Has your favorite TV show been cancelled or will it be back for the 2012–2013 TV season? If your favorite series is on the list below, you have our condolences.
This list encompasses shows that have ended or have been cancelled and won’t be back for the 2012-13 season. It covers those that have gotten the ax roughly between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012. In some cases, the last episodes of shows 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 2010–2011 listings, the 2009–2010 listings, or maybe you’ve gotten lucky!
This list used to include Breaking Bad but, since the last half of season five won’t air until 2012-13 we’re putting it on the 2012-13 list.
Because there have been so many cancellations, we’ve split this list up into three pages. This is the first. You can also check out page two and page three.
Most recent additions: The Buried Life, Dog Whisperer, How to Rock, and Teen Mom.
Now, let’s take a moment to bow our heads and remember these fallen TV series…
3 (CBS)
The network pulled the reality series after just two episodes aired. CBS may get around to releasing the remaining installments.
101 Ways to Leave a Game Show (ABC)
We’ll never find out what the rest of the “ways” were. The last episode of the competition series aired on July 26, 2011.
Against the Wall (Lifetime)
This family cop drama didn’t catch on with a large enough audience so it was canned after one season on the air. The last episode aired in September.
Alcatraz (FOX)
The ratings started off strong but faded over the course of the season. It’s been cancelled and all 13 episodes have aired.
All-American Muslim (TLC)
This docu-series follows the lives of five Lebanese American Muslim families who live in Dearborn, Michigan. The show started off with decent ratings and positive reviews. Viewership had declined significantly by the end of the eight episodes so it wasn’t renewed.
Allen Gregory (FOX)
Co-created by and starring Jonah Hill, this animated series aggravated lots of people but didn’t keep enough of them coming back week after week. FOX aired all seven episodes and there won’t be any more.
Are You There Chelsea? (NBC)
This sitcom started out okay but quickly lost steam over the course of 12 episodes.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Disney XD)
After two seasons, the animated series is coming to an end. It’ll be replaced by a new show, Avengers Assemble, in 2013.
Awake (NBC)
It started out strong and had good reviews but viewers tuned out over time. It won’t be back.
Bent (NBC)
Execs contended that they weren’t burning through the six episodes when they aired them in three weeks. Regardless, the sitcom won’t be back for a second season.
Best Friends Forever (NBC)
The peacock network pulled the plug on future airings of this sitcom due to low ratings.
Blue Mountain State (Spike TV)
There won’t be a fourth season of the football comedy as the cable channel has decided to focus on reality programming.
Bored to Death (HBO)
Starring Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson, this show revolves around a man with writers block. The ratings dropped a lot in season three so HBO opted not to give it a fourth season.
Breaking In (FOX)
The sitcom was saved once from cancellation but won’t be rescued again.
Breakout Kings (A&E)
The show lasted for two seasons. The ratings started out strong enough but declined over the course of the 23 episodes.
Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures (Nickelodeon)
This kids’ sitcom was cancelled after one season. Only 18 of the 26 episodes have aired to date.
Bud United Presents: The Big Time (ABC)
This reality competition ran for seven episodes at 3pm on Saturday afternoons.
The Buried Life (MTV)
The guys’ travels have come to an end — at least in this incarnation.
Buried Treasure (FOX)
Leigh and Leslie Kelso may continue travelling the country in search of rare antiques but they won’t be seen on FOX.
Camelot (Starz)
The ratings weren’t great and there would have been production challenges in making a second season so the cable channel pulled the plug. The drama lasted 10 episodes.
Cash Cab (Discovery)
The game show that gave taxi passengers a chance to win cash prizes has ended after seven years on the air.
CHAOS (CBS)
A comedic action series, this show was delayed until late in the season. When it finally debuted, few noticed. CBS burned off most of the episodes on Saturday nights.
Charlie’s Angels (ABC)
The original series was a big success for ABC but this one flopped. Production was shut down after eight episodes and the show was cancelled.
Chuck (NBC)
Has there ever been a time when this TV show wasn’t in danger of being cancelled? NBC decided to renew it for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes, giving the cast and crew ample time to craft a series finale.
The Closer (TNT)
Kyra Sedgwick supposedly made the decision to end this top-rated series after seven seasons on the air. Though Brenda Leigh Johnson will depart, some of the characters will continue in a spin-off called Major Crimes.
Combat Hospital (ABC)
This series was a disappointment for the network and they only aired 12 of the 13 episodes. They cancelled the show and Shaw Media, who produces the show, couldn’t find another American outlet to help pay for a second season.
Countdown with Keith Olbermann (Current TV)
Using the same name from his long-running MSNBC show, Olbermann lasted less than a year before parting ways with Current TV.
CSI: Miami (CBS)
After 10 seasons, David Caruso can give back the sunglasses. The show ended with 232 episodes total.
Damages (DirecTV)
The show was picked up for two seasons when FX dropped it. It turns out that season five, airing Summer 2012, will be the show’s last.
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Rather than wait until the ratings dropped any further, the network agreed to close down Wisteria Lane after eight seasons on the air.
Dog Whisperer (A&E)
After more than 150 episodes and nine seasons, the Cesar Millan program is coming to a close. The series finale will air on September 15th.
Dog the Bounty Hunter (Nat Geo Wild)
A show that helped to put the cable channel on the map is ending after eight seasons.
Dragon Ball Z Kai (Nick)
This animated series ended after one season and 97 episodes. It’s being replaced Dragon Ball GT.
Ebert Presents: At the Movies (PBS)
Continuing the format of film criticism that was made popular by Ebert and Gene Siskel, this weekly program reviews a number of new and classic films. It didn’t find enough financial support and ended up being put on hiatus.
Escape Routes (NBC)
Sponsored by Ford, this competition series didn’t garner much interest on Saturday nights.
Eureka (Syfy)
Based on the ratings, this show was apparently too expensive to continue producing. The fifth and final season will air in mid-2012. After the cancellation announcement came down, the cable channel ordered an additional episode to allow Eureka some sort of proper finale.
Ev and Ocho (VH1)
Envisioned as a follow-up to Basketball Wives, this series follows Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Evelyn Lozada’s relationship. It was cancelled before any of the 11 episodes had aired.
Expedition Impossible (ABC)
This summer reality competition lasted 10 episodes and one season but the network apparently felt that a second season was, well, impossible.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
Ty Pennington and his crew are getting a little rest. The network has cancelled the reality show but will still air it as occasional specials.
Fear Factor (NBC)
Joe Rogan won’t have to witness any more disgusting stunts. NBC has dropped the series again.
The Finder (FOX)
This Bones spin-off stumbled out of the gate and just never caught on. It’s been cancelled after 13 episodes.
The Firm (NBC)
This highly-promoted legal series was a ratings disappointment and NBC burned off the remaining episodes on Saturday nights.
Want more? Check out page two and page three.
Lists of cancelled or renewed TV shows by network: ABC | CBS | The CW | FOX | NBC
What do you think? Are you surprised that any of these shows have been cancelled? Which one(s) will you miss the most?
OMG I’m so devasted to know that “Missing” and the “The Secret Circle” were both canceled. I never missed an episode on any of these shows. They were both so great…so disappointed. It has become quite scary to start a season when you don’t know if it will be picked up for another…I’m beginning to wonder about these networks. What exactly are they looking for? Like seriously!!!!!!
I will miss The Finder and Unforgettable.
There are 15 shows on the list which we always DVRed. I will miss The Closer, In Plain Sight, The Finder, Memphis Beat and Harry’s Law the most. Darn!
I agree with Sheila as well I look forward to getting off work on Thursday and come home to my eve with missing on it and my mom on the phone watching it with me. You screwed that all up!!!
I’m completely bummed about Missing and GCB… it said here that there weren’t enough views – there were definitely enough viewers but not enough in the key demographic. It’s because both were on the wrong time slot – GCB should have been moved to the Desperate Housewives slot and Missing was most certainly in the wrong time – 8pm was sooooo wrong for this particular show! A 10pm time frame on the same night would have done MUCH better I think. All in all, I’m so sad they cancelled both 🙁
I can’t believe Missing is cancelled! The season finale that aired last night was excellent. How do the networks make these awful decisions? It almost makes one think twice about even starting to watch a series not knowing if it will return the following season. Do we invest an hour a week of our time into something that won’t deliver? Please bring back Missing.
I agree with Sheila. I loved watching Missing and so did most of my friends and family. Now they ended it leaving us hanging with a lousey ending. The beautiful views of the diferent countries was wonderful. I do hope some other network has the good sense to bring it back!!!
I’m SO disappointed that “The Sing-Off” won’t be returning. It was by far my favorite of the singing talent shows. The concept was such a fresh take on competitive musical shows. I truly enjoyed the different a cappella groups successfully beat boxing, harmonizing, blending together, and replicating the sounds of musical instruments — all while demonstrating showmanship. I was amazed by the talent that’s out there. Plus, judges Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman, and Sara Bareilles gave intelligent, insightful comments without the tiresome bickering between each other, the syrupy over-coddling of contestants, and the stale over-used comments like, “You’re in it… Read more »
I agree with you 100%
I like the secret circle and missing, they should not cancel those two programs, the rest are not worth it.
Please, please don’t cancel Missing. The actors are great! It’s one of the best shows on TV.
I will miss The life and Times of Tim, Ringer, The river, and Missing but lately I have to confess that I watch less and less network television. I mean you could at least give a show with a following a second season to build your audience. Why should you care about any show when you know it will most likely be cancelled. At least on HBO and other cable stations they seem to be able to allow a show to catch on and it’s on the same time on the same night evey week. Take Fringe it’s on for… Read more »
What a shame that Harry’s Law has been cancelled – it was beautifully written and acted – I am going to miss Harry and company…
Loved “Harry’s Law”, “Awake”, “In Plain Sight”, “Who do you think you are”, “Memphis Beat” and never had a chance to see alot of the others. I hope “Awake ” will at least get to have an ending with an answer – that would take a little of the sting away !
I really enjoyed “Missing”, and think it could have gotten a greater audience share if given a chance. I’ll also miss “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Harry’s Law”. I guess we’re going to be subjected to more singing talent shows…oh boy.
Im sad to find out about The Finder.. I Enjoyed it.
I will miss ‘Breaking Bad’ (of course!) and ‘Eureka’- which I only just now realized I am sad about because I have never missed an episode.