I've been around for 48 years, and I'll openly admit that a disproportionate amount of that time has been spent watching television.  And, in all of those years I've been fortunate enough to see many series I liked go for 7, 8, 9 or more seasons.  The ones I think about, though, are the ones canceled too soon.  You really liked them, and one day, years before their time, they got the axe.  Thanks to DVD and streaming, we can revisit some of these gems, but you still wish they'd had a longer life. 

So, what tv show do you think died too young?

For mine, I'll pick WKRP in Cincinnati.  Born in 1978 from Mary Tyler Moore's production company, it was a true ensemble comedy of ecentric characters inhabiting a bottom-tier radio station.  It never stayed in one time slot for too long, and it was canceled after just four seasons.   Rubbing salt into the wound is the fact that due to all the music played on the show, and the licensing issues therein, only the first season has ever been released on DVD, and from what I've read it's very unlikely the other three seasons will be released.  It may be lost to the ages.   

Arrested Development. I realize Netflix has kept the show alive in some form, but FOX buried it  throughout its brief run before canceling it before they even finished the 3rd season.

My name is earl.

The job

The riches

(06-21-2015, 09:42 PM)34inXXIII Wrote: Arrested Development. I realize Netflix has kept the show alive in some form, but FOX buried it  throughout its brief run before canceling it before they even finished the 3rd season.

 2nd.

(06-21-2015, 09:43 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: My name is earl.

2nd that one, too.  I'd also add its succesor show, Raising Hope, which like Earl only got four seasons. 

Party Down....probably my favorite show ever that only lasted about 20 episodes.

Flash Forward.

I was totally invested in that show and am still pissed that there was no answer or "end".

Life on Mars was another one.

(06-21-2015, 09:51 PM)Awful Llama Wrote:  2nd.

2nd that one, too.  I'd also add its succesor show, Raising Hope, which like Earl only got four seasons. 

I am actually watching raising hope now . Almost don't with season 4.

Boca Native Shannon Woodwars stars.

Staying solely in the realm of sketch comedy shows I'd say, in order;

1. Mr. Show- IMO the best sketch comedy show ever and it's not even close. Three and a half seasons was not nearly enough.

2. Chappelle Show- The second best sketch show ever. We didn't even get three seasons of it. Success is more difficult than failure for some.

3. The Dana Carvey Show- This show was way too edgy for network TV, I wasn't shocked when it got cancelled after one season. Their Casey Kasem sketch alone probably got them the ax. Hilarious though.

4. The Ben Stiller Show- Yet another one season too edgy for "network" (Fox wasn't a network back then) television. Look at the people who came out of it though.

(06-21-2015, 09:43 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: My name is earl.

The job

The riches

Haven't seen the other two, but My Name is Earl was an awesome show.

Raising Hope was a good show, too. Also killed by Fox too soon was Firefly.

Other shows:
Kolchak the Nightstalker (Darren McGavin version)
Reaper
Chuck
Jericho
Dead Like Me

(06-21-2015, 10:44 PM)Johnny Cupcakes Wrote: Party Down....probably my favorite show ever that only lasted about 20 episodes.

Oh man I forgot about this show. I found it randomly online a few years back and have seen it a few times now. It is really fantastic, but I guess no one really watched Starz? 

I'll also add Freaks and Geeks to this list. One of my favorite high school based dramas and pretty much every character in the show has gone on to be a star, or at least star in other movies/shows/

Raising Hope died when Greg Garcia wasn't invoved.   Season 4 killed it.   Too many wacky shows.

I did read where Greg Garcia mentions how be wanted to end My Name is Earl

Loved this scene from Raising Hope. All the My Name is Earl fans will enjoy ))

Friday Night Lights.

Firefly
Stargate Universe
Freaks and Geeks

Sports Night
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

(06-22-2015, 02:31 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: Firefly

Glad to see there is at least one other Browncoat around these parts.

I'm also going to list The Dresden Files.

A nice urban fantasy wizardy show is an awesome thing. Here's hoping The Magicians will make it work.

Remember that show where Tony Danza was the voice of a baby in order to capitalize off the success of the Look Who's Talking movie? Wait, that show was on for 2 seasons too long.

The Office. UK version.

(06-21-2015, 11:54 PM)Benton Wrote: Haven't seen the other two, but My Name is Earl was an awesome show.

Raising Hope was a good show, too. Also killed by Fox too soon was Firefly.

Other shows:
Kolchak the Nightstalker (Darren McGavin version)
Reaper
Chuck
Jericho
Dead Like Me

I watched Jericho on Netflix, and stopped watching with maybe four episodes left because I realized it wasn't going to have an ending.