From Short Runs to Instant Cancellations: The Sad Stories of TV Shows with the Shortest Runs

Several TV shows have had notably short runs, often due to low ratings, poor reception, or network decisions. Here are some of the TV shows with the shortest runs that aired full episodes, each having their unique stories of instant cancellations or cut short despite promising starts.

A Bunch of Shows That Faded Quickly

Happy Endings: This sitcom was canceled after just one season with 27 episodes produced. Here and Now: Despite critical acclaim, this coming-of-age series was canceled after one season totaling 18 episodes. Firefly: This cult classic space western was canceled after only 14 episodes despite having a dedicated fan base. Divorce: This sitcom was canceled after two seasons with a total of 32 episodes. Ladyificent: This comedy series, about a man whose mother is reincarnated as a car, lasted just one season with 30 episodes. The Event: This supernatural thriller was canceled after one season totaling 8 episodes. Whirlyball: This sci-fi drama about time travel and dinosaurs was canceled after one season with 13 episodes. Homebody: This sitcom about a gay couple starting a family was canceled after one season with 22 episodes. Phil Spector's Queens: This quirky series was canceled after just 13 episodes despite a devoted fan base. Brody: This buddy cop comedy-drama was canceled after two seasons totaling 26 episodes.

While many shows have been canceled after just one season, others have had even shorter runs with some lasting only a few episodes before being pulled from the air.

An Early Case of Instant Cancellation: The Game Show #34;Who’s Whose#34;

Going back to 1951, there was a game show called Who’s Whose. In this show, the panel had to figure out which of three members of one gender was married to a fourth contestant of the other. There was also a round in which they had to match a contestant with his or her celebrity spouse. General Foods pulled its sponsorship after one week. Since this was before my time, all I know is that the critics thought it a cluttered mess. Imagine if Mark Goodson and Bill Todman had produced this show, it might have been something like To Tell the Truth. At any rate, General Foods’ sponsorship was yanked after just one week, and that was that.

I won’t count Jackie Gleason’s “You’re in the Picture” because he did spend the second week apologizing for what he called “the biggest BOMB in history.”