The Best Shows Canceled After a Single Season
What are the best single-season canceled shows in television history? These shows were actually really great, but for whatever reason (usually ratings), they got the axe after just a handful of episodes. Without a doubt, many on this list of series canceled after one season deserved much longer runs and all these TV shows were canceled before their time. Vote for the shows you think didn't deserve just one season on the air and feel free to rerank this list your way, too.
It might surprise you to learn that despite their great successes, entertainment heavyweights like Judd Apatow and Joss Whedon didn't always come out on top. Whedon's Firefly remains one of the most unjust cancellations in TV history, as does Apatow's Freaks and Geeks (both are now among the all-time top cult TV shows). All of these single-season shows were canceled before they could have a sophomore season, much to our dismay. But this list also includes some more obscure shows. Even beloved stars like Matthew Perry and Jason Alexander couldn't get a second season on their own.
Add any one-season TV shows that might be missing because if you miss it, it qualifies. What single-season TV shows do you believe are the greatest ever? It's a safe bet that several of the 1 season TV shows listed here are also among the best TV shows in recent memory. Vote up the canceled single-season shows you think are the best and see where your favorites rank.
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk
- Premiered: September 20, 2002
- Genres: Action,Adventure,Science Fiction
The crew of a small transport ship experience a cosmic civil war. - John Francis Daley, Linda Cardellini, Samm Levine
- Premiered: September 25, 1999
- Genres: Comedy,Drama
The lives of nerdy teenagers in a Michigan high school circa 1980. - Premiered: October 2, 2022
- Genres: Crime,Drama
Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood protects her community with the help of her officers and detectives.- Matt Ryan, Harold Perrineau, Charles Halford
- Premiered: October 24, 2014
- Genres: Drama,Fantasy
A demon hunter and a girl with second sight travel the country fighting evil. - Jake McDorman, Jennifer Carpenter, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
- Premiered: September 22, 2015
- Genres: Crime,Science Fiction,Thriller
A man with extraordinary, drug-induced cognitive powers solves complex cases for the FBI. - Ioan Gruffudd, Judd Hirsch, Alana De La Garza
- Premiered: September 22, 2014
- Genres: Crime,Drama
A 200-year-old but young-looking man is a medical examiner who hopes to understand his immortality. - Karl Urban, Michael Ealy, Minka Kelly
- Premiered: November 17, 2013
- Genres: Crime,Drama,Science Fiction
In the year 2048, a cop returns to work after surviving a catastrophic attack and a 17-month coma.Available On: