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?
All my friends were watching Men of a Certain Age (because we are all that “certain age”) since it was very good, unlike the canned comedy shows out there now. The writing was fantastic and the stories were truly believable with regard the way life truly, especially seeing it from a male perspective. IDIOTS! they had a great thing and they didn’t want to take the time to let it evolve. We were very attache to the characters and loved watching their growth. SHAME ON THE EXECS FOR ONLY WANTING QUICK “FAST FOOD” RATINGS AT THE START
I realize this was a little longer ago, but I am also bothered by Law & Order Los Angeles getting axed. They gave it, what, 5 episodes to catch on, and then after the re-tool gave it another 3?! I didn’t care for the re-tool, although I really like Connie Rubirosa, I thought Alfred Molina was much better as a D.A. And I miss Det Winters, I liked him a lot. And I think it sucked that they ended the original Law & Order. It was still strong in the ratings, easily deserving of continued seasons, if the political BS… Read more »
I am sad to see Playboy Club go. I think the reason it slid each week in ratings is BECAUSE it was not the fluff piece it was assumed to be. A very good set of stories, told by very interesting characters. Which would annoy people who just want to see T&A. And so because of how it was promoted, it would miss many of the people who would have enjoyed it; and yet it would not please many of the people who did watch it expecting what was promoted. I would LOVE to see it get picked up by… Read more »
I think MTV should pick up Chloe King, and have the show back to back with their Teen Wolf. These two shows were my guilty pleasure this past summer.
Sad to see the Playboy Club cancelled so soon. The networks need to give the shows a chance to pick up an audience. Most of my friends had not heard of it the first night but turned in afterwards and really enjoyed it.
I’d be willing to bet that we will see Playboy Club get picked up by a cable network. I could be way off base, but I felt like it had potential. They needed to ax the musical numbers to start with, and I hated the bunny mother. But, it had potential for sure.
I am an avid tv watcher. Between having 3 DVRs in my house, and a long running case of insomnia I watch hundreds of hours of tv a week. I have learned that network tv is completely oblivious to good television. The cancelation of good shows like Chuck, Hawthorne, In Plain Sight, and the new (and never allowed to develop) shows like How to be a Gentleman is proof of that. Too bad avid viewers like myself don’t count in the ratings. I have been saying for ages that someone needs to come up with a new ratings system because… Read more »
There is a Save Kyle XY petition so please sign for the whole series and the seasons of Kyle XY there was a reason why ABC Family Canceled Kyle XY it was due to low ratings and Kyle XY Fans making scripts for the cast and the crew so Juile Plec was very concern about it but now Juile Plec is trying really hard to bring Kyle XY and Plus the ABC Family contract was up so Please sign the Kyle Xy Petition If you haven’t watch Kyle XY please sign the Kyle XY Petition or else there will be… Read more »
Are you kidding, Erin ? I loved Kyle XY, too. However, it has been off the air for a few years now. Those online petitions rarely work, except maybe temporarily, in rare cases. It certainly wouldn’t work on a show cancelled as long as Kyle XY is. Signing the petition would be a complete waste of time at this point. It might work for awhile if the show had just been cancelled, but it wasn’t. With all the new shows every season and the short attention span of the average tv viewer, as well as the need of tv executives… Read more »
The protector was one of my favorite shows. I will be sorry to see it go.
Elaine
Sad to see Eureka is done…It is an awesome show!
I meant the Shark Tank show, has it been cancelled or moved to another day and time?
Marion » It’s supposed to return this fall, no date/time yet.
Has the shake tank show been cancelled? It was on at 8:00 PM Friday nights. I really liked the show, will it be coming back? Thank you
I will miss The Playboy Club, State of GA, The Protector & The Closer!.I HATE the networks! Especially for ABC axing AMC & OLTL! TV should NOT cause so much stress! I pay that stupid cable company over $160.00 a month, and all I get are chest pains from the aggravation of seeing my shows vanish! I still miss Ugly Betty too! I am a loyal viewer! I never miss a show that I love! I should give up TV forever, save all that money, and won’t be stressed by it anymore!
Iris, I was the show editor for a TV episode guide site for several shows, including Flashforward and Dollhouse a couple years ago. I asked in their forums why, if someone wasn’t watching it, why they weren’t watching it. For the most part, the answers that came back were essentially “I could not categorize it or its characters by the end of the first episode”. Too many people simply WILL NOT watch intelligent TV. The fault is not the networks — Fox gave Dollhouse a chance, ABC gave Flashforward a chance, and NBC gave Journeyman a chance. The ratings continued… Read more »
I’m was sad to here OUTSOURCED was cancelled…..I thought it was a funny show, oh well :..(
Disappointed 🙁 Enjoyed watching ‘The Playboy Club’, it was just starting to get interesting. VERY SAD to see ‘In Plain Sight’ being cancelled, loved this show! Like others who have posted, I miss good family shows, like ‘Ordinary Family’. I am getting tired of these networks pulling shows so quick, they don’t give people a chance to watch them!