They say breaking up is hard to do, but it's not always hard -- it really depends on the breakup. There are the easy, necessary, and long overdue breakups along with the sad, painful, and shocking ones. When we learned of the more than three dozen TV shows ending this season, we started to realize (being the crazy TV fans that we are) that those same breakup categories can apply to the farewells we bid to our favorite (and not-so-favorite) TV series.
(View photos of all the network shows that won't be returning.)
First, there are the cancellations that caught us by surprise -- the shows we really wish wouldn't leave us. Samantha? Earl? (as in "…Who?" and "My Name Is…") We thought things were going so well! You were so charming and captivating and we truly enjoyed spending time with you. But, alas, you're going and there's nothing we can do to make you stay. Sigh.
Next, there are the series we once had exciting relationships with, but as time went on things got a little dull. In the case of dramas like "ER" and "Prison Break," by the end we barely recognized the shows we fell in love with years ago. We saw these breakups coming and we know ending it is for the best, but we'll always have the good old days.
And finally, there's the last, and least painful, category. The shows we barely got to know. They looked good on paper so we tried starting something up with series like "In the Motherhood" and "Kings," but lost interest before the relationships even got off the ground. We won't lose any sleep over these barely-got-to-know-ya shows, that's for sure. See-ya!
Check out a few of the notable cancellations in each category and say your own proper goodbyes:
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THE HEARTBREAKERS:
"My Name is Earl" (NBC)
Though never dubbed Must-See TV, "My Name is Earl," which followed a petty crook on the road to redemption, had a strong following and actually delivered its fair share of laughs. Over the course of four seasons, Earl (played to perfection by man-boy extraordinaire, Jason Lee) mixed and mingled with some of the weirdest and wackiest characters to ever grace the small screen, including one of TV's funniest females, 2006 Best Supporting Actress winner Jamie Pressly, who portrayed Joy Farrah Darville-Hickey-Turner, a trailer trash she-devil with a heart of coal. But, after 96 episodes and innumerable El Camino, DNA test, and STD jokes, NBC decided to dump the show in favor of hanging onto Amy Poehler's questionable new program, "Parks and Recreation" … which should really be a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, not a sitcom. Excuse the sidebar. In any case, Earl and his trailer park crew have already bid adieu, and there's nothing we can do but to borrow one of Joy's signature phrases, "What the Hell?"
Watch the fourth (and final) season finale of "Earl" here:
"Samantha Who?" (ABC)
You've got to be kidding me?! How could ABC pull the plug on its best comedy -- a truly hysterical show that starred America's sweetheart, People's Choice Award winner Christina Applegate, Emmy Award winner Jean Smart, the deliciously evil Jennifer Esposito, the heartwarming Melissa McCarthy, and the adorable Barry Watson? Here's how: When the network moved "Samantha Who?" from its comfy Monday night time slot post "Dancing with the Stars" (where it was pulling down nearly 15 million viewers each week) to the dumping ground on Thursday nights at 8:30pm, behind the now-defunct flub "In the Motherhood," the ratings tanked, and they decided to cancel the show. Why not retool it? Why not bring in some special guest stars? Here's an idea: put it back on Monday nights where it flourished! Or, God forbid, promote the show. What is wrong with you, ABC? You want people like Christina Applegate and "Ugly Betty's" America Ferrera to be the friendly faces of your organization, and yet you refuse to market their programs properly. Remember the good ol' days? You know, when ABC was the king of comedy programming? "Roseanne," "Home Improvement," "Coach"? What about the TGIF lineup which at one point featured "Perfect Strangers," "Full House," "Mr. Belvedere," and "Just the Ten of Us"? Huh? Despite a ton of disappointed fans, the awesomely funny show about an amnesiac with a naughty past is a goner. Here's to hoping that another network (CBS, are you listening?) picks up Christina and her crew and gives them the respect and chance they deserve to succeed. Pardon the rant, but clearly some of us are still in shock.
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THE ONES THAT RAN THEIR COURSE:
"Boston Legal" (ABC)
Back in 2003, fans of the legal drama "The Practice" were devastated when creator David E. Kelley suddenly fired most of the show's main cast members, including Dylan McDermott and Lara Flynn Boyle, and brought on '80s film star James Spader to head up a new cast. Turns out the move was the beginning of a quirky-but-brilliant new spin-off called "Boston Legal," which eventually boasted a cast of stalwart actors like William Shatner, Candace Bergen and John Larroquette. But after five seasons, plenty of Emmy nods and wins, and wild and wacky cases dealing with everything from homeland security to white supremacist musical acts to paparazzi murders, court finally adjourned for good.
"ER" (NBC)
For the fans who stuck with this medical drama for the full 15 seasons, one thing became pretty clear toward the end of its run: There were a lot less of us watching. The cast looked a lot different on the 331st episode than it did on the first, but the show will still go down in history as the longest-running -- and one of the best -- medical dramas in television history. While it may have run past its prime, "ER" took advantage of knowing which season was its last and treated fans to a trip down memory lane with appearances by favorite former cast members (George Clooney, anyone?) throughout Season 15, injecting enough excitement to bring former viewers back to the "ER" during those last few episodes.
Watch the series finale of "ER" here:
"King of the Hill" (FOX)
Though it never rose to international super-fame quite like fellow FOX animated series "The Simpsons" did, "King of the Hill," which followed propane salesman Hank Hill and his family in a small Texas town, became a bona fide hit and a critical darling soon after it premiered 12 years ago. The series, conceived by "Beavis and Butthead" creator Mike Judge, helped pave the way for FOX's Sunday night lineup of animated comedies which now includes "Family Guy," "American Dad" and the upcoming "Cleveland Show." After a near cancellation during its tenth season, "King of the Hill" has been living on borrowed time the past few years and is finally ready to pack it in after its 13th season comes to a close. Die-hard fans can still find the Hill family in syndication. Rumors have been swirling that FOX has ordered a few more episodes in order to give the series a more fitting goodbye, but whether they’ll air on the network or just be added to a DVD collection remains to be seen. Sounds like this breakup still needs closure.
Watch the final episode of "King of the Hill" here:
"Without a Trace" (CBS)
Riding the coattails of CBS's massively popular Jerry Bruckheimer-produced procedurals, "Without a Trace" captivated viewers with its focus on an FBI missing persons unit headed up by Special Agent Jack Malone, played by Anthony LaPaglia. In addition to following one intense case per episode, the show gave viewers a look at the team members' complicated personal lives and emotional reactions to cases. Though the series managed to crack the Top 20 in the ratings during all seven of its seasons, "Without a Trace" is about to disappear for good.
"Prison Break" (FOX)
When "Prison Break" first burst onto the scene in 2005, the show quickly gained a solid fan base and whipped them into quite a frenzy. The show, about a man who purposely lands himself in jail to help his innocent brother break out, had the edge-of-your-seat excitement of "24" and the you-better-pay-attention mystery of "Lost." Unfortunately, the series began mixing things up a little too much, moving the setting to Central America, and losing its viewer interest along the way. Its new Friday timeslot this year didn't help matters and after four seasons, "Prison Break" will be taking a permanent one.
Watch the "Prison Break" series finale here:
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THE... WHO WERE YOU AGAIN?
"Kings" (NBC)
Created by executive producer Michael Green ("Heroes"), NBC's drama "Kings" retold the timeless tale of David and Goliath. The epic story's young hero inadvertently rose to power amidst war, greed, power, and romance. Instantly, viewers were welcomed to the Kingdom of Gilboa, a modern-day monarchy led by the well entrenched King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane, "Deadwood"). Gilboa was at war with the neighboring Gath and on the battlefield was where young soldier David Shepherd (Chris Egan) emerged as Gilboa's symbol of bravery. King Silas invited David into the capital city of Shiloh, but soon realized that David may very well take over his throne. After airing four episodes in the Sunday 8pm timeslot, NBC relegated the drama to Saturday nights and allowed it to air its remaining eight episodes. "Kings" is a show that never really had a chance, which is quite a shame because it boasted a strong cast, the concept was unique, and the production quality was breathtaking. Regardless, the ratings dipped week after week, and with such low ratings it never stood a chance.
Watch a full episode of "Kings" here:
"Kath & Kim" (NBC)
"Kath & Kim," based on the Australian series of the same name, followed the fortysomething divorcée Kathy Day (played by "SNL" alum Molly Shannon), who thought she was finally about to have some time to herself to search for love. But when her narcissistic daughter, Kim (portrayed by Selma Blair of "Hellboy" fame), separated from her husband, she convinced her mom to let her move into Kath's tacky suburban Florida home. The house rules had changed, however, as Kath refused to cater to her bratty daughter's every whim like the good old days. There were plenty of fake nails, rhinestones, and big hair as these two over-the-top ladies took the suburbs by storm. NBC ended up airing only 17 episodes (just short of a full 22-episode season) of "Kath & Kim" before giving it the boot. Though the Australian version of the show became quite a hit in Australia and both Shannon and Blair were spot-on as the wacky mother-daughter duo, the American adaptation was apparently lost in translation for U.S. audiences as many critics considered it unfunny and practically unwatchable -- something comedies, um, should not be.
Watch a full episode of "Kath & Kim" here:
"In the Motherhood" (ABC)
Loosely based on the 2007 web series of the same name, "In the Motherhood" -- which chronicled the silliness and scariness of being a mom in the modern world -- starred "Will & Grace" vet Megan Mullally as a liberated single mom with an overly responsible teenage son, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" cutie Cheryl Hines as a divorced working mom of two who hires a male nanny ("SNL" alum Horatio Sanz) to help around the house, and relative newcomer Jessica St. Clair as a painfully sweet stay-at-home supermom. With at least three proven funny folks in the cast (Mullally, Hines, Sanz) and the amusing concept of motherhood, the suburbia-set comedy had huge potential, but the half-hour show was filled with watered-down, obvious jokes that were not very funny at all. After only airing four episodes, ABC pulled the plug, which was probably four episodes too late.
"Sit Down, Shut Up" (FOX)
From the creator behind "Arrested Development," the animated series "Sit Down, Shut Up" followed the lives of eight egocentric, insecure, and wildly immature staffers at a high school in a Northeastern fishing town. Their motto? The children always come second. From the accident-prone principal to the vain English teacher (voiced by Will Arnett) to the ostracized gym teacher (voiced by Jason Bateman) to the very jaded, aging German teacher (voiced by Henry Winkler), one thing was clear: These public servants were wacky, miserable, and totally unfit to mentor children. With the comedic pedigree of "Arrested Development" alums, there were high hopes that "SDSU" would be insanely funny, but the jokes felt forced, the characters lacked depth, and the combination of animated characters with live-action backgrounds was distracting. Even with the strong FOX animated lineup support, "SDSU" only aired four episodes and quickly disappeared. FOX is hoping viewers will forget about the animated mess and look to "Family Guy" spin-off "Cleveland Show" come fall.
Watch a full episode of "Sit Down, Shut Up" here:
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Talk About It: If you could bring back one of these officially canceled shows, which show would it be?
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