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?
i am mad that ‘life unexpected’ is cancelled,i loved that show….i think i cried every episode,lol…. i dont know how shows calculate the ratings but doesnt seem accurate.now i used to love ‘one tree hill’ but that has gone down hill the past 2 years and its almost painful to watch,i seriously hope its cancelled soon. one tree should have gone before life unexpected!
What’s the point in getting interested in a new show anymore? It will just be cancelled if its any good.
I will certainly miss the Closer! I can’t believe that you’re canceling it! I’m also really to see the end of Medium. I’ve enjoyed it since the beginning.
Undercovers? Really??? NBC you are WEAK!! Television has totally taken a back seat to “not so” reality TV, perverted cartoons, immature naked foul mouth teens who have no values. Undercovers deserves a chance on another network. The story line had substance. The Good Guys took a minute to grow on me but even before that happened I still found it much more refreshing than J-Lo trying to revive her career through “American Idol” or no talent hacks who prove that you can be a “nobody” to appear on “Dancing with the Stars”! And Life Unexpected brought the realities of the… Read more »
Closer and Undercovers – thought they were great -great actors/actresses and stayed away from filthy language and nudity and sex. No wonder they are being cancelled!
I hate that Life Unexpected is cancelled. It is been one of the freshest most intelligent and real shows on tv this past year and 1/2. What a shame!! Sure glad they wrapped up a lot of the story lines but 5 mintes wrapping up the rich characters and complicated very current circumstances in those characters is left wanting. It would be wonderful if another network would pick this up. Regardless of the last 5 miutes of the “season finale” this story could go on and on. Sucks losing the good shows, happens way too often.
I’ve followed Medium around since the beginning, through being cut to a mid season show and then being moved to CBS. I’m appalled that they’ve cut this show. All anyone cares about anymore is reality tv. This show had a great cast, an actual PLOT, and didn’t deserve to be cut. And to kill off a main character in the final episode? Yuck. I’ll miss Medium and I echo the sentiment from above, “Goodbye CBS. I hope you go off the air soon!”
I LOVE “Medium” and have watched from the very beginning and followed it through channel and time slot changes. I will miss Allison very much.
I’m appalled that we didn’t have any more notice than this! I loved Medium and the relationship between the family members and their friends. I, also, will miss Allison and Joe!
Man, I just realized that I lost like four more of my favoite shows… TV just sucks anymore. I’m going to start a Netflix subscription so that I don’t get hooked on a TV show just so it can be canceled one-two seasons later.
I hate the fact that “Life Unexpected” has ended! It was a show with substance…. ALL of the characters acted so well during the entire series. It’s truly disappointing that ‘another show bites the dust’ just simply because of numbers. I mean, when you’re a cable show that pits ‘the little show that could’ up against crap like Dancing with the Stars or American Idol (or any of that reality crap that is so NOT reality), it’s going to easily become ‘the little show that had no chance’! I believed in this show and that it had quite a bit… Read more »
I agree with Kim. I think it was a great show and I’m sad to see that it ended. I was never able to catch it when it aired so I’d watch the shows online. I could totally relate to Kate and understand how hard it was to raise a teenager. She didn’t have the answers and felt hopeless as many moms do raising teenagers. Although, I loved how it ended, I would have loved to see two more seasons of how that all played out. How Kate told Ryan he was going to be a father…with Julia, the break-up… Read more »
Outlaw, Dark Blue, The Closer, Good Guys…
sad to see them go…but anytime I set a show to record..it gets cancelled.
🙁
Outlaw and Dark Blue…two of my favs…..love anything with Jimmy Smits..
Medium has the best team of actors and I loved it from the beginning with it’s Alfred Hitchcock style music. I adore Patricia Arquette, Jake Weber, Miguel Sandoval, David Cubitt and the adorable Maria Lark. CBS has it WRONG and I ask all to boycott this channel. The stories were amazing and the actors are so talented! You can’t buy china anymore without it being discontinued. Goodbye CBS! I hope you go off the air soon…
Yes!!! Dark Blue, The Good Guys, and The No. 1 Lady’s Detective Agency. These were never given enough time, or else they had lousy time slots. They were smart, fresh ideas, brilliant casts, and so on. Television programming becomes more and more a disappointment to anyone with half a brain.
what does “awaiting moderation” mean?
I love, “The Closer!” It’s my husband’s and my favorite show. I hate that it’s going to end! We also enjoyed, “Persons Unknown,” and were looking forward to another season of more of the mystery being solved. Total bummer!