What shows were cancelled, or almost cancelled, and then brought back due to public outcry?

I was reading at Designing Women's page tonight on TVTOME and it said after the 13th episode that so many people had written in to protest it's cancellation that it was brought back and ran a successful 7 seasons.

I know also that Cagney and Lacey went through this.

What other shows, comedy or otherwise, did this happen to?

Quantum Leap was brought back because of this. Remember the commercial with a bunch of letters being dumped on this guy, and he says, "OK OK! we hear you!" Really cute.

One of the main characters was killed on The Sentinel but then brought back to life for a very short last season, due to the massive freaking out that happened. A bunch of women were real mad, you know!

One of my favorite shows at the time - Sliders - was canceled every season it was on Fox, then brought back at the last minute for a new season, Im guessing because of the fan base.

I dont know about any sitcoms, though.

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
What shows were cancelled, or almost cancelled, and then brought back due to public outcry?

I was reading at Designing Women's page tonight on TVTOME and it said after the 13th episode that so many people had written in to protest it's cancellation that it was brought back and ran a successful 7 seasons.

I know also that Cagney and Lacey went through this.

What other shows, comedy or otherwise, did this happen to?

Wow, I didn't know that Designing Women was first cancelled after only 13 episodes! I heard it had trouble taking off at first but I had no idea it was cancelled. Learn something new every day :)

I think Family Guy also fits into this. It was cancelled, then brought back due to public outcry, and then shortly after it was cancelled again. And now I heard that it might be coming back yet again due to its incredible DVD sales.

America's Most Wanted is another show that went through this.

I think Unsolved Mysteries may fit into this. It aired on NBC from 1987 to 1996. Then, NBC decided to cancel it, so CBS picked it up for a few episodes in 1997 and 1998. Then, Lifetime started airing new segments intermixed with old ones in 2000 I believe and they continued to air til September 2002, before Robert Stack(the host) died.

"The Dick Van Dyke Show" was cancelled after one season, but during it was given another chance, and it became a TV classic.

In 1987, "Full House" was almost cancelled and brought back the following season until the show's end in 1995. That's another story.

Boy Meets World was cancelled after it's 4th season, but ABC decided to give more of a chance and brought it back a few months later.

I did read that Ed was cancelled but because of fan outcry they decided against it, Once and Again was given a second chance, and a few other shows too :)

Taxi: Cancelled by ABC and picked up for another season by NBC.

NewsRadio: Was 92nd in the ratings in it's third season. But NBC kept the show on the air for another 2 seasons.

dont think this fits but Party of Five was close to being cancelled after its first season

Cheers was almost cancelled during the first season.
But the head of NBC at the time liked the show.... and wouldn't cancel any shows he liked.

As most of you know.... went on for 11 seasons, took the #1 spot.... and has been a classic ever since.

Originally posted by BrooklynGuy78
In 1987, "Full House" was almost cancelled and brought back the following season until the show's end in 1995. That's another story.

Yup, i was gonna say that. It was almost cancelled... but during the summer, it got higher ratings, so it got renewed.

Also, didnt All in the Family almost get cancelled in their 1st season?

Originally posted by [.AIkenCompany3.]
Yup, i was gonna say that. It was almost cancelled... but during the summer, it got higher ratings, so it got renewed.

Also, didnt All in the Family almost get cancelled in their 1st season?

Yes it did. Hardly anyone watched it during Spring 1971, but during the summer, ratings went up.

if I recall, CBS canned Touched By An Angel after the first season, and then during the next season, brought it back as a "filler" midseason type of show, but the ratings skyrocketed and then CBS made it a full-time show again for the next 8 seasons.

Originally posted by Heather987
dont think this fits but Party of Five was close to being cancelled after its first season


Actually "Part Of Five" WAS cancelled in 1994 (season one) but before the final episode even aired FOX was So besieged with letters from outraged fans that they renewed the show for another season. It ended up staying on FOX for another Six years.

Ditto, Beverly hills 90210... in its first season in 1990 the show was getting killed in the ratings on Thursday nights against shows like "Cheers" but Fox decided to air NEW episodes in the summer on Wednsday nights and the show TOOK OFF and became a huge hit... It lasted 9 more years.

Technically this doesn't count but after ABC canceled "My So-Called Life" they were bombarded with letters, calls and emails from OUTRAGED fans and critics. They ALMOST brought the show back but ended up not doing it. Later the following season MTV started airing the show in reruns and its become a cult favorite ever since.

Charles in charge was cancelled then brought back

MY GOSH!!! And look at just how successful these shows that were saved from the verge of death turned out to be!!!!! It's trully amazing!! :)

saturday night live was cancelled at the end of its 11th season because even though lorne michales had returned that season the ratings werent any higher than they had been the season before it was only after lorne had a last miniute meeting with nbc entertainment head brandon tartakoff that he got the go head for another cast overhual but even then he only got a pick up of 13 shows and dana carvey said in an interview that he heard the pickup was for 9 shows in any case as we all know the carvey/hartman cast worked

Roswell was almost axed...TWICE!

Party Of Five was canned, but it was odd because in their very first season, it won the Golden Globe for BEST DRAMA.

Mama's Family was brought to syndication, after NBC canceled it.

Quantum Leap was brought back because of this. Remember the commercial with a bunch of letters being dumped on this guy, and he says, "OK OK! we hear you!" Really cute.

One of the main characters was killed on The Sentinel but then brought back to life for a very short last season, due to the massive freaking out that happened. A bunch of women were real mad, you know!

One of my favorite shows at the time - Sliders - was canceled every season it was on Fox, then brought back at the last minute for a new season, Im guessing because of the fan base.

I dont know about any sitcoms, though.no, that commercial for "Quantum Leap" was because NBC moved it from wednesdays at 10 to fridays at 8, and so many viewers complained about the move they moved it back to wednesday at 10.
I think you're right about it being canncelled, then brought back, though.

"Get Smart" was canncelled by NBC in 1970, then CBS picked it up in 1971.

"Gunsmoke" was cannceled by CBS in 1967, but William Paley, the network president, had them bring it back because it was his favorite show. They not only brought it back, but they also moved it to Mondays and started filming it in color.

"Star Trek" was cannceled by NBC after it's first season, but was renewed for a second season because of viewer protest, then was cannceled again after the 2nd season, but, again, viewer protest brought it back for a 3rd season.

"Star Trek: Enterprise" was cannceled by UPN after it's first season, but was renewed at the last second.

"The Dick Van Dyke show" was cannceled after the first season, but Sheldon Lenoard went to Procter & Gamble (the sponsor) and got them to renew it-back then, sponsors had a lot more say in the fate of a TV show.

And, I don't know if this is true, but CBS was ready to cancel "MASH" after it's first season, but the wife of William Paley (the network president) liked it and asked her husband to have it renewed.

Designing Women was canceled by CBS but was brought back due to viewer demand. same thing with Cagney and Lacey.

Buffy was canceled by the WB and then picked up by UPN.

Sister, Sister aired a season on ABC was canceled and then picked up by WB.

NBC canceled "For your love" and then WB picked that up too

ABC also canceled Sabrina the teenage witch and it was picked up by the wb.

Seinfeld ran into problems during its first season.

America's Most Wanted was cancelled, but came back. I remember watching John Walsh say a farewell to viewers.

I wonder what other shows can emerge from the dead! (*cough cough* American Dreams *cough cough*)

I wonder what other shows can emerge from the dead! (*cough cough* American Dreams *cough cough*)
From your keyboard to God's ears.

From your keyboard to God's ears.

I know, right? :(

I know, right? :(
Yup, I never missed an episode. I still can't believe it. :(

Yup, I never missed an episode. I still can't believe it. :(

It sure isn't the same without it!

Family matters almost got cancelled then they brought in the immortal Urkel

Punky Brewster was cancelled by NBC after three seasons and than it was brought back in Syndication.

I also heard that Family Ties almost went through the same thing the way Cheers did, too!

Family Guy went through this phase and how do you think it's running w/ newer eps.

Webster, like Punky Brewster was cancelled by its network and returned for new 1st-rn synide eps. So Webster - Cancelled ABC, came back w/ newer
1st-run syndication eps.

Diff'rent Strokes was canned for good by NBC in '85, but was picked up by ABC for it's last season.

I also heard somewhere that Mr. Belvedere would of almost been canned by ABC in 1987, but changed their minds at the last minute.

Silver Spoons was canned by NBC in 1986, but returned for a final season in newer 1st-run syndie eps.

Fred Silverman, the head of NBC during the late '70s and early '80s originally wanted Gimme a Break to be canceled atfer its first season, saying that it was too pianful to watch, but somehow thought otherwise.