cancelation rates may be tamer than the brutal cancelation rates of Network TV. The advent of streaming and its differences from network TV has seemingly made audiences forget how many shows with cult followings got axed mercilessly in earlier years.

In fact, streaming has proven helpful in saving rather than canceling some shows. Several streamers have heeded fan campaigns, swooped in to capitalize on a cult following, and revived or saved previously canceled network shows.

Meanwhile, even before streaming, shows switched network hands to resist premature endings. Hence, although some painful TV show cancelations have arisen recently, viewers must remember cancelation isn’t always the end.

Here are 15 TV series that were rescued from early cancellation, proving that fan campaigns and demand can be quite effective.

1. Arrested Development

Arrested Development is a critically acclaimed sitcom that initially ran from 2003 to 2006 and helped bring Jason Bateman to international recognition.

The show follows Michael Bluth, a level-headed, successful young man who finds himself returning to his dysfunctional wealthy family and their failing business to set an example for his teenage son.

Over its first three seasons, the show garnered critical acclaim for its humor, long-running gags, eccentric characters, phenomenal writing, and surprisingly complex themes.

Then, after three seasons, it abruptly ended, mainly due to low ratings. Some have speculated the poor ratings were due to the show being ahead of its time with its unique format. It was the kind of edgy, binge-worthy, and unique show better suited for streaming.

Netflix realized Arrested Development‘s suitability for streaming and that its following had only grown in the years since its cancelation. Hence, the streamer revived the series in 2013 for two more seasons.

Even though the revival occurred seven years after the original ended, Netflix got almost all of the lead cast back for the two additional seasons.

Unfortunately, while Arrested Development Season 4 was a success, by Season 5, it seemed the show had run its course. There is little hope of a Season 6 happening, but long-time show fans will appreciate its second life on the streamer.

2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Several years after creating the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation, Dan Goor and Michael Shur created another critically acclaimed comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The cop sitcom follows the members of the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department as they navigate life, work under new leadership, and try to protect the city’s people.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine earned critical acclaim not only for being hilarious and boasting a fantastic cast but also for breaking stereotypes and tradition with its adept handling of issues ranging from police brutality to homophobia to racism.

Despite always staying relevant and beloved among viewers, Fox ultimately canceled the show after five seasons due to declining ratings and scheduling issues. However, NBC decided to prove just how much potential this show had, picking it up one day after its cancelation.

With its devoted fan base, it’s no surprise NBC quickly swooped in to save Brooklyn Nine-Nine for three more successful seasons. The show came to a natural end in 2021 due to running its course and respecting the shifting perspective on police depiction in media.

3. Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor first premiered on ABC and followed the story of Tom Kirkman, a man designated the successor of the United States should a catastrophe arise.

Though he never expected to actually become the President, an unexpected sequence of events leads to him becoming the inexperienced head of the United States.

Despite boasting an intriguing and thrilling premise, the show suffered from falling ratings and struggled to maintain a showrunner, leading to its cancelation after two seasons.

However, Designated Survivor’s strong fanbase and the modern political climate resulted in Netflix reviving the show. The revival was short-lived, though, as the streamer re-canceled it after Season 3.

Once again, the show failed to gain strong viewership, with some speculating the fast-paced, political thriller was better suited for a miniseries or that it was too difficult to balance the politics of the series.

4. Last Man Standing

Last Man Standing premiered on ABC in 2011. Starring Tim Allen (who also served as executive producer on the series), the show follows Mike Baxter, a marketing executive of the Outdoor Man franchise who must balance work with his home life with his wife and three daughters.

Although it received mixed reviews from critics, it maintained high ratings with its family-friendly comedy, Allen’s star power, and its lighthearted take on politics.

However, ABC canceled the show in 2017 after six seasons, citing scheduling and business issues. This sparked outrage from viewers, who accused the network of canceling the show for political reasons.

By 2018, though, Fox had picked up the show to run for another three seasons. Allen revealed that the plan was initially to end the show after season 8, but it ended up going until Season 9 to give the long-running comedy a natural ending.

5. Longmire

Longmire is a Western crime drama that premiered on A&E in 20212. The show follows Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming, who finds himself tied up in several murder mysteries while privately grappling with a personal loss.

The show quickly became A&E’s highest-rated drama series as viewers enjoyed Walt’s cowboy grit, the engaging mysteries, and the nuanced portrayal of Walt and his grief.

Despite Longmire‘s stellar ratings, A&E decided not to renew it for a fourth season, likely due to a slight drop in ratings. Fortunately, the show’s production company decided to shop the show out to other networks instead of canceling it altogether.

Netflix took the bait, ultimately picking up Longmire for another three seasons. No reason was given for its second cancelation after Season 6, but some suspect it was because the show was running out of source material.

6. Lucifer

Lucifer is a fantasy series that began airing on Fox in 2016. It follows the tale of Lucifer Morningstar, who, after being kicked out of Heaven and growing bored with Hell, decides to team up with a homicide detective on Earth to solve supernatural crimes.

The show found its footing after Season 1, earning high praise from critics for its unique premise, charm, and Tom Ellis’ devilishly good performance. After ending Season 3 on a cliffhanger, Fox abruptly canceled the series due to low ratings.

This didn’t sit well with the show’s cult following, who were desperate to discover what happened after the shocking cliffhanger. Hence, Netflix swooped in and picked up Lucifer weeks after Fox canceled it.

The show would go on for another three seasons on the streamer, and each was met with a favorable reception. Netflix announced ahead of time that the show was ending with Season 6, giving it a satisfactory and natural ending.

7. Manifest

Manifest premiered on NBC in 2018, tackling the intriguing premise of a group of passengers who, upon landing after an hours-long flight, realize that five years have somehow passed, setting them on a journey to discover what happened to them on that plane as they navigate a changed world.

The show paired a mind-boggling supernatural mystery with a character-driven dramatic plot, thus gaining a small but devoted following. Meanwhile, with season 3 ending on a cliffhanger and creator Jeff Rake boasting a six-season plan, fans felt confident the show would remain.

Hence, devastation from fans, Rake, and the cast and crew ensued when the show was abruptly canceled due to declining ratings and the pandemic. However, after it was canceled, Seasons 1 and 2 started blowing up on Netflix.

From the onset, there was hope that the streamer would save the show. Eventually, after intense negotiations and several breakdowns in discussions, Netflix picked up the show for one additional season.

Since Netflix only agreed to one season, Manifest ended naturally after Season 4, which included a higher episode count and was broken into two parts.

8. One Day at a Time

Based on the 1975 sitcom of the same name, One Day at a Time first premiered on Netflix in 2017. The show follows Penelope, an Army veteran and single mother, and her experiences raising a Cuban-American family in Los Angeles.

The modern reimagining of the long-running 1970s sitcom was a hit with audiences. Across three seasons, the show received high critical acclaim for its nuanced and delicate handling of several topics, including PTSD, homophobia, racism, sexism, and immigration.

Unfortunately, Netflix canceled the show after three seasons. The show was one of the rare series to receive an official reason for cancelation, with the streamer expressing that it could simply not justify another season due to low views.

In an unprecedented move, though, CBS’s Pop TV network saved the show, marking the first time a canceled Netflix original was saved by another network. Pop TV began airing season 4 in 2020.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out at this time, cutting Season 4 short and prompting Pop TV to re-cancel the show. Although Pop TV tried to shop One Day at a Time to other networks, the sitcom failed to find another home.

 

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