Top Comments: They canceled it?

Tonight I thought I'd discuss a few of my favorite shows that have been prematurely canceled for one reason or another by network TV execs who must get some kick out of canceling great shows and leaving crap behind. I'm sure you'll be able to add a few of your own to this list, or perhaps you'll find some agreement with me.

Last week I finally sat down and watched the only season that exists of Firefly. I saw the film, Serenity shortly after it came out. I'd never seen Firefly when it was on tv...and boy am I bummed that I wasn't able to help boost the ratings to keep it on the air. What a great show! I highly recommend getting your hands on the DVD set. And let's face it - you've always wanted the opportunity to see a "Space Western".

Here's a short description (from that wiki link):

The series is set in the year 2517, after humans have arrived at a new star system, and follows the adventures of the renegade crew of Serenity, a Firefly-class spaceship. The ensemble cast portrays the nine characters who live on Serenity. Whedon pitched the show as "nine people looking into the blackness of space and seeing nine different things".

The show explores the lives of people who fought on the losing side of a civil war and now make a living on the outskirts of the society, as well as the pioneer culture that exists on the fringes of their star system. In addition, it is a future where the only two surviving superpowers, the United States and China, fused to form the central federal government, called the Alliance, resulting in the fusion of the two cultures as well. According to Whedon's vision, "nothing will change in the future: technology will advance, but we will still have the same political, moral, and ethical problems as today."

Of course, this was a great show - so it was canceled. Sigh.

The next show that I really enjoyed - but apparently no one else did, is Wonderfalls. It survived 4 episodes...they advertised a fifth but yanked the show before it ever aired. This was a bit of an odd show, but that's what I liked about it.

Here are some details:

The show's premise is centered on Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas), a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree, who holds a dead-end job as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Jaye is the reluctant participant in conversations with a variety of animal figurines — a wax lion, brass monkey, stuffed bear, and mounted fish, among others — which direct her via oblique instructions to help people in need.

Basically, this girl hears voices and they tell her to help people. But seriously, I liked it - even if no one else did. LOL

You can see a list of episodes here...and there is a DVD set of the first season!

Interesting coincidence? I didn't know this info before reading the wikis on each show while writing this diary:

The series holds the dubious honour of being the second show produced by Tim Minear that was cancelled in the midst of its first season, the first being Firefly. Other similarities between Wonderfalls and Firefly are that they were both aired out of the order in which they were originally intended to be shown, and they both feature actor Jewel Staite (Kaywinnit Lee "Kaylee" Frye in Firefly). The show now lives in syndication on the Logo cable network.

Some other great canceled shows...I'm sure I'll write about these at some point in the future, but for now I'll list them:

Dead Like Me (gone after only 2 short seasons - but they are doing a feature-length film)

Deadwood (what was HBO thinking canceling this one? Seriously...)

And clonecone would like me to add Andy Richter Controls the Universe

Add your own favorite canceled shows in the comments!!

Here are some Top Comments:

From shpilk:

A bit risque, but hey ... TC is a late at night affair. I'm sure George Carlin would have approved.

From noweasels:

Where teh stupid came from.(Featuring droogie6655321, wiscmass and Moody Loner.)

From Elsinora:

I just have to nominate this exchange about the origin 9and geography) of stupidity at NoQuarter.

(Just to add an editor's note: those guys crack me up!)

From ? (Emailer didn't list username, but if I had to guess I'd say browneyes (?) I'll update to correct as soon as someone let's me know who submitted it):

Inland says Rich in PA gives the best comment so far on the relevance of McCain's military service to his desire to be president.

From Catesby:

My first ever nomination must go to Opinionated, with this comment.

From Elise (that's me):

casperr has a great graphic for those of you wanted to express the similarities between Bush and his twin, McSame

ablington and eugene discuss Clark's statement and Obama's response in a level-headed way.

LordMike adds his thoughts on Clark's comments in a different diary.

droogie6655321 wonders why people here hate the media narratives one day and eat them up the next...good question!

I teach music is getting involved in organizing on the ground! Woot!! Activists rule!

eclecticbrotha has a really funny FAIL photo. (I do hope that woman is okay!)

Some lovely photos in escapee's diary, The escapees Visit England (Travel Diary)

Your Top Mojo collector this evening was the fabulous brillig! Please tip her!!

Top 30 comments excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first comments and C&J:

  1) Only if you have the wit by Granny Doc — 192
  2) I don't buy that. I don't see many people buying by DemMarineVet — 176
  3) pissed as hell. by agnostic — 164
  4) This and the conservepedia diary made my by real world chick — 152
  5) I disagree, by agnostic — 150
  6) My 15-year-old son has already been banned by blue jersey mom — 129
  7) Maria sings: by droogie6655321 — 123
  8) you didnt watch the video by glutz78 — 121
  9) Well it depends. by xxdr zombiexx — 120
10) Wes is one of the few men that is able to make by testvet6778 — 109
11) No, thank you, General. by Jimdotz — 102
12) Wes is a team player and those comments have by testvet6778 — 96
13) Laptops are too damn expensive by Muzikal203 — 94
14) Here's to Dirty Fucking Hippies! n/t by fritzrth — 91
15) I'll say. My uncle by SensibleShoes — 90
16) Heh. by sbdenmon — 90
17) as a vet and wounded twice in Vietnam... by JasperJohns — 90
18) You're correct there by dmsilev — 86
19) Hey people! by STOP George — 86
20) James Madison also said... by mrhelper — 85
21) There's an IQ limit at Conservapedia by yesivotedforbush — 81
22) My reaction to this diary can be summed in 1 word by dansac — 79
23) Meh. by Yoshimi — 79
24) asdf by droogie6655321 — 78
25) Sorry, by STOP George — 76
26) Ouch... by Ken in Tex — 76
27) Thank You for Your Service to Our Country by CityLightsLover — 76
28) You have to admit that a free Bin Laden is far by real world chick — 76
29) How did he manage that? by dmsilev — 73
30) To win. by Yoshimi — 73

Top comments with no exclusions:

  1) Tip Jar by dmsilev — 730
  2) Tip jar... by AmericanFactotum — 583
  3) Tip Jar by Lt Gen Robert G Gard — 566
  4) Tips... by Keith Olbermann — 475
  5) Thanks all by Jon Soltz — 456
  6) Tip Jar by DemMarineVet — 412
  7) How would you feel if they took yours? by ohmproject — 410
  8) Join the Database by ben masel — 323
  9) Tips and stuff. by Lava20 — 307
10) Tip Jar by chicagovigilante — 281
11) Tip Jar by davefromqueens — 236
12) tip jar here by slinkerwink — 223
13) I like this Dr. Neilsen. . . by nyceve — 197
14) Only if you have the wit by Granny Doc — 192
15) I don't buy that. I don't see many people buying by DemMarineVet — 176
16) pissed as hell. by agnostic — 164
17) Anyone with me? by Angry Mouse — 160
18) I will by david mizner — 157
19) This and the conservepedia diary made my by real world chick — 152
20) I disagree, by agnostic — 150
21) My 15-year-old son has already been banned by blue jersey mom — 129
22) Maria sings: by droogie6655321 — 123
23) you didnt watch the video by glutz78 — 121
24) Well it depends. by xxdr zombiexx — 120
25) "Made in North Carolina" by Larry Kissell — 117
26) Wes is one of the few men that is able to make by testvet6778 — 109
27) Tips for the 5,177 People Who Signed Tom's Letter by Tom Udall for Senate — 104
28) No, thank you, General. by Jimdotz — 102
29) Wes is a team player and those comments have by testvet6778 — 96
30) Laptops are too damn expensive by Muzikal203 — 94