Not every TV shows has been a success story — with some projects getting cancelled before any episodes even aired.
NBC’s The Playboy Club only debuted three episodes in 2011 before the show was canceled. The network cited low-ratings as the reason behind the decision to drop the show, which was ultimately replaced by Rock Center With Brian Williams and repeat episodes of Maria Bello‘s Prime Suspect.
“We’re thrilled with the creative direction of both shows as well as the potential for them to continue to build loyal audiences over the coming months,” the Chairman of NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “We’re proud of all of the producers, writers, actors, and directors who have worked so hard to bring these shows to life.”
Meanwhile over at The CW, two episodes of The Beautiful Life aired in 2009 before the show came to an abrupt end. The teen drama, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher, eventually was burned off on YouTube.
The Society is just one of the many shows that received a renewal — only for the decision to be walked back. The teen mystery drama originally debuted on Netflix in May 2019 to critical acclaim. Due to delays because of COVID-19, however, the streaming service rescinded their decision to produce a second season of […]
“What we feel like we’re doing is creating, in some ways, an industry first,” Kutcher said in a statement. “A show that couldn’t find its legs on television, we believe can find its legs on the Web.”
Keep scrolling for more short-lived TV shows — including some that filmed episodes that never appeared on screen:
‘Promised Land’ (ABC)
Canceled After: 5 Episodes
The drama series, which premiered in 2022, followed two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley. The show was pulled from ABC five episodes in and the rest of the season aired on Hulu before it was ultimately canceled.
‘Hank’ (ABC)
Canceled After: 5 Episodes
Starring Kelsey Grammer, Hank centered around a Wall Street executive who lost his job and, as a result, reconnected with his small-town family. Five episodes aired in 2009 before ABC confirmed they had “no immediate plans” to release the remainder of the series..
‘Connecting’ (NBC)
Canceled After: 4 Episodes
Set against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, Connecting followed the lives of a group of friends attempting to stay connected amid a lockdown. NBC only aired four episodes in 2020 before moving the rest of the season to Peacock.
‘Drive’ (Fox)
Canceled After: 4 Episodes
Drive introduced viewers to an illegal cross-country automobile road race. Despite a star-studded cast that included Nathan Fillion, Emma Stone and Melanie Lynskey, the 2007 show — the first one to host a live Twitter session during an episode — was canceled four episodes in.
‘Ironside’ (NBC)
Canceled After: 4 Episodes
Ironside, which premiered in 2013, served as a remake about a consultant for the police who was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot on vacation.
‘Sunnyside’ (NBC)
Canceled After: 4 Episodes
The 2019 series centered around a former New York City councilman who found his calling when he helped immigrants in need.
‘The Playboy Club’ (NBC)
Canceled After: 3 Episodes
Set in 1961, the series centered on the employees a.k.a Bunnies of the original Playboy Club in Chicago. The Playboy Club starred Eddie Cibrian, Laura Benanti, Amber Heard and Jenna Dewan, but was pulled after three episodes.
‘Smith’ (CBS)
Canceled After: 3 Episodes
The show followed a group of professional thieves who struggled to keep their work separate from the rest of their lives. Three episodes later, CBS pulled the plug and the rest of the season never aired.
‘Wicked City’ (ABC)
Canceled After: 3 Episodes
The procedural premiered in 2015 and focused on two LAPD detectives as they searched for a pair of romantically linked serial killers terrorizing the Sunset Strip. Wicked City starred Jeremy Sisto, Taissa Farmiga, Gabriel Luna, Evan Ross, Ed Westwick and Erika Christensen.
‘Viva Laughlin’ (CBS)
Canceled After: 2 Episodes
Viva Laughlin was a musical drama centered around a businessman whose ambition was to run a casino in Nevada. The show, which aired in 2007 for only two episodes, starred Mädchen Amick, Eric Winter, D.B. Woodside, Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith.
‘Do No Harm’ (NBC)
Canceled After: 2 Episodes
Do No Harm was a modern take on Robert Louis Stevenson‘s 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The 2013 series followed a doctor who tried to balance working as a neurosurgeon with the overwhelming task of suppressing his evil alter ego.
In recent years, TV shows have found new life after being canned by networks, with last-minute and hard-fought saves. For instance, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans made their disappointment known in May 2018 when Fox canceled the sitcom — starring Andy Samberg (Jake Peralta), Melissa Fumero (Amy Santiago), Andre Braugher (Raymond Holt), Terry Crews (Terry Jeffords), Stephanie Beatriz (Rosa […]
‘Doubt’ (CBS)
Canceled After: 2 Episodes
Starring Katherine Heigl, Laverne Cox and Steven Pasquale, Doubt centered around a successful defense lawyer who became romantically involved with a client (who might or might not have been guilty of a brutal crime).
‘Made in Jersey’ (CBS)
Canceled After: 2 Episodes
Made in Jersey was a drama series about a working-class lawyer from New Jersey who used her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a prestigious New York law firm.
‘The Beautiful Life’ (The CW)
Canceled After: 2 Episodes
During its 2009 stint on The CW, The Beautiful Life revolved around a group of male and female models sharing a residence in New York City. The cast included Mischa Barton, Sara Paxton, Ben Hollingsworth, Corbin Bleu, Nico Tortorella, Ashley Madekwe and Elle Macpherson.
‘Swamp Thing’ (DC Universe)
Canceled After: 1 Episode
Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Swamp Thing introduced Crystal Reed as a doctor who encountered the Swamp Thing — a plant-elemental creature who fought malevolent forces around a Louisiana swamp. One episode aired before DC Universe pulled the plug.
‘Emily’s Reasons Why Not’ (ABC)
Canceled After: 1 Episode
Based on a novel by Carrie Gerlach, Emily’s Reasons Why Not revolved around a successful career woman in Los Angeles who has been unsuccessful in finding The One. Heather Graham starred as the titular character in the 2006 series, which was canceled after one episode due to negative reception.
‘Osbournes Reloaded’ (Fox)
Canceled After: 1 Episode
Hosted by the Osbourne family, Osbournes Reloaded was a variety show that consisted of sketches, stunts, celebrity cameos, live action audience participation and live musical acts. There were also skits featuring the Osbournes that never saw the light of day after 14 percent of Fox affiliates threatened to preempt the show.
‘Us and Them’ (Fox)
Canceled After: Never Aired
Created by James Corden, Us & Them starred Jason Ritter and Alexis Bledel as a couple trying to make their romance work while combining their polarizing families’ lives. Fox ordered 13 episodes before ultimately cutting it down to seven. In 2014, the network chose not to air anything at all.
‘Manchester Prep’ (Fox)
Canceled After: Never Aired
Manchester Prep was originally a TV adaptation of Cruel Intentions, which ultimately became the 2000 sequel Cruel Intentions 2.
Netflix has introduced its viewers to many unique TV shows over the years — but not every original series gets to explore their story beyond one season before getting canceled. Julie and the Phantoms developed a quick cult following when it hit the streaming service in September 2020. The musical comedy, which was based on […]
‘Still Life’ (Fox)
Canceled After: Never Aired
Jensen Ackles starred in the show, which centered around a police officer who was killed on his first day as a cop.
‘Next Caller’ (NBC)
Canceled After: Never Aired
The sitcom followed an unlikely pair of radio disc jockeys forced to share the microphone for a relationship call-in show. NBC announced in 2012 that the show was cancelled after four episodes had been filmed, citing creative differences with star Dane Cook.
‘Coach’ (NBC)
Canceled After: Never Aired
The revival received a 13 episode straight-to-series order but after seeing the pilot, NBC pulled the plug on the entire series.
