NOTE: Additional TV shows have been cancelled since this posting. For the most recent list, go here.
Has your favorite TV show been cancelled? Here’s a list of television series that won’t be back for the 2011–2012 TV season. If your favorite is on the list, you have our condolences.
This list encompasses shows that have been cancelled so far, covering those that get the ax between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. In some cases, the last episode of a show aired months earlier but the network didn’t get around to canceling the series until later. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, try the 2008–2009 page, the 2009–2010 listings, or maybe you’ve gotten lucky!
Now, let’s bow our heads and remember these fallen series…
18 to Life (The CW)
A comedic series, about a pair of teens who get married on a dare, didn’t register with US viewers. It’s already been renewed in Canada for a second season. Though the series was confirmed as cancelled in the US, producers have been told that the remaining season one episodes will be run in December and the network might be interested in season two.
100 Questions (NBC)
This sitcom went through a lot of changes before it got to the small screen and was postponed until after the regular season. The ratings were terrible so it was cancelled after six episodes. The last one aired on July 1, 2010. We never saw Charlotte Payne find her match.
As the World Turns (CBS)
This venerable soap opera was incredibly popular in its day but has been struggling for years now. After 54 years on the air, viewers have had to say goodbye to the residents of Oakdale. The last episode aired on September 17, 2010.
At the Movies (syndicated)
Movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert began this TV show in 1986 under the title Siskel & Ebert & the Movies. The title changed several times over the years. Siskel died in 1999 and Ebert had to step away during his battle with throat cancer in 2006. Other hosts replaced them but couldn’t recapture the magic of the original sparring critics. It was cancelled and the last episode aired on August 14, 2010. Ebert later announced that he and his wife had plans for their own version of the series.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Cartoon Network)
This animated series teams the caped crusader with lesser-known heroes and often pays homage to the Adam West TV show from the 1960s. It lasted for two seasons before being cancelled.
Big Love (HBO)
The series about a Utah man and his wives comes to a close after five seasons on the air. The last season of episodes will begin airing on Sunday, January 16, 2011.
Breakthrough with Tony Robbins (NBC)
A feel-good show in which motivational speaker Tony Robbins works with troubled families on a personal level didn’t connect with viewers. NBC cancelled the summer series after two episodes. The remaining four installments were released online.
The Bridge (CBS)
This is a Canadian TV show that follows a cop who’s elected to head the police union. While it’s popular enough in Canada to be renewed for a second season, CBS buried it on Saturday nights and, not surprisingly, it didn’t find an audience in the US. CBS cancelled it after three episodes but CTV will air season two.
Caprica (Syfy)
The Battlestar Galactica prequel didn’t bring many viewers so it was cancelled after one season. The final five episodes will air in a marathon on January 4, 2011. On the positive side, another prequel is in the works and will be more similar in tone to BSG.
Dark Blue (TNT)
A cop drama, which stars Dylan McDermott as the leader of an undercover unit, wasn’t much of a success in season one but the cable channel still renewed it. The ratings got lower in season two so TNT cancelled it. The last two episodes aired on September 15, 2010.
Entourage (HBO)
A comedy-drama that follows the acting career of Vincent Chase and his boyhood friends from Queens, NY. The pay-for-view cable channel has announced that season eight will be the TV show’s last. The final batch of episodes are expected to air in Summer 2011.
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV’s Channel 101, NBC)
Centered around high school football in Dillon, Texas, it’s been announced that the critically-acclaimed (but ratings-challenged) television series is ending after five seasons on the air.
The Gates (ABC)
The summer serial revolves around a gated community that’s populated by people with supernatural secrets. Though vampires and magic are very popular with viewers, this one didn’t catch on. It won’t be back for a second season.
Gravity (Starz)
A comedic and dramatic look at an out-patient program for suicide survivors, this television program never found a large audience. It was cancelled after 10 episodes with the last one airing on June 25, 2010.
Hannah Montana (Disney Channel)
Miley Cyrus has decided to call it quits and move on after four seasons. The final episodes are expected to air by Spring 2011.
Huge (ABC Family)
Nikki Blonsky stars in this drama about a summer weight-loss camp called Camp Victory. The series didn’t get enough viewers for the cable channel so it was dropped after just 10 episodes. The “series finale” ran on August 30, 2010.
JONAS LA (Disney Channel)
The trio of Jonas brothers may still be popular with the pre-teens but their TV show never caught on. It began as JONAS with the boys attending school on the East coast. The moved west and the show’s title changed but the ratings didn’t get better. No season three.
Larry King Live (CNN)
In June 2010, venerable interviewer Larry King announced that he would be leaving the grind of hosting his own nightly show after more than 25 years. His program will be replaced by one hosted by British television personality and journalist Piers Morgan.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA)
Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe return for this venerable crime drama’s final season of eight episodes. They will air in 2011.
Lone Star (FOX)
The critics and some viewers loved it but Lone Star never found an audience. Revolving around a con man who has a conscience, FOX pulled it after two nights of disastrously bad ratings. There are four episodes left unaired.
Medium (CBS)
The network saved the show when NBC cancelled it after five seasons. It performed decently on Friday nights last season but, this year, the ratings have taken a serious hit. CBS cut the season order to 13 installments and that will be the end of it.
My Boys (TBS)
Revolving around a female sports writer in Chicago, this sitcom ran for 49 episodes and four seasons. TBS cancelled it so we’ll likely never find out how the story of PJ and her friends comes to a close.
My Generation (ABC)
A new drama that follows a group of high school students some 10 years after they graduated. The series stumbled out of the gate and ABC pulled it after two episodes had aired. The remaining six have been released online.
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO)
Produced in conjunction with the BBC, this series follows a small detective agency in Botswana, run by Mma Ramotswe. The show is finished as a TV series after seven installments but may return as a pair of movies.
Outlaw (NBC)
Jimmy Smits has had some good luck and some bad luck on TV. Unfortunately, this drama about a former Supreme Court Justice was ignored by most viewers. NBC cancelled it after four episodes had aired. The remaining four installments were shifted to Saturday nights.
The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)
The queen of daytime talk is stepping down and will launch new programming on the new OWN cable channel in Fall 2011. The final episode of Winfrey’s syndicated show will air on September 9, 2011
Party Down (Starz)
Following a group of aspiring writers, actors and misfits as they work as a catering team, this series ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The last episode, which was hardly watched, ran on June 25, 2010.
Persons Unknown (NBC)
A group of strangers find themselves trapped in small town and are under constant scrutiny of security cameras. The show tanked in the ratings on Monday nights and was shuffled off to Saturdays, the TV graveyard. NBC promoted it as a self-contained series but plenty of things were left unresolved by the end. The finale aired on August 28, 2010.
Rubicon (AMC)
A conspiracy thriller that takes place in a government intelligence agency was highly praised but not highly watched. The 13th and final episode aired on October 17th.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime)
Star and executive producer Billie Piper signed a deal for the fourth and final season of this UK series. They’ll begin airing on ITV2 in late January 2011. There’s no word yet on when they’ll run in the US.
Smallville (The CW)
After 10 seasons, it looks like Clark Kent will finally become Superman. Will we get to see the man of steel slip on the familiar blue and red tights before the end? We’ll have to wait and see.
Undercovers (NBC)
An action-comedy series that revolves around a husband and wife spy duo never really got off the ground. The peacock network has decided against ordering anymore episodes, effectively cancelling the TV show.
The Whole Truth (ABC)
This legal series starring Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney had lousy premiere numbers and the ratings seemed to sink lower every week. It’s not known if the network will get around to airing all of the episodes.
What do you think? Are there any shows on this list that you’ll particularly miss?
I think the problem with Undercovers was that the promotional ads made it seem like a remake of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. My thoughts were “been there, done that”. I’ll definitely miss the Law and Order Criminal Intent actors, but the latest shows with Jeff Goldblum were too predictable. Dark Blue had such an inplausible premise: How many times can the same people walk around their home city posing undercover without someone they know bumping into them and recognizing them? Maybe you can go undercover once, but over and over again? And Rubicon was just too intellectual for its own… Read more »
Didn’t get to finish, I was trying to say what about ABC… I just love Medium. Made sure I wasn’t doing anything and hop in my bed under my electric blanket, only to find The Metalist on… I was hot, thought that it moved to another day again…The Mentalist was not being watched, because of Private Practice, a conflict for me, and since u cudn’t stream the mentalist on the net I had to stop watching it. Well, CBS I am shutting down ur station all together.. the shows on now are a mess and no good… Back to NBC… Read more »
What am I going to do without Medium, I have been watching it for years… This is a hot mess, from NBC, to CBS
There are four shows I will definitely miss, Outlaw is one. I liked the show and love Jimmy Smits. Medium, this is a really good show. It never should have been moved to Friday night. The Whole Truth, I thought this show had potential, it just wasn’t in a good time slot. The show I will miss the most is Friday Night Lights. This is a GREAT show, good characters, good acting, good story lines, and it has something for everyone. I don’t understand why some networks cancel these REALLY GOOD shows and keep some of the “junk” on. I… Read more »
I think Detriot 187 is one of the better acted and music repore on tv. It makes you think, granted it is not the best show on T.V (dexter) but alot better then sons of anachery
I love Medium, devastated to think the Dubois–best marriage on TV–will be gone. Tearful just thinking about it. At least the quality never dropped for 7 years. Fantastic show that’s worth my time.
really hate to see medium go. i think it should have remained on monday nights. the closer was also one of my most most watched show. i’m really heartbroken about this show ending. the outlaw, the whole truth, dark blue, undercovers and friday night lights will also be missed by me.
I agree. I really like “Undercovers”. Loved Medium and am still mad about the cancellation of “life”. No. 1 Detective Agency was one of my favorites and couldn’t wait for the next episode. I have never missed an episode of Big Love and no wonder more and more people are going to the cable networks like USA and TNT.
These networks are coming out with some really great shows that last.
The Gates would have been a big hit if it had a better time slot – I got hooked on the story line after the first episode and couldn’t wait for the next week – very disappointed it won’t be back 🙁
I am so confused. They move Medium to Friday night, and wonder why the ratings drop? Actually, I would love to see a spin off. Ariel learning to deal with her increasing psych abilities while at college. It could really bring back a younger demographic while still holding current fans (of medium). What do you guys think?
I just want it back, it took millions of people to get the Game back on, and maybe we shud take this to facebook… What am i going to do now? so, mad….
I can’t believe they cancelled qualitity shows such as Big Love and No 1 Ladies Decetive Agency. They have enough trouble finding popular shows, why do they cancel the successful ones?
I love Caprica. It’s well done, well written and acted. A reasonable successor to Battlestar Galactica. It should stay on.
I really enjoyed watching under covers, and I will miss persons unknown.
I agree with you on this but when my mom likes a show that is cancelled then something is wrong with the network. She love undercovers and i liked both shows but by the end of persons unknown it was getting a little weird. Next thing they will say is that scoundrels has been cancelled too.
I really liked the show The Gates, I can’t believe it didn’t make it
I agree and they left a couple of unanswered questions. I was really hoping this show would return and the cw get rid of the vampire diaries which is one the stupidest shows i have ever seen considering how much i loved buffy the vampire slayer and the angel show was good too. Every time i get into a show it gets pulled i getting very disappointed with most of the networks.
I’M JUST SICK OVER MEDIUM! IT WAS THE “ONLY” TV SHOW I FOLLOWED, AS NO OTHER LATELY ENTICED ME ENOUGH. THEY SHOULD NOT NEVER GOTTEN RID OF ARIEL, THAT DIDN’T HELP OUT AT ALL. I WILL PRAY THEY GET PICKED UP BY “SOMEBODY”! JOE NEEDS TO ACT A LITTLE MORE EXCITED AS WELL’ AS HE WAS “ACTING” BORED!