A few TV shows that have garnered a strong legacy throughout the years once ran the risk of being canceled after just one season. There have been many greatTV shows unfairly canceled after their first season, but it’s difficult to imagine shows likeSeinfeld,MASH, andCheersalmost having the same fate. More often than not, shows that were almost axed after their premiere season had weak viewership numbers. TV shows underthe sitcom genre make up a majority of the shows that nearly ended after they had only just begun.
This is because most audiences needed time to adjust to the new comedy series' brand of humor. When it comes to a show likeParks and Recreation, dismissive comparisons toThe Officealmost put an end to its run, and coincidentally, the latter series was also seen as inferior to its inspired British equivalent. The additional seasons of each show allowed them to show audiences they were distinct and worth watching. Thankfully, the mentioned sitcoms and other classic TV shows were saved from an unfortunate early cancelation and were able to grow into the celebrated series they are now.
10 Modern Classic TV Shows Everyone Should Watch
There are a fair amount of television shows that broke the mold, but a few series stand out from the pack, technically making them modern classics.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Cast
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
It’s become one ofthe longest-running sitcomson air, butIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaalmost didn’t make it past its first season. In a 2015 interview withThe Nerdist Podcast, creators and stars of the sitcom Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney recalled a crucial conversation with the network. McElhenney said the president of FX told the two thata big name needed to be added to the cast, otherwise, the series would be canceled due to a low marketing budget and mediocre ratings(viaBusiness Insider).
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaseason 1 was made up of actors who were largely unknown to audiences and though the creators preferred to keep it this way, McElhenney says they eventually opened up to the network’s idea. One name suggested was legendary actor Danny DeVito. Luckily, DeVito had heard of the show, thanks to his kids, and joined in season 2, neatly rounding out the cast and helping build up the fan base ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is a television series that premiered in 2009, focusing on Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in Pawnee, Indiana. She encounters various challenges from bureaucrats and citizens while striving to beautify the town through her role in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Due to its shared mockumentary format and focus on workplace relations, it only makes sense forParks and Recreationto have received numerous comparisons toThe Officewhen it first premiered. Unfortunately,the lukewarm reactions from audiences and critics led many to doubt the return ofParks and Recafter season 1. However,Parks and Recwas given the chance to find its footing in season 2 and continued to air until 2015.
Despite being continuously renewed, the series' ratings were never impressive. In a recentinterview with Conan O’Brien, Rashida Jones, who played Ann Perkins in the sitcom, said she and her castmates were never sure they’d be back for another season. Jones said that even thoughParks and Recis now considered an iconic sitcom from that time, the response from fans wasn’t as big when it was on air. Only in recent years, during significant anniversaries of the show’s premiere, has Jones and the cast felt a sizable love for the comedy series.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
During the ’60s, three shows were produced at the same time by Desilu Productions, a company founded by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The first wasThe Lucy Show,which was soon followed byMission: ImpossibleandStar Trek.The two shows had a runtime of nearly an hour and were expensiveto make. Before the premiere ofStar Trek, Desilu Productions considered scrapping the series (viaComic Book Resources).
However, Ball was convinced the series would prove to be a success for the company and allowed both shows to continue. Because of low ratings and costly production,Star Trekwas eventually canceled by NBC after its third season. Despite its ratings,Star Trekdeveloped a cult following and has since become a massive, beloved media franchise. LikeStar Trek, other original series from Desilu Productions also grew into franchises, includingThe UntouchablesandMission Impossible.
Audiences Needed Time To Adjust To The Series' Humor
Season 1 earned poor ratings, which put the series at risk of cancelation
Recognition for having the most-watched episode of a scripted series wouldn’t have been possiblehadMASHbeen canceled after season 1. Similar to the 1970 film of the same name which inspired the series,MASHhad a unique blend of comedy and drama. As a result, it took audiences some time to adjust to the series' humor and use of a laugh track.ThoughMASHeventually gained a passionate audience,it didn’t happen immediately and season 1 earned poor ratings, which put the series at risk of cancelation.
However, CBS allowed the show to come back for another season andMASHended up producing over 200 episodes. As mentioned previously, an episode ofMASHis the most-watched episode of a scripted series. The series finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” had 125 million viewers tuning in asMASHshared a bittersweet goodbye to its characters.
10 Most Rewatchable Episodes Of MASH That Never Get Old
MASH is one of the most iconic shows of the 20th century, and the most enduring episodes of the series demonstrate what makes it relevant today.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
Producing two additional series based on the sitcom’s characters in recent years,The Big Bang Theoryhas a dedicated fanbase and multiple awards to its name, but the Writers Guild of America strike in 2007 almost prevented this from happening (viaThe Things). When the strike began, only eight episodes ofThe Big Bang Theoryhad aired and received mixed reviews from critics. Considering the initial response toThe Big Bang Theorywasn’t enthusiastic by any means,there was a large possibility the show would be axed after it returned to finish season 1.
However, until the show resumed production on season 1 in 2008, CBS aired frequent reruns ofThe Big Bang Theory’s first eight episodes. This allowed audiences to gain a familiarity with the series' humor and character dynamics, warmly welcoming the sitcom back on air in the following months. Eventually,The Big Bang Theoryearned higher levels of praise in its later seasons.
Cheers
One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson’s Sam Malone acts as the bar’s proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar’s operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.
The divide anddifference in audience and critics' reception to TV showshas always existed. One example of this isCheers, which began airing in the early ’80s and has been seen as an influential sitcom. The first season earned critical acclaim and was expected to do well at award shows following its premiere. However, the viewership numbers didn’t say the same thing (viaSlashFilm).
During the year it premiered,Cheers' poor ratings landed the show in the 74th spot out of 77 shows. Still,critical response and confidence in the sitcom’s success from the network gaveCheersanother chance at building an audience, which it eventually did as the series progressed. Since its series finale,Cheershas continued to rank highly on lists recounting the best shows of all time and influential TV episodes.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Based on the British series of the same name, the first season ofThe Officewas met with mixed reviews and many negative comparisons to its BBC counterpart. During an interview on theI Think You’re Interestingpodcast, writer Michael Schur describedThe Officeseason 1 — which had a total of six episodes — as a sort of experiment by the network (viaVox). Schur said after seeing the response from audiences,there was an understanding among the series' creators and cast that the show was likely going to get canceled.
Then, by luck, the star ofThe Office,Steve Carell’s image as a comedy actor blew up afterThe 40-Year-Old Virgin, which was released a few months afterThe Officeseason 1 finale. Carell’s fame and some reevaluated creative choices surroundingThe Office, namely Michael Scott’s characterization, helped the sitcom grow into a massive success.
3The Leftovers (2014-2017)
The Series' Creators Were Unsure About Moving Forward
Unlike a few other shows that faced the possibility of an early cancelation, questions about whetherThe Leftoverswould return for a second season didn’t have to do with ratings or negative critical responses. Instead,there were questions asked by those involved in the writing ofThe Leftoversabout whether there was a story worth returning to. As the series' showrunnerDamon Lindelof explained toThe Hollywood Reporter,The Leftoverswas never meant to be a show that had audiences on the edge of their seats while watching the season finales.
“Is this person who’s just been shot going to live?,”
Lindelof said, instead of lingering questions like, “Is this person who’s just been shot going to live?,” he and co-creator Tom Perrotta wondered if the series' characters were worth spending more time with.The Leftoverseventually put out two more seasons and earned greater acclaim from critics. According to reviews,The Leftoverspulls off its themes especially well and excels in writing and acting.
Baywatch
Baywatch is a drama series that follows the lives of dedicated lifeguards patrolling the beaches of Los Angeles, combining action, adventure, and personal stories as they protect the public from various emergencies.
Unlike the other shows listed,Baywatchwas actually canceledafter its first season. Negative reviews and low viewership numbers led to NBC pulling the plug. Additionally, the network struggled financially to supportBaywatch, among a few other shows, and didn’t see the series as one worth holding on to. However, David Hasselhoff, a leading actor onBaywatch, felt the show had greater potential and, teaming up with the series' creators, he bought the rights to the show (viaThe Guardian).
ThoughBaywatchfailed to see eye-to-eye with critics, the series was widely popular with viewers at home. The addition of Pamela Anderson to the cast brought even more attention toBaywatchand helped transform the series into a pop culture phenomenon. A few aspects of the show have been referenced numerous times in other media, including the famous slow-motionBaywatchrun.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
After receiving negative responses from a test audience, it appeared as thoughSeinfeldwould never become the hit sitcom it’s viewed as today. To avoid losing the rights toSeinfeld,NBC executive Rick Ludwin ordered four additional episodes of the series, which would be released almost a year after the pilot was first aired in 1989.Seinfeldseason 1 is the shortest of the series and though its numbers weren’t groundbreaking, they were enough to earn a second season (viaDen of Geek).
As the series continued,Seinfeldonly grew in numbers. For its character dynamics, sense of humor, and catchphrases that quickly caught on with audiences,Seinfeldis seen today as a highly influential and accomplished sitcom. The actors were consistently comically in tune with one another and the creativeinput from Larry David madeSeinfelda standout series.
