Revisiting the Most Short-Lived TV Shows — Including Projects That Were Cancelled Before They Aired

Yana Grebenyuk

Fri, December 13, 2024 at 4:02 PM UTC

6 min read

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Not every TV shows has been a success story — with some projects getting cancelled before any episodes even aired.

NBC's The Playboy Club only debuted three episodes in 2011 before the show was canceled. The network cited low-ratings as the reason behind the decision to drop the show, which was ultimately replaced by Rock Center With Brian Williams and repeat episodes of Maria Bello's Prime Suspect.

"We're thrilled with the creative direction of both shows as well as the potential for them to continue to build loyal audiences over the coming months," the Chairman of NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. "We're proud of all of the producers, writers, actors, and directors who have worked so hard to bring these shows to life."

Meanwhile over at The CW, two episodes of The Beautiful Life aired in 2009 before the show came to an abrupt end. The teen drama, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher, eventually was burned off on YouTube.

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"What we feel like we're doing is creating, in some ways, an industry first," Kutcher said in a statement. "A show that couldn't find its legs on television, we believe can find its legs on the Web."

Keep scrolling for more short-lived TV shows — including some that filmed episodes that never appeared on screen:

'Promised Land' (ABC)

Canceled After: 5 Episodes

The drama series, which premiered in 2022, followed two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California's Sonoma Valley. The show was pulled from ABC five episodes in and the rest of the season aired on Hulu before it was ultimately canceled.

'Hank' (ABC)

Canceled After: 5 Episodes

Starring Kelsey Grammer, Hank centered around a Wall Street executive who lost his job and, as a result, reconnected with his small-town family. Five episodes aired in 2009 before ABC confirmed they had "no immediate plans" to release the remainder of the series..

'Connecting' (NBC)

Canceled After: 4 Episodes

Set against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, Connecting followed the lives of a group of friends attempting to stay connected amid a lockdown. NBC only aired four episodes in 2020 before moving the rest of the season to Peacock.

'Drive' (Fox)

Canceled After: 4 Episodes

Drive introduced viewers to an illegal cross-country automobile road race. Despite a star-studded cast that included Nathan Fillion, Emma Stone and Melanie Lynskey, the 2007 show — the first one to host a live Twitter session during an episode — was canceled four episodes in.

'Ironside' (NBC)

Canceled After: 4 Episodes

Ironside, which premiered in 2013, served as a remake about a consultant for the police who was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot on vacation.

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'Sunnyside' (NBC)

Canceled After: 4 Episodes

The 2019 series centered around a former New York City councilman who found his calling when he helped immigrants in need.

'The Playboy Club' (NBC)

Canceled After: 3 Episodes

Set in 1961, the series centered on the employees a.k.a Bunnies of the original Playboy Club in Chicago. The Playboy Club starred Eddie Cibrian, Laura Benanti, Amber Heard and Jenna Dewan, but was pulled after three episodes.

'Smith' (CBS)

Canceled After: 3 Episodes

The show followed a group of professional thieves who struggled to keep their work separate from the rest of their lives. Three episodes later, CBS pulled the plug and the rest of the season never aired.

'Wicked City' (ABC)

Canceled After: 3 Episodes

The procedural premiered in 2015 and focused on two LAPD detectives as they searched for a pair of romantically linked serial killers terrorizing the Sunset Strip. Wicked City starred Jeremy Sisto, Taissa Farmiga, Gabriel Luna, Evan Ross, Ed Westwick and Erika Christensen.

'Viva Laughlin' (CBS)

Canceled After: 2 Episodes

Viva Laughlin was a musical drama centered around a businessman whose ambition was to run a casino in Nevada. The show, which aired in 2007 for only two episodes, starred M?dchen Amick, Eric Winter, D.B. Woodside, Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith.

'Do No Harm' (NBC)

Canceled After: 2 Episodes

Do No Harm was a modern take on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The 2013 series followed a doctor who tried to balance working as a neurosurgeon with the overwhelming task of suppressing his evil alter ego.

TV Shows That Were Saved After Cancellation

'Doubt' (CBS)

Canceled After: 2 Episodes

Starring Katherine Heigl, Laverne Cox and Steven Pasquale, Doubt centered around a successful defense lawyer who became romantically involved with a client (who might or might not have been guilty of a brutal crime).

'Made in Jersey' (CBS)

Canceled After: 2 Episodes

Made in Jersey was a drama series about a working-class lawyer from New Jersey who used her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a prestigious New York law firm.

'The Beautiful Life' (The CW)

Canceled After: 2 Episodes

During its 2009 stint on The CW, The Beautiful Life revolved around a group of male and female models sharing a residence in New York City. The cast included Mischa Barton, Sara Paxton, Ben Hollingsworth, Corbin Bleu, Nico Tortorella, Ashley Madekwe and Elle Macpherson.

'Swamp Thing' (DC Universe)

Canceled After: 1 Episode

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Swamp Thing introduced Crystal Reed as a doctor who encountered the Swamp Thing — a plant-elemental creature who fought malevolent forces around a Louisiana swamp. One episode aired before DC Universe pulled the plug.

'Emily's Reasons Why Not' (ABC)

Canceled After: 1 Episode

Based on a novel by Carrie Gerlach, Emily's Reasons Why Not revolved around a successful career woman in Los Angeles who has been unsuccessful in finding The One. Heather Graham starred as the titular character in the 2006 series, which was canceled after one episode due to negative reception.

'Osbournes Reloaded' (Fox)

Canceled After: 1 Episode

Hosted by the Osbourne family, Osbournes Reloaded was a variety show that consisted of sketches, stunts, celebrity cameos, live action audience participation and live musical acts. There were also skits featuring the Osbournes that never saw the light of day after 14 percent of Fox affiliates threatened to preempt the show.