By Katelyn Spicer:
Some TV shows are instant fails, not worth the time it took to watch an episode. Others, however, find an interested audience and offer a quality experience, but are cancelled, to the disappointment of fans. The following shows were dropped long before their viewers were ready to let go.
Jericho: The series Jericho followed the story of a small town located in Kansas caught in the midst of a nuclear war. While most of the United States is destroyed by an unknown terrorist, Jericho survives. Throughout the story Jericho must find ways to gather food, medical supplies and protect the town from outsiders. This intense drama-filled show was built around the idea that if the people of Jericho stuck together, they could achieve anything. Though the plot is somewhat confusing, it piqued interest and had many viewers. The show was cancelled after one season, but revived due to a viewer petition. The second season only lasted seven episodes. There are rumors that Netflix will continue the story as a Netflix series, and there is the possibility of a movie based on the series in the works. Even though it only survived 29 episodes, Jericho is already considered a television cult classic.
A Gifted Man: A Gifted Man had a very short airtime, lasting only one season for a total of 16 episodes. Michael Holt was a neurologist who had a tendency to be concerned with no one but himself. Through his self absorption he loses his focus in the medical world and forgets that he a true genius. After some time, Dr. Holt has a chance encounter with his ex-wife, but then discovers that his ex-wife is dead. His ex-wife continues to haunt him through the series and continues to inspire him to get back to the heart of his work, and help those who need him the most.
Army Wives: Army Wives was a series viewed on the Lifetime network for seven seasons, taking place on a military base in Charleston, SC. The series addressed the lives of four women with husbands in the military, and covered all aspects of what life was like when the men were away. The series also included insight from a military husband to create contrast between military husbands and wives. At times, the show was hard for viewers to handle when it included soldiers’ homecomings, adultery and much more. After many of the cast members left, the show was cancelled with an unresolved ending. The final episode reunited all the cast members, old and new, in a setting where they reminisced over the show, leaving the ending extremely vague.
Drop Dead Diva: This Lifetime original was cancelled after five running seasons. The show followed the story of Deb, a very thin, very shallow model. Deb was unexpectedly killed in a car accident, but given another chance at life. When Deb wakes up in the hospital she finds herself to be a very intelligent plus-sized lawyer. This series was known for addressing everyday stereotypes and the affect they have on people. Deb learned to deal with who she was on the inside instead of on the outside, and came to terms with what life really was. For many viewers, this show was a large eye opener.
Lie to Me: Lie to Me ran for a total of three seasons beginning in 2010. This series focused on crime and the story of Dr. Cal Lightman. Each show focused on a new crime and Dr. Lightman’s unorthodox way of solving the crime. Through analyzing microscopic facial details, he could identify if someone was lying or not. The show’s premise emphasizes the efficiency of behavior science and its lack of acceptance in the crime solving community, as Lightman was regarded as a genius and a fool. Over time, this series became extremely popular on Netflix, and rumors of it being revitalized are circulating.
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