As the current Golden Age of Television continues, viewers are treated to a huge number of new and returning TV series this year. But just like every year, not all of these TV shows were renewed for another season. While some ran their course, others were canceled due to low ratings, negative critic reviews, and rising production costs. Sadly, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic also played a significant part in a number of cancellations. Browse through to see all the scripted series that were canceled in 2021. The list also includes shows that ended/ending their respective runs this year but got the axe in 2020 and 2019.
The Baker and the Beauty
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 1
Based on the Israeli romantic-comedy series of the same name, The Baker and the Beauty was canceled by ABC in June after just one season. Though the original show ranked as one of the highest-rated scripted series ever in Israel, the U.S. adaptation had a tough time connecting with viewers, ranking as one of the ABC’s lowest-rated series.
Starring Victor Rasuk and Nathalie Kelley in the title roles, the show’s nine-episode freshman season centers on Daniel Garcia (Rasuk), who is working in the family bakery and doing everything that his loving Cuban parents and siblings expect him to do. But on a wild Miami night, he meets Noa Hamilton (Kelley), an international superstar and fashion mogul, and his life moves into the spotlight.
Single Parents
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 2
ABC canceled Single Parents a week after its season 2 finale was aired in May. As is the case with most network TV cancellations, falling ratings may have been the reason behind the sitcom’s axing. According to TVLine, season 2 of Single Parents averaged a 0.6 demo rating and 2.6 million total viewers (in Live+Same Day numbers), down 32% and 24%, respectively, from its freshman run.
Starring Taran Killam, Leighton Meester, Kimrie Lewis, Brad Garrett, Jake Choi, Marlow Barkley, Tyler Wladis, Devin Trey Campbell, Mia Allan, and Ella Allan, the sitcom follows a group of adults who must venture through single parenthood with their young kids.
Bless This Mess
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 2
Despite its distinct story and charismatic cast, Bless This Mess was canceled by ABC in May after two seasons. The sitcom’s cancellation came as a surprise to many, as the show’s sophomore run delivered respectable ratings behind ABC’s flagship comedy series The Conners. According to TVLine, season 2 of Bless This Mess averaged a 0.67 demo rating and 3.6 million total viewers, which were right on par with its freshman run.
Created by Lake Bell and Elizabeth Meriwether, Bless This Mess follows young couple Mike (Dax Shepard) and Rio (Bell) who leave their home in New York and move to a farm in Bucksnort, Nebraska. Though the pair find the farm in bad shape, they decided to stay and restore it as they find themselves adapting to the strange town with a tightly knit community.
Emergence
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 1
The central mystery in the drama-thriller Emergence will remain unsolved forever, as ABC opted not to renew the series for a second season. Despite having an enthusiastic fan base, Emergence lost half of its audience over the course of its 13-episode freshman run and ended up being one of the network’s worst-performing shows.
Emergence stars Allison Tolman as Southold’s chief of police, Jo Evans, who takes in a young child named Piper (Alexa Swinton), whom she finds near the site of a mysterious plane crash. Piper has no memory of what has happened or who she is, and the mystery surrounding her becomes more puzzling as the chief starts investigating the history that led up to the accident.
Schooled
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 2
Schooled is not coming back for a third season, as ABC canceled the comedy series in May just a week after airing the show’s season 2 finale. According to TV Series Finale, season 2 of the show averaged a 0.69 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.15 million viewers, down by 29% and 20%, respectively, from its first season. Aside from the drop in ratings, Deadline reported that the series’ rocky run with a slew of showrunner changes likely factored into the network’s decision to cancel the series.
A spinoff of The Goldbergs, Schooled went through three showrunner regimes over the course of two seasons. Marc Firek, who co-created the series with Adam F. Goldberg, served as the showrunner in year one. He was replaced by Tim Doyle at the start of season 2, but Doyle left over creative differences after 13 episodes. Tom Hertz and Vanessa McCarthym co-ran the show for its last nine episodes.
Schooled stars AJ Michalka as Lainey Lewis who takes a job as a music teacher at her alma mater in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania after her dreams of rock ‘n roll stardom in the West Coast fizzled out.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 7
The decision to end Agents of SHIELD with season 7 was made by the show’s executive producers and not by the network. In an interview with Deadline in July, executive producer Jeph Loeb said that they decided to wrap the series with season 7 so they could end it on their own terms.
“In the chronology of this is we thought season 5 was the end. If you go back and you look at the end of that season, it is written that way. Actually, the last episode of that season is called The End,” said Loeb. “Honestly, we thought we were turning out the lights and going home when we got a call from ABC that said, ‘The material is so strong, do you think you have another season, do you think you have another 13 [episodes] because we sort of like this idea of doing it again?’”
That another 13 episodes became season 6, which was then followed by the 13-episode season 7. But before committing to a seventh season, the show’s executive producers sat down for a meeting and collectively decided that it would be the final season. “We all came to the conclusion that getting another season is so flattering, so lovely, so amazing, but how about if we go back and say, yes, but this is it,” shared Loeb.
Agents of SHIELD series finale aired in August.
United We Fall
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 1
Almost a month after its short summer run ended in August, sitcom United We Fall was canceled by ABC. Its cancellation, however, was not surprising, as the Julius Sharpe-created series was a leftover from the 2019-20 season. Though the show performed respectably, ratings-wise, over its eight-episode run, its critical response was generally negative, only earning 40% and 33% scores among critics and viewers, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes.
United We Fall stars Will Sasso and Christina Vidal Mitchell as a couple with young children whose household is turned upside down when his mother (Jane Curtin) moves in with them.
Stumptown
Network: ABC
No. of Season: 1
ABC renewed the crime drama Stumptown for a second season in May 2020. However, four months later, the network reversed its decision and canceled the series, as production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic meant the series would not be ready until April 2021, which is the end of the traditional broadcast season. Also, the show was reportedly costly to produce and having to follow every single COVID-19 precaution would lead to huge budget increases. But the show may not be totally over, as its producer ABC Signature s reportedly trying to sell the series to another network or streaming site.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Stumptown tells the story of Dex Parios (Cobie Smulders) a military veteran, who struggles with PTSD and has a complicated love life, gambling debt, and a brother with Down syndrome to care for. Unable to hold down a steady job, she becomes a private investigator to solve problems where the police cannot get involved.
The Venture Bros.
Network: Adult Swim
No. of Season: 7
After its seventh-season run ended in October 2018, adult animated series The Venture Bros was announced to be renewed for an eighth and final season. However, this past September, series creator Jackson Publick revealed on Twitter that the show was canceled while they were working on the scripts for the supposed season 8. Interestingly, following Publick’s announcement, Adult Swim indicated that the characters might return in some way, tweeting: “We also want more Venture Bros. and have been working with Jackson and Doc to find another way to continue the Venture Bros. story.”
Featuring the voices of Christopher McCulloch, Michael Sinterniklaas, James Urbaniak, Patrick Warburton, Doc Hammer, Steven Rattazzi, and Dana Snyder, The Venture Bros revolves around the titular siblings, Hank and Dean, as well as their loving but evil super-scientist father Dr. Thaddeus ‘Rusty’ Venture (Difficult People’s ), and their bodyguard (and secret agent) Brock Samson as they went on wild adventures, and faced off against their (self-appointed) archnemesis, The Monarch.
Bosch
Streaming Service: Amazon
No. of Season: 7
Bosch’s upcoming seventh season will be its last. In a statement announcing the series’ seventh season renewal, Michael Connelly implied that the decision to end the series with season 7 was made by the show’s creative team. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished with Bosch and look forward to completing the story in season 7. It’s bittersweet, but all good things come to an end, and I am happy that we will be able to go out the way we want to,” said Connelly.
Drawing from Connelly’s novels The Concrete Blonde and The Burning Room, Bosch season 7 will have Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) and Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector) pursuing two separate but perilous murder investigations that will take them to the highest levels of white-collar crime and the deadly depths of the street-level drug trade.
Bosch is Amazon’s first original drama series and is the streamer’s longest-running original series. Season 7 has no release date yet.
NOS4A2
Network: AMC
No. of Season: 2
NOS4A2 creator Jami O’Brien revealed took to Twitter in August to reveal that AMC had canceled the supernatural horror drama just days after its season 2 finale was aired earlier that month. O’Brien didn’t offer any explanation about the cancellation, but the show’s sophomore run saw a significant drop in ratings. Season 2 of NOS4A2 averaged a 0.10 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 378,000 viewers, that’s down by 52% in the demo and down by 52% in viewership, compared to its freshman run.
Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Joe Hill, NOS4A2 follows Victoria “Vic” McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings), a young working-class artist who discovers that she has a supernatural ability to track the seemingly immortal Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto), who feeds off the souls of children.
The Walking Dead
Network: AMC
No. of Season: 11
AMC renewed The Walking Dead for an eleventh season back in October 2019. But this past September, the network announced that the show’s season 11 is going to be its last.
While The Walking Dead is nearing its conclusion, the journey of some of the characters from the series will continue in a number of offshoots. For instance, AMC has already given a series order to a new The Walking Dead spinoff that will center on Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride’s fan-favorite characters Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier. AMC is also developing a The Walking Dead anthology series, titled Tales of The Walking Dead. Each episode of the series will follow different characters ― both new and old ― while exploring pockets of The Walking Dead universe that have been left undiscovered.
The super-sized, 24-episode season 11 of The Walking Dead will reportedly span the fall of 2021 and the beginning of 2022.
Better Call Saul
Network: AMC
No. of Season: 6
AMC renewed Better Call Saul for a sixth and final season last January. While it’s not clear how the decision to end the crime drama with its season 6 was made, showrunner and executive producer Peter Gould said at the time of the renewal that they’re going to do their “damnedest to stick the landing.”
Both a spin-off and a prequel of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul follows the transformation of former con artist James “Jimmy” McGill (Bob Odenkirk) into the personality of the flamboyant criminal lawyer Saul Goodman over the six-year period prior to the events of the mothership series.
The 13-episode season 6 of Better Call Saul is scheduled to air in 2021.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
Network: AMC
No. of Season: 2
AMC announced in January that The Walking Dead: World Beyond will only run for two seasons. AMC executive Sarah Barnett revealed at that time that the decision to make World Beyond a two-season limited series is part of the network’s experiment to adjust to the changing media landscape in terms of how people want to watch and consume TV.
“What we’re doing next is experimenting,” Barnett said. “World Beyond, focuses on the generation of survivors who have grown up post-apocalypse. Led by two young female leads, it is a perfect advancing of the universe in ways that are multi-generational, fresh and unexpected. It is not imitating The Walking Dead either in substance or form – World Beyond is a two-season closed-ended series that will tell a very specific and distinct story. Scott Gimple, the chief content officer of this universe, and his team are planning other experiments in this space, including specials, digital short-form series and other innovations in form.”
The 10-episode season 1 of World Beyond is currently airing on AMC. The show’s season 2, which will also be comprised of 10 episodes, doesn’t have a release date yet.
Criminal Minds
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 15
Criminal Minds officially ended its 15-season run this past February. CBS didn’t offer any explanation why it canceled the Jeff Davis-created series, but it’s worthy to note that the police procedural was no longer the ratings juggernaut it once was before the network pulled the plug on the series in January 2019. Season 14 of the series only averaged a 0.76 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.67 million viewers, that’s down by 24% and 18%, respectively, compared to season 13.
The show’s behind-the-scenes controversies didn’t also help in securing an additional season. For instance, prior to the show’s cancellation, its long-time director of photography, Greg St. Johns, was accused of abusive behavior and sexual harassment towards crew members.
God Friended Me
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 2
God Friended Me was in the middle of its season 2 production when CBS revealed that it’s not renewing the series for a third season. Though they had very limited time, members of show’s creative team managed to rework season 2’s last episode and turned it into a proper series finale. The network didn’t offer any explanation about the show’s cancellation, but the series’ sophomore run saw a considerable drop in ratings. God Friended Me season 2 averaged a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.19 million viewers, down by 25% in the demo and down by 20% in viewership compared its first season. Also, out of all CBS’ scripted programs at that time, God Friended Me had the smallest gain in viewers from DVR playback.
Created by Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, God Friended Me revolves around a thoughtful and outspoken podcaster named Miles (Brandon Micheal Hall) whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from a user named “God.”
Carol’s Second Act
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 1
Carol’s Second Act didn’t get a second act at CBS, as the network canceled the series in May after just one season. The cancellation made sense as the sitcom was one of CBS’ lowest-rated TV shows for the 2019-20 season.
Created by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, Carol’s Second Act stars Patricia Heaton as the titular character who embarks on a unique second act of pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, after raising her children, getting divorced, and retiring from teaching.
Man with a Plan
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 4
CBS pulled the plug on the Matt LeBlanc-fronted sitcom Man with a Plan after four seasons. Though season 4 of the comedy series saw a 19% decrease in the 18-49 demographic compared to season 3, its general viewership grew by 17%, making it one of CBS‘ top-rated comedy series for the 2019-20 season. With such ratings, it’s not clear why Man with a Plan was cancelled. It’s believed, however, that the series was expensive to produce, so its high production budget might have played a major factor in the network’s decision to end the series.
In the series, LeBlanc plays Adam Burns, an old-school contractor who is trying to adapt to the demands of modern family life. Adam and his wife, Andi (Liza Snyder), are running a house-flipping business with Adam’s quirky brother Don (Kevin Nealon) and unlikely friend Lowell (Matt Cook), with a surplus of input from Adam’s other family and friends.
Broke
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 1
CBS decided not to put more money into Broke, ultimately canceling the sitcom in May after one season. At the time of the cancellation, Broke was averaging a 0.69 rating in the 18-49 demo and 5.55 million viewers, making it one of the network’s lowest-rated comedy series for the 2019-20 season. It also had a middling premiere, with the numbers dropping pretty consistently week after week.
Conceived by Alex Herschlag, Broke follows a single suburban mother named Jackie (Pauley Perrette) who’s struggling to make ends meet while raising her young son, Sammy (Antonio Raul Corbo). Their lives are turned upside down when her estranged sister Elizabeth (Natasha Leggero) and brother-in-law Javier (Jaime Camil) move in after his father cuts them off. Izzy Diaz also stars as Javier’s fiercely loyal assistant, Luis.
Tommy
Network: CBS
No. of Season: 1
Tommy’s term as first female police chief for the LAPD has been cut short, as CBS opted not to renew the series for a second season. The cancellation didn’t come as a surprise, as the police procedural crime drama was the network’s lowest-rated scripted series during the 2019-20 season.
Eddie Falco plays the titular character Abigail “Tommy” Thomas. Before becoming the first female police chief for the LAPD, Tommy was an NYPD captain, notorious for accusing her superior of sexual misconduct, making her a feminist hero but also ruining her career. Tommy, who is divorced and has an adult daughter and grand-daughter living in LA, is a lesbian.
Interrogation
Steaming Service: CBS All Access
No. of Season: 1
There will be no more Interrogation, as CBS All Access decided not to order a second season of the true-crime drama. The first season, however, has a close-ended story, which is based on a real-life case that spans more than 20 years. It revolves around a young man charged and convicted of killing his own mother. After being sentenced to life in prison, he continued to fight to prove his innocence. Each episode is structured around interrogations informed by real police case files, with Peter Sarsgaard playing the role of David Russell, the lead detective on the case.
CBS All Access does not release traditional viewership data, so it’s not exactly clear why the streaming service canceled Interrogation.
Corporate
Network: Comedy Central
No. of Season: 3
Satirical comedy Corporate wrapped its three-season run in August. Though critically acclaimed, Corporate was renewed for a third and final season in June 2019. The decision to end the series with season 3 came after season 2 saw a drop in ratings. The sophomore run of the Comedy Central series averaged a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo and 227,000 viewers, down by 18.67% and 33.57%, respectively, compared to season 1.
Starring Matt Ingebretson, Jake Weisman, Lance Reddick, Anne Dudek, Adam Lustick, and Aparna Nancherla, Corporates explores life as a Junior-Executive-in-Training at the profitable multi-national corporation, Hampton DeVille.
Arrow
Network: The CW
No. of Season: 8
Arrow aired its series finale this past January. The CW renewed the superhero series for an eighth and final season in 2019 after the show’s lead actor Stephen Amell decided that it’s time for him to move on to another project. “Towards the end of season 6, I approached series executive producer Greg Berlanti … and said that I thought both personally and professionally that, at the end of my commitment this coming season (season 8), it would be the best for me to move on,” Amell said in an emotional Facebook live video in March 2019. “I’ve always been a fan of television shows that, not only don’t overstay their welcome but end in a manner that really packs a punch.”
Katy Keene
Network: The CW
No. of Season: 1
The CW canceled Katy Keene in July after one season, making it the network’s only cancellation in the 2019-20 TV season. The musical dramedy was axed after it failed to perform well both on the linear network with delayed viewing and on The CW’s digital platforms. The first season of the series averaged a 0.11 rating in the 18-49 demo and 480,000 viewers. Though other CW shows have had lower numbers, the network, for some reason, opted not to pick up Katy Keene for a second season. Series producer Warner Bros. Television, however, plans to shop the series elsewhere. HBO Max, which streams Katy Keene season 1, is a potential new home for the show.
A spin-off of Riverdale, Katy Keene follows the professional and romantic lives of four aspiring artists: fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene (Lucy Hale), singer/songwriter Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), performer Jorge Lopez/Ginger (Jonny Beauchamp), and mysterious “It Girl” Pepper Smith (Julia Chan).
Supernatural
Network: The CW
No. of Season: 15
The dark fantasy series starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles ended its 15-season run this month. At a fan convention for the show in Las Vegas in April 2019, Padalecki said that wrapping up the series with season 15 was “a community decision.” “The network and the studio did not say like, ‘Hey, guys, get outta here! You’re done,’” Padalecki explained.
Ackles added that they decided to end the series with season 15 because “nobody wanted to see this show fizzle out.” “I think that it was everyone wanting to do the biggest service to the show that we could by going out strong,” he said.
The 100
Network: The CW
No. of Season: 7
The seventh and final season of the sci-fi drama completed its run this September. The CW president Mark Pedowitz said that the network didn’t renew The 100 for an eighth season because showrunner Jason Rothenberg had always wanted to conclude the show after the seventh season to work on new projects. “We’ve been very good at listening to our showrunner creators about the right time to end our series,” the TV executive said at the TCA summer press tour in August 2019. Rothenberg also made it clear on Twitter that he and his team wrapped the show on their own terms.
Perpetual Grace, LTD
Network: Epix
No. of Season: 1
In February, Deadline reported that Perpetual Grace, LTD will not be renewed for a second season but will get a proper ending. Since the 10-episode season 1 of the neo-noir thriller ended on an unresolved note, sources told the news outlet that Epix wanted to give its story some closure in the form of a short limited run. However, shortly after the Deadline story was published, series co-creator Steven Conrad took to Twitter to reveal the supposed limited run will “never going to happen.”
Perpetual Grace, LTD follows young grifter James Schaeler (Jimni Simpson) as he attempts to prey upon Pastor Byron Brown (Ben Kingsley), who turns out to be far more dangerous than he suspects. In addition to Simpson and Kingsley, the series also stars Luis Guzmán, Damon Herriman, Chris Conrad, and Jacki Weaver as Lillian.
Sorry for Your Loss
Streaming Service: Facebook Watch
No. of Season: 2
Sorry for Your Loss was canceled by Facebook watch after two seasons. Though it was reported at the time of the January cancellation that the Elizabeth Olsen-led drama was being shopped around to other platforms, there hasn’t been any update about its fate since then. The move to cancel the series was reportedly part of Facebook Watch’s plan to trim its scripted lineup to focus on its unscripted fare, where it’s had more success and better traction with Facebook users.
Created by Kit Steinkellner, Sorry for Your Loss tells the story of Leigh Shaw (Olsen), a young widow who is forced to reassess her life and relationships following the death of her husband.
Limetown
Streaming Service: Facebook Watch
No. of Season: 1
Limetown was canceled by Facebook Watch on the same day the streaming service pulled the plug on Sorry for Your Loss. Like the latter’s cancellation, the decision to cancel Limetown was part of Facebook Watch’s plan to trim its scripted lineup to focus on its unscripted fare, where it has had more success.
Based on the podcast of the same name, Limetown follows American Public Radio journalist Lia Haddock (Jessica Biel) as she unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of over 300 people at a neuroscience research facility in Tennessee. The series also stars Stanley Tucci as Emile Haddock, a former researcher and Lia’s uncle.
Almost Family
Network: Fox
No. of Season: 1
Almost Family is Fox’s lowest-rated scripted series in the 2019-20 season, so it wasn’t really a surprise when the network canceled it in March after just one season. While the show’s low viewership numbers were likely the main reason why Fox pulled the plug on the series, accusations that series star Timothy Hutton raped a 14-year-old girl in 1983 didn’t obviously help the show to score a second season.
Based on the Australian TV series Sisters, Almost Family starts with the revelation that fertility doctor Leon Bechley (Hutton) had used his own sperm to conceive at least 100 children throughout his career. When Julia Bechley (Brittany Snow), one of the aforementioned offspring, unites with two of her half-siblings— her childhood friend Edie Palmer (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and retired Olympic athlete Roxy Doyle (Emily Osment) — the trio begins to deal with issues that have been affecting their lives together.
Outmatched
Network: Fox
No. of Season: 1
Outmatched failed to outmatch or meet the expectations of Fox, resulting in its cancellation after just one season. Over the course of its 10-episode freshman run, Outmatched only managed an average rating of 0.56 in the 18-49 demo and 2.38 million viewers, making it one of network’s lowest-rated new series for the 2019-20 season.
Created by Lon Zimmet, Outmatched stars Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson as a blue-collar couple in Atlantic City who are trying to get by while raising four kids — three of whom are certified geniuses.
Deputy
Network: Fox
No. of Season: 1
Deputy won’t be back for a second season on Fox. Canceled in April, the crime drama is the network’s second-lowest rated drama series of the 2019-20 season. It only averaged a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demo and 3.67 million viewers. It had a so-so start in the ratings when it premiered in January and its viewership numbers slid down over the course of its 13-episode freshman run.
Created by Will Beall, Deputy stars Stephen Dorff as Bill Hollister, a fifth-generation lawman who is thrust into the role of Los Angeles County Sheriff after the elected sheriff dies. The series co-stars with Yara Martinez, Brian Van Holt, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Shane Paul McGhie, and Mark Moses.
Filthy Rich
Network: Fox
No. of Season: 1
The soapy drama Filthy Rich is not returning for a second season on Fox after it got the axe from the network in October. Aside from being one of the lowest-rated series on Fox in 2020, the Tate Taylor-created series was reportedly canceled because of the rising production costs due to COVID-19.
Based on the New Zealand series of the same name, Filthy Rich centers on the Monreaux clan, a mega-rich Southern family known for their wildly successful Christian television network. The sudden passing of the family’s patriarch, Eugene (Gerald McRaney), greatly impacts his wife Margaret (Kim Cattrall) and two adult children. The lives of the whole clan, however, are thrown into turmoil when it’s revealed that Eugene has named three illegitimate kids in his will.
Next
Network: Fox
No. of Season: 1
Next was canceled by Fox in October just after two episodes had aired. Though the remaining episodes will continue to air during the series’ normal timeslot, the show is now considered dead. Out of the network’s 10 ongoing series, the sci-fi crime drama has the lowest viewership numbers, which mainly explains its cancellation. Variety, however, reported that rising production costs due to COVID-19 also played a significant part in the network’s decision to end the series.
Created by Manny Coto, Next centers on the efforts of a homeland cybersecurity team to counter a rogue AI with the ability to constantly improve itself. The series stars John Slattery, Fernanda Andrade, Michael Mosley, Gerardo Celasco, Eve Harlow, and many others.
Party of Five
Network: Freeform
No. of Season: 1
The party is over for family drama Party of Five after the Freeform canceled the series in April after just one season. The cancellation wasn’t surprising, as the series was one of the network’s lowest-rated series for the 2019-20 season.
Based on the 1994 Fox series of the same name, Party of Five follows the five Acosta children — aspiring musician Emilio (Brandon Larracuente), twins Lucia (Emily Tosta) and Beto (Niko Guardado), precocious Valentina (Elle Paris Legaspi), and infant Rafael — as they navigate daily struggles after their parents are deported back to Mexico.
Siren
Network: Freeform
No. of Seasons: 3
Freeform pulled the plug on the mermaid drama series Siren after three seasons. The cancellation news was announced in August, more than two months after the show’s season 3 finale in May. The dark fantasy series was a breakout hit when it launched in 2018, with its second season even ranking as the network’s most-watched series of the year. Its third season, however, saw a double-digit drop in ratings. While that might be the main reason for the cancellation, Siren, despite the ratings dip, remained the most-watched Freeform original series in linear ratings.
Siren is set in the small fishing village of Bristol Cove which is known for its legend of once being home to mermaids. When the legend proves to be true, the battle between man and sea takes a very vicious turn as the predatory mermaids return to reclaim their right to the ocean. Created by Eric Wald and Dean White, the show stars Eline Powell, Alex Roe, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Ian Verdun and Rena Owen.
Run
Network: HBO
No. of Season: 1
Run won’t be returning for a second season after HBO cancelled the romantic comedy thriller in July after one season. Created by Vicky Jones, Run stars Merritt Weaver and Domhall Gleeson as former college sweethearts who reunite in Grand Central Station and travel across America together. Seventeen years earlier, they promised that if either one of them texted the word “RUN” and the other replied with the same, they would drop everything and board a cross-country train.
“After exploring potential ways of continuing Ruby and Billy’s journey, together with showrunner Vicky Jones, we have come to the decision that we will not be moving forward with a second season of Run,” HBO said in a statement, announcing the show’s cancellation.
Run is one of HBO’s lowest-rated scripted series in 2020, so the network’s decision to pull the plug on the series wasn’t surprising at all. The show’s freshman run only averaged a 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 232,000 viewers.
Vikings
Network: History Channel
No. of Seasons: 6
The second half of Vikings’ sixth and final season is set to premiere later this year. When the historical drama was renewed for its last season, creator Michael Hirst explained that they decided to end the series with season 6 because the show has run its course. “I always knew how Vikings would end and, after 89 episodes, I truly believe the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons has been told and we are leaving our beloved fans with the proper and definitive ending they so deserve,” Hirst said in October 2019.
Though season 6 of Vikings is going to be its last, the Vikings saga isn’t completely ending. In November 2019, Netflix announced that it gave a series order to Vikings: Valhalla. Set 100 years after the conclusion of the original series, Vikings: Valhalla dramatizes the adventures of the most famous Vikings who ever lived: Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada, and the Norman King William the Conqueror, who is a Viking descendant.
High Fidelity
Streaming Service: Hulu
No. of Season: 1
Hulu canceled romantic comedy series High Fidelity in August after one season. While the series was well-received by critics, it’s not clear how big its viewership numbers were, as Hulu does not release ratings. But according to Deadline, the decision to cancel the series came after lengthy deliberations. Hulu brass reportedly took extra time to mull a potential renewal, with sibling ABC Signature extending the options on the cast by a month to accommodate that. However, despite all that, a positive outcome wasn’t reached.
Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity the comedy drama centers on Rob Brooks (Zoe Kravitz), the owner of a hip record store who revisits past relationships through music and pop culture while trying to get over her one true love. The cast also includes Da’Vine Joy Randolph, David H. Holmes, Jake Lacy, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Castle Rock
Streaming Service: Hulu
No. of Season: 2
Castle Rock isn’t returning for a third season. The psychological horror anthology series was canceled by Hulu this November, almost a year after its second season concluded its run. According to Deadline, series producer Warner Bros. TV didn’t push for a third season of the show because it’s now focused on supplying brand new series to its recently-launched sibling HBO Max.
Castle Rock features characters, settings, and themes from the stories created by Stephen King and his fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. The show’s season 2 cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Paul Sparks, Barkhad Abdi, Yusra Warsama, Elsie Fisher, Matthew Alan, and Tim Robbins.
Lincoln Rhyme
Network: NBC
No. of Season: 1
The hunt for the Bone Collector is over, as NBC opted not to renew the crime drama Lincoln Rhyme for a second season. Though the network didn’t offer an explanation behind the show’s cancellation, Lincoln Rhyme ranked tenth in the demo and ninth in total audience, out of the 13 dramas that NBC aired in the 2019-20 season.
Based on the 1997 novel The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver, the series follows NYPD officer Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel), who partners up with disabled forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme (Russell Hornsby) and his team, to solve cases in pursuit of the legendary serial killer, the Bone Collector.
Perfect Harmony
Network: NBC
No. of Season: 1
Perfect Harmony was canceled by NBC in June after one season. The cancellation was not surprising as the show was one of the network’s lowest-rated series for the 2019-20 season.
Created by Lesley Wake Webster, Perfect Harmony stars Bradley Whitford as Dr. Arthur Cochran, a recently widowed former Princeton professor who becomes music director at a small church in the fictional town of Conley Fork, Kentucky. Abrasive and blunt, he sets out to transform the church’s failing choir through his unorthodox, yet highly effective methods.
Bluff City Law
Network: NBC
No. of Season: 1
Seven months after it ended its 10-episode freshman run, Bluff City Law was canceled by NBC in June. Though NBC took so long to decide the fate of the series, the writing seemed to be on the wall when the network opted not to order any additional installments of the legal drama beyond its initial 10-episode order.
Bluff City Law tells the story of Sydney Strait (Caitlin McGee), a brilliant lawyer who joins her estranged father Elijah Strait (Jimmy Smits) at his law firm after her mother passes away. The show’s cast also includes Scott Shepherd, Barry Sloane, Michael Luwoye, MaameYaa Boafo, Stony Blyden, and Jayne Atkinson.
Council of Dads
Network: NBC
No. of Season: 1
NBC pulled the plug on the family drama series Council of Dads after one season. The cancellation didn’t come as a surprise as the show was one of the network’s lowest-rated scripted series of the 2019-20 season. The 10-episode freshman run of the show only averaged 0.39 in the 18-49 demographic with just 2.82 million viewers in the Live+same day ratings.
Inspired by the book The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler, Council of Dads begins with cancer patient Scott Perry (Tom Everett Scott) worrying about his five children growing up without his help and advice. So, he and his wife Robin (Sarah Wayne Callies) recruit three friends to act as a “council of dads” to be father figures to his children. When Scott dies, his loved ones form an expanded chosen family. The cast includes Clive Standen, J. August Richards, Steven Silver, and Michael O’Neill.
Lucifer
Network: Fox (first three seasons)
Streaming Service: Netflix (last three seasons)
No. of Season: 6
Netflix announced in June that the Tom Ellis-led series was renewed for a sixth season, a year after the streaming service said that the show would end with season 5. While the renewal came as a delightful surprise for fans, the announcement made it very clear that season 6 will be the show’s ultimate swan song.
Netflix’s decision to renew Lucifer for one more season came four months after co-showrunners Ildy Modrovich and Joe Henderson signed new deals to remain with the series should it be picked up, and almost a month after it was reported that Ellis closed a deal to return as the title character for a then potential sixth season.
Both the 10-episode second half of season 5 and the 10-episode season 6 of Lucifer don’t have release dates yet.
Bojack Horseman
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 6
The second half of Bojack Horseman’s 16-episode final season arrived on Netflix in January. Series creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg admitted that he was surprised when he found out that Netflix opted not to renew the series for a seventh season, saying that he actually thought the adult animated sitcom would “go a couple more years.” While it’s unclear why exactly Netflix decided to pull the plug on the series, one thing is for sure, the cancellation was entirely the streamer’s decision.
Dear White People
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 4
The upcoming fourth season of Dear White People will be its last. Since Netflix rarely release viewership details for its shows, it’s not clear whether or not the show’s cancellation was due to low ratings. No matter what the case is, series creator Justin Simien is “grateful” that his “little indie-that-could has made it to four seasons at Netflix.” The final season of the comedy drama, which stars Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, and DeRon Horton, among many others, is set to arrive on the streaming service later this year.
Soundtrack
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
The musical drama was canceled by Netflix in January after one season. Though series creator Joshua Safran had multiple seasons in mind for the series, the show’s 10-episode freshman run tells a closed-ended story. “There’s definitely more. When you get to the end [you’ll see],” Safran told The Hollywood Reporter prior to the show’s cancellation. “I did close it (season 1) though because it is a big swing and it’s weird and I didn’t want to leave an audience in the lurch.”
Starring Paul James, Callie Hernandez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Jenna Dewan, Jahmil French, Megan Ferguson, Isaiah Givens, Madeleine Stowe, and Campbell Scott, Soundtrack tells “the love stories connecting a diverse, disparate group of people in contemporary Los Angeles through the music that lives inside their hearts and minds.”
Spinning Out
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Figure skating drama Spinning Out was canceled by Netflix in February, just over a month after its January 1st premiere. Created by Samantha Stratton, the 10-episode series stars Kaya Scodelario as Kat Baker, a young ice skater who suffers a serious injury and is given the opportunity to restart her career as a pair skater, all while hiding her family’s history of mental illness. The show follows the Baker family, along with Kat’s partner Justin Davis (Evan Roderick) and his family. Though Spinning Out received mostly positive reviews from critics, it’s apparently not enough for Netflix to order another season of the show.
Insatiable
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 2
Insatiable was canceled by Netflix in February after two seasons. Cast member Alyssa Milano confirmed the show’s cancellation on Twitter, and while the streaming service didn’t provide any explanation on why it didn’t renew the series for a third season, it’s likely that the show’s viewing figures weren’t high for Netflix to order another run. Allegations that Insatiable was promoting fat-shaming might have also affected Netflix’s decision to end the series.
Created by Lauren Gussis, the dark comedy series follows former overweight teen-turned-aspiring beauty queen Patty Bladell (Debby Ryan) as she seeks revenge on her bullies.
AJ and the Queen
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Though commended for its themes of love and acceptance, comedy drama AJ and the Queen apparently failed to attract enough number of viewers to be picked up for a second season. Netflix officially canceled the series in March, two months after its 10-episode first season premiered.
Created by RuPaul Charles and Michael Patrick King, AJ and the Queen stars Charles as Ruby Red, a bigger-than-life but down-on-her-luck drag queen who travels across America in her 1990s RV doing club gigs along the way. Ruby is accompanied by AJ (Izzy G.), a recently orphaned scrappy 10-year-old stowaway with whom she strikes an unlikely friendship.
V Wars
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Though V Wars was canceled by Netflix in March after just one season, series star Ian Somerhalder said in an Instagram video in April that the sci-fi horror wasn’t completely over, as he and his producing partners were trying to find a new home for the show.
Based on the eponymous novel series and graphic novels by Jonathan Maberry, V Wars follows Dr. Luther Swann (Somerhalder), a scientist who “enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these so-called vampires.”
October Faction
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Premiered in January 2020, supernatural drama October Faction was axed by Netflix in March after just one season. Like most of its cancellation announcement, the streamer didn’t disclose the reason why the series was not picked for another season.
Based on the comic series of the same name by Steve Niles and Damien Worm, October Faction follows monster hunters Fred (J.C. MacKenzie) and Deloris Allen (Tamara Taylor) who, after the death of Fred’s father, return to their hometown in upstate New York with their teenage children. As the family adjusts, Fred and Deloris must hide their identities as members of a secret organization, and quickly discover that their new small-town setting isn’t as idyllic as it seems.
Turn Up Charlie
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Co-created and executive produced by Idris Elba, comedy series Turn Up Charlie stars Elba as the titular character, a struggling DJ and eternal bachelor who’s given a final chance at success when he reluctantly becomes a nanny to his famous best friend’s problem-child daughter. Though Netflix canceled the series just over a month after its March 15th premiere, the streaming service said in a statement that people at the company are looking forward to continuing their relationship with Elba on future projects.
The Society
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Netflix renewed The Society for a second season in July 2019, but after the production on the sophomore run was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the streamer reversed its renewal decision for the mystery teen drama. Netflix officially canceled the series last August, with sources claiming that the uncertainty around production dates, difficulty in balancing the availabilities of a large cast, and unexpected budget increases due to COVID led to the show’s cancellation.
Created by Christopher Keyser, The Society follows the story of a group of teenagers who must learn to run their own community after the rest of the population of their town disappears. The cast includes Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Alex Fitzalan, Kristine Froseth, Jose Julian, Alexander MacNicoll, Toby Wallace, and Rachel Keller.
I Am Not Okay with This
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
I Am Not Okay with This was quietly renewed for a second and final season by Netflix a month before it premiered on the streamer in February. The streamer, however, reversed its initial decision six months later, officially canceling the series in August even though the scripts for its entire sophomore run were already written.
Series creator Jonathan Entwistle said in an interview that he thinks Netflix canceled I Am Not Okay with This after it found out that making the show COVID-proof would cost a lot of money. “I think I’ve seen a few people talking and the figures are about right: It’s about anywhere between $5 to $10 million per season of television for the PPE, and for the testing, and for the systematic changes with which to make it safer,” shared Entwistle, who concluded that that the series’ cancellation ultimately boiled down to Netflix weighing the cost of the show versus its perceived value.
Based on the comic book of the same name by Charles Forsman, I Am Not Okay with This follows Syd Novak (Sophia Lillis) as she discovers that she has superpowers. The show also stars Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant, and Kathleen Rose Perkins.
Altered Carbon
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 2
Sci-fi series Altered Carbon was cancelled by Netflix after two seasons. According to Deadline, Netflix’s decision not to renew the cyberpunk drama for season 3 was made back in April and stemmed from the streamer’s usual viewership vs. cost analysis. In other words, Netflix didn’t see the series build enough an audience to justify its production budget for another batch of episodes.
Created by Laeta Kalogridis based on the 2002 novel of the same title by English author Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon is set in a futuristic world where human consciousness is digitized and can be transferred from one body to another. It centers on Takeshi Kovacs, the lone surviving soldier of a group of elite interstellar warriors. Joel Kinnaman portrayed Kovacs in season 1, with Anthony Mackie taking over the role in season 2.
The Big Show Show
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Sitcom The Big Show Show was canceled by Netflix in August after one season. The series, however, will return for a Christmas special that is set to be released in December. This one-off special is a standalone episode and does not continue the storylines from the show’s freshman run. Created by Josh Bycel and Jason Berger, The Big Show Show features WWE star Big Show as a fictional version of himself. The premise features his teenage daughter moving in with him, his wife, and an additional two daughters.
The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Like The Big Show Show, comedy series The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia was also canceled by Netflix in August after one season. A special Christmas episode of the series will also arrive on the streaming service in December.
Created by Seth Kurland & Mario Lopez, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, aka Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love follows a prodigy named Ashley Garcia (Paulina Chávez), the “only 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist” in the world who moves in with her Uncle Victor (Jencarlos Canela) from the other side of the country for a chance to work for NASA. The cast also includes Conor Husting, Bella Podaras, and Reed Horstmann.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Part: 4
The Riverdale offshoot starring Kiernan Shipka in the title role is ending with its upcoming part 4. Though the cancellation came as a surprise to fans, it appeared that showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had known for quite some time that the series is coming to an end. In a statement following the streamer’s announcement, Aguirre-Sacasa thanked Netflix for letting them “tell the story we wanted to tell, the way we wanted to tell it.” Netflix didn’t give any explanation on why it cancelled the series, but it’s likely that the streamer thought that ordering another season would be too costly to produce, given all the bonuses and salary bumps that come with a season renewal.
The eight-episode part 4 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is set to premiere on December 31st.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Netflix canceled The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance in September after one season. Though the series premiered in August 2019 to critical acclaim and even hailed as the Outstanding Children’s Program at this year’s Creative Arts Emmys, these were apparently not enough for the streamer to order another season of the show.
Executive producer Lisa Henson, however, implied in a statement confirming the show’s cancellation that fans haven’t seen the last of the world of Thra yet. “We can confirm that there will not be an additional season of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance,” she said. “We know fans are eager to learn how this chapter of The Dark Crystal saga concludes and we’ll look for ways to tell that story in the future.”
A prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance follows the story of three Gelflings: Rian, Deet, and Brea, as they journey together on a quest to unite the Gelfling clans to rise against the tyrannical Skeksis and save their planet Thra from a destructive blight known as the Darkening.
Teenage Bounty Hunters
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Teenage Bounty Hunters won’t be back for a second season. Netflix canceled the comedy drama series in October, almost two months after its 10-episode freshman run premiered. Though the show made it to the tenth spot of the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for the week of August 17th-23rd, it appeared that its popularity was only short-lived.
Created by Kathleen Jordan, Teenage Bounty Hunters centers on fraternal twins Sterling (Maddie Phillips) and Blair Wesley (Anjelica Bette Fellini) who, after accidentally damaging their father’s truck, team up with veteran bounty hunter Bowser Jenkins (Kadeem Hardison) for an over-the-top adventure to pay for the vehicle’s repair. The duo’s partnership with Jenkins, however, lure them into the world of bail skipping baddies and suburban secrets.
Away
Streaming Service: Netflix
No. of Season: 1
Sci-fi drama Away was one of Netflix’s most-watch series for much of September. That viewership, however, was apparently not good enough when weighed against production costs, so the streamer opted not to renew the series for a second season.
Created by Andrew Hinderaker, the 10-episode first season of Away is set in the near future and revolves around the first crewed expedition to Mars that features an international crew. It stars Hilary Swank as Emma Green, the commander of the mission. However, several crew members do not trust Emma’s ability to lead the team because of her poor response to a crisis situation at the very beginning of the mission.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Network: OWN
No. of Season: 5
Soap opera If Loving You Is Wrong was canceled by OWN in February after five seasons. Its series finale aired in June, which was followed by a cast reunion special at the end of the month. While OWN didn’t explain why it decided to end the series with season 5, season 4 of the series saw a massive drop in ratings. Season 4 averaged a 0.20 rating in the 18-49 demo and 1.12 million viewers, down by 49.36% in the demo and 32.10% in the number of viewers.
Starring Amanda Clayton, Edwina Findley, Heather Hemmens, Zulay Henao, and April Parker Jones, the Tyler Perry-created series follows a group of five women on their quest to find love in the midst of managing their very complex lives.
68 Whiskey
Network: Paramount
No. of Season: 1
Paramount Network canceled 68 Whiskey in September after one season. Though the military comedy drama got off to a strong TV ratings start with its January 15th premiere drawing 2 million viewers in Live+3 Nielsen numbers ― the most-watched cable drama series premiere in the metric since November 2018 ― its viewership numbers slipped over the course of the season.
An adaptation of the Israeli TV series Charlie Golf One, 68 Whiskey follows a multicultural mix of men and women deployed as Army medics to a forward operating base in Afghanistan nicknamed “The Orphanage.” Together, they endure a dangerous and Kafkaesque world that leads to self-destructive appetites, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie and occasionally a profound sense of purpose. The cast includes Sam Keeley, Jeremy Tardy, Gage Golightly, Cristina Rodlo, Beth Riesgraf, Lamont Thompson, Nicholas Coombe, and Derek Theler.
Brave New World
Streaming Service: Peacock
No. of Season: 1
Brave New World is not coming back for a second season. Peacock announced the show’s cancellation in October, three months after the show’s premiere. Since Peacock does not release viewership details on its series, it’s not clear why it opted not to order a sophomore run of the sci-fi drama. Brave New World, however, may still continue in another network or streaming service, as UCP ― the studio behind the series ― is planning to shop the sci-fi series to other outlets.
Based on the classic novel of the same name by Aldous Huxley, Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. It stars Jessica Brown Findlay, Harry Lloyd, Alden Ehrenreich, Hannah John-Kamen, and Joseph Morgan.
Schitt’s Creek
Network: Pop TV
No. of Season: 6
Schitt’s Creek wrapped its six-season run in April. In a statement released last March 2019, co-creators Daniel and Eugene Levy revealed that it was their decision to end the show with season 6. “We are very excited to announce that Schitt’s Creek is coming back for a sixth season on CBC and Pop in 2020!” the father and son said at the time. “We also wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that we’ve decided Season 6 will be our last.”
The comedy series centers on the once wealthy Rose family, who lost nearly everything when the government collected on years of back taxes. Their only retreat is the backwater town of Schitt’s Creek, the family’s last remaining asset. The show stars Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Jennifer Robertson, Emily Hampshire, Dustin Milligan, Tim Rozon, and Sarah Levy.
Homeland
Network: Showtime
No. of Season: 8
Homeland aired its series finale in April after eight seasons. Showtime president David Nevins announced the show’s cancellation back in 2018 at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, noting that the decision to end the show was made by lead star Claire Danes and executive producer Alex Gansa. “Alex and Claire both started talking about it towards the end of last season,” Nevins explained at the time. “I asked, ‘Are you sure? Let’s think about it.’ But when they were resolved, it seemed like it was the right time. The two of them finally made the decision.”
Based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War, Homeland revolves around the ups and downs of Carrie Mathison (Danes), a Central Intelligence Agency officer with bipolar disorder. The cast includes Mandy Patinkin, Maury Sterling, Linus Roache, Costa Ronin, Nimrat Kaur, and Numan Acar.
Ray Donovan
Network: Showtime
No. of Season: 7
Ray Donovan was canceled in February by Showtime without any advance warning, leaving fans and showrunner David Hollander in shock. In an interview with Vulture, Hollander said they “had no indicator that the show was ending.” While the network didn’t offer any explanation on why it pulled the plug on the series, Hollander said that the “easiest external” factor that possibly led to the show’s cancellation was the merger of CBS and Viacom. Series star Liev Schreiber, however, revealed on Instagram in August that a Ray Donovan movie, which will serve as the series finale, was being written.
Created by Ann Biderman, Ray Donovan stars Schreiber as the titular character, a crime cleaner or fixer who arranges bribes, payoffs, threats and other illegal activities, to ensure the outcome desired by his clients.
Kidding
Network: Showtime
No. of Season: 2
Kidding was canceled in July after two seasons. Though critically acclaimed, season 2 of the comedy-drama series saw a significant drop in ratings. It averaged a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demo and 89,000 viewers. Compared to season 1, that’s down by 74% in the demo and down by 63% in viewership. It’s one of the cable channel’s lowest-rated scripted series.
Set in Columbus, Ohio, Kidding stars Jim Carrey as Jeff Piccirillo, a beloved children’s television presenter known as Mr. Pickles. Though he anchors a multimillion-dollar branding empire, Jeff faces a personal tragedy and difficult family life. The Dave Holstein-created series also stars Frank Langella, Judy Greer, Cole Allen, Juliet Morris, and Catherine Keener.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels
Network: Showtime
No. of Season: 1
Showtime opted not to renew Penny Dreadful: City of Angels for a second season. The tenth and final episode of the dark fantasy series aired in June. Though it received decent reviews upon its release, the show was only a middle-of-the-road performer for Showtime. Its freshman run averaged a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 348,000 viewers.
A spin-off to Penny Dreadful, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels follows the story of LAPD’s first Latino detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) and his partner Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane). When a grisly murder shocks the city, the pair becomes embroiled in an epic story that reflects the rich history of Los Angeles — from the building of the city’s first freeways and its deep traditions of Mexican-American folklore to the dangerous espionage actions of the Third Reich, and the rise of radio evangelism. The cast also includes Natalie Dormer, Kerry Bishé, Adriana Barraza, Jessica Garza, Michael Gladis, Johnathan Nieves, and Rory Kinnear.
Shameless
Network: Showtime
No. of Season: 11
Showtime renewed Shameless for an eleventh and final season in January. The last batch of episodes was supposed to premiere in mid-2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The premiere date is now set on December 6th. When announcing the final season, Showtime executive Gary Levine implied that the decision to end Shameless with season 11 was made by the show’s creative team. “The characters of Shameless have brought Showtime viewers more laughs and tears and pure enjoyment than any program in our history,” said Levine. “While we are sad to bid the Gallaghers farewell, we couldn’t be more confident in the ability of showrunner John Wells, his writing team and this great cast to bring our series to its appropriately ‘SHAMELESS’ conclusion.”
An adaptation of Paul Abbott’s British series of the same name, Shameless depicts the poor, dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher. A neglectful single father of six, Frank spends his days drunk or in search of misadventures, leaving his children to take care of themselves. The ensemble cast is led William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum.
L.A.’s Finest
Streaming Service: Spectrum
No. of Season: 2
Cop drama series L.A.’s Finest was canceled by Spectrum in October after two seasons. A reason for the cancellation was not revealed.
An offshoot from the Bad Boys movie franchise, L.A.’s Finest stars Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. It follows Syd Burnett (Union), who was last seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel and left her complicated past to become an LAPD detective. Paired with a new partner, Nancy McKenna (Alba), a working mom with an equally complex history, Syd was forced to confront how her unapologetic lifestyle was masking a greater personal secret. Taking on the most dangerous criminals in Los Angeles, Syd and Nancy became a force to be reckoned with – on the streets, and in each other’s lives.
The Rook
Network: Starz
No. of Season: 1
Starz revealed in March that The Rook would not continue beyond its first eight episodes. While a reason for the cancellation was not revealed, fans who had enjoyed the novel on which the series is based took issue with the TV adaptation’s change in tone. While the novel had a light, fantastical touch, the Starz series had a gritty take on the supernatural spy story.
Based on the novel by Daniel O’Malley, The Rook stars Emma Greenwell as Myfanwy, an agent who works for a super-secret branch of the British government that handles matters of Extreme Variant Abilities. In the series premiere, Myfanwy awoke without any knowledge of who she was or what she could do, and spent much of the first season trying to figure out which of her contemporaries was plotting to kill her.
Vida
Network: Starz
No. of Season: 3
Starz said Adiós to Vida in March, canceling the series after three seasons. Though critically acclaimed, season 2 of the show saw a drop in ratings. The series’ sophomore run averaged a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demo and 120,000 viewers. Compared to season 1, that’s down by 38% in the demo and down by 8% in viewership.
Created by Tanya Saracho and inspired by the short story Pour Vida by Richard Villegas Jr, Vida stars Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada as Mexican-American sisters Lyn and Emma who move back to their childhood home in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles after the death of their mother. The cast also includes Ser Anzoategui, Chelsea Rendon, Carlos Miranda, Maria-Elena Laas, and Roberta Colindrez.
The Magicians
Network: Syfy
No. of Season: 5
The Magicians was canceled by Syfy midway through its fifth season. The season 5 finale, which aired in April, served as the series finale. While Syfy didn’t give an explanation for the cancellation, executive producer John McNamara revealed that Syfy pulled the plug on the series due to financials.
“It played out kind of the way it’s played out almost every season. With the exception of season 4 into season 5, we never knew whether or not we’re going to get picked up,” McNamara said. “It was always a discussion — never really about the creative — about the financials and you always know, with any show, that there’s this kind of fine line between what it brings in and what it costs. [The show is] not going to necessarily expand in terms of revenue, it’s not necessarily going to contract in terms of revenue, but it is going to cost more.”
An adaptation of Lev Grossman’s trilogy of novels — The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land — The Magicians follows the adventure of a group of college-age students who attend a secret college for magicians after discovering that magic is real. Debuted in December 2015, it stars Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, Summer Bishil, and Rick Worthy, among many others.
Vagrant Queen
Network: Syfy
No. of Season: 1
After struggling to find an audience, Vagrant Queen was canceled by Syfy in June after one season. In an attempt to boost the show’s ratings, Syfy moved the show from its original 10 p.m. Friday schedule to Thursdays at 11 p.m., where the network has previously achieved success with late-night programming like The Great Debate, animation block TZGZ, and repeats of Futurama. Though its ratings saw an 11 percent gain week to week with the move, the show still ended its 10-episode freshman run as Syfy’s lowest-rated series among total viewers and in the demo since 2019.
Based on the Vault comic book series by Magdalene Visaggio and Jason Smith, Vagrant Queen follows the story of Elida (Adriyan Rae), a former queen turned scavenger who’s been on the run since her throne was stolen as a child. One day, Elida’s charming old friend, Isaac (Tim Rozon), turns up with the news that her mother Xevelyn (Bonnie Henna) is still alive. With the help of a skilled mechanic and pilot named Amae (Alex McGregor), Elida and Isaac stage a rescue that takes her back into the perilous heart of her former kingdom and up against a deadly foe from her childhood ― the ruthless and power-hungry Commander Lazaro (Paul du Toit).
Van Helsing
Network: Syfy
No. of Season: 5
Van Helsing was renewed for a fifth and final season in December. The show’s last batch of 13 episodes doesn’t have a release date yet. While Syfy didn’t release any explanation for the show’s cancellation, Van Helsing’s viewing figures have started to fall since season 1. Season 4 of the series averaged a 0.08 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 296,000 viewers. Compared to season 3, that’s down by 8% in the demo and down by 22% in viewership.
Created by Neil LaBute, the show stars Kelly Overton as Vanessa “Van” Helsing ― a descendent of Van Helsing ― who awoke from a coma to find vampires had overtaken the world. A prime target for the vampires, she’s also humanity’s last hope with her immunity to vampires and her ability to turn them into humans. The cast includes Jonathan Scarfe, Tricia Helfer, Nicole Munoz, Keeya King, Neal McDonough, Vincent Gale, Rukiya Bernard, and Aleks Paunovic.
Claws
Network: TNT
No. of Season: 4
Expected to air sometime this year, Claws’ upcoming fourth season is going to be its last. Though the Niecy Nash-led series is one of TNT’s highest-rated shows, Claws saw a drop in ratings after its second season, which was probably one of the reasons behind its cancellation. Its creator Eliot Lawrence is also working on Freeform’s freshman series Motherland: Fort Salem, so it’s possible that he decided to end Claws so he could focus on his new show.
Starring Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran, and Jenn Lyon, Claws follows five manicurists at the Nail Artisans salon of Manatee County, Florida who enter the traditionally male world of organized crime when they begin laundering money for a neighboring pain clinic and eventually work their way up to controlling their own criminal empire.
I’m Sorry
Network: truTV
No. of Season: 2
I’m Sorry was renewed for a third season in June 2019. However, this past August, that decision was reversed when TruTV canceled the series after two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Due to circumstances created by COVID, we, unfortunately, cannot move forward with production on the third season of I’m Sorry,” the network said in a statement to Deadline.
Created by Andrea Savage, I’m Sorry follows writer Andrea Warren (Savage) as she navigates motherhood, marriage, her career, and her social life in suburban L.A.
Briarpatch
Network: USA
No. of Season: 1
Briarpatch was canceled by USA Network after one season. The show’s cancellation was revealed by showrunner Andy Greenwald on social media in July. “Just wanted to let you know some disappointing news before you hear it from anyone else: Briarpatch isn’t returning for another season at USA,” Greenwald wrote in a post on Twitter. “Though I’ve known for months, it’s still a bummer. We had an amazing story planned for S2 … I think we were going to do something special.”
An anthology drama, the first season of Briarpatch stars Rosario Dawson as Allegra “Pick” Dill, a tenacious and highly-skilled investigator who returns to her hometown of San Bonifacio, Texas after her younger sister Felicity is murdered in a car bombing. The cast also includes Jay R. Ferguson, Brian Geraghty, Edi Gathegi, Kim Dickens, Alan Cumming, and Ed Asner.