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Any favorites in the list? I forgot a few of these even existed...
The Best Brilliant But Cancelled Dramas of the Decade
By Angel Cohn - TWoP | Friday, January 30, 2009, 3:03 PM
Call us petty, but we still hold a grudge against networks for axing so many amazing programs over the past eight years. Thanks to DVD, some of these underappreciated shows have found a second life, though many of them have continued to be neglected by their studios thanks to a seemingly indifferent public -- or just a lack of enough produced episodes to warrant the boxed-set treatment. They may be gone, but as far as we're concerned, they're not forgotten. In alphabetical order, here are the post-millennial dramas that should've lasted longer.
American Dreams
(September 2002 - March 2005)
Using "American Bandstand" as its setting, this family drama encapsulated the life and struggles of teens in the '60s. From going off to war or to college, to the search for fame, to the draft, to post-traumatic stress, to the intense riots in Philadelphia, it pulled no punches and covered all the bases. Only on for three years, it served as a launching pad for young stars like Brittany Snow, Rachel Boston and as a showcase for Gail O'Grady.
The Black Donnellys
(February 2007 - April 2007)
Another one of those series that you may have missed, this midseason replacement started off with a bang but soon fizzled out in the ratings. Dealing with organized crime, this sibling-centric series set in Hell's Kitchen focused on four brothers fighting for control and loyalty and a chance at the good life, all under the watchful eye of the family matriarch (Kate Mulgrew). It didn't even make it through its 13-episode season before NBC tired of the saga. We'd like to blame Olivia Wilde for its untimely demise, but that's probably just us projecting our hatred of her "House" character onto this show.
Boomtown
(September 2002 - December 2003)
This ambitious series showcased criminal investigations like no other, with a Rashomon-like look at the scene from all the various parties involved. The show aired a short first season and was renewed for a second, but lost its flashy format. So despite its solid cast (Jason Gedrick, Neal McDonough, Lana Parilla, Donnie Wahlberg and Mykelti Williamson), it was shelved shortly after getting its reboot. Way to lose your core fanbase trying to appeal to new viewers. Good plan, right?
Carnivale
(September 2003 - March 2005)
This beautiful period drama, set during the great Depression, sank deep into the never-ending battle between good and evil, all against the backdrop of a traveling carnival. It boasted the most unique set of characters we'd seen since "Twin Peaks," and some of the most confusing storytelling we'd seen since that show as well. But just because we were sometimes baffled doesn't mean it wasn't compelling TV. This ambitious, artistic series set out to unfold its complete drama over six seasons but was cut short after only two, leaving us scratching our heads even more.
Deadwood
(March 2004 - August 2006)
This landmark HBO series might not have had the legions of fans that "Six Feet Under" or "The Sopranos" did, but its fine craftsmanship and profanity-flecked, quasi-Shakespearean dialogue was appealing to true TV devotees. We're still angry at the C*#@$^*%#rs who decided that they'd rather greenlight a new series from creator David Milch than keep this stylish Western on the air, then lamely promised that there would be several follow up movies made to tie up all the loose ends. We all know now they lied, and loyalists got nothing except a heaping pile of disappointment.
Drive
(April 2007 - April 2007)
Silly action fluff for sure, but it starred Nathan Fillion, so it deserves some credit. This high-speed adventure had Fillion's Alex Tully in a cross-country illegal road race that harkened back to the good old days of "Cannonball Run." It was driven off the air after four episodes, and we never found out why half of these characters were racing, who was pulling the strings, or, most importantly, who won.
Eli Stone
(January 2008 - December 2008)
Once you got past the randomness of Jonny Lee Miller singing and dancing to George Michael songs, this was a pretty decent legal series, albeit with some quirk. And really, were Eli's brain tumor-induced musical visions any more crazy than Ally McBeal's dancing baby sightings back in the day? Hardly. Sadly, this show never quite found an audience and was snuffed out by ABC in the midst of its second season, with episodes in the can that still haven't aired.
Everwood
(September 2002 - June 2006)
Despite the best efforts of this show's fans, who went to great lengths to keep it on the air (they rented a freakin' Ferris wheel to put in front of the WB offices), TPTB thought it would be a better idea to bring back "7th Heaven" for a millionth season or something instead. So we just have to imagine that Amy and Ephram lived happily ever after, and we can always sit and wonder what happened with Hannah and Bright, recalling what it was like in that quaint and lovely little town where people were actually nice and actors could actually act.
Eyes
(March 2005 - April 2005)
Pretty much your typical crime-solving procedural, but it starred Tim Daly as a private eye with a love of gadgets, which he used in his investigations. The one mystery he couldn't solve? Why this show only lasted six episodes.
Jack & Bobby
(September 2004 - May 2005)
This ambitious series was probably doomed from the start, focusing on two brothers, one of whom would grow up to become President. Not based on those Kennedy brothers of the same name, but with a lot of similarities, one brother dies young while the other is pushed into office after his brother's death, and political scandals, etc. ensue. It was set in present day, but with interviews from folks who were involved in the future McCallister presidency. It was axed after one season, but at least the name Robert McCallister lives on in Greg Berlanti's other politically themed drama "Brothers & Sisters."
Jericho
(September 2006 - March 2008)
Fans were nuts about this show. Literally. When ABC tried to cancel it the first time, viewers banded together and bombarded the net's office with bags of peanuts, and their efforts helped earn the series a second abbreviated season to tie up loose ends. Set in a small town during the aftermath of nuclear attacks on the country, it focused on personal reactions to the tragedy and the triumph of the human spirit, with some conspiracy theories and territory battles thrown in for good measure. Skeet Ulrich and Gerald McRaney starred as the town's leaders with some long-standing issues between them.
Joan of Arcadia
(September 2003 - April 2005)
This one might be a better fit for our sci-fi/supernatural list, but aside from the fact that Joan (Amber Tamblyn) had conversations with God, it was pretty grounded in reality -- a typical family drama (with Mary Steenburgen and Joe Mantegna as her parents and Jason Ritter as her paraplegic brother), with a twist. Joan was a teenager with a mission, who tried hard to be normal despite being dispatched on do-gooder errands by a higher power. After one highly rated season and one not-so highly rated one, the show was pulled from the air, just as an evil character arrived to try and pull Joan from her chosen path. Why do they always cancel stuff when it is getting really good?
Karen Sisco
(October 2003 - November 2003)
Remember Jennifer Lopez in her best role to date? No, not The Wedding Planner. As Karen Sisco in Out of Sight. That lively Federal Marshal character was given her own life (based on the Elmore Leonard books) and a new actress (sexy Carla Gugino) for the small screen. But this steamy Miami-set crime drama never caught on and it was cut short.
Kidnapped
(September 2006 - August 2007)
Jeremy Sisto headed up a team of investigating a high-profile kidnapping case. The subject in question was the son of well-to-do parents Dana Delany and Timothy Hutton. Engaging with interesting twists and some fine acting, this series was cancelled before it ever had to deal with the issue that in season two there would have to be a major cast upheaval and a new kidnapping case to solve.
October Road
(March 2007 - March 2008)
This ABC series wasn't exactly complex or ground-breaking, but its sweet characters were engaging enough and we soon got sucked into the relationship drama. The plot centered on Nick (Brian Greenberg), a hotshot 20-something who returns to his hometown in the hopes of shaking off his case of writer's block. Once there, he's confronted with all the people he left behind, including his high-school sweetheart (Laura Prepon) and her son, who may or may not be his. Whether the boy was Nick's is something fans are still wondering about since the show was canned after its second season.
Once and Again
(September 1999 - April 2002)
This blended family saga lasted longer than the majority of shows that made this list, but that didn't make its cancellation any less painful. In fact, it only gave fans more time to become attached to the characters, headed up by Sela Ward and Billy Campbell as two divorcees who fall in love and take a second chance at marriage, dragging their kids (including breakout stars Shane West and Evan Rachel Wood) and exes along for the ride. It was a well-done, honest look at a very realistic familial situation from the creators of "thirtysomething" and "My So-Called Life," set apart from many other shows with character interviews done in black and white and interspersed at various points in the episode. And while "Gary Unmarried" and "New Adventures of Old Christine" (the sitcom-y spins on this situation) will probably run forever, this carefully crafted tearjerker only lasted for three seasons.
Pasadena
(September 2001 - November 2001)
If you blinked then you probably missed this soapy saga that aired on Fox for a hot minute back in the early part of this decade. Timing (right after the September 11th terrorist attacks) was blamed for audiences' lack of interest in the wealthy world of money, murder and mayhem. But the star-studded (Dana Delany, Alison Lohman, Balthazar Getty, Mark Valley and Natasha Gregson Wagner) twisted drama from writer Mike White was a precursor to the likes of "Dirty Sexy Money." One of these days, a primetime soap is going to stick again.
Reunion
(September 2005 - December 2005)
A clever premise in which a graduating class celebrating a reunion finds out a classmate has been murdered. Each episode revealed one year of their lives post-high school leading up to present day. Starring Chyler Leigh, David Annable and Amanda Righetti, this series only aired nine episodes, leaving fans wondering whodunit.
Rome
(August 2005 - March 2007)
Here's another one of those visually stunning historical pieces that HBO does so well. It's just a shame that they all seem to get cut short because of low ratings and expensive production costs. Who'd have thunk? Featuring the dashing Kevin McKidd in a toga, this epic undertaking tried to hail Caesar but even though it looked stunning and had engaging plots, it was buried under the costs of its elaborate sets.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
(September 2006 - June 2007)
When two competing networks simultaneously rolled out two shows that took a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a live sketch comedy show (like "Saturday Night Live") it was only a matter of time before one of them flopped. And "Studio 60" did just that when pitted against the wickedly funny "30 Rock." Too bad that "Studio 60" never really had time to find its footing, because Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford were a dynamic duo together, even when working with the most implausible and bizarre storylines to come out of Aaron Sorkin's twisted genius mind.
Traveler
(May 2007 - July 2007)
A little like the Bourne Identity or any of those high-action chase thrillers, but in weekly installments, Traveler centered on two best friends who go on the lam after their other college pal, Will Traveler, sets them up to look like they bombed a museum. Confusion and chaos abound, with them never knowing who to trust, or if Will actually ever even existed. Since the ABC show was yanked from the airwaves after eight episodes, we never really got to see how this drama played out, but it was fun while it lasted.
Veronica Mars
(September 2004 - May 2007)
Some may quibble that this series' third season wasn't as good as its first two. They may be right, but all that network meddling and attempts to make this highly stylized noir thriller more accessible to viewers without the attention span for serialized drama didn't help matters. Besides, the plan for the fourth season in which the snarky title character heads off to the FBI sounded pretty genius. Plus, those first two seasons were insanely good, which made this untimely cancellation a bitter pill to swallow. On the plus side, we discovered the amazing talent of star Kristen Bell and got to see Enrico Colantoni doing something other than "Just Shoot Me," so we'll console ourselves with that.
Wonderland
(March 2000 - April 2000)
A bleak, depressing and gut-wrenchingly realistic look at a mental health institution in New York City and the complex and twisted lives of the patients and the staff, "Wonderland" was ahead of its time in many ways. It is kind of not so surprisingly that this show only survived two weeks on network TV before it was unceremoniously yanked from the airwaves. The unaired episodes are just now trickling out on DirecTV nearly a decade later thanks to the critical success of creator Peter Berg's other series "Friday Night Lights."
The Best Brilliant But Cancelled Dramas of the Decade
By Angel Cohn - TWoP | Friday, January 30, 2009, 3:03 PM
Call us petty, but we still hold a grudge against networks for axing so many amazing programs over the past eight years. Thanks to DVD, some of these underappreciated shows have found a second life, though many of them have continued to be neglected by their studios thanks to a seemingly indifferent public -- or just a lack of enough produced episodes to warrant the boxed-set treatment. They may be gone, but as far as we're concerned, they're not forgotten. In alphabetical order, here are the post-millennial dramas that should've lasted longer.
American Dreams
(September 2002 - March 2005)
Using "American Bandstand" as its setting, this family drama encapsulated the life and struggles of teens in the '60s. From going off to war or to college, to the search for fame, to the draft, to post-traumatic stress, to the intense riots in Philadelphia, it pulled no punches and covered all the bases. Only on for three years, it served as a launching pad for young stars like Brittany Snow, Rachel Boston and as a showcase for Gail O'Grady.
The Black Donnellys
(February 2007 - April 2007)
Another one of those series that you may have missed, this midseason replacement started off with a bang but soon fizzled out in the ratings. Dealing with organized crime, this sibling-centric series set in Hell's Kitchen focused on four brothers fighting for control and loyalty and a chance at the good life, all under the watchful eye of the family matriarch (Kate Mulgrew). It didn't even make it through its 13-episode season before NBC tired of the saga. We'd like to blame Olivia Wilde for its untimely demise, but that's probably just us projecting our hatred of her "House" character onto this show.
Boomtown
(September 2002 - December 2003)
This ambitious series showcased criminal investigations like no other, with a Rashomon-like look at the scene from all the various parties involved. The show aired a short first season and was renewed for a second, but lost its flashy format. So despite its solid cast (Jason Gedrick, Neal McDonough, Lana Parilla, Donnie Wahlberg and Mykelti Williamson), it was shelved shortly after getting its reboot. Way to lose your core fanbase trying to appeal to new viewers. Good plan, right?
Carnivale
(September 2003 - March 2005)
This beautiful period drama, set during the great Depression, sank deep into the never-ending battle between good and evil, all against the backdrop of a traveling carnival. It boasted the most unique set of characters we'd seen since "Twin Peaks," and some of the most confusing storytelling we'd seen since that show as well. But just because we were sometimes baffled doesn't mean it wasn't compelling TV. This ambitious, artistic series set out to unfold its complete drama over six seasons but was cut short after only two, leaving us scratching our heads even more.
Deadwood
(March 2004 - August 2006)
This landmark HBO series might not have had the legions of fans that "Six Feet Under" or "The Sopranos" did, but its fine craftsmanship and profanity-flecked, quasi-Shakespearean dialogue was appealing to true TV devotees. We're still angry at the C*#@$^*%#rs who decided that they'd rather greenlight a new series from creator David Milch than keep this stylish Western on the air, then lamely promised that there would be several follow up movies made to tie up all the loose ends. We all know now they lied, and loyalists got nothing except a heaping pile of disappointment.
Drive
(April 2007 - April 2007)
Silly action fluff for sure, but it starred Nathan Fillion, so it deserves some credit. This high-speed adventure had Fillion's Alex Tully in a cross-country illegal road race that harkened back to the good old days of "Cannonball Run." It was driven off the air after four episodes, and we never found out why half of these characters were racing, who was pulling the strings, or, most importantly, who won.
Eli Stone
(January 2008 - December 2008)
Once you got past the randomness of Jonny Lee Miller singing and dancing to George Michael songs, this was a pretty decent legal series, albeit with some quirk. And really, were Eli's brain tumor-induced musical visions any more crazy than Ally McBeal's dancing baby sightings back in the day? Hardly. Sadly, this show never quite found an audience and was snuffed out by ABC in the midst of its second season, with episodes in the can that still haven't aired.
Everwood
(September 2002 - June 2006)
Despite the best efforts of this show's fans, who went to great lengths to keep it on the air (they rented a freakin' Ferris wheel to put in front of the WB offices), TPTB thought it would be a better idea to bring back "7th Heaven" for a millionth season or something instead. So we just have to imagine that Amy and Ephram lived happily ever after, and we can always sit and wonder what happened with Hannah and Bright, recalling what it was like in that quaint and lovely little town where people were actually nice and actors could actually act.
Eyes
(March 2005 - April 2005)
Pretty much your typical crime-solving procedural, but it starred Tim Daly as a private eye with a love of gadgets, which he used in his investigations. The one mystery he couldn't solve? Why this show only lasted six episodes.
Jack & Bobby
(September 2004 - May 2005)
This ambitious series was probably doomed from the start, focusing on two brothers, one of whom would grow up to become President. Not based on those Kennedy brothers of the same name, but with a lot of similarities, one brother dies young while the other is pushed into office after his brother's death, and political scandals, etc. ensue. It was set in present day, but with interviews from folks who were involved in the future McCallister presidency. It was axed after one season, but at least the name Robert McCallister lives on in Greg Berlanti's other politically themed drama "Brothers & Sisters."
Jericho
(September 2006 - March 2008)
Fans were nuts about this show. Literally. When ABC tried to cancel it the first time, viewers banded together and bombarded the net's office with bags of peanuts, and their efforts helped earn the series a second abbreviated season to tie up loose ends. Set in a small town during the aftermath of nuclear attacks on the country, it focused on personal reactions to the tragedy and the triumph of the human spirit, with some conspiracy theories and territory battles thrown in for good measure. Skeet Ulrich and Gerald McRaney starred as the town's leaders with some long-standing issues between them.
Joan of Arcadia
(September 2003 - April 2005)
This one might be a better fit for our sci-fi/supernatural list, but aside from the fact that Joan (Amber Tamblyn) had conversations with God, it was pretty grounded in reality -- a typical family drama (with Mary Steenburgen and Joe Mantegna as her parents and Jason Ritter as her paraplegic brother), with a twist. Joan was a teenager with a mission, who tried hard to be normal despite being dispatched on do-gooder errands by a higher power. After one highly rated season and one not-so highly rated one, the show was pulled from the air, just as an evil character arrived to try and pull Joan from her chosen path. Why do they always cancel stuff when it is getting really good?
Karen Sisco
(October 2003 - November 2003)
Remember Jennifer Lopez in her best role to date? No, not The Wedding Planner. As Karen Sisco in Out of Sight. That lively Federal Marshal character was given her own life (based on the Elmore Leonard books) and a new actress (sexy Carla Gugino) for the small screen. But this steamy Miami-set crime drama never caught on and it was cut short.
Kidnapped
(September 2006 - August 2007)
Jeremy Sisto headed up a team of investigating a high-profile kidnapping case. The subject in question was the son of well-to-do parents Dana Delany and Timothy Hutton. Engaging with interesting twists and some fine acting, this series was cancelled before it ever had to deal with the issue that in season two there would have to be a major cast upheaval and a new kidnapping case to solve.
October Road
(March 2007 - March 2008)
This ABC series wasn't exactly complex or ground-breaking, but its sweet characters were engaging enough and we soon got sucked into the relationship drama. The plot centered on Nick (Brian Greenberg), a hotshot 20-something who returns to his hometown in the hopes of shaking off his case of writer's block. Once there, he's confronted with all the people he left behind, including his high-school sweetheart (Laura Prepon) and her son, who may or may not be his. Whether the boy was Nick's is something fans are still wondering about since the show was canned after its second season.
Once and Again
(September 1999 - April 2002)
This blended family saga lasted longer than the majority of shows that made this list, but that didn't make its cancellation any less painful. In fact, it only gave fans more time to become attached to the characters, headed up by Sela Ward and Billy Campbell as two divorcees who fall in love and take a second chance at marriage, dragging their kids (including breakout stars Shane West and Evan Rachel Wood) and exes along for the ride. It was a well-done, honest look at a very realistic familial situation from the creators of "thirtysomething" and "My So-Called Life," set apart from many other shows with character interviews done in black and white and interspersed at various points in the episode. And while "Gary Unmarried" and "New Adventures of Old Christine" (the sitcom-y spins on this situation) will probably run forever, this carefully crafted tearjerker only lasted for three seasons.
Pasadena
(September 2001 - November 2001)
If you blinked then you probably missed this soapy saga that aired on Fox for a hot minute back in the early part of this decade. Timing (right after the September 11th terrorist attacks) was blamed for audiences' lack of interest in the wealthy world of money, murder and mayhem. But the star-studded (Dana Delany, Alison Lohman, Balthazar Getty, Mark Valley and Natasha Gregson Wagner) twisted drama from writer Mike White was a precursor to the likes of "Dirty Sexy Money." One of these days, a primetime soap is going to stick again.
Reunion
(September 2005 - December 2005)
A clever premise in which a graduating class celebrating a reunion finds out a classmate has been murdered. Each episode revealed one year of their lives post-high school leading up to present day. Starring Chyler Leigh, David Annable and Amanda Righetti, this series only aired nine episodes, leaving fans wondering whodunit.
Rome
(August 2005 - March 2007)
Here's another one of those visually stunning historical pieces that HBO does so well. It's just a shame that they all seem to get cut short because of low ratings and expensive production costs. Who'd have thunk? Featuring the dashing Kevin McKidd in a toga, this epic undertaking tried to hail Caesar but even though it looked stunning and had engaging plots, it was buried under the costs of its elaborate sets.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
(September 2006 - June 2007)
When two competing networks simultaneously rolled out two shows that took a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a live sketch comedy show (like "Saturday Night Live") it was only a matter of time before one of them flopped. And "Studio 60" did just that when pitted against the wickedly funny "30 Rock." Too bad that "Studio 60" never really had time to find its footing, because Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford were a dynamic duo together, even when working with the most implausible and bizarre storylines to come out of Aaron Sorkin's twisted genius mind.
Traveler
(May 2007 - July 2007)
A little like the Bourne Identity or any of those high-action chase thrillers, but in weekly installments, Traveler centered on two best friends who go on the lam after their other college pal, Will Traveler, sets them up to look like they bombed a museum. Confusion and chaos abound, with them never knowing who to trust, or if Will actually ever even existed. Since the ABC show was yanked from the airwaves after eight episodes, we never really got to see how this drama played out, but it was fun while it lasted.
Veronica Mars
(September 2004 - May 2007)
Some may quibble that this series' third season wasn't as good as its first two. They may be right, but all that network meddling and attempts to make this highly stylized noir thriller more accessible to viewers without the attention span for serialized drama didn't help matters. Besides, the plan for the fourth season in which the snarky title character heads off to the FBI sounded pretty genius. Plus, those first two seasons were insanely good, which made this untimely cancellation a bitter pill to swallow. On the plus side, we discovered the amazing talent of star Kristen Bell and got to see Enrico Colantoni doing something other than "Just Shoot Me," so we'll console ourselves with that.
Wonderland
(March 2000 - April 2000)
A bleak, depressing and gut-wrenchingly realistic look at a mental health institution in New York City and the complex and twisted lives of the patients and the staff, "Wonderland" was ahead of its time in many ways. It is kind of not so surprisingly that this show only survived two weeks on network TV before it was unceremoniously yanked from the airwaves. The unaired episodes are just now trickling out on DirecTV nearly a decade later thanks to the critical success of creator Peter Berg's other series "Friday Night Lights."
^^^^ing ^^^^ suckers !!!!! 
