In the TV densely populated American TV landscape, some shows just keep going, thanks to the devotion of fans. However, others get canceled after only a few episodes, or immediately after the end of the first season. Netflix's recent release, Cowboy Bebop, happens to fall into this category.
Many factors cause the early cancellation of a show. Sometimes there simply isn't enough viewer interest. Poor reviews by critics also tend to be a contributing factor while on other occasions, it happens because of behind-the-scenes drama. No matter the reason, early cancellations always trigger melancholy among viewers who had invested their time in the shows.
Charlie's Angels (2011)
ABC's attempt to modernize the original '70s series fell flat. The reboot was canceled after only 7 episodes, hence qualifying it as one of the worst TV remakes. A total of 13 episodes had been produced but the rest never aired.
The odds were truly against Charlie's Angeles from the start since critics tore it down right from the pilot. There were early hints that the voyage would end sooner than expected as there were essentially no positive reviews. With the original series as well as the 2000 feature-length film starring Cameron Diaz setting the bar too high, the odds were truly against this reboot.
Cavemen (2007)
Inspired by the GEICO cavemen TV commercials, Cavemen examined a world where the historical cavemen never morphed into modern-day humans but were integrated into modern society instead. After a 6-episode run, the ABC sitcom was placed on hiatus during the Writers Guild Of America strike before being canceled altogether.
Though the general concept was unique, Cavemen wasn't funny enough to impress either audiences or critics. Its 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.8 rating on IMDb were proof that almost everyone found it dull. With such a great premise, the show probably could have been successful if it had been placed under the drama genre. Or it could have become funnier in future seasons. Sadly, that will never be determined.
Selfie (2014)
The series revolved around a sales representative from a pharmaceutical company who was obsessed with achieving fame by posting selfies online. Due to low ratings, it was canceled mid-season.
There aren't many TV shows about social media and its effects so Selfie had all the potential to be a hit. Regrettably, the eyeballs were simply not there. However, every undesirable thing has its admirers. The #SaveSelfie hashtag that popped up after the cancellation was evidence that there was a fanbase but despite the campaigns to bring the sitcom back, it remained on the shelf.
Coupling (2003)
Eager to replace Friends, which was coming to an end, NBC remade the British rom-com of the same name. The show followed the dating lives of three adults but was paused, never to return again, after only 4 episodes due to dismal ratings.
Though the outcome was unfortunate, there is no doubt that NBC executives were justified in trying to remake yet another British series. After are all, they were behind The Office, which is one of the best American adaptations of British shows. Its biggest blunder was being too similar to the original show since most of the arcs were directly cloned from the British show. Viewers who had already watched the original were thus left with no choice but to compare.
Hank (2009)
Hank was about a CEO who opts to relocate to a small Virginia town with his family after getting downsized. Sadly, the sitcom couldn't take off and faced the ax after only 5 episodes had aired.
It's never a good sign when some of the cast members even think a show is bad. The ABC sitcom found itself in the quirky territory where even its lead, Kelsey Grammer, hated it. Apparently, the actor called Warner Bros to ask for the show to be canceled because he didn't think it was funny. And whenever the star doesn't believe in the project, there is guaranteed to be a lack of motivation which will spill into the content. Consequently, Hank got shelved.
The Playboy Club (2011)
Events in The Playboy Club centered on Hugh Hefner's infamous Chicago "Playboy Club" in the '60s. Poor ratings were the reason for the termination and the plenty of boycotts didn't help matters either.
After the success of Mad Men, fans wouldn't have been misguided to bet that there would be an imitation soon and it came in the form of The Playboy Club. The success of the AMC show meant the appetite for '60s content existed. But despite having a strong cast that included Amber Heard and Eddie Cibrian, there just wasn't enough intriguing content to keep fans tuned in.
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
Based on the comic book series by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Jupiter's Legacy revolves around the first generation of superheroes and how their children struggle to match up to them. The Netflix show achieved popularity quickly but got scrapped less than a month after its release.
Though critics panned the show, it would definitely have gone on since audiences loved it. Moreover, there is a guaranteed demand for superhero content in the current era. What drove a dagger into the heart of Jupiter's Legacy was behind-the-scenes drama as showrunner Steven DeKnight kept fighting with Netflix over budget allocations.
Doubt (2017)
The ABC legal drama followed an intelligent attorney who falls for a surgeon accused of murdering his girlfriend. When the first 2 episodes failed to garner any decent viewership, the show was axed.
With Katherine Heigl and Laverne Cox on the lead, it was baffling that no one wanted to invest their time in Doubt. The was great LGBTQ+ representation too, with a transgender lawyer being central to the proceedings. Doubt was groundbreaking too as Cox had become the first transgender person to play a transgender lead in a TV show.
The Get Down (2017)
Focussing on the birth of Hip Hop in the '70s, The Get Down seemed destined to remain one of the best musicals on Netflix for a long time. Instead, it became the first Netflix production to be canceled after the first season.
Everything about the musical, including critic reviews, was perfect, which made the cancellation more perplexing. Moreover, there was plenty of star power, with the cast including big names such as Jaden Smith and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Musicals about Hip Hop are rare too, meaning The Get Down was in a good position to help cover that space.
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Based on the Japanese anime show of the same name, Cowboy Bebop focuses on a group of bounty hunters targeting criminals in the solar system. The remake was heavily hyped before its release but got canceled 3 weeks after its release due to poor reception.
Remakes and reboots often have a high chance of failure, especially if the original production was too good. Such was the case here as the Netflix sci-fi show struggled to match the unique themes and dialogue found in the anime series it's based on. Cowboy Bebop also had a lot to prove as there is already a better similar show in The Mandalorian. Sad to say, it just couldn't prove it was better.