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?
Way to many “cackling hen talk shows” NO one in this position has anything to say that I want to hear… especially Rosey O’Donald, Woopie Goodburg. How stupid. And the new one, “Real” they advertise that “we are real” give me a break, every one of you wear a wig!
I know it’s been a year but I loved Challenge, as evendant by all the websites. Is there any way that you all could bring it back?
Shirley Warren, 3/14/2013
NBC.. ABC.. FOX has cancel way too many good TV shows it’s not worth puting in the time or telling these Networks.
I was wondering how NBC’s show called Do No Harm, how is it doing so far?
http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/do-no-harm-nbc-tv-series-cancel-26680/
I was just wondering if Que Viva on Fox was returning? For a second season?
No, it performed very poorly.
Another reason why I gave up on t.v. they cancel good nail biting shows and keep the boring reality (or just plain horrible) shows. It’s like the networks are saying. F*** you viewers all your doing is paying money and watching you don’t actually make the shows. I wish I had all the power in the world to make people stop watching a certain network just because they cancelled my favorite shows… If only… This is why I just don’t trust t.v anymore. I get excited for watching a show …only to see it get canned. Well they just lost… Read more »
I have been sent to the Food Network for a lot of the cooking competitions..they can be quite entertaining, even for a non-cook like me! And, yes, I spend the money for Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix…marvelous networks and shows with no advertising, and you can watch as many episodes as you want, all in one sitting. I have binge-watched at least 5 different series, start to finish, and loved every moment of all of them. AND, I can see shows that I would never have seen on the networks…shows from Canada, England, Australia, some that are original shows from… Read more »
Why did they cancel CSI the actor was good and the episodes were good to wacth, it is better then a lot of cop shows that they kept on the air
Does anyone remember the name of the show (competition) about inspired movie makers it only ran for one season but it was really good. I just can remember the name
I think you’re thinking of On the Lot which ran on FOX in the summer of 2007.
Freaking hate reality TV, it is not worth watching tv anymore!
I can’t believe that Victorious and How to Rock were cancelled. I thought for sure they would be picked up for another season. I thought Victorious would get at least one more season and I thought How to Rock would get 2 more seasons at least. I am not surprised that iCarly and Bucket and Skinners Epic Adventures were cancelled. iCarly had been falling apart the last 2 seasons and I thought that show should have stopped at 4 seasons. Bucket and Skinners Epic Adventures was not a very good show from the very first episode. I had given it… Read more »
The river is the best show!
Hope its not gettin droped:(
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ABC cancelled Missing, and left us with a cliffhanger how rude I really enjoyed this show and I’m so tired of all the Paranormal and reality shows that I could scream. No wonder I prefer Tnt, USA for great shows
A&E cancelled two shows by shooting the main character! Remember “The Glades” and “Unforgettable” – in the first, Jim was shot while on the way to his wedding, and on Unforgettable, he had just told her he loved her, followed by a shot that felled him. “Perception” ended with the woman he loved marrying someone else…What do networks have against love?? The lead, or one of them, falls in love, gets married, and the series ends…No, I don’t like how most series are just dropped in the middle of a cliffhanger. “House” ended very well, and so did MASH, but… Read more »
Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) hate ANYTHING wholesome and family-friendly. Instead, they want to indoctrinate you and convince you that reality and gay shows are good for you. THIS IS WHY WE CANCELLED DIRECTV and decided to get Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. THERE I can pick and choose exactly what I want WITHOUT commercials. Networks cannot, like Congress, get out of their own way. CUT THE CABLE/SATELLITE folks. You won’t regret it. STREAM EVERYTHING and send a very clear message to the networks. NOW, I SMILE EVERYDAY because THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOOD TO WATCH. I am now finishing up CSI:Miami,… Read more »
The Firm was an excellent show with great suspense & interesting characters. It was a show that I looked forward to each week. Never miss television! I wish it would have been picked up by another network. It seems pointless to become interested in new shows because if they are any good they will most likely be cancelled. However, reality shows go on year after year.