Best TV shows to last only one season? - Page 4 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

froseph · 05-18-2005, 10:34 PM

cupid... still trying to find copies of it somewhere. I was really disappointed when it was canceled.

fresnelly · 05-22-2005, 06:21 PM

My apologies if this has been mentioned already:

The John Larroquet Show.

It was a wonderfully seedy anti-sitcom with real bruises under the laughs. It lasted one glorious season in it's orginal form only to be shamlessly re-tooled for its second. John was given an apartment, a needy girlfriend, and all of the supporting characters changed from complex to "wacky". What a disappointing let down.

check out jumptheshark.com for more details

Gilda · 05-22-2005, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyal256

Besides shows that have already been mentioned (most of them fox shows too), i'd like to add some more fox shows that I don't think have been mentioned Tru calling (I guess I was one of the few that liked that show),

Tru Calling is back on the air as a mid-season replacement.

I'll second Voyagers! My high school history teacher showed us episodes of that show as a part of some of our lessons sometimes. It was actually part history lesson, part adventure. Quantum Leap, but set pre-1900.

I'll add The Prisoner, which was concieved as a one season show.

Also The Flash, which was a mid-eighties live action show. It was unusual, in that it ran from 8:30 to 9:30. NBC ruled Thursday Nights with The Cosby Show at 8, Cheers/Night Court from 9-10, and Hill Street Blues / LA Law from 10-11. Their weak spot was 8:30, where they kept trying out various crappy shows hoping that having ratings juggernauts Cosby and Cheers around them would make up for their being crappy. CBS counter programmed with The Flash, hoping to get kids channel switching at 8:30, and it worked. Cosby served as a defacto lead in for The Flash, which then stole part of Cheers' audience in it's second half. It was well done, good special effects for the time, and got good ratings, and was promptly cancelled. It was the most expensive show on tv, and CBS didn't want to pay for it.

It's too bad I don't have the entire run sitting around on VCD's from Hong Kong where I could watch them any time I want, but I wouldn't do that, because that would be unethical.

Most of these I've never heard of. I'd seen the advertising for Firefly but it didn't appeal to me, and the commercials were actively annoying; I think I must have seen that "Who's flying this thing? Oh, that would be me." clip thirty times in the span of a couple of weeks.

bwhite897 · 05-22-2005, 09:22 PM

My So-Called Life (what a great show...)
Freaks And Geeks
Undeclared (from the creators of Freaks and Geeks. It's coming out on DVD soon)
Get Real (Anne Hathaway was in it. reminded me a bit of My So-Called Life)

Gilda · 05-22-2005, 09:42 PM

Oh, one more, and I bet I'm the only one who knows this one:

My Life and Times

It was part of the "dramedy" trend one season, ie a half hour drama series without a laugh track. The only successful half hour drama to come out of that was Doogie Howser, MD.

Anyway, My Life and Times followed the stories of an 85-year-old man in 2035 who told storeis of his life to visitors to his retirement home. There would be one story that happened in the San Francisco earthquake, and another during the second great depression of the early 2000's, the story of his hippy wedding to his first wife (Helen Hunt) in the 70's, and so forth. I loved this show (I was maybe 14 or 15) and it got two or three tryout episodes, then was moved around a few times, preempted, and shown two episodes at a time for a few weeks to use up the episodes.

fallsauce · 05-28-2005, 03:52 AM

All I can think of is Young Americans, mostly because it's the only show that's only one season and I liked.

Roswell almost ended up being only one season long, thank god they changed their mind.

0energy0 · 05-28-2005, 09:12 PM

original ren and stimpy?

Sleepyjack · 05-30-2005, 05:51 PM

Freaks and Geeks was fantastic. Although was that only one season? I saw about 15-20 episodes of that? but i hvae no idea how long a season goes for nowadays

j8ear · 05-31-2005, 11:52 AM

Anyone remember "Davis Rules" with Bonnnie Hunt and Jonathan Winters?

Maybe it's just me but just about anything that either of those two geniuses do has me in stitches.

That's my vote.

-bear

Booray · 05-31-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleepyjack

Freaks and Geeks was fantastic. Although was that only one season? I saw about 15-20 episodes of that? but i hvae no idea how long a season goes for nowadays

Yeah, only one season. It ran for 18 episodes. Hard to believe a show that good could be cancelled.

Booray · 05-31-2005, 12:56 PM

Another one I remembered:

Quote:

"The Wizard" (1986)

Although only four feet tall, Simon McKay is a genius who has developed toys, devices for the handicapped, and secret inventions for the government. To protect him, the government assigned Alex Jaggere to protect him from being kidnapped by a foreign power. The pair travels all over the globe during their adventures.

I really liked this show when it first aired (I was only 12 and I think it was geared towards kids about my age).

Looking it up, it looks like it only lasted for 19 episodes (Sep. 86 - Mar. 87). Have no clue where to find episodes now.

ngdawg · 05-31-2005, 01:36 PM

Wow Four pages and NO ONE mentioned 'V'!!!
Actually lasted almost 2 seasons, I think....alien lizard-types in human disguise befriend us but are really sinister.

And I remember 'Davis Rules' with Randy Quaid and Jonathan Winters-once he let loose that show was crying out loud funny.

spongy · 06-05-2005, 09:47 AM

Earth 2 was an NBC show in 1994. I loved it and of course it had a clifhanger ending that was never followed up.

I am happy that the Tick, Wanderfalls, SportsNight, Brimstone, and Get Real were all mentioned.

There are some people with good taste on this site.

hunnychile · 06-05-2005, 04:19 PM

For older shows, I really enjoyed Witchblade, Wow it was wild! It was like a female version of Highlander. And pretty rocking. Dark Skies could have been great too, but alas, not enough viewers. Now this year, sad to see American Dreams go by the way side. Too Democratic - no doubt. Very anti-war. Geez...Guess there aren't too many of us boomers left who vote for the Neilsen ratings. All the reality shows have grown too tired and trite for me personally, so I am reading a lot more books. As far as TV, it's being just a big pile of drek, IMO.

"Wonderfalls" had Sooo much potential! What happened? And why (oh MGawd!!) why does Hollywood continue to create re-run stores, like a movie about "Bewitched" with Nicole Kidman and WILL FERREL??? Yikes!!

springhaze · 06-23-2005, 12:19 AM

Wonderfalls
My So-Called Life
Action
Titus

CrispyTheClown · 06-24-2005, 06:09 PM

Not one season but two for a couple shows. Get a Life with Chris Elliott made me roll and Carnivale captured my interest only to be left with many questions unanswered. Thanks HBO!

chickentribs · 06-24-2005, 11:59 PM

Tv Funhouse on Comedy Central and by Robert Smigle! Twisted Ugly Goodness

Telluride · 06-27-2005, 10:32 PM

I really miss American Gothic. I wish it was available on DVD.

trickyy · 06-28-2005, 11:08 AM

so the ben stiller show hasn't been mentioned. it's not the funniest thing i've seen, but it had moments. stiller tries to be somewhat self-depreciating, but it doesn't always mesh with his jason preistly outfits. and the protracted springsteen and bono imitations get old. but bob odenkirk's manson and french new wave bits are good, as well as the tj o'pootertoot sketch.

Booray · 06-29-2005, 01:30 PM

Thought of another one that I don't think has been mentioned: Alien Nation

trickyy · 06-30-2005, 10:44 PM

another good one was doggy fizzle televizzle. mtv lowballed snoop's paycheck so the show died. hmm....black entertainer, offbeat pseudo-offensive humor based around filmed shorts... the network was probably right, that was definitely not worth the extra investment.

(a few months later --

)

Johnny Pyro · 07-04-2005, 07:34 PM

"Thats my Bush." That was really funny!

Kubz18 · 07-14-2005, 02:54 PM

i agree with whoever said Clone High...
that show had an amazing concept
some deep humor like family guy and was an orginal idea

i got the DVD of ebay and its probably one of the funniest things ever...
i remember how pissed i was when they canceled it for Punk'd (i really hate that show anyway)

Desario · 07-17-2005, 01:33 AM

Just like the most of you on this thread, I too, am a big fan of Freaks and Geeks. That show produced some famous actors that are in some big name movies. I've always wanted that show to come out on DVD, so I even signed an online petition for that. I'm glad it came through.

Like the thread creator mentioned, I'm also a fan of Arrested Development. I've only seen season one, but I can't wait for season two to come out on DVD so I could watch them all at once.

alicethecanadia · 07-28-2005, 04:20 AM

I loved Cupid too. It was dealt an awful timeslot. Every so often, I'd go on a frantic search for all the episodes, usually with no luck.

However! I just got all 15 episodes and it was great being able to watch this awesome show again. If anyone is interested in trading or buying them, email me alice_period@hotmail.com

Also, I read somewhere that apparently the show was suppose to end with Claire and Trevor as his 100th couple and he thinks he's giving up immortality for her....damn, I would have killed for that show to have continued....

shesus · 07-28-2005, 02:05 PM

Freaks and Geeks is a great show and I can't believed it was only one season and I actually missed. I just saw it for the first time this past Christmas when my step-daughter got the box set.

Another show that I really liked was Freaky Links. It starred Ethan Embry (love him) and discussed occult and supernatural things. They would investigate claims like aliens, sewer monsters, ghosts, and things like that. My husband and I were bummed out when they didn't bring that show back.

Xazy · 07-28-2005, 07:01 PM

Hmm Earth 2, or Kindred (a vampire show where the main actor died in a motorcycle accident if I recall).

AVoiceOfReason · 07-28-2005, 09:20 PM

I've seen one mention for both KAREN SISCO and POLICE SQUAD and those were the two I thought of when I saw this thread. Also, the same year of KAREN SISCO, CBS had one called THE HANDLER that I got interested in. Lost 'em both within a month or two of each other.

Technically, the Rob Schneider vehicle of MEN BEHAVING BADLY lasted a couple of episodes into the second season, but with major cast changes, it wasn't the same show save for the name. That was very funny at times in the first season.

And no one is touting the great AFTER MASH? Oh? That's right, we're talking BEST, sorry, my bad.

Locobot · 07-29-2005, 08:47 AM

Surprised no one has mentioned the Ben Stiller show, canceled and then received an emmy, nice work Fox.

Happy TV Funhouse on comedy central of which Wonder Showzen is a pale imitation.

Adventures of Brisco County Jr. - hard for me to tell if this show was actually any good, but I liked it well as a kid. Bruce Campbell!

Firefly - obviously.

Booray · 09-18-2005, 12:59 PM

Just stumbled upon another one I used to watch when I was a kid that I had completely forgotten about:

The Master

Lee Van Cleef as a ninja!

Quote:

John Peter Macallister, was a Korean veteran who after serving, decided to live in Japan, and while there, he studied Ninjitsu and became a Ninja. 30 years later he learned that he has a daughter, so left, to find her. But apparently, he can't leave the sect that he is with, cause it means that he is now marked for death. He manages to escape and upon arriving in the States, he meets Max Keller, a drifter who has a penchant for getting involved with other people's problems and helping them out if he can. Max and Macallister hook up with Max helping him find his daughter, and Macallister teaching him the ways of the ninja. At the same evading Okasa, one of Macallister's students who is now sworn to kill him.

Ran from Jan - Aug '84. I think I caught a rerun on some channel a few years ago and I guess it was pretty cheesy, but I turned 10 in July of '84, so I guess it would've been right up my alley. I don't think I knew who Lee Van Cleef was at the time and didn't realize until years later that he was the bad guy from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

05-18-2005, 10:34 PM	#121 (permalink)
froseph Tilted	cupid... still trying to find copies of it somewhere. I was really disappointed when it was canceled. __________________ sometimes it just takes a cat

05-22-2005, 09:42 PM	#125 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Oh, one more, and I bet I'm the only one who knows this one: My Life and Times It was part of the "dramedy" trend one season, ie a half hour drama series without a laugh track. The only successful half hour drama to come out of that was Doogie Howser, MD. Anyway, My Life and Times followed the stories of an 85-year-old man in 2035 who told storeis of his life to visitors to his retirement home. There would be one story that happened in the San Francisco earthquake, and another during the second great depression of the early 2000's, the story of his hippy wedding to his first wife (Helen Hunt) in the 70's, and so forth. I loved this show (I was maybe 14 or 15) and it got two or three tryout episodes, then was moved around a few times, preempted, and shown two episodes at a time for a few weeks to use up the episodes. __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert

05-28-2005, 03:52 AM	#126 (permalink)
fallsauce Insane	All I can think of is Young Americans, mostly because it's the only show that's only one season and I liked. Roswell almost ended up being only one season long, thank god they changed their mind. __________________ "Hey little kitty with your tail dragging on the floor You could have a following in every town that you go" Electric Six - I Invented The Night

05-28-2005, 09:12 PM	#127 (permalink)
0energy0 Insane Location: Title Town, USA	original ren and stimpy? __________________ Is the juice worth the squeeze?

05-31-2005, 11:52 AM	#129 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	Anyone remember "Davis Rules" with Bonnnie Hunt and Jonathan Winters? Maybe it's just me but just about anything that either of those two geniuses do has me in stitches. That's my vote. -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

05-22-2005, 06:21 PM	#122 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	My apologies if this has been mentioned already: The John Larroquet Show. It was a wonderfully seedy anti-sitcom with real bruises under the laughs. It lasted one glorious season in it's orginal form only to be shamlessly re-tooled for its second. John was given an apartment, a needy girlfriend, and all of the supporting characters changed from complex to "wacky". What a disappointing let down. check out jumptheshark.com for more details

05-22-2005, 09:22 PM	#124 (permalink)
bwhite897 Upright	My So-Called Life (what a great show...) Freaks And Geeks Undeclared (from the creators of Freaks and Geeks. It's coming out on DVD soon) Get Real (Anne Hathaway was in it. reminded me a bit of My So-Called Life)

05-30-2005, 05:51 PM	#128 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	Freaks and Geeks was fantastic. Although was that only one season? I saw about 15-20 episodes of that? but i hvae no idea how long a season goes for nowadays

05-31-2005, 01:36 PM	#132 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Wow Four pages and NO ONE mentioned 'V'!!! Actually lasted almost 2 seasons, I think....alien lizard-types in human disguise befriend us but are really sinister. And I remember 'Davis Rules' with Randy Quaid and Jonathan Winters-once he let loose that show was crying out loud funny. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

06-05-2005, 09:47 AM	#133 (permalink)
spongy Psycho	Earth 2 was an NBC show in 1994. I loved it and of course it had a clifhanger ending that was never followed up. I am happy that the Tick, Wanderfalls, SportsNight, Brimstone, and Get Real were all mentioned. There are some people with good taste on this site. __________________ The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. Stephen King

06-05-2005, 04:19 PM	#134 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	For older shows, I really enjoyed Witchblade, Wow it was wild! It was like a female version of Highlander. And pretty rocking. Dark Skies could have been great too, but alas, not enough viewers. Now this year, sad to see American Dreams go by the way side. Too Democratic - no doubt. Very anti-war. Geez...Guess there aren't too many of us boomers left who vote for the Neilsen ratings. All the reality shows have grown too tired and trite for me personally, so I am reading a lot more books. As far as TV, it's being just a big pile of drek, IMO. "Wonderfalls" had Sooo much potential! What happened? And why (oh MGawd!!) why does Hollywood continue to create re-run stores, like a movie about "Bewitched" with Nicole Kidman and WILL FERREL??? Yikes!! __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB Last edited by hunnychile; 06-05-2005 at 04:22 PM..

06-23-2005, 12:19 AM	#135 (permalink)
springhaze Upright	Wonderfalls My So-Called Life Action Titus __________________ "Don't ever mistrust those voices in your head"

06-24-2005, 06:09 PM	#136 (permalink)
CrispyTheClown Upright Location: Buckeye Lake, Ohio	Not one season but two for a couple shows. Get a Life with Chris Elliott made me roll and Carnivale captured my interest only to be left with many questions unanswered. Thanks HBO! __________________ Weather forecast for tonight: dark.

06-24-2005, 11:59 PM	#137 (permalink)
chickentribs Addict Location: Mansion by day/Secret Lair by night	Tv Funhouse on Comedy Central and by Robert Smigle! Twisted Ugly Goodness __________________ Oft expectation fails... and most oft there Where most it promises - Shakespeare, W.

06-27-2005, 10:32 PM	#138 (permalink)
Telluride Browncoat Location: California	I really miss American Gothic. I wish it was available on DVD. __________________ "I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice." - Friedrich Hayek

07-04-2005, 07:34 PM	#142 (permalink)
Johnny Pyro Hey Now! Location: Massachusetts (Redneck, white boy town. I hate it here.)	"Thats my Bush." That was really funny! __________________ "From delusion lead me to truth, from darkness lead me to light, from death lead me to eternal life. - Sheriff John Wydell

06-28-2005, 11:08 AM	#139 (permalink)
trickyy ►	so the ben stiller show hasn't been mentioned. it's not the funniest thing i've seen, but it had moments. stiller tries to be somewhat self-depreciating, but it doesn't always mesh with his jason preistly outfits. and the protracted springsteen and bono imitations get old. but bob odenkirk's manson and french new wave bits are good, as well as the tj o'pootertoot sketch.

06-29-2005, 01:30 PM	#140 (permalink)
Booray Stumbling to the end Location: Atlanta, GA	Thought of another one that I don't think has been mentioned: Alien Nation __________________ Persuaded, paraded, inebriated, and down Still aware of everything life carries on without

06-30-2005, 10:44 PM	#141 (permalink)
trickyy ►	another good one was doggy fizzle televizzle. mtv lowballed snoop's paycheck so the show died. hmm....black entertainer, offbeat pseudo-offensive humor based around filmed shorts... the network was probably right, that was definitely not worth the extra investment. (a few months later -- )

07-14-2005, 02:54 PM	#143 (permalink)
Kubz18 Crazy Location: Austin....Austin, Massachusetts	i agree with whoever said Clone High... that show had an amazing concept some deep humor like family guy and was an orginal idea i got the DVD of ebay and its probably one of the funniest things ever... i remember how pissed i was when they canceled it for Punk'd (i really hate that show anyway) __________________ "I have no idea whats going on"

07-17-2005, 01:33 AM	#144 (permalink)
Desario Tilted	Just like the most of you on this thread, I too, am a big fan of Freaks and Geeks. That show produced some famous actors that are in some big name movies. I've always wanted that show to come out on DVD, so I even signed an online petition for that. I'm glad it came through. Like the thread creator mentioned, I'm also a fan of Arrested Development. I've only seen season one, but I can't wait for season two to come out on DVD so I could watch them all at once.

07-28-2005, 04:20 AM	#145 (permalink)
alicethecanadia Upright	Cupid was so great in so many ways... I loved Cupid too. It was dealt an awful timeslot. Every so often, I'd go on a frantic search for all the episodes, usually with no luck. However! I just got all 15 episodes and it was great being able to watch this awesome show again. If anyone is interested in trading or buying them, email me alice_period@hotmail.com Also, I read somewhere that apparently the show was suppose to end with Claire and Trevor as his 100th couple and he thinks he's giving up immortality for her....damn, I would have killed for that show to have continued....

07-28-2005, 02:05 PM	#146 (permalink)
shesus Fancy Location: Chicago	Freaks and Geeks is a great show and I can't believed it was only one season and I actually missed. I just saw it for the first time this past Christmas when my step-daughter got the box set. Another show that I really liked was Freaky Links. It starred Ethan Embry (love him) and discussed occult and supernatural things. They would investigate claims like aliens, sewer monsters, ghosts, and things like that. My husband and I were bummed out when they didn't bring that show back. __________________ Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

07-28-2005, 07:01 PM	#147 (permalink)
Xazy People in masks cannot be trusted Location: NYC	Hmm Earth 2, or Kindred (a vampire show where the main actor died in a motorcycle accident if I recall).

07-28-2005, 09:20 PM	#148 (permalink)
AVoiceOfReason Psycho Location: Greenwood, Arkansas	I've seen one mention for both KAREN SISCO and POLICE SQUAD and those were the two I thought of when I saw this thread. Also, the same year of KAREN SISCO, CBS had one called THE HANDLER that I got interested in. Lost 'em both within a month or two of each other. Technically, the Rob Schneider vehicle of MEN BEHAVING BADLY lasted a couple of episodes into the second season, but with major cast changes, it wasn't the same show save for the name. That was very funny at times in the first season. And no one is touting the great AFTER MASH? Oh? That's right, we're talking BEST, sorry, my bad. __________________ AVOR A Voice Of Reason, not necessarily the ONLY one.

07-29-2005, 08:47 AM	#149 (permalink)
Locobot is awesome!	Surprised no one has mentioned the Ben Stiller show, canceled and then received an emmy, nice work Fox. Happy TV Funhouse on comedy central of which Wonder Showzen is a pale imitation. Adventures of Brisco County Jr. - hard for me to tell if this show was actually any good, but I liked it well as a kid. Bruce Campbell! Firefly - obviously.