Some ofthe best TV shows everfaced multiple rejections before becoming hugely successful. It may be hard to believe, but many were even turned down a shocking number of times. Whether due to budget, a complex story, or a genre that felt too niche,they were considered too risky or too different from what audiences were used to.
However, they eventually found their place among the stars, showing that sometimes the most unexpected ideas can lead to incredible triumphs. In addition to great storytelling, stunning visuals, and all the other elements that make for a great series, the ace up the sleeve these titles had was doing things no one had done before. From HBO’sThe SopranostoNetflix’sSquid Game, these cases prove that it doesn’t matter how slowly one goes, as long as they don’t stop.
Orange is The New Black
Cast
Based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Champman (Taylor Schilling) after she turns herself in for a 15-month sentence in a minimum-security women’s prison for aiding in a drug-smuggling operation run by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). One of Netflix’s most popular original series, the show explores the corruption inherent in the US prison system through the lens of Piper’s experiences.
Premiering on Netflix and running a very successful course over seven seasons,Orange is The New Blackis not the show anybody would think ever got passed up. However, that’s exactly what happened when Jenji Kohan, the creator, pitched the idea to HBO and Showtime. According to Kohan, who spoke toThe Guardianin 2019, she had a lot to offer; a year’s worth of material, that is.
Thankfully,Netflix did recognizeOITNBas the next big thing. Based on Piper Kerman’s 2010 memoir of the same name, which details her experience in a federal women’s prison, the tale was masterfully brought to life by a stellar cast. The series went on to be one of Netflix’s first originals to achieve significant commercial and critical success, cementing its place as one of the most trailblazing pieces of media of all time.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
Another shocking pass on behalf of HBO and Showtime was reserved forMad Men, the iconic show focusing on the world of advertising in 1960s New York City. Per a report fromThe New York Times,the series took years to get picked up after the initial rejections, ultimately catching AMC’s eye.
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Notably, the premise itself apparently wasn’t the problem, asMad Men’screator Matthew Weiner shared in an interview withVanity Fair. Instead, HBO wanted David Chase ofThe Sopranosto produce it, which Chase decided not to do. However, after it was greenlit, the show quickly gained massive popularity, and for good reason.Mad Mendrew heavily from its biggest movie inspirations, which not only made it better but ultimately set the standard for high-quality television content. It wrapped after seven seasons and 92 episodes.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Surprisingly, despite arguably being one of the greatest shows of all time,Breaking Badfaced significant challenges before it finally got approved for a pilot. Vince Gilligan, the series’ creator, had the vision for the story long before it was accepted, and the journey to getting it picked up was not easy. As he shared in a 2011 interview with theTelevision Academy Foundation, his script got rejected four times before AMC finally saw its potential.
Vince Gilligan made the decision to wrap upBreaking Badin season 5, as he didn’t want to repeat the mistake that many successful shows make by continuing past their prime and risking a decline in quality.
Arguably,Breaking Badaged so wellbecause it set a new bar for what television could achieve, among other factors. With its intricate storytelling, complex characters, and high production value,it essentially created the idea of binge-watching TV, paving the way for streaming services to excel. The legendary show went on to win nearly 100 awards, including a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 20, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
The Walking Deadstands out as another great snag for AMC, as the network was the one to pick up the hit series after it was already rejected twice. Both NBC and HBO decided to pass on it due to the excessive violence and bloodshed depicted, as the series’ makeup artist Greg Nicotero shared when speaking toThe Huffington Postin 2012. Interestingly, it was ultimately exactly the gore that attracted so many ofThe Walking Dead’sviewers down the line.
The production became a pop culture phenomenon and expanded intoThe Walking Deadfranchise, spawning multiple sequels and spin-offs.
After its debut,The Walking Deadquickly became one of the most popular TV shows of the decade. It amassed a huge global fan base and generated a lot of buzz, proving itself to be a major success. Based on the comic book of the same name, the production became a pop culture phenomenon and expanded intoThe Walking Deadfranchise, spawning multiple sequels and spin-offs.
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives was a rom-com drama that aired on ABC for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012. The award-winning series follows Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), who discover dark secrets hidden in their quiet town of Fairview.
Anybody who has ever seenDesperate Housewivesknows it’s more than just a typical drama about suburban life. However, six networks didn’t recognize that when presented with Marc Cherry’s script, per aTimereport. Showtime, Lifetime, Fox, HBO, CBS, and NBC all rejected it, leaving it up to ABC to bring it to life. Luckily, they did it marvelously, creating a unique blend of dark humor, juicy drama, and mysterious twists.
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The show starts with a twist right from the beginning, drawing viewers in like no other before it. Notably,one of the biggest reasons it became so relevant is its middle-aged female cast. The iconicDesperate Housewives’characters, played by Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, and Nicollette Sheridan, remain etched into our brains decades after we first saw them on the screen. The series ran for eight seasons and won seven Primetime Emmys.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
We may know her as one of the most iconic faces of the 1990s, butBuffy the Vampire Slayeralmost didn’t happen in a televised version. Joss Whedon, the show’s creator, went through a rough patch when his idea was turned into a rather unsuccessful movie in 1992. However, he stuck to his vision. As detailed inJoss Whedon: The Biography, which was written by Amy Pascale, Fox and NBC weren’t thrilled with the story, passing it on to WB, a new network that was ultimately up for producing it.
Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, not only didBuffygo on to air for seven seasons, but it evolved into a cultural touchstone. Despite being a product of its time,there was never another Buffy like Gellar’s. However, she might grace us with her presence again soon, as there’s a lot of talk about aBuffy the Vampire Slayerrevival.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
When talking about the greatest shows ever made,The Sopranosnever fails to make the list. It’s one of those rare, top-notch quality works of art that one can watch over and over again, making it quite baffling that it got rejected by every major network of the 1990s. According to a report fromIndieWire, David Chase revealed during a talk at the Vulture Festival that HBO was the bold giant that finally took a gamble (and what a winning bet it turned out to be).
The legendary show didn’t just win over 100 awards, but it changed the entire TV landscape, making viewers rethink what television can be. Even afterThe Sopranosended in 2007,the series remains a triumph of storytelling and a piece of television history that’s as thrilling today as it was when it first aired.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
WhenStranger Thingspremiered on Netflix in 2016, it became an instant cultural phenomenon, capturing the hearts of viewers with its mix of supernatural mystery, nostalgic ’80s vibes, and unforgettable characters. However,the story was shockingly rejected approximately 20 times, as the Duffer brothers shared withThe Rolling Stone.
Matt and Ross Duffer never lost sight of their vision, which led to the birth of one of the most popular pieces of entertainment of all time. In 2022,Stranger Thingswas Netflix’s most-streamed production, with viewers streaming a staggering 52 billion minutes of it. Without the final installment, which is set to debut in 2025, it garnered 323 award nominations and won 114 of them. It’s safe to say thatStranger Thingsis more than a show; it’s a pop culture phenomenon.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Squid Gametook the world by storm when it came out on Netflix in 2021, making it seem unbelievable that the concept of the show was continuously rejected for an entire decade.The Wall Street Journalspoke to the show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, who told the publication thatthe studios didn’t feel like the storyline was realistic enough.
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Fast-forward to 2025, and the highlyanticipatedSquidGameseason 3is all anybody can talk about. The South Korean survival drama became Netflix’s biggest show of all time, blending heart-stopping suspense, brutal social commentary, and jaw-dropping visuals into a binge-worthy masterpiece. The show also became a cultural phenomenon worldwide, with its costumes dominating Halloween and memes flooding the internet. As we wait it out for the final segment to hit the popular streaming service,Squid Gamebasks in its hard-earned glory.
The Queen’s Gambit
Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, the Netflix limited series drama The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age story that explores the actual cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a young Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast, determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.
Even though she was in a handful of popular titles before,The Queen’s Gambitwas a tour de force for Anya Taylor-Joy. She played the brilliant but troubled chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, delivering a performance nothing short of captivating. Despite the engaging story,it took screenwriter and producer Scott Allan a shocking 30 years to get it into production, as he told theBBCin a 2020 conversation.
Thanks to consultants National Master Bruce Pandolfini and Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, the chess boards inThe Queen’s Gambitare always set up correctly, with realistic games and positions.
Granted, while chess might not sound like the most interesting thing to watch, Netflix successfully identified the value in it. Based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis,The Queen’s Gambitwas eventually lauded as one of the most popular miniseries ever. With 11 Primetime Emmys and a hefty list of other accolades, the networks that have passed on the remarkable tale might be regretting their gambits right about now.
Sources:The Guardian,The New York Times,Television Academy Foundation,The Huffington Post,Time,IndieWire,The Rolling Stone,The Wall Street Journal,BBC
