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!
Note: Go here for the latest 2011-12 season list.
Now, let’s bow our heads and remember these fallen series…
$#*! My Dad Says (CBS) NEW
This William Shatner sitcom performed well but it wasn’t good enough for CBS. All 18 episodes have aired and there won’t be any more.
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 was renewed in Canada for a second season but has now been cancelled there as well.
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.
All My Children (ABC)
A staple of the ABC daytime schedule since 1970, the network has decided to pull the plug. The last episode will air in September 2011. Note: It was later announced that the soap will continue as a web series.
America’s Most Wanted (FOX) NEW
After more than 20 years on the air as a regular series, the network is dropping it in favor of drama repeats. AMW will return four times a year in the form of two-hour specials.
America’s Next Great Restaurant (NBC) NEW
This reality series stumbled right out of the gate so it’s no surprise that it won’t be back next season.
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. That started airing in early 2011.
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.
Better with You (ABC)
Sandwiched between The Middle and Modern Family, this freshman sitcom just didn’t measure up. It’s now been canceled after one season.
Big Love (HBO)
The series about a Utah man and his wives comes to a close after five seasons on the air. The last episode aired on March 20, 2011.
Boston Med (ABC) NEW
A docu-drama medical show that follows the lives and cases of real-life doctors in Beantown. Though the network didn’t describe it as such initially, a representative has confirmed that this is a limited series and there won’t be a second season. The final episode aired on August 12, 2010.
Breaking In (FOX) NEW
After starring in two short-lived dramas on NBC and ABC, Christian Slater decided to try a sitcom on FOX. Though many liked the series, it’s now been cancelled too. Note: FOX later reversed their decision and picked it up for a second season of 13 episodes which will air in early 2012.
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.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) NEW
The family drama was on the bubble last season but was ultimately renewed. The ratings dropped this season so it won’t be coming back for season six.
The Cape (NBC)
This superhero series started out okay but the ratings dropped very quickly. NBC cut the season order to 10 installments and released the final episode online only. The upcoming DVD release confirms what we already know, it’s been canceled.
Caprica (Syfy)
The Battlestar Galactica prequel didn’t bring many viewers so it was cancelled after one season. The final five episodes aired in a marathon in January. On the positive side, another prequel is in the works and will be more similar in tone to BSG.
Chase (NBC) NEW
This action series didn’t catch on on Monday nights and did worse on Wednesdays. Thankfully, NBC decided to air the remaining episodes on Saturday nights so fans could see the whole season.
The Chicago Code (FOX) NEW
A cop drama from Shawn Ryan, this series just never caught on with a big audience. The network decided to can it after one season and 13 episodes.
Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)
The news commentator announced on-air in January that the show was ending and he was leaving the cable channel. It’s believed that this came about as a result of Olbermann being suspended a couple months earlier for making contributions to three Democrat campaigns, a violation of company policy. He later became the Chief News Officer for Current TV.
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS) NEW
The network has had great success with procedural spin-offs but this one just didn’t work out. It’s ending after one season of 13 episodes.
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.
Dating in the Dark (ABC) NEW
This reality series ran for two seasons and tried to answer the age-old question “is love blind?” by letting some men and women get to know each other in the dark. Once the lights are turned on, will they feel the same way about one another? There are 12 episodes and the last ran on September 13, 2010.
Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC) NEW
This gritty cop show just never caught on though many felt it was the best new series of the season. It won’t be coming back.
The Defenders (CBS) NEW
The Vegas lawyers get themselves and their clients out of a lot of scrapes but couldn’t escape cancellation. Like most others, it’s the victim of low ratings.
Note: The Closer was included on a former version of this list because it was announced that season seven would be the final season. Then, TNT decided to extend the season and break it up so that the last episodes won’t air until Summer 2012. Some of the cast may continue in a spin-off without Kyra Sedgwick.
For more, be sure to check out part two, part three, and part four of this list.
What do you think? Are there any shows on this list that you’ll particularly miss?
the tv people just are to damm stupid all they want is to not pay all that money to actors and put on reallity show that cost very little
I just love MEDIUM and the closer. I enjoy watching, the good guys, the defenders and the undercovers. I guess now I will watch a lot of history channel. I refuse to watch all those reality shows. Really disapointed.
NO! NO! NO!……Don’t say it’s so………CANCELED…….Not Medium!! It is one of the few network shows I do watch!!! I can’t stand most of the reality programs that are on TV these days. The few that I will watch, I will watch just the last three episodes of Dancing With The Stars or American Idol. I’m starting to watch PBS a whole more. The British put together much better and more entertaining shows, like Larkrise to Candleford, MI-5, Masterpiece Theater or Masterpiece Classic. These Networks need to take note! People want to be Entertained! I watch TV to escape reality for… Read more »
I can’t believe TNT is cancelling The Closer! Last year it was Saving Grace and Dark Blue. These were the best shows on TV and it is so upsetting when you get involved in a wonderfully written and great casted show as all of these were and then to have them cancelled. This is really a shame and I totally agree with all the other comments about the stupid reality shows, they really do SUCK!!!
Hmmm …. so you finally get captured by the hype and watch a series that becomes a habit then they take it away …. is it worth watching any of them before they have proved themselves and made the dvd list? Seems as though more people are leaving the broadcast stations and migrating to redbox ….. will they networks fare any better than did movie gallery or hollywood video? Maybe they’ll evolve into making dvd’s only. After all the cable stations that carry their offerings seem to be in freefall thanks to netflix.
The Closer is the best TV show ever!!!! What idiot cancelled this great show without even asking viewers. There are too many reality shows which are boring, boring, boring and not enough like The Closer. Great crew of actors, great story lines, A++++. My tv watching will be cut back considerably if they keep up this reality crap. Enough of stars dancing and skating and idiots playing around in the jungle. WANTED….good writers with good story lines.
Will miss Terriers , Outlaw, The Gates, and Good Guys. Could do without “Reality TV”. I find it hard to believe more people would rather watch The Bachelor. How sad
I am SOOOOOOOOO upset about Closer, Dark Blue and the Good Guys!!!! I don’t get it!! How can some of these reality shows stay on the air. Before long there won’t be anything good on TV!!!
Obviously hollywood is as inept as our polititions….
Just read that Fringe, Lie to Me and The Defenders all are due to be cancelled before the summer along with some of my other favourite shows 🙁
Other networks need to pick up the licensing on these shows as i’m sure USA network or TNT could use some ratings instead of re-runs of Law & Order or House all day.
WHAT??? No! Where did you read about The Defenders? I LOVE that show!
I LOVE Medium!!!!
Please don’t take it off!!!!!
Really?!?!? Last year, Saving Grace. This year… Breakthrough, Terriers, Big Love, The Whole Truth, OUTLAW, The Closer… all cancelled… completely eliminating any need, whatsoever, for me to have television in my home.
Let me guess…. the dumbing down of a nation will continue with one more idiot-assed bachelor show, money-chase show, or completely inane comedy to take the place of the quicker witted shows. More shows that you would have to be completely devoid of any intellectual curiosity or social conscience to enjoy. I’m done.
I will really miss THE GATES. It seems that everytime I really love a show, it gets cancelled or seriously changed for one reason or another. Sometimes, there is an understandable reason why a show had to have a major change. And, a key actor becoming seriously ill is very understandable for major change to a show. But, most of the time this is not the case. Most of the time something could be worked out. But, because people aren’t truly working together (and I mean from the Top to the Bottom) we get many un-necessary cancellations and major changes… Read more »
I really enjoyed THE GATES, very entertaining! There are people like me with the summer off that enjoy shows to look forward to. THE GATES had me looking forward to summer! I will really miss it!!
I’m not sure who gets the privledge of being a nielson family, but obviously these people do not represent average viewers. It’s ashame that the average American has no say in what stays on the air. There are way too many reality shows, and too few entertaining programs on network tv. It’s really disappointing when a show draws you in and then gets cancelled without any closure in the story line. We enjoyed THE GATES, Happy Town,and Eastwick to name a few that had no true finale.
EXAMPLE # 1: My mother who is 81, lives alone, has 1 TV in the Living Room & watches re-runs of TV shows that have been off the air for 5 to 20 years, is a “Nielson Family”. They randomly select a “house” based on the address only, (I have no idea how they “find” the addresses they select, pull them out of a hat, have a monkey point to an address, etc.). EXAMPLE # 2: I used to work with a man whose family was selected to be a “Neilson Family” & they ran their TV’s, (all 7 of… Read more »