Shows That Could Have Been!

[Reply #40 on:]

I loved The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.  It and The X-Files actually started at the same time, were on the same night, and got the same incredibly low ratings (usually in the bottom ten every week).  Fox decided to renew X-Files because it had a (relatively) big fan following and was "cool;" you know the rest.  Brisco, however, ended after one season.  I heard a rumor of a DVD set, but it probably won't happen.

And I said before that I think the thirteen episodes of Crusade are still better than the last three Star Trek shows.  It could've been a science fiction "ship" show done right, but it was cancelled before it even aired.  Its treatment by TNT was very similar to Futurama's treatment by Fox: Both were initially considered high-profile shows for their networks, both were approved largely because of the popularity of the creators' previous show, the networks wanted to make changes and add their own ideas but were opposed by the creators, both shows ended up being different from what the networks wanted, and of course both were cancelled (and no other network was willing or able to pick them up).  But considering Crusade's run of less than one season, it seems we're lucky to have had as many episodes of Futurama as we did (though of course there still should have been more).  Maybe Fox hated Futurama, but TNT hated Crusade.

(I thought of starting a B5 thread, but I'm not sure how to make it more than "Hey, isn't B5 cool?"  Though I could explain how it is not a rip-off of DS9.)

[Reply #41 on:]

That link by Tweek was obviously a joke, the bit about gay people having black hearts that pump an oily substance was a quote taking straight out of south park, funny stuff though.

[Reply #42 on:]

Johnathen Crosses Canada, and made in Canada did CBC cancel these because they are funny as hell. One Johnathen Crosses Canada is a spoof of those human intrest story shows, and Made in Canada is a satire of the television industry.

[Reply #43 on:]

Has anyone mentioned Gary & Mike? I liked that show even though, lots of people (at least the people I knew) said it was cheap and stupid. I thought it was very well-done and the cliffhanger the first season left off on was one of the best cliffhangers I've seen...since a long time.

[Reply #44 on:]

There are so many great shows that could have been and even more that would be great on DVD.  I was a big Invader Zim fan and I thought it really wasn't suited for little kids.  It probably would have done better in TEENick, but that's just my opinion.  As far as DVDs go, I'd love IZ, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold! and the second season of Twin Peaks.  I was very little when TP came out, but I've been watching the first season episodes and I want to see more. 

[Reply #45 on:]

"Space Precinct"

Brilliant sci-fi show. So what if the science was dodgy, the effects mid-budget and the setting somewhat fantastic. This show was fun!! Hill Street Blues meets Star Trek, who could ask for more. Shame only one season were made.

[Reply #46 on:]

Space Precinct was good the first time I watched it.  The second time it was I thought "Meh".

And boy, was Crusade crap!  Babylon 5 is possibly the best written TV show I've ever seen, but JMS insists on detracting from it's greatness by writing TV movies and spin-off shows that don't come close to B5's standard.

[Reply #47 on:]

 

Originally posted by PCC Fred:
And boy, was Crusade crap!

Liar!  Actually, the TV movies were disappointing overall.  It's like JMS can only work with one-hour or season-long stories.

But I thought Crusade was good.  Sure, it could have been better, but I'm still impressed at how much better it was than Star Trek, which at the time had gotten me thinking that "ship" shows no longer worked.  I think it would've become even better, but of course we won't find out now.  And no matter what its quality, it didn't deserve to be treated the way TNT treated it.

[Reply #48 on:]

For those of you who liked God, the Devil, and Bob, I understand that the American cable network Trio will show it next month, including the episodes NBC didn't air.  I guess that's good news, if you get Trio.  I'd never heard of it.

[Reply #49 on:]

 

Originally posted by Action Jacktion:
But I thought Crusade was good.  Sure, it could have been better, but I'm still impressed at how much better it was than Star Trek, which at the time had gotten me thinking that "ship" shows no longer worked.  I think it would've become even better, but of course we won't find out now.  And no matter what its quality, it didn't deserve to be treated the way TNT treated it.

I guess it might've gotten better with time.  Babylon 5 didn't have a fantastic first year either.

But to me Crusade went downhill when Tracy Scoggins and what's his face started getting it on.

[Reply #50 on:]

 

Originally posted by PCC Fred:
But to me Crusade went downhill when Tracy Scoggins and what's his face started getting it on.

Yeah, that was unpleasant.  But I think she was only in two or three episodes, even though the opening credits listed her.  She was never an interesting character, probably because she was quickly created to replace Ivanova.  They threw in something about her being a former drug addict but it didn't help much.

[Reply #51 on:]

Footballers wives. Worst show ever. I still watched every week.  Grosse piont had its moment but apparently it flopped in the US. It did well in Australia.

[Reply #52 on:]

what are you taking about?? invader zim SUCKS!

[Reply #53 on:]

I will tear out your intestines and stuff them back down your throat, Kipper. Just kidding...but seriously don't be talking smack about IZ. A lot of Futurama fans are also Invader Zim fans.

[Reply #54 on:]

they'll get over it

[Reply #55 on:]

invader zim really does suck

[Reply #56 on:]

So's that the new trend with the kids these days?  Little, unpunctuated, lower case sentences with no support?  Eh, kids with their Avril and Ashton Kutcher and Josh Hartnett...Always a new fad.

All in the best of humor of course. 

[Reply #57 on:]

Two words: American Gothic.

I can't believe they cancelled it after only one series.

It was so full of potential (and Bruce Campbell. Although he did get eaten by bugs).

[Reply #58 on:]

 

Originally posted by newhook_1:
Johnathen Crosses Canada, and Made In Canada did CBC cancel these because they are funny as hell. One Johnathen Crosses Canada is a spoof of those human intrest story shows, and Made in Canada is a satire of the television industry.

I wish I knew for sure.  I only recently moved to the states, and I came across an episode of Made In Canada (guest starring Sarah Polly) on Bravo -except it was called 'The Industry', or something similar.  With the exception of Twitch City, it probably is about the best sit-com Canada has produced in a dogs age.  Its a blazingly cynical show though, which makes me wonder how well it went over in the ratings.  Without a character to root or care for, that kind of approach can leave a lot of people cold. 

[Reply #59 on:]

Anybody ever watch a show called Due South?

It was about a mountie and a cop and I thought it was excellent stuff, how many seasons did it go on for does anyone know?

Edit: I see they made it onto R1 DVD (Season 1 & 2) but not R2!!
Doesn't matter.
*points to his region free player* 
*notices PEEL can't see it through the interweb*
BLAST!

[Reply #60 on:]

Due South ran three seasons, though there was a year between the second and third.

[Reply #61 on:]

I think i saw that on BBC 2 at some point.

[Reply #62 on:]

Now that television is entering (or getting more deeply rooted in) its golden era of stupidity, I realize just how much I miss Family Guy.

[Reply #63 on:]

 

Originally posted by mikey:
Footballers wives. Worst show ever. I still watched every week.

Hasn't that been commissioned for a third series? (or am I just mumbling)

[Reply #64 on:]

Hey family guy comes on Cartoon Network too, doncha know?  I loved that show too, just for it's sheer out there stupidity (sorta like Ren & Stimpy on steroids shot up with heroine)...  You know that's just Fox's problem, cancel all the really good shows which if advertised a little would bring out a surplus of the green....

[Reply #65 on:]

I was just reminded of another 'could have been' show - Big Guy & Rusty.  I actually found the show fairly entertaining, though my willingness to watch probably had more to do with my affection for Frank Miller's work than anything else.

The execution was a bit awkward though.  If it had been skewed to an older demographic, and given a slightly higher animation budget, it definitely could have been something.  Actually, I only recently found out that much of the animation was done by Japanese studio Dr. Movie, which should be familiar to a lot of anime fans.

The show didn't last very long, and was definitely hampered by its Saturday morning kids TV approach, but the basic elements were definitely all there for a potential success.

[Reply #66 on:]

I've just looked back over the thread and noticed the many comments about Crusade, so I've decided to give my 2 cents.

I personaly though Crusade had a bright future ahead of it. The last few episodes were on a par with B5 material, and certainly better then anything Star Trek has put out in recent years (mainly because JMS can actually think up original storylines). But as ActionJacktion said, TNT hated it. They hated it because they wanted a B5 clone, whereas JMS had a different view of the show. They made him write an extra five or so episodes to their requirements and put them at the begining of the series, which is why a) they make no sense in the continuity, and b) they suck big time. Then they just got fed up and pulled the plug. This was before even a single episode had been aired.

Crusade did deserve better. There were lots of plot threads that JMS introduced that would have had a big pay-off later on, which is what kept people watching. Most B5 fans knew that it wasn't until later that all the good stuff would come. Unfortunately the industry doesn't like something that doesn't say 'bang' from the word go.

[Reply #67 on:]

From what I heard, TNT didn't really want a B5 clone, they wanted something with lots of sex and mindless action (and by action I mean fistfights, not space battles).  In another thread I mentioned TNT's idea for a "sexual explorer" who'd have sex with every kind of alien they encountered.  Yes, that was a real idea for "improving" the show.

[Reply #68 on:]

OMMFGROFUSSLL!!! THE CRITIC! Yes! That show was awesome! I also liked The Tick--although that live action thing they had of it for five minutes was GOD AWFUL. I know there's a lot of shows I liked that got canceled--I can just hardly think of any. I'd mention Daria but I think that show lasted a long time.

OH YEAH

GARGOYLES

the best thing Disney EVER DID.

EVER.

They never should have cancelled it

[Reply #69 on:]

 

Originally posted by Action Jacktion:
From what I heard, TNT didn't really want a B5 clone, they wanted something with lots of sex and mindless action (and by action I mean fistfights, not space battles).  In another thread I mentioned TNT's idea for a "sexual explorer" who'd have sex with every kind of alien they encountered.  Yes, that was a real idea for "improving" the show.

That's the story I heard too.  I can't remember the exact quote, but it either made mention of professional wrestling or Baywatch, and how that was how the network wanted to skew the show.  Truth alwasy manages to be stranger than fiction.  I don't even want to know what went on at the production meetings with the network execs when that was broached.

[Reply #70 on:]

*real old bump- search helps, kiddies*

lovely.. fox regains a show, loses another.. well ok, futurama is at least in question.. anyway, what i want to say is.. no wonder Reunion hasn't been on in who knows how many weeks- effin fox canned it before it was even finished. now this type of show wouldn't likely last more than its designated 22 eps, but they left it on the 13th ep.. i mean, it's not like it's unusual or anything, but the whole point of the show was to last until the present-day (22nd ep) so that the mystery could be answered, and if you're going to start a show, don't leave it hanging in the middle... 

well i'm just frustrated; one of the few shows that i consider original and well-done.

[Reply #71 on:]

As long as this is bumped, I think Clone High, Undergrads, and The Tick should be mentioned. May they rest in peace.

[Reply #72 on:]

The Critic
Andy Ricter controls the universe

[Reply #73 on:]

Robbery Homicide Division
L.A. Dragnet
Witchblade
Hawaii

[Reply #74 on:]

Now that it's been canceled, I'd say Arrested Devolpment. Great show, but was on the wrong channel. If NBC had started it, it would've faired much better. Look at My Name is Earl and The Office. If you stuck either on Fox, Fox would've canceled them.

I'd have to say Invader Zim has been the best of the shows that could have been great. Nick didn't know what they had. It wasn't right for the audience. Invader Zim was awesome.

[Reply #75 on:]

AD isn't cancelled! *covers ears* LALALALALALALALALALALALALALAL AAAA!

[Reply #76 on:]

That sucks about AD, I was also pissed off when the Critic and Sifl and Ollie were cancelled