Cancelled TV Shows That Were Still Getting Good Ratings

The television industry is a notoriously fickle business, where even a show with high ratings can be cancelled at a moment's notice. This can be frustrating for fans who have invested time and emotions into a series, only to have it taken away from them before the story is fully resolved. Even more frustrating are the shows that were still getting good ratings when they were cancelled, leaving audiences scratching their heads in confusion. We’re taking a look at some of the most popular cancelled TV shows which were axed despite their strong ratings.

Cheers

Cheers is the American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993. The show is set in a bar named "Cheers" in Boston and focuses on the interactions and relationships of the bar's staff and patrons.

The main character of the show is Sam Malone, a former baseball player and recovering alcoholic who owns the bar. Other notable characters include Diane Chambers, a waitress with a master's degree in literature, Carla Tortelli, a wisecracking waitress with a large family, and Norm Peterson, a regular customer who is known for his love of beer and one-liners.

Throughout the series, the characters deal with a variety of personal and professional challenges, such as relationship troubles, financial difficulties, and career changes. The show is known for its witty writing, memorable characters, and theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name."

Cheers was a critical and commercial success, winning multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards during its run. However, the show's ratings began to decline in its later seasons, and in 1993, NBC decided to cancel the series after eleven seasons. The final episode of Cheers aired on May 20, 1993, and was watched by over 80 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television events in history.

Angel

Angel is an American television series that aired on The WB from 1999 to 2004. It is a spin-off of the popular television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and follows the character of Angel, a vampire with a soul, as he sets up his own detective agency in Los Angeles and fights against supernatural forces.

The show features a cast of characters including Angel, his human friends Cordelia Chase and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, and later joined by the demon fighter Charles Gunn and the half-demon Fred Burkle. Throughout the series, the characters face off against various supernatural enemies, such as demons, vampires, and otherworldly beings. The show also explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's actions.

It was praised for its dark and mature tone and played after the popular Buffy which boosted it’s ratings. The WB Network declared on February 14, 2004, that there would be no sixth season for Angel. The brief announcement acknowledged that the news had leaked earlier than the network intended, as an Internet site had reported it the day before. Fans responded by initiating various efforts, such as letter-writing campaigns, online petitions, blood and food drives, trade magazine advertisements, mobile billboard promotions, and lobbying other networks. Despite being the second highest-rated program on the WB, Angel was cancelled. David Fury, the head writer, asserted that Angel would have returned for a sixth season had Joss Whedon not sought an early renewal. Fury explained that Whedon's request for a prompt decision placed executive Jordan Levin in a difficult position, compelling him to terminate the show. Fury believed that if they had waited, the show would have been renewed.

The final episode of "Angel" aired on May 19, 2004, and left the show on a cliffhanger, with the fate of the characters left unresolved. The cancellation of the show was controversial among fans, and has since become known as one of the most frustrating television cancellations in history.

Lizzie McGuire

Lizzie McGuire is an American television sitcom that aired on the Disney Channel from 2001 to 2004. The show follows the life of Lizzie McGuire, a teenage girl who navigates the ups and downs of middle school, while dealing with the challenges of growing up.

The show stars Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire, along with a cast of supporting characters including her best friends Miranda and Gordo, her younger brother Matt, and her parents Sam and Jo. The show is known for its relatable storylines, teenage angst, and the inner monologues of Lizzie that reveal her thoughts and feelings.

Despite its popularity, Lizzie McGuire was cancelled after two seasons due to a creative disagreement between the show's creator and the Disney Channel. In 2003, the show's creator, Terri Minsky, had plans for a spin-off movie that would have followed Lizzie's high school years, but those plans fell through. The show's cancellation disappointed many fans, who had grown attached to the characters and the relatable storylines. In 2020, a revival of the show was announced, but was later cancelled due to further creative differences between the show's creators and Disney.

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory is the popular American television sitcom that aired on CBS from 2007 to 2019. The show follows the lives of a group of socially awkward scientists, led by theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper and experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter, and their friends and later romantic partners. The show features a cast of characters including Sheldon, Leonard, Howard Wolowitz, Raj Koothrappali, and Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress who lives across the hall from Sheldon and Leonard. 

The show is known for its references to science and nerd culture, as well as its guest appearances, strong writing and memorable characters. The Big Bang Theory was a ratings success, becoming one of the most-watched television shows in the world during its run. The show received numerous Emmy Awards and Golden Globe nominations.

Despite its popularity, the show was cancelled in 2019, after a huge 12 seasons and 279 episodes. The decision to end the show was reportedly made by the show's creators, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, and the cast, who felt that it was time to end the series on a high note. The final episode of The Big Bang Theory aired on May 16, 2019, and was watched by over 23 million viewers. It featured a guest appearance from Sarah Michelle Gellar and viewers watched the lead Sheldon Cooper win a Noble Prize and dedicate it to his friends.

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is the American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1989 to 1998 and is often said to be the series that inspired a long list of sitcoms released in the 00s. The show was created by comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, and it stars Jerry as a fictionalised version of himself, along with a cast of characters including his friends George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and neighbour Cosmo Kramer.

The show is known for its unique brand of humor, which revolves around the everyday experiences of the characters and the absurd situations they find themselves in. The show's plots often revolve around seemingly trivial topics such as waiting in line or double-dipping, but are executed with clever writing and hilarious performances from the cast.

Despite its success and popularity, Seinfeld was cancelled by its creators after nine seasons in 1998. The decision to end the show was reportedly made by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, who felt that the show had run its course creatively. 

The final episode of Seinfeld aired on 14th May 1998, and was watched by over 76 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television finales in history. Although the show ended over two decades ago, it remains popular with audiences and has had a significant impact on the landscape of modern television comedy.

Full House

Full House is the US sitcom that aired on ABC from 1987 to 1995. The show follows the life of widower Danny Tanner, who enlists the help of his brother-in-law and best friend to raise his three daughters. The show stars Bob Saget as Danny Tanner, John Stamos as Uncle Jesse, and Dave Coulier as Joey Gladstone. The three men move into Danny's San Francisco home to help raise his daughters, DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle. The show is known for its wholesome family values, humor, and heartwarming storylines.

Full House was a popular show during its run, and even spawned a spin-off series, "Fuller House," which aired on Netflix from 2016 to 2020. Full House was cancelled after eight seasons in 1995. The decision to end the show was reportedly made by the show's producers but it remains popular with audiences and has since become a cultural touchstone for the 90s nostalgia.

iCarly

iCarly is a teen sitcom that originally aired on Nickelodeon from 2007 to 2012. The show follows the life of Carly Shay, a teenager who creates her own web show called "iCarly" with her best friends Sam and Freddie. The show stars Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay, Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett, and Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson. The show is known for its humor, creativity, and innovative use of technology.

After five seasons, iCarly was cancelled in 2012. The decision to end the show was reportedly made by Nickelodeon, and was not due to any creative issues or declining ratings. The show had a successful run and had become one of Nickelodeon's most popular shows. The stars were growing up and moving on to other projects, and it was felt that it was time to end the series on a high note. 

In 2021, it was announced that a revival series titled "iCarly" would premiere on Paramount+ with Miranda Cosgrove reprising her role as Carly Shay, Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress were not returning for the revival. Jeanette McCurdy has since appeared on talk shows discussing her time on iCarly and beyond and her memoir “I’m Glad My Mum Died” in which she details the upsetting abuse she endured by her Mother when being a child star.

Friends

Friends is the always popular sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004. The show follows the lives of six friends - Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and Chandler - as they navigate their personal and professional lives in New York City. The show stars Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing. 

Friends is best known for its relatable relationships, quotable humor, memorable catchphrases, and its iconic 90s fashion.

After ten seasons and 236 episodes, Friends came to an end in 2004. The decision to end the show was a mutual agreement between the cast, the producers, and the network. Despite its immense popularity and high ratings, the cast and producers felt that it was time to end the series while it was still at its peak, rather than allowing it to drag on past its expiration date. Many cast members had to be convinced to carry on for the 10th series anyway as they wanted to pursue more serious roles and in film.

Friends remains a beloved classic and has continued to gain new fans through reruns and streaming services. Its impact on popular culture is still felt today, with references and nods to the show appearing in various media and a reunion show airing in 2020.

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