Amazing TV Shows That Were Ended Prematurely

      Simon Thompson presents ten fantastic television shows that were cancelled prematurely…

      As a lifelong television viewer, I’ve come to recognize that the lifespan of TV shows is the complete opposite of boxing. In boxing, top fighters often continue long past their prime, while many exceptional TV shows are frequently axed after just one or two seasons, only to gain a second life through word of mouth and articles like this. Therefore, here is my list of ten television shows that ended too soon…

      **Clone High (2002-2003)**

      The duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller has consistently excelled in their career, and while many cite The LEGO Movie or the Spider-Verse films as highlights, my all-time favorite remains their cult classic animated sitcom from the early 2000s, Clone High.

      This show parodies teen dramas such as Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, featuring clones of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Gandhi, JFK, and Cleopatra navigating a typical American high school. Unbeknownst to them, they are part of a secret government project aimed at serving the U.S. military, aimed at furthering Principal Cinnamon J. Scudworth's goal of creating a clone-themed amusement park, Cloney Island.

      Rather than being just another iteration of The Simpsons or South Park, Clone High was a clever, unique, and eccentric cartoon, enhanced by contributions from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, a soundtrack from Abandoned Pools, and a voice cast that included Will Forte, Nicole Sullivan, and Christa Miller.

      The show's cancellation resulted from two unfortunate factors: its ratings fell short of MTV's expectations, and it sparked controversy over its portrayal of Gandhi, leading over 100 individuals in India to protest by going on hunger strikes. This unfortunate combination gave MTV the justification to cancel Clone High after just one season. However, thanks to the internet, MTV airing the final episodes 13 years later, and a DVD release, the show has experienced significant critical reassessment and garnered a passionate fanbase since its cancellation in 2003.

      This renewed attention was substantial enough for an ill-conceived revival on HBO Max, which ironically mirrored the very trends the original show once mocked; nevertheless, it doesn’t diminish how remarkably funny and original the first 13 episodes of Clone High were.

      **Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place (2004)**

      Matthew Holness’s hilarious creation, Garth Marenghi, has stood out in British comedy for over twenty years. This character first emerged in a late 90s stage play titled Garth Marenghi’s Fright Knight and transitioned to television in the early 2000s with Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place.

      The show's premise involves Garth, in the present, presenting footage from a cancelled 1980s series called Dark Place, which follows Dr. Rick Dagless MD (a Vietnam and Falklands veteran) as he battles supernatural forces in a hospital adjacent to a portal to hell. This footage is interspersed with interviews featuring Garth and supporting characters like Garth’s inept manager Dean Lerner (Richard Ayoade) and the hammy actor Todd Rivers (Matt Berry).

      A sophisticated and meta sitcom that lovingly parodied low-budget 70s-80s genre television, Dark Place was a series ahead of its time. Airing on Channel 4 in an impractically late slot, the show struggled to find its audience due to its quirky humor.

      Had Dark Place been released today, when a generation grew up with surreal, meta comedy (partly influenced by internet culture), it might have fared far better from the start. Fortunately, many cast members became well-known figures, and with consistent DVD sales and streaming availability, Dark Place has been rightfully repositioned as one of the best British sitcoms of the 2000s.

      **Bakersfield PD (1993-94)**

      If there were a sanctuary for cancelled television shows, Bakersfield PD would surely be one of its most mourned losses. This classic fish-out-of-water sitcom centers on a detective named Paul Gigante (Giancarlo Esposito) who is forced to relocate from Washington DC to Bakersfield, California, where he finds himself assisting a small-town police department.

      With only 13 episodes and minimal marketing from Fox, Bakersfield PD faced odd scheduling that severely undermined its ability to establish an audience. This is unfortunate because the show was well-crafted, backed by excellent writing and a talented cast, including Chris Mulkey and Brian Doyle Murray.

      Sadly, unlike some other shows mentioned here, Bakersfield PD has not experienced a revival or gained recognition through DVD or streaming, only airing once under the defunct American cable channel Trio.

      For those who enjoy workplace comedies with sharp writing, several episodes of Bakersfield PD can be found on YouTube, and watching them decades later feels like peering into a parallel universe, reflecting