TV Shows That Were Canceled In 2024 (So Far)
Getting canceled is the worst — especially when it happens to your favorite TV shows. Though audiences invest their precious time into every TV show they watch, sometimes they don't get much return on investment. Increasingly, shows are canceled after one or two seasons — and the "Netflix and chill" fun is over before it begins.
Studios swing the ax on series for a variety of reasons, not all of them good. Some shows are budget behemoths, while others don't find an audience fast enough. But for every cancelation that seems slightly pennywise, plenty are pound-foolish. Sometimes great shows seem to just get randomly sent to the big tax write-off graveyard in the sky.
Sadly, this has been a brutal year for saying bye-bye to beloved media. Did any of your faves hit the chopping block? Read on to discover the way-too-long list of TV shows that have been canceled in 2024.
Obliterated
"Obliterated" is a raunchy action-comedy thriller series that ran on Netflix from 2023 to 2024. The show follows a ragtag anti-terrorist team as it disarms a bomb meant to destroy Las Vegas and then party hard after a huge success ... only, they disarmed a decoy bomb. Oops! Now they must fight their various highs and hangovers to stop the real bomb and save the city.
The show stars Nick Zano ("Legends of Tomorrow"), Shelley Hennig ("Teen Wolf"), and an ensemble cast that even includes Costa Ronin ("The Americans") as an arms dealer the group must contend with. It was brought to life by "Cobra Kai" creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg. But even that show's relatively lengthy (for Netflix) season count couldn't save "Obliterated" from being, well — obliterated.
The show was canceled in February 2024, after one season, eight episodes, and four weeks in Nielsen's Top 10 streaming charts. While viewership numbers weren't grim, most reviews were. Aramide Tinubu wrote in Variety, "'Obliterated' is a baffling, nearly unwatchable hodgepodge of nonsense littered with penises and explosives." Regardless of lackluster reviews, the creators had hoped for a Season 2. "If there's a demand for it, we're certainly going to be looking for that next party city where our team could get into mischief and have another adventure," co-creator Hurwitz told Inverse. Schlossberg agreed, saying, "It's the 'White Lotus' of action comedies." Too bad "Obliterated" got pushed overboard — maybe it would have marked the start of an anthology series for hard-R action-comedies if it had been renewed for a Season 2.
This Fool
"This Fool" is a Hulu comedy that centers around comedian Chris Estrada, who plays Julio Lopez — a thirtysomething social worker who works at a South Central Los Angeles felon rehab program called "Hugs Not Thugs," where he is constantly challenged by his freshly-out-of-jail ex-gang-member cousin, Luis (Frankie Quiñones). Michael Imperioli, of "The Sopranos" and "The White Lotus" fame, rounds out the cast as an unlikely mentor figure for the two men.
"This Fool" took the streaming comedy world by storm during its 2022 debut year. In addition to being solidly funny, the series also explores a culture not often seen on-screen, and certainly not in such a quirky, ultimately positive and heartfelt light. Critics loved the show, and it ended up on "Best of" lists ranging from The New Yorker to Collider. Quiñones was even nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.
The show packed tons of talent on-screen and off. Fred Armisen ("Portlandia") produced the series and made a cameo appearance, and the show also features cameos from Miguel Sandoval, Rob Corddry, Bill Pullman, and David Arquette. But none of the show's heart and high-level talent could save it from cancelation after two seasons. The chop was announced in February 2024 via The Hollywood Reporter. The announcement confirmed that July 2023's "This Fool" Season 2 would be the show's last. Fans, critics, and columnists took the blow hard, and the hashtag "#savethisfool" tried to save the show on social media, but to no avail.
Schmigadoon
"Schmigadoon" is an Apple TV+ musical comedy series that follows a couple trying to reunite with each other during a hiking trip, but instead of walking into the woods, they walk into a literal musical. The show takes its name from the classic Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe musical "Brigadoon." The couple, played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key, spend the first season in a world inspired by Golden Age musicals. Season 2 sees the couple search for their happy ending in Schmicago — a seedy, sexy world inspired by musicals of the 1960s and 1970s.
The show is sweet and life-affirming and packed with a showstopper cast that includes Tituss Burgess, Dove Cameron, Alan Cumming, and Kristen Chenoweth. While plenty of theater kids and critics were fans, the show was canceled in January 2024 — despite Season 3 having already been written. That season, some have speculated based on the Season 2 chandelier drop, might have been based on the Andrew Lloyd Weber power musicals of the 1980s. "The season is written (including 25 new songs), but we unfortunately won't be making it," show co-creator and songwriter Cinco Paul wrote on Instagram. However, even if the show isn't going on, all theater kids know the show must go on. Paul added on his Instagram post: "The optimist in me is convinced it's not the end of Schmigadoon...and maybe it's even a happy beginning." We'll sing to that.
Wolf Pack
Into every generation, a Slayer is born ... and then grows up to investigate a forest fire after a werewolf stampede. The Paramount+ teen drama "Wolf Pack" marked Sarah Michelle Gellar's return to supernatural TV, this time in the form of a sort of Watcher-figure, instead of the watched. Sadly, not even the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star could save "Wolf Pack" from that killer called Cancelation.
"Wolf Pack" was created by Jeff Davis, who also created the MTV Series "Teen Wolf." "Wolf Pack" was based on a successful YA series by Edo van Belkom and stars Armani Jackson, Bella Shepard, Chloe Rose Robertson, and Tyler Lawrence Gray as an unlikely pack of teens doing their best to survive high school — and being werewolves.
The first season ended on a cliffhanger in March 2023, but the decision to not make any more dropped in January 2024. Gellar, also an executive producer, once told The Hollywood Reporter there were plans for Season 2. Many outlets have speculated that production delays due to strikes contributed to the streamers' decision. The news came as a bummer to fans and to author van Belkom. "I'm sad myself," van Belkom posted to X (formerly known as Twitter), adding, "I feel more for the young actors and others who felt this was going to be their big break."
The Flight Attendant
"The Flight Attendant" is a comedic thriller about a hard-partying international flight attendant and the dead passenger she wakes up next to after a wild night out. This show has got it all: sex, lies, spies, travel — and journeys to sobriety. What "The Flight Attendant" didn't get, however, was a Season 3.
The show debuted on (what was then known as) HBO Max in 2020. It was a cultural hit right out the gate. Critics loved the show, and fans adored former "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco's performance as the flight attendant herself, Cassie Bowden. HBO Max announced the show's Season 2 renewal the day after the Season 1 finale. The show (and Cuoco) received nine Emmy nominations for its first outing, and Season 2 aired in spring 2022. The official announcement that the show was canceled came in January 2024 — but the unofficial one came a bit earlier.
"There's definitely interest in doing a third season," Cuoco told People in 2022, after Season 2 came to a close. "I think for me, at this moment, the plane has landed." At the time, Cuoco didn't commit to doing more of the show — or not doing more, telling People it "could definitely be done or it's definitely open to continuing." Though ultimately, Cuoco turned in her flight attendant uniform, she seems to have found a niche in mystery thriller TV. She stars in Peacock's "Based on a True Story" — which was renewed for a Season 2 in 2023.
American Born Chinese
"American Born Chinese" debuted on Disney+ in 2023. Created by actor and producer Kelvin Yu, who also produces and writes for "Bob's Burgers," the show is a coming-of-age action comedy based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. The show follows average Chinese-American teen Jin Wang (Ben Wang) as he tries to fit in at school. Things get complicated when a new student arrives from China and gets stuck to Ben like glue.
Sun Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) is anything but average. He's loud, proud of his identity, and the son of Sun Wukong (Daniel Wu), the mythical Monkey King. Sun pulls Jin into a quest full of prophecies, dreams, and epic battles with Chinese legends. The show grapples with issues of identity and belonging through emotional moments, thrilling action, and sweet comedy — plus, its guest stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, and Stephanie Hsu make the show a de facto "Everything Everywhere All at Once" reunion.
While "American Born Chinese" was a hit with critics, Disney+ canceled the show after one season, announcing the decision in January 2024. Per Variety, sources close to the production claimed viewership wasn't high enough to continue producing such an expensive show. The show never broke into any Nielsen Top 10 rankings, either. As of this writing, no other streamer or network has picked up the show — despite its 94% Tomatometer rating and 81% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Julia
TV cancelations are not usually kind to TV shows about TV shows. And so it goes with "Julia," the Max series about 1960s cooking show pioneer Julia Child. The immaculately designed period piece was created by Daniel Goldfarb of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" fame. It stars British TV legend Sarah Lancashire in the title role; David Hyde Pierce as Julia's husband, Paul; and a stacked cast including Bebe Neuwirth, James Cromwell, and Isabella Rossellini.
While most of the storylines on "Julia" are drawn directly from Child's memoirs, the show takes some creative license with characters and composite characters to make the show as much about the joys and difficulties about being a "wonderful woman succeeding in a mediocre man's world" as it is about Child's own success story. The show centers on the loving, if increasingly complicated, dynamic between the Childs, as well as between Child and her friends and collaborators. It's also mostly a gentle, comforting, and super-stylish dramedy — that only got two seasons.
The show made its debut in 2022, and the cancelation announcement came in January 2024, along with a slew of other shows Max was slicing from its roster. In a statement shared with Variety, a Max spokesperson said: "Thanks to ... this heartful, sensual, and inspiring show, we can forever celebrate the incredible legacy of Julia Child." The show "Julia" is on Max to be discovered and celebrated by any foodies and Child fans (until Warner Bros. Discovery decides to delete it from its streaming library entirely). Bon appetit!
Secrets of Sulphur Springs
It's hard enough when a grown-up's favorite show gets canceled, but for a kid? Kids have utter devotion to their favorite shows, so it stings that the mystery series "Secrets of Sulphur Springs" was cruelly, suddenly dropped after its third season. The Disney Channel show follows a Chicago tween who moves to a possibly haunted hotel in a possibly haunted Louisiana town — and discovers a time travel portal that will let him and his friends save a present-day ghost from going missing back in her own time.
Time travel, ghosts, and tween hijinks sound like Disney Channel staples, and they're all here in one series. The kid cast of "Secrets of Sulphur Springs" is charming, too, featuring Preston Oliver ("This Is Us") and Kyliegh Curran ("Doctor Sleep") in lead roles. The young actors help sell the show's spooky but sweet sleepover energy, while the grown-ups in front of and behind the camera help the show emulate a family-friendly version of "The Shining."
Though no official reason for its cancelation was given in the January 2024 announcement, since the show's producers were working with a young cast and dealt with many pauses in production due to COVID-19, time may have run out to keep shooting for continuity with the young cast. Who knows? Maybe the writers just ran out of time puns for their episode titles.
Ratched
The world's most intimidating nurse started out as the terrifyingly tyrannical antagonist in Ken Kesey's 1962 novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," then became a pop culture icon in the 1975 film adaptation, and finally lived again — briefly — in the Netflix TV adaptation, "Ratched." The role was brought to life by Sarah Paulson, in a cast that also includes Cynthia Nixon and Sharon Stone.
The show was created by industry newcomer Evan Romansky and developed by producer Ryan Murphy. "Ratched" is a prequel to the events of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and watches a slightly sweeter Nurse Ratched slide into a more sinister state — and plot twists that might even make a season of "American Horror Story" blush. The show is also visually stunning, employing a vibrant Technicolor aesthetic and colorful costumes to accompany the torturous tale.
Big things were expected for "Ratched" at the onset. Back in 2017, Netflix had reportedly set the show up for two seasons. The show premiered in 2020 at the No. 1 spot in the Nielsen ratings — but then COVID-19 hit. In 2022, Paulson told Variety she wasn't sure if there would be a Season 2 of "Ratched" after all. In 2023, Murphy set his sights on leaving Netflix for a new deal with Disney, further throwing the show into limbo. In February 2024, Paulson confirmed via a "Ratched" fan account video on X (formerly known as Twitter) that there would be no more "Ratched." Talk about torture.
Rap Sh!t
Issa Rae made herself a star by writing, starring in, and producing five seasons of relationship dramedy "Insecure." "Rap Sh!t" is her second major outing as a TV impresario — but the Max show got cut by Warner Bros. after just two seasons. "Rap Sh!t" is a rap dramedy with a stylish, socially conscious bent. The show revolves around two former childhood friends who reconnect as adults and ultimately form a rap duo that takes at least part of the world by storm.
Shawna Clark (Aida Osman) and Mia Knight (KaMillion) struggle to gain fame — but audiences root for them every step of the way. A central question of the show is whether an artist can stay true to themselves while also making money and getting famous. The show features a number of record producers and rappers playing themselves.
After the show's cancelation notice hit in January 2024, Rae told Porter: "You're seeing so many Black shows get canceled, you're seeing so many executives — especially on the [diversity, equity and inclusion] side — get canned. ... It's made me take more steps to try to be independent down the line if I have to." Rae also commented on the idea that studios are just "tightening belts" during an interview with Time, saying, "There is a bitterness of just like, who suffers from you guys pulling back? People of color always do."
Minx
"Minx" is a show so nice, it got canceled twice. The '70s-set series tracks the unlikely rise of a Playboy-style magazine geared toward women. It stars Ophelia Lovibond as the magazine's feminist creator and Jake Johnson as her smarmy yet sweet publisher. It's a role Johnson and his flowing '70s hair were born to play.
"Minx" is heartfelt, hilarious, and sometimes a bit hot under the collar — so of course, after a 2022 Season 2 renewal, HBO Max shockingly canceled the show. It's tough being in the cost-savings business, and "Minx" learned that lesson early on. While it had a strongly positive critical response, audiences took their time finding the show — and it cost "Minx" its wide-lapeled life.
Starz saved Season 2 from obscurity, but not long enough to make Season 3 happen. In 2023, Johnson told Deadline he was doubtful the quirky, funny, thoughtful show would be saved again. "I think the move to Starz, I think HBO kind of doing their HBO thing, or HBO Max, whatever it's called now, I think that was brutal for [the show]," Johnson explained, adding, "My guess is you can't beat something up that many times and keep going."
Our Flag Means Death
Sometimes a sweet, silly little pirate comedy about dismantling toxic masculinity and tapping into the power of love comes out of nowhere. Starring "Flight of the Conchords" alums Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby as Blackbeard and gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet, respectively, "Our Flag Means Death" is a sleeper hit that launched a fiercely devoted fandom. Unfortunately, the show got canceled for seemingly no reason after its Season 2 finale.
Created by David Jenkins ("People of Earth") and populated by an all-star comedy cast, the show managed to be romantic, heartbreaking, and hilarious. It enjoyed almost universal critical praise, especially for its queer characters and storylines. Plus, you can't swing a bit of fine red silk around Etsy or the internet without landing on a piece of "Our Flag Means Death" fan art or appreciation posts.
Still, in January 2024, Max announced that the show would not return. Fans didn't take the news lightly. Some of them raised enough money to pay for a billboard in Times Square asking for a renewal. "This is truly the best fandom. I am speechless. You make me feel like I belong to something," Jenkins posted on Instagram, along with a photo of the billboard. And isn't that what the best TV shows do, for however long they stay on? They make us feel like we belong to something.
Quantum Leap
The original "Quantum Leap" followed Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), a physicist who builds an accelerator that can send people back in time. Unfortunately for Beckett, when he decides to test his new machine, he's sent hurtling through the past and winds up inhabiting random bodies across different decades. The show lasted five seasons and ended with a title card that let us know Sam never made it back home, damned to spend the rest of his life leaping through time, albeit helping many people along the way.
While the updated "Quantum Leap" didn't have such a downbeat ending, we were all pretty sad when it was canceled in 2024. The sequel series was launched in 2022, starring Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, who finds himself in the same exact situation as Sam Beckett — leaping through time, hopping from one body to another, and solving problems across history as he tries to get back to where he belongs. Despite being a reboot of one of TV's best time-travel shows, the new "Quantum Leap" was one of NBC's lowest-rated scripted originals, leading the network to pull the plug on the sci-fi series.
So Help Me Todd
"So Help Me Todd" was a TV success story, with Season 1 being a hit for CBS during its 2022-23 season. The dramedy followed down-on-his-luck Todd (Skylar Astin), a private detective who's hired by his successful attorney mother, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden), to work for her law firm. Since Todd doesn't mind bending the rules a bit during his investigative work, he clashes quite a bit with his mom, who has a much more ironclad view of the law. "So Help Me Todd" was picked up for a second season, but sadly, it'll be the last we see of the legal series.
The show was canceled in early 2024 — and what makes it even more painful is that "So Help Me Todd" wasn't tanking in the ratings. In fact, it had pretty decent numbers. The problem was that every CBS show was doing well, and the network also wanted to introduce new series to its slate, so something had to go. And even though "So Help Me Todd" was doing well, a bunch of other shows were doing better, so it got the ax. Unfortunately, the showrunners didn't have time to prepare, and Season 2 ends on a very big cliffhanger that'll probably never be resolved.
Speaking about the cancelation on Instagram, creator Scott Prendergast wrote, "I took a story about me and my mom and hundreds of people came together to build it into something else, something huge, something beautiful, something funny. Thank you to everyone involved, and to all our viewers. One million thank yous will never be enough."
CSI: Vegas
Featuring the likes of William Petersen, Elisabeth Shue, Ted Danson, and Laurence Fishburne, the original "CSI" series gave birth to an entire franchise, with spin-offs set in locations like Miami and New York City. And while the original was set in Las Vegas, we returned to Sin City with the sequel series "CSI: Vegas" in 2021. Original stars William Petersen, Jorja Fox, and Wallace Langham all showed up, but the new show was led by Paula Newsome as Maxine "Max" Roby, head of the CSI crime lab.
"Vegas" ran for three seasons before meeting its untimely demise in 2024. Much like fellow CBS series "So Help Me Todd," the CSI series did solid numbers. Unfortunately, every show on the CBS slate was doing good numbers, and when you started comparing stats, "Vegas" was near the bottom of the pack. With the station wanting to make room for new programs, "CSI: Vegas" was forced to hand over its gun and badge. Per Deadline, there aren't any plans for the series to move over to Paramount+, so it's probably the last time we'll see Max Roby and her CSI crew.
NCIS: Hawai'i
At CBS, early 2024 was the best of times and the worst of times. The network's scripted shows were all doing solid numbers, but in order to make room for new programs — among other issues — CBS began axing several well-liked shows. As you've read, "So Help Me Todd" and "CSI: Vegas" were the first two to go, and sadly, "NCIS: Hawai'i" followed soon after.
"Hawai'i" was the first "NCIS" property to feature a female lead, with Vanessa Lachey playing Special Agent Jane Tennant, who leads a team based out of Pearl Harbor. Sadly, "Hawai'i" is also the first "NCIS" series to end without a proper finale, as the final episode of Season 3 wasn't intended to be the last one. As you might assume, the show's premature cancelation caused dismay among fans, both because the series was doing well in the ratings and because it featured an incredibly diverse cast.
In response to the series going off the air, series lead Vanessa Lachey wrote on Instagram, "Gutted, confused, blindsided. Grateful, confident, beloved fans! Processing this news and still being present with my family. I love you all! Mahalo Nui Loa." The program ends with the shortest run of any canceled "NCIS" series, a sad stat and a heartbreaking way for such a popular series to end.
Scavengers Reign
One of the best sci-fi shows of 2023, "Scavengers Reign" was a beautifully animated series from creators Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, featuring the vocal talents of esteemed actors like Wunmi Mosaku ("Loki"), Alia Shawkat ("Search Party"), and Sunita Mani ("Glow"). Premiering on Max back in October 2023, "Scavengers" focused on the crew of a space freighter who find themselves trapped on an alien planet. While this new world is wondrous, it's also full of dangers, with our heroes searching for ways to head back home.
Sadly for sci-fi fans, the show's reign at Max is over. The Warner Bros. streamer canceled the series in May 2024. However, there could be hope for the animated series. "Scavengers Reign" Season 1 will move over to Netflix in May 2024, and if it does good numbers, it's possible Netflix could greenlight a second season. We're crossing our fingers for more episodes of one of the most visually fascinating programs in quite some time.
Housebroken
Making a TV show is always a gamble. Even if your series is stacked with big names, it could always wind up in the dog pound. Such is the case for "Heartbroken," a show that starred beloved comedians and actors such as Lisa Kudrow ("Friends"), Will Forte ("Saturday Night Live"), Tony Hale ("Arrested Development"), Sam Richardson ("I Think You Should Leave"), and Jason Mantzoukas ("Big Mouth"). The show also starred one of its creators, Clea Duvall, who's played in films like "The Faculty" and directed movies like "Happiest Season."
The animated Fox comedy revolved around a group of animals who regularly meet in a four-legged support group, guided by a therapist dog. While that's a great premise, The Hollywood Reporter has noted that the series didn't perform well with the 18-49 demographic, thus Fox's decision to cancel the show after two seasons. Granted, not a ton of people watched the show, but we're assuming fans of "Housebroken" are heartbroken.
Constellation
Apple TV+ is no stranger to science fiction offerings, with titles such as "Severance," "For All Mankind," and "Dark Matter." And one of those shows was "Constellation," starring Noomi Rapace as an astronaut working on the International Space Station. After surviving a disastrous scenario among the stars, she returns to Earth, but something is majorly off. Parts of her life are gone, things are different, and she starts to wonder if her near-death experience outside Earth's atmosphere had some sort of impact on her life on the ground.
The show featured several other notable actors such as James D'Arcy of "Agent Carter" and Jonathan Banks of "Breaking Bad" fame, and while "Constellation" Season 1 ended many of its major storylines, there were still plenty of loose threads that needed tying up. "There's a long way to go with the characters," showrunner Peter Harness said during the Television Critics Association winter press tour, elaborating, "I think there's a bigger story to tell about space, about the history of this, and I think these characters have got a long way to go."
Unfortunately, "Constellation" has gone supernova, as Apple TV+ canceled the series in May 2024. The show now joins "Schmigadoon!" in Apple offerings that say farewell in 2024.
The Other Black Girl
Coming from Disney's Onyx Collection — a studio that produces content about people of color and other minority groups — "The Other Black Girl" aired 10 episodes on Hulu to critical acclaim. Coming from showrunners Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey, the series was based on a novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris and followed the journey of Nella (Sinclair Daniel), a Black woman at a nearly all-white publishing company who discovers a conspiracy involving a new employee, an insidious cult, and some dangerous hair grease.
Unfortunately, while critics enjoyed the series, it seems audiences weren't quite as keen on "The Other Black Girl." As a result, the show was canceled after the first season, which continues a rather upsetting trend across 2024. The year has seen multiple shows focused on women and minority groups — "NCIS: Hawai'i," "CSI: Vegas," "Our Flag Means Death," "Rap Sh!t," and "Quantum Leap" among them — go on the chopping block. It's a sad trend, and we can only hope that equally diverse shows of comparable quality will replace them.
The Good Doctor
There never seems to be a shortage of medical dramas on television, and it's not surprising — "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" are two of the biggest ratings juggernauts of the last 30 years. But in order to stand out in a very crowded genre, you need to have a unique angle. In the case of ABC's "The Good Doctor," that unique angle is its main character, a surgeon named Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) who has autism as well as savant syndrome, which makes him both a brilliant doctor but also tough to work with.
Reviews of the show itself have been fairly mixed, but Highmore has been nominated for a Golden Globe and two Critics' Choice Awards for his performance as Dr. Murphy. "The Good Doctor" was also a huge hit with audiences, at times even beating out the likes of "The Big Bang Theory," "NCIS," and "This is Us" in the ratings. There was a spin-off called "The Good Lawyer" not only planned but handed a pilot order, though it ended up being one of the in-development casualties of the 2023 writers strike.
When Season 7 of "The Good Doctor" was first confirmed in April 2023, there was no word that it would be the show's last. That announcement didn't come until just before the short season's February 2024 start date. As for the reason, it seems to be lingering issues from the writers strike, as well as networks needing to trim costs across the board.
Raven's Home
They say nostalgia typically favors what was popular 20 years prior. That certainly seems to be the case for 2000s-era Nickelodeon and Disney Channel sitcoms, as the last few years have brought revivals of "iCarly," "Zoey 101," and "That's So Raven" in various forms. But while the 2021 "iCarly" return was done after three seasons and "Zoey 102" was just a one-off made-for-streaming movie, "Raven's Home" stuck around for an impressive six seasons between 2017 and 2023. It caught back up with the now-adult titular character (Raven-Symoné), who still has her psychic abilities and has also passed them down to her teenaged son, Booker (Issac Ryan Brown).
So why is "Raven's Home" on this list if it technically ended last year? Well, there was no indication when Season 6 concluded in September 2023 that it was going to be the show's last. It wasn't until May 2024 that the announcement came that the show wasn't returning, making it a 2024 cancelation despite ending in 2023. However, that didn't mark the end of Raven-Symoné's relationship with Disney — far from it, in fact.
Around the same time as "Raven's Home" was confirmed to be over, it was also announced that Raven-Symoné had signed a multi-year deal with the mega-corporation, with the first project of that partnership expected to be a "Raven's Home" spin-off called "Alice in the Palace." The show will follow Alice Baxter (Mykal-Michelle Harris), Raven's cousin introduced in Season 5 of "Raven's Home."
Dave
Though audiences weren't always quite sure what to make of the FX dramedy series "Atlanta," particularly in its more experimental and creatively daring later seasons, the show brought tons of awards and critical acclaim. Much of those accolades went to star, co-creator, and showrunner Donald Glover, who is not only famous for being an actor and comedian but also as a rapper under his pseudonym Childish Gambino. Given all the love that "Atlanta" brought to FX, it isn't surprising that the company decided to give another actor/comedian/rapper his own show.
This time airing on FX sister station FXX, "Dave" debuted 2020 and — like "Atlanta" — both starred and was creatively steered by Dave Burd, better known by his stage name, Lil' Dicky. Unlike "Atlanta," "Dave" sees Burd actually playing the struggling rapper at the center of the series, whereas Glover's character in "Atlanta" took a backseat to Brian Tyree Henry's Paper Boi. While Glover was outspoken about rejecting comparisons between the two shows, it was almost impossible not to do so given their long list of similarities.
Even the amount of time each show lasted ended up being similar. "Atlanta" got four seasons, while February 2024 brought news that "Dave" was ending after three. It seems that Burd was ready to put his focus back on his music and various other projects and wanted to take an extended hiatus from "Dave," which FX then turned into a cancelation.
Halo
There was a time when a show like Paramount+'s "Halo" would've been a revelation, a video game-to-screen adaptation that not only wasn't a complete embarrassment like most had been but took risks with its source material. Not to mention actually having been given the budget it needs to bring its world to life. But in a world of amazing series like "The Last of Us," "Fallout," "Castlevania," et al, just being pretty decent doesn't seem as impressive anymore.
For what it's worth, critics were mostly in agreement that Season 2 of "Halo" was a huge improvement over the show's shaky first season. It seems like all signs pointed to a show that had found its footing, and was all set for at least a few more years of following Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) as he helps defend the planet Madrigal from the invading Covenant alien alliance in the 26th century.
Unfortunately, being a show on a streaming service these days, even a moderately popular show on a sort-of-popular service, doesn't guarantee any sort of longevity. Paramount+ in particular has had an itchy trigger finger these last few years, and "Halo" ended up being one of its targets when the streamer canceled the show in July 2024. At the time, producers expressed an interest in seeing if they could find a new home for the series, but as of yet there hasn't been any announcements on the status of that mission.
Walker
Reviving properties from 20 years ago isn't always about enticing the original fans to tune back in. Such is the case for "Walker," a CW series that debuted in 2021 and served as a reboot to the classic Chuck Norris western series "Walker, Texas Ranger" that had wrapped up 20 years prior. It seems unlikely that those who were already the older adults who were the primary demographic for "Walker, Texas Ranger" in the 1990s are going to watch a 2020s CW show about a young version of the character — clearly this was meant to ignite a whole new fandom.
Seeing Jared Padalecki take over the titular role and also serving as one of the show's executive producers, "Walker" doesn't try and make the character young and hip. Instead, this Cordell Walker is already a widower father who finds himself needing to rebuild his life and career back in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Norris had to sign off on the project as he still retains part of the rights to the original series, and it's reported that he gave the show his blessing and obviously had a vested interest in it succeeding.
Did it succeed? Well, it lasted four seasons, which doesn't come close to the original's nine seasons and a TV movie but isn't a terrible run by today's standards. The CW announced it was pulling the plug in May 2024, about a month into what would end up being the show's fourth and final season.
The Brothers Sun
There's a certain predicament that Netflix users always have to deal with whenever the streamer brings another original series to the platform. You don't want to bother getting too invested in a show that might not even get a second season — but at the same time, if you don't watch the show in the first place, how's it going to send the message to Netflix that there should even be a second season?
Those who rolled the dice on Netflix's "The Brothers Sun" and allowed themselves to get drawn into the show's inventive world of a California family who are actually secret Taiwanese gangsters soon found themselves facing a show that would never live beyond its initial batch of episodes. Netflix only gave the show two months after its January 4, 2024, debut to find its audience and axed "The Brothers Sun" in March when it presumably didn't find that audience.
Apparently, not even the star power of Michelle Yeoh — still hot off of her Oscar-winning role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" — nor being co-created by "American Horror Story" writer and producer Brad Falchuk could buy the series a little leeway to continue despite apparently not having done huge numbers. For what it's worth, the main story does at least largely wrap up at the end of the first and only season of "The Brothers Sun," but a post-credits scene frustratingly teases a cliffhanger that will forever go unresolved.
Outer Range
Not to be confused with the similarly titled "Outer Banks" nor lumped in with the surprisingly large number of western-themed shows of the 2020s, Prime Video's "Outer Range" is a far more unique show than a quick read of its synopsis reveals. Though it's ended, we still don't want to spoil too much — as it's a show that's best to go in as fresh as possible — only to say that things quickly get weird for unassuming rancher Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) when he comes upon a strange black hole that allows those who enter it to travel through time.
Amazon is one of the more infamous streamers in terms of canceling shows quickly, with an unusually high number of one- and two-season wonders in its catalogue of original series. That being said, the fact that "Outer Range" even got a second season is a miracle, but it still deserved more. This might not seem like the type of role that is the biggest of stretches for Brolin, but he's still excellent in it and it would've been great to see him continue to evolve the character over a few more seasons.
"Outer Range" has great performances across the board, but it's also worth drawing attention to the underrated Imogen Poots, who is a revelation as the mysterious Autumn. She should be a bigger star, and "Outer Range" could've helped her become that had it lasted longer or been on a streamer that would've backed it harder.
American Rust
Second chances are hard to come by — especially in the world of television. However, "American Rust" is one of the few shows out there that got a second shot at life. The crime drama, based on Philipp Meyer's novel, originally started on Showtime, where it was canceled after the first season. (And that's after it was initially ordered and then dropped by USA Network.) However, that's when Amazon stepped in and revived the series, airing "American Rust: Broken Justice" on Prime Video.
The series revolved around a small-town Pennsylvania sheriff played by Jeff Daniels, whose relationship is challenged when the son of the woman (Maura Tierney) he loves is accused of murder. Season 2 branched out after that initial storyline, following the sheriff as he digs into a series of killings that seem to be part of a larger conspiracy. Unfortunately, it seems that Prime wasn't impressed with "American Rust," so will the series get picked up for a third season elsewhere? Hey, this show seems to have multiple lives, so only time will tell.
Life & Beth
"Life & Beth" wasn't the most popular show on Hulu, but it received solid reviews from critics and featured big names in Amy Schumer and Michael Cera. In fact, Schumer not only starred as the lead character, she was the writer, director, and executive producer.
Her series followed a woman named — you guessed it — Beth, who seems to have an amazing life in New York City. She's got an awesome job, she's got a successful boyfriend, and everything seems to be going great. However, after the death of her mom, she heads back to her hometown, begins to evaluate everything, and starts a new relationship with Cera's character.
Schumer told The Hollywood Reporter that the series took a lot of inspiration from her own life. Unfortunately, we won't get to see Schumer's story and Beth's journey play out any longer. According to Deadline, Season 2 of "Life & Beth" did such low numbers that it didn't end up on Nielsen's streaming list. As a result, Hulu decided to pull the plug, killing "Life & Beth."
The Acolyte
It's been a while since we've gotten a "Star Wars" movie, but we've been getting a ton of "Star Wars" TV shows. Fans of the sci-fi franchise have followed the adventures of Mandalorian and Grogu, Boba Fett, Cassian Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano, and while not all of these shows were runaway hits, none of them were straight-up canceled, leaving plot threads dangling and endings hanging off a cliff.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to "The Acolyte." Created by Leslye Highland, "The Acolyte" takes place during the days of the High Republic, 100 years before the events of "The Phantom Menace." The plot revolves around a Jedi Master and a former Padawan investigating a series of murders, which are connected to the rise of the Sith. The series quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, thanks to reasons ranging from LGBTQ+ characters to the show's take on the Jedi to a character's birthday (yes, we're serious).
But despite the online arguing and evident review bombing, not that many people were actually watching "The Acolyte." While it had a promising start, Deadline reports that the show fell out of Nielsen's Top 10 originals chart in its third week, and while it did climb back up to the Top 10 for the last episode, the finale was evidently the least-watched ending of any "Star Wars" series. With those kinds of numbers and that kind of heated discourse, Disney forced "The Acolyte" off the air (see what did there?), canceling the show after one season and leaving many unanswered questions.