TV shows that were expected to last for another season but ended their run before the - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 10-14-2008, 02:28 AM

y could have a chance to air it.

(Sorry, the thread title is too long)

There should be any television series that were expected to last for another season, but had to let their original runs end before they could air that season. i know Maude, The Jeffersons, and Bewitched are examples.

Schmoopie · 10-14-2008, 03:16 AM

I don't know if this counts but Joan of Arcadia seemed to be setting itself up for a third season. They had some loose ends toward the end of Season 2, so sadly we'll never know how it ended up.
I read that Full House was supposed to have another season as well, but then John Stamos said he wouldn't renew his contract and they just used the episode that they had filmed for the last episode.

Andrea

repeatshistory · 10-14-2008, 04:12 AM

Sci Fi Channel had originally signed a contract with Henson for a fourth and FIFTH season of Farscape, and then AFTER they let Henson finish season four with a cliffhanger, they THEN told them that the suits at Sci-Fi changed their minds, and they were cancelled. This is the reason I stopped supporting the sci-fi channel.

HBO had originally signed up to do five seasons of Carnivale as well, and then backed out after season 2. Daniel Knauf, the creator of Carnivale, has said in interviews that he originally had intended his series to move MUCH more quickly, and actually be OVER in two seasons, but HBO assured him that they wanted him to be around for five seasons, and encouraged him to 'spread out' the story.

comedyfreak · 10-14-2008, 08:15 AM

Lost In Space was to be renewed for a 4th season, but the producers wanted to slash the effects budget and promted Irwin Allen to cancel the show himself.

tv star collector · 10-14-2008, 12:40 PM

Both Mork and Mindy and ALF had final season cliff-hangers. (I
hate when that happens!)

dawsongirl · 10-14-2008, 05:16 PM

Hogan's Heroes ended season 6 with a regular episode, and then CBS decided to cancel a lot of their current shows and go a different direction, so out went HH without the war ever ending.

JulieSomoski · 10-14-2008, 05:23 PM

8 Simple Rules - I thought for sure ABC was going to bring back this show for another season, but cancelled it without a proper series finale.

Family Matters - I think everyone thought this show would be back for another season, even those involved with it. They ended it before we got to see Steve and Laura's wedding, which was probably the intended series finale for the tenth season, which never happened.

And I guess you can add Back to You to this list, since we all thought it would be coming back next season (and since a season 2 episode had already been shot, left unaired).

Don Howard · 10-14-2008, 05:25 PM

Gilligan's Island was such a show. The cast and crew had been told that Season 4 was a go. However, CBS founder Bill Paley found out that his beloved Gunsmoke was going to be cancelled and he wasn't about to stand for that. So Bob Denver and company got their walking papers instead.

DSfan · 10-14-2008, 05:49 PM

I think Fresh Prince was going to go on but some of the actors wanted it to end, might be the same with Seinfeld, if I'm not mistaken...

Jude The Obscure · 10-14-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Howard

Gilligan's Island was such a show. The cast and crew had been told that Season 4 was a go. However, CBS founder Bill Paley found out that his beloved Gunsmoke was going to be cancelled and he wasn't about to stand for that. So Bob Denver and company got their walking papers instead.

Actually, from what I've read it was Paley's wife who loved "Gunsmoke".

MikeLutton · 10-15-2008, 12:11 AM

i read dr phil said they could of went on another few years but wil smith wanted to end it to do movies this is about fresh prince

MusicJunkie · 10-15-2008, 01:36 AM

Diff'rent Strokes ended anti-climaticly. Apparently there are two or three episodes filmed in mid-1986 as they planned to do first-run-syndication much like Mama's Family, Webster and Silver Spoons did after they were cancelled from the networks, but then they decided to just pull the plug

James · 10-15-2008, 03:17 AM

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Wonder Years was expected to go on another season (in which we the fans would have been able to see Kevin and his friends graduate high school), but ABC decided to end it and hold the nation in indefinite suspense. I don't know how true this is, but in an interview at JustMyShow.com last year with Dan Lauria (who played Jack Arnold), he said that Revlon's decision not to advertise was the kicker and that other advertisers were going gung ho for the show--go figure. (You'd think that if ABC took this into consideration they would have had enough money to buy Disney instead of Disney buying them like they did in 1995!)

waichingliu81 · 10-15-2008, 05:04 PM

caroline in the city- was supposed to run for 5 seasons but was eventually cancelled by the end of the 4th season

hangin' with mr cooper- i might be wrong on this but the show was going to last for another season- only to end on a cliffhanger with mark proposing to vanessa at a basketball match

Wreckless · 10-15-2008, 05:41 PM

The Wonder Years is one of the biggest ones. Their final season, the 6th WASN'T supposed to be the last season and WASN'T cancelled due to low/poor ratings, that is a lie, you lie! Dan Lauria [Jack Arnold, Kevin's father on the show] explained in an interview that was actually posted on this site. I believe the interview was for, Just My Show or w/e the station was called. He explained in the early 1990s, when the show was coming to a close or close to it, that a lot of new shows came into existence and production. He said out of the 150/160 shows (at least) that were out in 1992-1993, TWY was around 21-23 in ratings, as far as best to worst. So almost in the 10% percentile is pretty damn good in a final season, even if they weren't in the top 10. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was an opposite example. The Philadelphia Story, the last episode of Season 4 was supposed to be the last episode of the series. That's why between that episode and Season 5's entrance episode where Ashley pursues a singing career are so odd. In The Philadelphia Story, it ends with Will being in Philly living with his Mom back home and telling Uncle Phil on the phone that he's not coming back. Then it says To Be Continued...(then you see on the screen, The Fresh Prince of Philadelphia?) then the season and presumably the show is over. Fan letters and feedback convinced Will Smith to re-order the show for 2 more seasons. Alfonso Ribeiro & James Avery said in later interviews that the show could of gone on, for 3/4 more seasons after the final 6th, having Will finish college and who knows what else they could of came up with.

10-14-2008, 02:28 AM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,991	TV shows that were expected to last for another season but ended their run before the y could have a chance to air it. (Sorry, the thread title is too long) There should be any television series that were expected to last for another season, but had to let their original runs end before they could air that season. i know Maude, The Jeffersons, and Bewitched are examples.

10-14-2008, 03:16 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I don't know if this counts but Joan of Arcadia seemed to be setting itself up for a third season. They had some loose ends toward the end of Season 2, so sadly we'll never know how it ended up. I read that Full House was supposed to have another season as well, but then John Stamos said he wouldn't renew his contract and they just used the episode that they had filmed for the last episode. Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

10-14-2008, 04:12 AM	#3
repeatshistory Doing my part to make your day Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 31, 2008 Location: Williams Bay, WI Posts: 381	Sci Fi Channel had originally signed a contract with Henson for a fourth and FIFTH season of Farscape, and then AFTER they let Henson finish season four with a cliffhanger, they THEN told them that the suits at Sci-Fi changed their minds, and they were cancelled. This is the reason I stopped supporting the sci-fi channel. HBO had originally signed up to do five seasons of Carnivale as well, and then backed out after season 2. Daniel Knauf, the creator of Carnivale, has said in interviews that he originally had intended his series to move MUCH more quickly, and actually be OVER in two seasons, but HBO assured him that they wanted him to be around for five seasons, and encouraged him to 'spread out' the story.
	__________________ Your life is an occasion --- rise to it.

10-14-2008, 08:15 AM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Lost In Space was to be renewed for a 4th season, but the producers wanted to slash the effects budget and promted Irwin Allen to cancel the show himself.
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10-14-2008, 05:23 PM	#7
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	8 Simple Rules - I thought for sure ABC was going to bring back this show for another season, but cancelled it without a proper series finale. Family Matters - I think everyone thought this show would be back for another season, even those involved with it. They ended it before we got to see Steve and Laura's wedding, which was probably the intended series finale for the tenth season, which never happened. And I guess you can add Back to You to this list, since we all thought it would be coming back next season (and since a season 2 episode had already been shot, left unaired).
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10-14-2008, 12:40 PM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	Both Mork and Mindy and ALF had final season cliff-hangers. (I hate when that happens!)

10-14-2008, 05:16 PM	#6
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Hogan's Heroes ended season 6 with a regular episode, and then CBS decided to cancel a lot of their current shows and go a different direction, so out went HH without the war ever ending.

10-14-2008, 05:25 PM	#8
Don Howard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2008 Location: Dover, Ohio Posts: 55	Gilligan's Island was such a show. The cast and crew had been told that Season 4 was a go. However, CBS founder Bill Paley found out that his beloved Gunsmoke was going to be cancelled and he wasn't about to stand for that. So Bob Denver and company got their walking papers instead.
	__________________ *Wednesday, August 29th 1967....the day the running stopped.*

10-14-2008, 05:49 PM	#9
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I think Fresh Prince was going to go on but some of the actors wanted it to end, might be the same with Seinfeld, if I'm not mistaken...

10-15-2008, 12:11 AM	#11
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,887	i read dr phil said they could of went on another few years but wil smith wanted to end it to do movies this is about fresh prince
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man

10-15-2008, 01:36 AM	#12
MusicJunkie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2008 Location: where I live Posts: 791	Diff'rent Strokes ended anti-climaticly. Apparently there are two or three episodes filmed in mid-1986 as they planned to do first-run-syndication much like Mama's Family, Webster and Silver Spoons did after they were cancelled from the networks, but then they decided to just pull the plug

10-15-2008, 03:17 AM	#13
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Wonder Years was expected to go on another season (in which we the fans would have been able to see Kevin and his friends graduate high school), but ABC decided to end it and hold the nation in indefinite suspense. I don't know how true this is, but in an interview at JustMyShow.com last year with Dan Lauria (who played Jack Arnold), he said that Revlon's decision not to advertise was the kicker and that other advertisers were going gung ho for the show--go figure. (You'd think that if ABC took this into consideration they would have had enough money to buy Disney instead of Disney buying them like they did in 1995!)

10-15-2008, 05:04 PM	#14
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	caroline in the city- was supposed to run for 5 seasons but was eventually cancelled by the end of the 4th season hangin' with mr cooper- i might be wrong on this but the show was going to last for another season- only to end on a cliffhanger with mark proposing to vanessa at a basketball match

10-15-2008, 05:41 PM	#15
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	The Wonder Years is one of the biggest ones. Their final season, the 6th WASN'T supposed to be the last season and WASN'T cancelled due to low/poor ratings, that is a lie, you lie! Dan Lauria [Jack Arnold, Kevin's father on the show] explained in an interview that was actually posted on this site. I believe the interview was for, Just My Show or w/e the station was called. He explained in the early 1990s, when the show was coming to a close or close to it, that a lot of new shows came into existence and production. He said out of the 150/160 shows (at least) that were out in 1992-1993, TWY was around 21-23 in ratings, as far as best to worst. So almost in the 10% percentile is pretty damn good in a final season, even if they weren't in the top 10. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was an opposite example. The Philadelphia Story, the last episode of Season 4 was supposed to be the last episode of the series. That's why between that episode and Season 5's entrance episode where Ashley pursues a singing career are so odd. In The Philadelphia Story, it ends with Will being in Philly living with his Mom back home and telling Uncle Phil on the phone that he's not coming back. Then it says To Be Continued...(then you see on the screen, The Fresh Prince of Philadelphia?) then the season and presumably the show is over. Fan letters and feedback convinced Will Smith to re-order the show for 2 more seasons. Alfonso Ribeiro & James Avery said in later interviews that the show could of gone on, for 3/4 more seasons after the final 6th, having Will finish college and who knows what else they could of came up with.