“Firefly,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Pushing Daisies”: broadcasters made fatal mistakes. These series deserved more – and are now cult.
The shows on this list are suitable for binge-watching in an afternoon, becoming a fan, and complaining that there weren’t more seasons.
Freaks and Geeks
We also called it “Totally wrong, full of life” and it was canceled after just one season. Ran from 1999 to 2000.
What it’s about: Lindsey Weir is 16, a “mathlete” and wants to be one of the cool kids, skipping school and smoking pot. Her little brother Sam is skinny and is often teased. The two try to achieve a social status that is acceptable to them and experience a lot in the process.
Why the series was canceled: As is often the case because of low ratings. However, one of the reasons for this is that NBC, which was broadcasting the series at the time, did not show the episodes in the correct order, so that there was no coherent plot. The first broadcast in Germany, for example, took place on “Das Erste”, but only well after midnight.
Why it is still worth seeing: “Freaks and Geeks” has now achieved a fan base and cult status. James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel have their first major roles here. The actions of the characters are understandable without becoming boring. The soundtrack is also well thought out from the intro (“Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett) to the end credits. In short: because everything about the series is good (and it can also be found on YouTube).
Pushing daisies
The series, created by Bryan Fuller, was canceled in 2008 after two seasons.
What it’s about: Ned has been able to bring dead things back to life with the help of his touch since childhood and helps a detective solve murders by asking the victim himself who killed him. However, this only works once: If Ned touches those who have been brought back to life again, they are dead forever. When he resurrects his childhood love Chuck, who was also murdered, he does not have the heart to take her life again. From now on, however, Ned is not allowed to touch her.
Why the series was canceled: Again because of the ratings. The series was very well received by critics and television audiences alike when it launched. In Germany, the first episode of “Pushing Daisies” had a higher audience rating than that of “Desperate Housewives”. After a writers’ strike, the first season of the series was continued late and was no longer advertised – this could also be why the audience lost interest.
Why it is still worth seeing: “Pushing Daisies” is basically a Wes Anderson film in serial format: beautiful color schemes, bizarre characters, strange murder cases. And a pretty sweet love story.
Firefly
In Germany it still has the subtitle “The Departure of Serenity” and was canceled in 2002 after one season.
What it’s about: In the 26th century, the crew of the small, independent transport spaceship “Serenity” tries to survive in space through (sometimes shady) assignments in the remote settlement areas of humanity. The technology there is not particularly advanced; the conditions are similar to those in old western films.
Why the series was canceled: The Fox television network, which produced the series, was not enthusiastic about the series idea presented by “Buffy” creator Joss Whedon from the start. Nevertheless, Fox had a season produced, which was then only partially broadcast. However, good DVD sales meant that there was also a “Firefly” movie.
Why it is still worth seeing: In short: cult. Lang: For anyone interested in sci-fi, “Firefly” is actually a must-watch. Numerous references to “Star Wars”, “Star Trek” and “Alien” are hard to miss. In addition, the “space western” genre and the verbal battles between the crew members of the “Serenity” are so strangely funny that it is simply worth watching “Firefly”.
vinyl
The series, which Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger (!) worked on, was canceled after one season in 2016.
What it’s about: Richie Finestra is the drug-addicted boss of a dying record label in the 70s. Richie recognizes punk and disco as emerging music trends and tries to save his record label with a new sound.
Why the series was canceled: Nobody knows that for sure. Originally, the broadcaster HBO had already confirmed that the series would be renewed for a second season. However, when the showrunner, Terence Winter, withdrew from production, the offer of a second season was also withdrawn.
Why it is still worth seeing: The music scene of the 70s is beautifully (although of course not entirely accurately) portrayed. You meet Lou Reed (unfortunately not the real one) and see Mick Jagger’s son James (the real one) on stage with his fictional punk band Nasty Bits.
Bunheads
It was also called “New in Paradise” and was discontinued in 2013 after one season.
What it’s about: Michelle Simms gets married and moves to her husband’s hometown. There she gets a job as a dance teacher at her mother-in-law’s dance school. Your young ballet students quickly become friends.
Why the series was canceled: Little is known about this. Eight more episodes were added to the ten episodes originally ordered. The success was probably no longer enough for a second season.
Why it is still worth seeing: Because Amy Sherman-Palladino dreamed it up. Which automatically means: strong, pun-rich dialogue, slightly quirky, lovable characters and long-lasting themes. Ideal for watching between the end of the second season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and as a break in the constant “Gilmore Girls” marathon.
The Get Down
The Netflix musical series was canceled after one season. The first season was released in two parts on Netflix in 2016 and 2017.
What it’s about: New York in the 70s: Ezekiel “Zeke” Figuero and his friends live in the Bronx, where violence and crime reign. With the help of hip hop, they want to break out of their everyday lives and create new living conditions for themselves.
Why the series was canceled: “The Get Down” was too expensive and not successful enough. The series is the most expensive series Netflix has ever produced, costing at least $120 million in production costs. Nevertheless, “The Get Down” could not build on the success of “Stranger Things” and “Orange Is The New Black”.
Why it is still worth seeing: Because it’s a hip-hop musical series set in the 70s that’s also expensively produced. The showrunner was Baz Luhrmann (who is responsible for William Shakespeare’s “Romeo + Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge”), who said in an interview: “At every point there were no precedents for what we should do.” That sounds difficult, but it also sounds as if Luhrmann had become creative.