It's been a rough year for TV lovers. While we had the thrill of beloved endangered shows like Chuck pulling through, we lost a lot of other great ones from Pushing Daisies to Dollhouse. Check out the top shows I think died too soon in 2009, and add your most missed cancellations of the year in the comments below!
While I will say I, like many Dollhouse fans, have come to terms with its cancellation as long as it's getting the chance to get a proper ending. But, with all the hype, fan excitement, and fan campaigning to keep it around, it's still a big disappointment to see this one so short-lived. Yet another Josh Whedon project with great promise and strong fan following, but not enough promise or strength in fan numbers. Thanks for kind of trying this time, though, FOX.
This fall newbie got a bad rap before it even began. Even I, lover of all things cute and girl-friendship-powered and magic-related, wasn't interested in catching the premiere of this charming and magical little show. But, as it turned out when I did watch, it actually is charming, magical, and a really sweet story of female friendship with the fun twist of strange happenings in a small town. The chemistry of the actresses is great, and the storylines, though light, had great potential for what they were meant to be. I'm definitely sad to see this one go so very soon without even getting itself the chance of one full season.
Okay, this is the last time I'll complain about this gem of a wonderful show getting canceled! It barely got to show its fresh and outstandingly unique face in 2009, but that is exactly why it makes this list of shows canceled too soon us Daisies fans would have liked to see more of this show for years to come! Thankfully it pulled through with a 2nd season when it wasn't looking so promising to make even that, but then sadly, like a few others on this list, just didn't make the cut for ABC last spring. This was one of the absolute best new shows last year, and I'm sad to be putting it on this list instead of a new list of best shows of the year, but as 2010 comes our way, it's time to put this one to rest... though it'll never be time to lay to rest the re-watching of its adorable episodes!
Like Pushing Daisies, this was another endearing, sweet, and unique ABC highlight of last season that didn't get much life into 2009, also making it very rightly belong here in the most disappointing cancellation losses of the year. While with a more ordinary backdrop than Daisies, Eli Stone had a fantastic fantasy world as well, pushing the limits of religion vs. medicine in the most friendly way imaginable (including with song)! I had been concerned about how they would carry into Season 2 with Eli's impending brain tumor removal at the end of Season 1, but after they carried on so well and the show got even better in Season 2, this is definitely one I was heartbroken to see get cut this year.
This was another sophomore show, though NBC instead of ABC, that was really fantastic with an incredible cast and fascinating storyline as we followed an ex-cop reinstated after his 12 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit hunt down who framed him. The greatest part of this show was the main character, Charlie Crews, the cop/criminal in question, who became hardened, but also very enlightened via his reading while in jail. This one was a little more under the radar than most shows in danger of cancellation, so its cancellation, though with a somewhat satisfying show ending, was a big disappointment.
This was the Eastwick (under-appreciated female friendship gem) of last TV season which is a pretty easy comparison to make considering it even had the crossover cast member of Lindsay Price. Like Eastwick, Lipstick had a strong female core cast whose friendships became more and more endearing and real over the time we did spend with them. Also this show, while cute first season, got a lot stronger second season, making it yet another tragic casualty of early 2009 when it got the ax with hardly a series conclusion in sight.
I'm guiltily part of those who should have been watching and loving this one to keep it on the air, but while I didn't watch much of it, I do know it was an adorable show that others here at SideReel are very sad to see die. This one also had a very sweet and endearing vibe and cast, plus was more wholesome (but not boring!) quality programming than most of CW's teen dramas that have survived. Sigh, us CW fans and our love for the outrageous drama!
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
This is another one I didn't watch much of, but I believe belongs on this list due to overall huge fan disappointment. Being part of lots of awesome "save our show" efforts, I got the feeling this one could be the next Jericho, but even better as it seemed it could stay on once revived. But unfortunately not even the strong fan support here was able to make a difference. Turns out FOX felt guilty about letting down Joss Whedon fans, but not Terminator fans. Sorry kids.
I must admit I adore almost everything ABC Family, and this wasn't an exception - and I know it certainly wasn't for tons of other ABC Family fans either! While the story of the alien boy with powers had been done before, there was something special about Kyle (maybe it was those blue eyes and rockhard abs) but also the warmth of the whole family Kyle became a part of. It was fun and fascinating to see Kyle learn about human life, fall in love with both his new family and first girlfriend, and do some downright kick-butt things with his powers. While this one did get a solid 3 season run which is much more than we can say about the rest of the shows on this list, it felt like such a solid show, especially with its home on ABC Family, that it was really too bad to not get to enjoy this one for a few more seasons.
While the least disappointing early 2009 cut from ABC, DSM joins the list of canceled too soon ABC dramedies along with Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone. All of these shows were unique and fun newbies for ABC when they started, and all were disappointing to see go without much conclusion. This one was particularly frustrating seeing a mystery and disastrous family fall apart, come together, fall apart again... and then never have any of it resolved.
Which shows do you think were canceled too soon in 2009?
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