TV shows that were gone too soon

Throughout television history shows have come and gone. However to some viewers, there are a few that departed too soon. Cancellations have grown all too common in the world of television, leaving some viewers to question why. Here are five television shows that were cancelled too soon.

 

“Pushing Daisies”

This show followed the life of pie-maker Ned (Lee Pace), who had an unusual gift: the ability to bring the dead back to life with a single touch. Ned’s gift, although fantastic, came with a price, if he brought back anything for more than one minute, then another life of equal value died in exchange. 

Another condition of Ned’s power was that if he were to touch what he brought back to life again, then it would remain dead, with no chance of coming back.

When a private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) discovered Ned’s gift, he proposed that Ned use his powers to talk to deceased victims in order to solve crimes and split the reward money. But things get complicated when Ned’s childhood sweetheart, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel), is killed and he brings her back to life.

On November 5, 2007, the Writers Guild of America strike had begun protesting for increased wages for studio writers. It effected a variety of corporations and as a result, the programs they were airing. “Pushing Daisies” was one of the unfortunate shows caught in the crossfire, and was cancelled as a result. 

 

“Firefly”

Fans are still disgruntled over the departure of Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and the crew of the Serenity. 

“Firefly” was a space western, set in the year 2517 on a variety of planets, following the story of the Serenity and it’s crew, as they made their living on cargo runs and smuggling operations. 

Fox canceled the show after 11 of the 14 episodes aired in 2002 due to low ratings.

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, former Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman said, “It was a numbers things. It was a wonderful show and I loved it and I loved working with him (Joss Whedon) on it but that was a big show, a very expensive show and it wasn’t delivering the numbers.”

 

 

“Perception”

“Perception” followed the brilliant Dr. Daniel Peirce (Eric McCormack), a renowned neuropsychologist and professor at Chicago Lake Michigan University, as he aids FBI agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook) as they solve cases normally involving neurologic disorders and mental illnesses. 

The only problem is Peirce suffers from a mental illness himself, paranoid schizophrenia. This causes him to see and hear things that aren’t necessarily there. Normally his hallucinations aid him and Moretti in their cases, helping Peirce pick up on clues most would overlook. 

The TNT drama only lasted for three seasons, ending in what can be described as an awkward point in the story, with Peirce realizing his feelings for Moretti and with her married to someone else, after being kidnapped on her wedding day. 

“Perception” was canceled due to TNT hoping to expand their audience with new shows such as “The Librarians”, and although an effort was made to wrap things up, fans were left disappointed about the treatment of the show.

 

“Lie To Me”

This series followed deception expert Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and associates of the Lightman Group as they read people’s micro-expressions and body language to determine if a person is lying. 

They offer their services to third parties, and cover everything from background checks to aiding the FBI with their investigations.

No job is too big for the Lightman Group, whose sole purpose is to find the truth, no matter what. This mindset often leads Lightman and his co-workers into trouble, both with the people they are investigating and with the clients themselves. However, he is often kept grounded by his level headed associate Jillian Fosters (Kelli Williams), who shares history with Lightman.

“Lie to Me” was canceled by Fox due to declining ratings after airing its third season, 48 episodes in total. The show ended on what could be determined as a high note, no cliffhangers and only a few open ended questions as to the relationship of Lightman and Foster.

 

“The Finder”

A spin-off to the hit TV show “Bones”, “The Finder” focused on retired U.S. Army major Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults), who, after a roadside bomb explosion, suffered traumatic brain injury which resulted in him being able to identify random patterns that others would overlook. He uses his skills to help find things ranging from a lost shoe to missing fathers.

Other characters included Leo Knox (Michael Clarke Duncan), a former attorney now bar owner who acts as Sherman’s manager, Isabel Zambada (Mercedes Masohn), a U.S. Marshal working with Sherman, and Willa Monday (Maddie Hasson), a computer talented Romani girl on who works at Knox’s bar as part of her probation from juvenile detention.

Fox canceled the show after 13 episodes for its dismal ratings.

 

Everyone has experienced disapointment and disbelif at the notice of their favorite show being cancelled. This just goes to show that any number of shows could be cut for any number of reasons, despite what some fans may want to believe.