What TV show would you bring back from the dead?
If you had your choice, what canceled television show would you revive?
I asked myself this question the other day when I was considering how the television market has shattered into a thousand pieces.
Once upon a time, to earn a spot on a network roster, a show had to deliver an audience of millions of people, preferably tens of millions of people. It had to produce about 26 shows a season, and it had to maintain its appeal across the broadest demographic expanse possible. The show also had to build a base for later syndication, which tended to ensure that it had plot lines that would end after 45 minutes or so.
Looking at that general set of propositions seems to guarantee a product that almost certainly has to be dumbed down. Characters have to be bland enough to appeal to a lot of people. Stories have to neatly wrap up at the end of an episode and storylines (if there is an arc) need to wrap up to some extent at the end of a season.
To some extent all of those guidelines have faded in recent years. With the profusion of cable and premium channel choices, shows are more frequently designed with a niche audience in mind. A show can have a story arc to it that can extend from season to season.
I got to thinking about this the other day when I heard about the death of actor William Windom at the age of 88. Windom was a reliably good character actor in Hollywood. He was seen most on television, but he also made his mark in theatrical films. In 1970, Windom starred in an offbeat television show called "My World And Welcome To It." The show was specifically based on the writings of James Thurber. It featured a mix of live action and whimsical animation. It won two Emmy Awards in 1970, one for best comedy series and one to Windom for outstanding performance by an actor in a comedy. And then it was promptly canceled.
As a teenager at the time, I thought the show was marvelous. It introduced me to the wit of Thurber, and it was unlike anything else on television at the time. My guess is that it looks a lot less impressive four decades later, but imagine what HBO or AMC or FX networks could do with that idea today. Take the humor of Thurber and create a series to spotlight it. Produce about 12 episodes a year and don't worry about having to reach a crowd of 20 million people. The criteria have changed, and television has evolved to allow more flexibility.
But back to the subject here: What show would I want to revive?
My choice would be "Firefly." The marvelous Joss Whedon sci-fi/western hybrid that debuted (and perished) in 2002. According to Wikipedia, it attracted an average audience of about 4.7 million people per episode. It was canceled after the 11th of the season's 14 episodes had aired. To me it was a great mixture of elements. It was basically a cowboy show set in outer space. The characters were vivid and enjoyable and the stories were playful and thought-provoking. It also melded Western culture with Asian, producing interesting results. It had its own playful language that served it well. Even the music, which featured slide guitar and the fiddle, was a delight.
Unfortunately, despite all its creative promise, the show was gone in a matter of weeks. Fan forums still ring with regret over this too-hasty decision.
Whedon managed to get some closure for fans of the show by producing "Serenity," a theatrical film that picked up the characters of "Firefly" and put them in a more conventional sci-fi plot. It was enjoyable but lacked the unique elements of the original show. Alas, that particular lightning won't be captured in a bottle again, but it is fun to imagine what would happen if that show were pitched now. Improved special effects, shorter seasons, more splintered audiences might allow the bar for success to be a little more attainable. You can imagine a niche show like "Firefly" finding a place in the media universe as it stands now.
Is there a favorite show of yours that was canceled too soon? Is there a television show that you would like to see brought back? Share your thoughts and opinions with us.
Follow Shawn Sensiba on Twitter @shawnsensiba.
Nov 8, 2012 at 1:32 a.m.
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Married With Children.
Airwolf
Automan (anyone remember that one)
Hardcastle and McCormick
Fall Guy
In Search Of
Fantasy Island
Emergency!
Dukes of Hazzard
Riptide
Misfits of Science
Simon and Simon
Oct 30, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.
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STNG
Sep 28, 2012 at 6:33 a.m.
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All In The Family
Sep 28, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.
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The Pretender
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:06 p.m.
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American Gothic, Arrested Development, Picket Fences, Carnivale, and Deadwood
Sep 27, 2012 at 7:34 p.m.
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Another show that ended too soon....Max Headroom
Sep 27, 2012 at 5:27 p.m.
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I spend too much time learning on the Internet to be bothered by TeeVee anymore.
Sep 27, 2012 at 3:54 p.m.
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Desperate housewives.
House.
I agree most of the TV land shows.
I would also take more Little House..
I still get hooked if in the middle of the show will keep watching it.
chicago code is done for sure? That stink. It was good. Wasn't there a cliff hanger last year?
Sep 27, 2012 at 3:26 p.m.
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Fraggle Rock!
Sep 27, 2012 at 3:26 p.m.
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Benny Hill
Sep 27, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.
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packattack - were you thinking of "The Equalizer"? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088513/
Sep 27, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.
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The Tonite Show with Johnny Carson.
Sep 27, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.
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F-Troop
Sep 27, 2012 at 12:43 p.m.
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Breaking In with Christian Slater.
Sep 27, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.
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Nip Tuck, Alf, Hogans Family, Murder in Small Town X, No ordinary Family.
Sep 27, 2012 at 12:19 p.m.
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The 1990s-style story telling of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. That show has been undead since the end of the In Space arc (what a great way to end the series, tho). The only storytelling they do these days is of how to screw and vastly underpay your actors. Oh, oh, and even more absurd Frankensteining of three popular Japanese shows. They still do that quite well.
Sep 27, 2012 at 11:06 a.m.
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My Mother the Car, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Ropers, and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
Sep 27, 2012 at 10:42 a.m.
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Gunsmoke, Seinfield, and what was the one where the show would open with a I will help ad in newsprint? The guy was an ex cia or something and helped average people for free.
Sep 27, 2012 at 10:18 a.m.
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Flavor of Love. :)
Sep 27, 2012 at 10:14 a.m.
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Showtime canceled a show called “United States of Tara” that I really liked. It was mid-season and they just ended it; still pretty bitter about that.
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The SNL comment is pretty typical of 90% of people that have ever watched the show. Everyone seems to think that the new cast and writers are never as good as the previous or the originals. The show definitely has its ebbs and flows, but they have had some pretty outstanding cast members come through very recently. They have always had amazingly talented people working on the show. In my opinion; anyone that dislikes the show has grown out of the maturity level that SNL has always lacked. I’m still ok with laughing at immature material and seeing new talent perform at a very high level. To each their own; agree to disagree.
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:03 a.m.
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Would have to agree with Firefly - one of the most unfair cancellations in television history. But Joss Whedon will be busy with his upcoming Marvel superhero TV series (and Avengers 2), and Nathan Fillion has Castle. (I'd love to see Adam Baldwin and Gina Torres in Whedon's upcoming venture)
Sep 27, 2012 at 8:11 a.m.
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Seinfeld, 21 Jump Street, Melrose Place, Golden Girls, Fraiser, Cheers
Sep 27, 2012 at 7:41 a.m.
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L.A. Law, St. Elsewhere and Men of a Certain Age.
Sep 27, 2012 at 1:31 a.m.
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Star Trek
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:51 p.m.
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Wide World Of Sports... Without a Doubt....
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:52 p.m.
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That 70's Show, Prison Break, Growing Pains, Tour of Duty, Home Improvement
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:06 p.m.
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Truth or Consequences....Oh wait! Neither of those concepts could be understood by many people in the USA today, especially by politicians.
Sep 26, 2012 at 8:26 p.m.
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Gilmore Girls, Thirtysomething.
Sep 26, 2012 at 8:14 p.m.
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I'm going back a lonnnngggg way to a 1977-1981 show on PBS: _Meeting of Minds_ . Steve Allen brought together various historical figures from different eras, cultures, and philosophies to interact with each other. The conversations were fascinating and thought-provoking. Remaking it with a modern edge could be absolutely incredible!
Sep 26, 2012 at 7:49 p.m.
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alf
Sep 26, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.
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The Smothers Brothers with a contemporary "in your face" Political undertones and cutting egde music acts.
I was tempted to say SNL, but they jumped the shark and lost their edge in writing and booking acts long ago. (Did SNL ever learn how to write an end to a skit??)
The Addams family stayed true to their Edward Gorey original dark humor concept. That and Morticia and Gomez oozed SEX in prime time.
Sep 26, 2012 at 7:01 p.m.
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Leave it to Beaver and the Ozzie and Harriet Show. I keep thinking if they would bring back some TV programs where people were nicer and what used to be considered normal,maybe people would be nicer than they are now.
Sep 26, 2012 at 5:53 p.m.
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St Elsewhere.
Sep 26, 2012 at 5:29 p.m.
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Third Watch and The Chicago Code
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.
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Brady Bunch (Marcia, marcia, marcia)
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:35 p.m.
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the newlywedd game, the dating game, bonanza, gunsmoke, the green valley and the original hawaii 5-0
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:33 p.m.
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Friends, Who's the Boss, Melrose Place.
I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments. Great choices!
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:32 p.m.
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Gunsmoke
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:20 p.m.
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MASH, the Waltons, Macgyver,Red Dwarf are just a few. I agree love Dr. Who, so glad it is continuing.
Sep 26, 2012 at 4:08 p.m.
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Mr Ed, Gilligans Island, The Jetsons, The Whammy,Shop Til You Drop,there was another grocery shopping game show I miss and Love Connection
Sep 26, 2012 at 4 p.m.
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Northern Exposure
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:47 p.m.
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+1 for Gigglesnort Hotel. I often thought I was the only one around who grew up watching that show. The first season of Jericho was great, the second one not so much. I know and understand the reasons for that but it was still a disappointment.
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:40 p.m.
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I went to tvland.com to jog my memory better.
the jefferson's, gilligans island,dick van dyke, the cosby show, brady bunch.
i would also bring back Ray rayner, bozo, and gigglesnort hotel.
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:34 p.m.
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Jericho, Wind At My Back, The West Wing, JAG, Frasier.
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
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Police Squad! and Automan.
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:15 p.m.
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Monday Night Football
Sep 26, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.
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It's already been mentioned several times, but without a dout, 'Firefly'. Best. Sci-Fi. Series. EVER!
Sep 26, 2012 at 2:28 p.m.
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Mash All in the Family and Hogans Heroes
Sep 26, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.
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Arrested Development and Freaks & Geeks. Both axed too soon...
Sep 26, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.
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The Honeymooners and Viva Laughlin
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:31 p.m.
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Little House on the Prairie. Hard work, teaching children to value what you have and appreciate how you earn it.
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:27 p.m.
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Dead like me
Loved that show!!!
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:22 p.m.
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Without a doubt, Everybody Loves Raymond!
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.
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Firefly, Buffy, Tales of the Gold Monkey, The Prisoner (only if they could do it justice), Twilight Zone, Brimstone.
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:03 p.m.
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I'll vote for Firefly also. Also glad BBC America has Doctor Who!
Sep 26, 2012 at 1 p.m.
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GCB was a hoot! Cancelled due to religious fanatics:(
Sep 26, 2012 at 12:26 p.m.
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Soap OLTL-Boston Legal & Frasier.
Sep 26, 2012 at 12:07 p.m.
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Daytime dramas (AKA - Soap Operas) My favorite - As The World Turns.
Sep 26, 2012 at noon
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mash
Sep 26, 2012 at 11:44 a.m.
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I have two. Neither one are that old, but I would definatly bring Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond!!!
Sep 26, 2012 at 11:31 a.m.
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I got my wish back in 2005 when the BBC brought back "Doctor Who" after a 16-year hiatus. Granted, it had been on for nearly 30 years when it got yanked in 1989, but the show could go on forever and always be new. And I will always be watching.
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