List of television series canceled before airing an episode

Many television shows are produced as pilots that never air on television or in any medium. The scope of this article is to list shows that were officially announced to be broadcast, but then canceled prior to the scheduled debut on the original network. Shows are listed in alphabetical order with the slated year of debut (plus timeframe, or specific premiere date, where applicable), known cast and plot information, the reason for cancellation (if known), and what happened to the series after cancellation.

A

All My Babies' Mamas (early 2013)

An American reality show set to air on Oxygen starring rapper Shawty Lo, and showcasing his life as the father of eleven children by ten different women. The series was canceled after an online petition and public outcry.^[1]

All-Star Celebrity Bowling (fall 2014)

Revival of the 1970s bowling game show Celebrity Bowling that was to air on AMC. The channel had picked up the show in May 2014 before deciding in October to cancel all but one of its unscripted programs, including those that had not yet made it to air. All-Star Celebrity Bowling was one of at least three shows canceled in this manner.^[2]

American Princess (2003)

American reality show produced by NBC in 2003. It involved 20 American women who are average, plain, and rather ill-mannered, getting taken to London to master the finer arts of British society and be crowned "American Princess" and earn valuable prizes. The series was set as a midseason replacement sometime in the 2003–04 season, but never made it to air. Two years later, the series was finally run on WE tv, where it was a success and later picked up for another season.

B

Bill and Martha (Fall 1964)

An American situation comedy starring William Bendix and Martha Raye that was scheduled to air on CBS, but due to the shaky health of Bendix the network decided not to air the program. This action resulted in a lawsuit from Bendix for $2.658 million in May, with the actor stating that the decision hurt his career and that he was in excellent health and could perform all of the requirements of the agreement. The case was settled out of court. Bendix died on December 14, 1964 from pneumonia complications.^[3]

Blonde Charity Mafia (July 7, 2009, early 2010)

An American reality series developed by Lifetime, it followed three Washington, D.C. socialites whose lives revolved around charity events.^[4] After production was completed on one six-episode season, Lifetime decided to sell the show to The CW network rather than air it itself.^[5] The CW scheduled the July premiere date for the series, but later decided to forgo all original programming for that Summer, and program the show as a midseason replacement for the 2009–10 season.^[6][7] Sometime after that decision, the network apparently lost interest in the series; references to it were removed from CW websites, and on December 29 the network officially confirmed that it would not air the show at all.^[8][9] It was apparently dropped in favor of two other reality series developed by The CW, Fly Girls and High Society. The series did air on MTV Australia and MTV New Zealand in August and September 2009.^[10][11]

Bridge & Tunnel (2010)

MTV documentary reality show following the lives of young residents on Staten Island. Show was in production and had a scheduled air date for October 2010 but was ultimately pulled for being too similar to the network's hit Jersey Shore despite being slice of life documentary-style in comparison to Jersey Shore's show-set residence.^[12][13]

C

Captain America (1998)

The animated series, based on the comic book character of the same name, was meant to premiere in February on Fox Kids. However, the show was pulled due to historic references to Nazis and that the studio that created the show went bankrupt.

The Cheetah Girls (2003)

Based on the novel series of the same name, Walt Disney Studios produced four episodes of this television series for Disney Channel, but canceled it before airing any of them.

Coach (2015)

A revival of the 1980s sitcom of the same name, Coach was picked up by NBC straight-to-series without a pilot. Shortly after the series began production, unspecified problems with NBC staff prompted the network to cancel the series before any of its 13-episode order made it to air.^[14]

Coastocoast (September 14, 1978)

This hour-long sitcom about two airline stewardesses, from Bud Yorkin's production company, was originally announced for NBC's Thursday-night schedule. However, even Yorkin said he preferred a delayed debut. When Fred Silverman took over the network in June, the show was pulled for "further development" and eventually scrapped.^[15]

Commando Nanny (September 17, 2004)

A sitcom series for The WB, created by Survivor producer Mark Burnett, was based on his life as an au pair (he is also a former squaddie), serving in No3 Para. Scheduled for the WB's Friday comedy block, the show's September 17 debut (which was promoted in fall previews such as TV Guide) was delayed due to Phillip Winchester breaking his foot and being replaced by Owain Yeoman, followed by Gerald McRaney undergoing lung surgery. After the pilot was reshot, Rachel Sweet departed as showrunner, forcing The WB to shelve the sitcom permanently.^[16]

Country Style (1964)

A country-themed show made for ATN-7 in Sydney, Australia. In 14 episodes and shot on 16mm film, it had various country music stars appearing as guests, including Rex Dallas and Smoky Dawson. American Marty Robbins, who rarely appeared on television, performed "Devil Woman" and "El Paso".^[17] According to associate producers the LeGarde Twins, the show was pulled when host Digby Wolfe began making demands for high pay and luxuries. One episode may have eventually aired on a Saturday morning.^[17] The series finally aired 48 years later, debuting on January 2, 2011 on CMC (Country Music Television) in Australia.^[18] The first episode was filmed in color, which was so expensive that only that episode was color; as of 2012, that first episode remains lost.^[17]

D

Day One (early 2010)

American sci-fi drama from NBC about apartment residents that survive an unknown worldwide cataclysm that destroys modern infrastructure. The show was initially ordered to series, then had its order cut to mini-series, then it was announced the pilot would be retooled as a TV movie, before ending up never airing at all. According to NBC's Angela Bromstad, the show was originally expected to fill the Heroes time slot after the 2010 Olympics. The movie/pilot was directed by Alex Graves, who previously directed the pilot episode for the Fox TV series Fringe and for the NBC TV series Journeyman.

The Dictator (March 15, 1988)

Christopher Lloyd starred as Paul Joseph Domino, the deposed President-For-Life of a small South Seas nation, now running a laundromat with his family in New York's Rego Park area. The pilot episode was well-reviewed, and the series was scheduled to premiere on March 15, 1988. However, after receiving significant on-air promotion from CBS, The Dictator didn't actually make it to air due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.^[19]

Do You Trust Me? (2007)

American game show for CBS hosted by Tucker Carlson. Six episodes were produced in 2007, but none aired. The series even had a page on the CBS website.^[20]

Domestic Goddess (September 20, 2003)

American cooking series for ABC Family hosted by Roseanne Barr. Thirteen episodes were ordered but Barr underwent an emergency hysterectomy on August 20 which ended the project.^[21] A program detailing the show's creation, The Real Roseanne Show, made it to air on ABC that summer.

E

Eight Days a Week (early 2008)

The CW announced this single-camera comedy for mid-season, but no episodes were produced besides the unaired pilot, partly due to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike.^[22][23]

Ev and Ocho (September 3, 2012)

A VH1 reality show featuring NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson ("Ocho Cinco") and his then-wife, former Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada, had eleven episodes taped. Johnson's arrest for assaulting Lozada, which came three weeks before the show was to premiere, and the subsequent divorce, prompted VH1 to shelve the series.^[24]

Everything Money Can't Buy (Fall 1974)

ABC originally announced this series for its fall schedule, although no pilot had been made, just a sizzle reel. Retooled into the 1976 show Good Heavens.^[25][26]

F

Fearless (Fall 2003, early 2004)

The WB announced production of this show for the 2003–04 season which was based on the young adult series of novels by Francine Pascal for its Tuesday-night schedule. The show starred Rachael Leigh Cook, Bianca Lawson, Ian Somerhalder, and Eric Balfour. The network decided to put One Tree Hill in its place (a show which complimented its lead-in, Gilmore Girls, as lead actor Chad Michael Murray appeared in its first two seasons) and move Fearless to midseason after hearing of issues producers were having with the lead character's emotions and later issues of casting. After many delays, the show was canceled. The pilot was the only episode shot, and although it never aired on television, it later leaked on the internet.

Flip It Forward (fall 2014)

This HGTV series was to feature David Benham and his twin brother, Jason Benham (The Benham Brothers). The already-greenlit series was abruptly canceled in the wake of protests after reports surfaced of the duo's ties to religious extremists (the Benhams publicly oppose homosexuality and like their father Flip Benham, who heads the radical anti-abortion group Operation Save America, are also prominent pro-life and Christian activists).^[27]

Friend Me (early 2013)

A late addition to CBS' 2012–13 schedule, this multi-camera sitcom was scheduled to premiere mid-season. The show never aired, possibly related to the sudden death of co-creator Alan Kirschenbaum in October 2012. The show's official page disappeared from the CBS website sometime in February 2013, and it was reportedly announced as axed at the August Television Critics Association Press Tour.

The Frame (2011)

US network The CW announced this 8-week 16-episode Big Brother-esque reality game show for mid-season in 2011, but it was revealed to be shelved in March 2012.^[28][29]

G

Garbage Pail Kids (September 19, 1987)

An animated series based on Topps' popular parody of the Cabbage Patch Kids was scheduled to debut on CBS' Saturday-morning schedule, but was canceled before its debut after complaints from parental groups and replaced by an extra half-hour of Muppet Babies. Although the 13 produced episodes aired in other countries (most notably Iceland), it remained unseen in North America until April 2006 when the complete series was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Good Grief (August 8, 2014)

Lifetime had announced plans to debut the reality television series, which would have followed the owners of the Johnson Family Mortuary in Fort Worth, Texas, and began airing promotion teasers. But after a series of rescheduling issues, Lifetime decided to cancel the series altogether on July 24, 2014. The program's scrapping also came in the wake of the July 15 discovery of 8 unattended or decomposing bodies at the funeral home, which led to the arrests of owner Dondre Johnson and his wife Rachel Hardy-Johnson. (The funeral home's landlord, who was executing an eviction process, discovered the bodies and alerted authorities.) The funeral home itself has been the subject of an investigation by The Texas Funeral Services Commission and has been scrutinized by critics and the local media about their practices and boasting about promoting the series prior to their arrest.^[30]

The Grubbs (November 3, 2002)

An American version of Granada Television's The Grimleys starring Randy Quaid, Carol Kane, and Michael Cera, which was produced without Granada's input and was blasted in early reviews as "the worst sitcom ever produced". Scheduled for Sunday nights at 9:30 PM, the show was scrapped two days before its debut.^[31] Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman stated that it "failed to live up to its creative potential".

H

Hancock Down Under (1968)

British comedian Tony Hancock was set to star in the Australian-produced TV series, playing himself as a new immigrant to Australia. After taping three episodes, Hancock, who had been battling alcoholism and depression for years, committed suicide. The series was canceled without airing, although the three episodes were eventually edited together and broadcast in Australia as The Tony Hancock Special in 1972.^[32]

Head of the Class (June 24, 1960)

This summer primetime game show hosted by Gene Rayburn was slated to air on NBC's Friday-night schedule from 8:30–9:00 PM, and TV Guide listed this as such;^[33] however, NBC changed its plans and opted to fill the time period with reruns of Wichita Town. The pilot is among the holdings of the UCLA Film & Television Archive.^[34]

Heads Up (2016)

Game show based on the popular app produced by Ellen DeGeneres and hosted by Loni Love. 65 episodes were completed for HLN but the network shelved the show after refocusing its programming on news.^[35]

Heavens to Betsy (1995)

Dolly Parton starred in this American half-hour comedy for CBS. 6 episodes were made but none aired.^[36] The concept was later reused in the 1996 CBS TV movie Unlikely Angel.

Hieroglyph (early 2015)

Fox gave this historical action drama set in ancient Egypt a 13-episode straight-to-series order in October 2013 and released a trailer in May 2014. The network subsequently canceled the series in July 2014, after a single episode had been shot and several scripts had been written.^[37]

Hollyweird (1998)

A show about "the adventures of an intrepid pair of friends from Ohio who take their love for the macabre and use it to solve crimes plaguing Los Angeles",^[38] the show was to star Melissa George, Bodhi Elfman and Fab Filippo. The pilot was ordered to series; however, Fox's tinkering and delays^[39][40] frustrated creator Shaun Cassidy, who pulled out of the project, saying that Fox had forced him to spend "much of the last year trying to fix something I never viewed as broken in the first place." Ultimately, production never went ahead on the show.^[31][41][42]

Hooligan's Island (2013)

A projected British sitcom television series created by, written by and starring Ade Edmondson and Rik Mayall.^[43] The show was to be a spin-off sequel to Mayall and Edmondson's BBC Two sitcom, Bottom, which ran from 1991 to 1995, and was based on the sitcom's 1997 stage tour, Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island, with the show's characters Richie and Eddie stranded on a desert island. It was due to air on BBC Two in 2013.^[44] On 15 October 2012, Edmondson announced during an interview with BBC Radio Essex that he had pulled out of the new series of Hooligan's Island stating that he wished to pursue other interests.^[45]

Hotel Story (1977)

This Australian series made by Crawford Productions was canceled by Network Ten before a single episode aired and only seven episodes taped. After Network Ten canceled the series, Crawford Productions found their series' contract had never been signed, so they had no legal redress. The first four episodes later went to air as a "miniseries" screened over two nights (July 13 and December 27, 1977).

I

Immigrants (August 12, 2004)

This animated series from Klasky Csupo for Spike TV featured a story about two immigrants – Jóska and Vladislav (from Hungary and Russia, respectively) – as they adjust to their new life in the United States. Six episodes were ordered,^[46] with a two-hour marathon to begin the run. However, for reasons unknown, the series never aired. The series was made into a motion picture for theatrical release, which was released on DVD in the United States in 2009.

In The Dark (Summer 1997)

The WB was slated to air an American version of a British game show of the same name on its prime-time Sunday schedule, but it was yanked before its premiere.^[47][48]

The IT Crowd (US Adaptation) (early 2008, Fall 2008)

NBC slated an American adaptation of the British comedy series of the same name with an American cast (although Richard Ayoade reprised his role as Moss). Jessica St. Clair played the female lead Jen, and Joel McHale played Roy. The show taped its pilot before a live audience on February 16, 2007, and was picked up for a midseason debut in 2008, but was later pushed back to air during the 2008–09 season. On September 13, 2007, The Hollywood Reporter reported that NBC was considering pulling the plug on the show. When NBC announced its schedule for the 2008–09 season, The IT Crowd was not on it, and McHale had since been cast as the lead for Community. The pilot has been seen on various video-sharing sites, including YouTube.

J

The Jake Effect (early 2002)

Seven episodes of this sitcom starring a pre-Arrested Development Jason Bateman were produced to premiere in midseason 2002, but NBC canceled the series before a single episode aired. In 2006, Bravo aired the first six episodes of the series as part of its "Brilliant But Canceled" block.

Jingles (2008)

A CBS series produced by Mark Burnett in which teams compete to create new advertising jingles for brand-name products. It starred Gene Simmons and Kimberly Caldwell.^[49]

L

Let's Dance (November 23, 2009)

ABC ordered five episodes of an intended comedy-celebrity dance competition, to be hosted by Kathy Griffin; however, casting difficulties led to the series being scrapped.^[50]

Liza and David (October or November 2002)

This planned reality series, about the lives of Liza Minnelli and her then-husband, producer David Gest, was abruptly canceled by VH1 in October just before its debut.

The Love Nest (Fall 1974)

CBS originally announced this sitcom to air in its fall schedule on Friday nights. It starred Charles Lane and Florida Friebus as widowed senior citizens who live together in a Florida trailer park.

Lost in the USA (Fall 2001)

An American reality show scheduled for Sunday at 7 on The WB,^[31] it was to follow four groups of young people on a cross-country scavenger hunt.^[51] It was canceled due to troubles at the production company Artists Television Group.^[52]

M

Mail Order Family (2016)

A proposed NBC sitcom about a widowed American single father who marries a mail-order bride from the Philippines. Executive producer and co-creator Jackie Clarke based the series on her own experiences growing up with her Filipina stepmother, and intended to portray the character as a strong woman who helped her overcome the death of her birth mother.^[53] Less than three days after announcing the project, NBC decided not to move forward after protests from the Asian-American community and advocates for trafficked women and mail-order brides.^[53][54]

Mainly For Men (1969)

A BBC magazine program aimed at men. The pilot was made in 1969, but went unaired until 1992 on the TV Hell program as an example of some of the worst television ever made.^[55]

Manchester Prep (1999)

This US series prequel to the 1999 film Cruel Intentions was commissioned by Fox and advertised as a new series but, perhaps due to its controversial subject matter involving teen sexuality, was canceled after two completed episodes.^[31][56] The pilot was later partially refilmed to add nudity and adult subject matter, and released as the R-rated direct-to-video film Cruel Intentions 2.

Man vs. Beast (British version, November 1, 2003)

British channel ITV commissioned a six-part series based on the controversial Fox special of the same name. It was withdrawn on October 30 after protests from animal rights groups.^[57]

Marie (September 14, 2009)

This American daily talk show from Las Vegas, hosted by Marie Osmond and syndicated by Program Partners, was cleared in 80% of US markets; however, the show's distributor withdrew it from distribution on July 31, roughly six weeks before the show's debut. Some of the stations that picked up the program had also changed their mind and withdrew their commitments.^[58] Marie eventually made it to air three years later on Hallmark Channel.

Match Game (Summer 2004, Fall 2008)

American network Fox promoted a revival of the 1970s game show Match Game called What the Blank!, hosted by Fred Willard and announced by Randy West, for Summer 2004; other than the addition of a "man on the street" segment, the game was faithful to the 1970s format. In 2008, TBS picked up the show as Match Game for its late-night schedule with Andrew Daly as host, but did not air any episodes nor mention the show in any press conferences since then. Other networks rumored to have declined revivals include NBC and GSN. The series eventually returned in 2012 on The Comedy Network in Canada, hosted by Darrin Rose; a U.S. revival eventually was picked up in 2016 with Alec Baldwin as host.

The Mayor (2004)

American sitcom for The WB produced by Adam Sandler. Six episodes were ordered but it was later nixed due to the network reportedly unhappy with the show's creative direction.^[59]

Members Only (Late 2014, Early 2015)

American prime time soap opera following the upstairs-downstairs drama of the powerful and wealthy Holmes family, owners of Connecticut's most exclusive clubs. It was to star Natalie Zea and John Stamos. The series was given a straight to series 13 episode commitment by ABC and was created by Academy Award nominees Susannah Grant and David O. Russell. However, Russell exited the series just a month after it received a straight-to-series order. Only a pilot was filmed before ABC shut down production of the series, and naturally, the pilot never aired.

The Men's Room (early 2005)

An NBC sitcom starring John Cho that was scheduled for midseason in the 2004–05 season, but shut down production after completing only six of its 13-episode order, none of which aired.^[60]

Misconceptions (early 2006)

Ordered as a midseason replacement for The WB's 2005–06 season, this sitcom would have told the story of single mother Amanda Watson (Jane Leeves) and her teenage daughter Hopper (Taylor Momsen) meeting the girl's biological father, Eddie Caprio (Adam Rothenberg), a sperm donor who turns out to have fabricated all the personal details that led Amanda to choose him, but who charms Hopper despite Amanda's distaste.^[61] Six episodes were produced, but none of them aired before The WB shut down and merged with UPN to form The CW. The newly merged network aired only two new series during its first season on the air, the rest of its schedule being made up of established series from both networks, leaving no room for Misconceptions.^[62]

Mission Control (early 2015)

This NBC sitcom starring Krysten Ritter and Michael Rosenbaum was ordered as a midseason replacement for the 2014–15 season. Casting difficulties would result in the show's cancellation following the completion of the show's pilot episode, which never aired.^[63]

Mr. Dugan (March 11, 1979)

This American sitcom was to premiere on CBS and received substantial on-air promotion. Starring Cleavon Little as a fledgling black congressman, Mr. Dugan was yanked from CBS' schedule on March 7 because several real black congressmen denounced it after a special screening.

Murder Police (2013)

An American animated sitcom from Fox.^[64]

My Man Can (2013)

A British ITV dating game show axed for "being too rubbish"^[65] before any of its episodes were aired.^[66]

N

NASCAR Wives (January 24 and February 15, 2009)

This TLC "docusoap" was to follow the lives of several wives of prominent NASCAR drivers. It was to be shown as a special after the 2009 Miss America Pageant, but the network changed its mind and decided to wait until after the 2009 Daytona 500. The series never made it to the air, despite being heavily promoted, due to a conflict between the parties involved with the making of the show. It was reported that TLC wanted to create in-show conflicts that were along the lines of traditional reality programs, namely fights among cast members, while the NASCAR Media Group refused to show their drivers and the wives in a negative light.^[67]

Next Caller (early 2013)

An NBC single-camera sitcom about battling radio hosts starring Dane Cook, Collette Wolfe, and Jeffrey Tambor. NBC scheduled the show as a midseason replacement for the 2012–13 season, but production was halted after filming only four of its six episode order, none of which aired.^[68]

O

Off the Wall (Fall 1977)

An NBC general-circumstance comedy series. Not to be confused with the Disney Channel's later game show.

On the Ropes (Fall 1999)

This teen-aimed sitcom was slated to air on the Kids WB lineup, but was withdrawn due to the popularity of Pokémon.

The Ortegas (2003)

This Fox project starred Cheech Marin and was based on The Kumars at No. 42, a British hit about an Indian family that hosts its own talk show.^[69]

Our Little Genius (January 13, 2010)

Fox picked up this Mark Burnett production, hosted by Kevin Pollak, for a midseason debut to air after American Idol. On January 7, the series was postponed on request by Burnett due to concerns about the show's integrity; Burnett had gotten reports that some contestants got too much information about the questions they were going to be asked, which would violate FCC rules against manipulation of game shows and would violate network standards and practices. On February 20, it was reported that a letter sent to the FCC on December 17, 2009 by a contestant's parent stated that, before a taping, a staff member gave the child certain questions and answers that he "needed to know". The FCC looked into the allegations since the letter was sent, and Fox officially canceled the show without airing any of its eight episodes.

P

Popetown (2002)

A cartoon series commissioned by the BBC which consisted of comical misrepresentations of the Roman Catholic church. After a sustained campaign from senior Catholic theologians, the series was never broadcast on the grounds that it was not of sufficient quality. However, Popetown made its debut on New Zealand music television network C4, and was released on DVD in September 2005.

Press Ganged (Fall 2004)

A reality television series in which members of the public crew a ship and are judged on their seafaring skills, made by Granada Productions for ITV1 in the UK.^[70] Filmed in Summer 2004, it appeared on lists of forthcoming series several times over the next year, but was never broadcast. No reason has ever been given for the show's non-appearance.

R

Raising Caines (1995)

Judge Reinhold was set to star in this family sitcom alongside Mel Harris on NBC. Although it never aired in America, it did air in other countries.

Rewind (early 1998)

An American Fox sitcom following two advertising executives (Scott Baio and Mystro Clark) both in the current day and in flashbacks to their experiences in the 1970s.^[31] The network heavily advertised the series, and it was featured in the 1997 fall preview of TV Guide, but it was canceled before any showings.

Rising Star (UK version, early 2015)

The British version of the Israeli real-time talent show was ordered by ITV in November 2013 for broadcast in early 2015. However, because of low ratings on the American and German versions of the show, ITV announced that the show will not be broadcast in the United Kingdom.^[71]

The Robert Taylor Show (1963)

NBC originally slated this Four Star series, starring actor Robert Taylor as a troubleshooter for the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with George Segal and Robert Loggia, in its Thursday-night schedule. The series was later pulled before airing for unknown reasons.^[72]

Roman's Empire (early 2009, Fall 2009)

An American adaptation of the British comedy was planned for ABC's 2008–09 midseason schedule, but was later pushed to the fall season. The project, starring Kelsey Grammer, was officially passed on with Grammer working on Hank (which itself was canceled after airing five episodes).

The Runner (January 2002)

LivePlanet, the multi-media company formed by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, announced this series in 2001 to air on ABC. The premise would have a "runner" compete for a $1 million-plus prize by completing a series of "missions" across the country, while three "agents" try to "capture" him. The show would have an internet twist: not only could potential contestants apply to be runners or agents online, but viewers could win a share of the pot by digging up and sharing clues about the runner's whereabouts on the Web. The series never aired, possibly so LivePlanet could focus on the drama Push, Nevada, which did air in 2002 (but was canceled after seven episodes).^[31][73] A version of the show was finally launched in 2016 by Verizon's go90 streaming service.^[74]

S

Schimmel (2000)

American Fox sitcom starring comedian Robert Schimmel with Mike Scully serving as executive producer was shelved when Schimmel underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.^[31][75]

Secret Service Guy (1997)

Judge Reinhold was slated to star in this sitcom, which Fox decided not to air. However, the series did air in Australia in a very early-morning time slot.^[76]

Septuplets (early 2003)

Another unrealized Fox commitment, this one about a set of 16-year-old septuplets who run an upscale beachfront hotel with their parents.^[77]

Seven Days (1985)

A proposed ABC newsmagazine series to have been anchored by Kathleen Sullivan which would have reviewed the major national and world news stories of the previous week. The network decided against putting the series into production.^[78] The proposed series was revived by New Zealand network TV3 as 7 Days, hosted by New Zealand comedian Jeremy Corbett.

The Singles Table (early 2007)

NBC announced this sitcom about five people who meet at a wedding after they are placed at the worst table in the event as a midseason replacement. However, the series was pulled without explanation before airing.

Snip (September 30, 1976)

Comedian David Brenner was slated to star in this sitcom, where he would portray a hairdresser dealing with his ex-wife (Lesley Ann Warren) moving back in with him. Created by James Komack, who had earlier created Chico and the Man and Welcome Back Kotter, Snip appeared to have great potential and was heavily promoted by NBC; however, after seven episodes were written and five were filmed, the network decided to pull the show at the last minute – so abruptly, in fact, that TV Guide still listed the show in its schedules. Brenner later stated that he believed the pulling was due to fears of controversy, as one of the supporting characters was openly gay, quipping that apparently "In 1976, there were no gay people in America." The five completed episodes later aired in Australia.

Star Trek: Phase II (Spring 1978)

A planned revival of Star Trek that was to air on a proposed Paramount Pictures television network. When plans for the network fell through with 13 episodes written, the first script of Phase II was given an expanded budget and became Star Trek: The Motion Picture while two others later became episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 2008, the online fan-film project Star Trek: The New Voyages changed its name to "Star Trek: Phase II" and announced it would be adding at least one "new" character who had been created for the abandoned 1970s series. Pre-production of Phase II had progressed to the point of costume design, preliminary casting and screen tests, and some set design; footage of all three survives and was included as bonus features on the 2001 DVD release of the "Director's Cut" of The Motion Picture.

Still Life (2003)

Fox family drama. 6 episodes were made but never aired.^[79]

Surprise with Jenny McCarthy (2012–13)

NBC announced an American adaptation of the British variety show Surprise, Surprise fronted by Jenny McCarthy at upfronts, but it was revealed to have quietly been axed at the January Television Critics Association Press Tour.^[80]

T

Thick and Thin (early 2006)

This sitcom starred Jessica Capshaw as a formerly overweight woman who was struggling to commit herself to a healthier lifestyle – over the objections of her still-overweight family and friends. Six episodes were produced as a midseason replacement for NBC's 2005–06 season, but none were aired. Due to the premature cancellation, Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Parnell and writer Paula Pell returned to working on SNL.

Tonari no 801-chan (early 2009)

Anime adaption of the manga that was scheduled to air on TBS in Japan when the network made the announcement in mid-August 2008. For unknown reasons, the series was later canceled; all of TBS' websites on the show were removed, making the cancellation official, on August 29.

Top Gear (early 2009)

American version of the cult British show of the same name, hosted by Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer,^[81][82] was announced in mid-June by NBC to premiere as a midseason replacement in 2009.^[83] Although studio segments which were taped on July 26 for the pilot were generally favorably reviewed (hewing close to the UK version's format),^[84] NBC reversed its decision in December, citing the failure of Knight Rider.^[85] The show was picked up by History in 2010, with Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara replacing Stromer and Carolla respectively.^[86]

12 Miles of Bad Road (2008)

The brainchild of comedic writer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, centering around a Texas matriarch who must reconcile her booming real-estate business and immense wealth with the day-to-day struggles of her dysfunctional family life. Ten episodes were ordered by HBO, but only six were shot due to the contemporary writers' strike. On March 17, 2008, HBO confirmed that they were not planning to air the show, and the creators then attempted to shop the episodes around to other networks.

U

Untitled Jay Williams Project (2015)

Nonfiction docuseries spin-off of Iyanla: Fix My Life on OWN featuring a man fathered 34 children with 17 different women attempting to put his life together with the help of Iyanla Vanzant. Canceled before production was completed.^[87]

Us & Them (2013)

American remake of the popular British sitcom Gavin & Stacey starring Jason Ritter as Gavin and Alexis Bledel as Stacey. After a six-month-long online romance, Gavin, who lives in New York, and Stacey, who lives in Pennsylvania, decide to meet in person. Their crazy families and friends constantly interfere in their budding relationship, which becomes more of a challenge than living in different states. The show was originally given a 13 episode order but that was later cut to 7 episodes, with Fox deciding not to air the completed episodes.^[88]

W

The Walt Disney Magic Hour (Fall 1998)

A travelogue series of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts hosted by George Foreman was supposed to debut as part of PAX's debut lineup,^[89][90] but never made it to air.

Waterfront (early 2007)

CBS ordered this drama, which dealt with the political and personal lives around the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, as a midseason replacement series. After completing production on five episodes, the network decided to cancel the series, citing creative and financial issues.

Welcome to the Neighborhood (July 10, 2005)

An ABC reality show that was canceled before airing as its subject matter "risked fostering prejudice". The series had a conservative white neighborhood choosing their new neighbors from a group of families that were black, Hispanic, and Asian; two gay white men raising an adopted black child; a couple covered in tattoos and piercings; a couple who met at the wife's initiation as a witch; and a poor white family.

When I Grow Up (2001)

Also known as Fling. An American romantic comedy for the Fox network created by Glenn Gordon Caron. The show was canceled after six episodes were completed, none of which aired.^[91]

When Women Rule the World (Spring 2007; June 2, 2008)

An American reality show for the Fox network that consisted of 12 women and 12 men sent to a "primitive location" where the men were forced to be subservient to the women, with the women voting off one man per week and the final man left winning $250,000. The show was announced in early 2007, but its debut was delayed to June 2, 2008, then delayed again in April before the network scrapped it permanently. A version was later produced for the United Kingdom.

Where's the Fire? (Fall 1974)

A sitcom about volunteer firemen; scenes from the pilot were shown in ABC's 1974–75 season promo reel, but the show was withdrawn before its launch.^[26]

Y

The Young Astronauts (early 1986)

This animated series, produced by Marvel Productions, concerned a 21st-century family aboard the interplanetary transport ship Courageous, along with their cat and a comical maintenance "droid". It was slated to be a Saturday-morning midseason replacement on CBS, but was pulled due to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28. A Star Comics comic book series from Marvel Comics was planned to tie into the cartoon, but was also canceled for the same reason. An advertisement that appeared in many comic books in 1986, which promoted the upcoming fall lineup for CBS Saturday morning, prominently featured a drawing of The Young Astronauts along with other shows set to air that fall.^[92]

See also

• Television series
• List of television series canceled after one episode
• List of longest-running United States television series
• List of longest-running U.S. cable television series

References