I’ll never forgive Hollywood for canceling Schmigadoon! and Pushing Daisies.
1. Schmigadoon! (2021–2023) is a satirical musical comedy that stars Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, and pretty much every single Broadway legend. The two main characters get transported (and trapped!) in a magical town called Schmigadoon, where its residents act like they’re in a musical. Season 1 parodies The Music Man, while Season 2 is a bit grittier and parodies Chicago. Just do yourself a favor and check it out.
Who’s in it: Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Jane Krakowski, Fred Armisen, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana DeBose, Aaron Tveit, Dove Cameron, Tituss Burgess, and Martin Short
Where it aired: Apple TV+
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 12
Here’s the original trailer:
2. How to Die Alone (2024) stars Natasha Rothwell as an airport employee whose near-death experience completely changes her life. Parts of it will have you laughing out loud, while other parts will make you confront your own mortality, but all of it will make you feel so freaking good inside. It’s such a gem of a show, and even though the main character is a little messy at times, it’s completely relatable and will leave you wanting more.
Who’s in it: Natasha Rothwell, Conrad Ricamora, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, H. Jon Benjamin, and Jocko Sims
Where it aired: Hulu
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 8
Here’s the original trailer:
3. I Love That for You (2022) stars Vanessa Bayer as a woman who lands her dream job as a QVC-like host, and as a last-ditch effort to keep from getting fired, she lies about having cancer. The whole thing is funny and dark and charming, and it’s actually inspired by Bayer’s real-life battle with childhood leukemia.
Who’s in it: Vanessa Bayer, Molly Shannon, Jenifer Lewis, and Matt Rogers
Where it aired: Showtime
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 8
Here’s the original trailer:
4. The Comeback (2005–2026) is Lisa Kudrow’s masterpiece, and it’ll have you laughing out loud every 10 seconds. It follows a former ’90s sitcom star who’s so desperate for the spotlight that she agrees to have a reality show crew document her “comeback” into Hollywood. It was canceled after one season and then brought back for six episodes nearly a decade later. It’s actually coming back one more time ~another~ decade later, in 2026, but this will be its third and final season, and, hey, I just want 50 more!!!
Who’s in it: Lisa Kudrow, Malin Akerman, Damian Young, Kellan Lutz, and Seth Rogen
Where it aired: HBO
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 21
Here’s the original trailer:
5. American Auto (2021–2023) is a workplace comedy starring Ana Gasteyer as a former pharmaceutical CEO who takes over as leader of a famous car manufacturer. In spectacular fashion, everything that could go wrong does. You’ll often wonder why you’re rooting for the characters as much as you are, but the reason is simple: This show has so much heart, and you can’t help but want more.
Who’s in it: Ana Gasteyer, Jon Barinholtz, Tye White, Harriet Dyer, X Mayo, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Humphrey Ker
Where it aired: NBC
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 23
Here’s the original trailer:
6. I’m Sorry (2017–2019) is the most real and relatable show you’ve never seen. It stars Andrea Savage as a comedy writer with a hot husband (Tom Everett Scott) and young daughter. The series is centered around all of life’s mundane bullsh*t, but with a fresh, witty, and often inappropriate twist.
Who’s in it: Andrea Savage, Tom Everett Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, and Judy Greer
Where it aired: TruTV
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 20
Here’s the original trailer:
7. Pan Am (2011–2012) is a super fun period drama that takes place in the 1960s. It stars Margot Robbie, Christina Ricci, and others as a group of Pan American airline stewardesses, some of whom are secretly spies working to complete undercover missions for the US government while on their travels. The coolest part is that this is all based on real events, so half of the series is a spy thriller while the other half is just hot ’60s glamour, a la Mad Men.
Who’s in it: Margot Robbie, Christina Ricci, David Harbour, Karine Vanasse, and Mike Vogel
Where it aired: ABC
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 14
Here’s the original trailer:
8. Grand Crew (2021–2023) is like a modern-day version of Friends and Living Single. It’s centered around a group of friends in LA who are just trying to balance life, relationships, and their careers, but it’s never monotonous, boring, or predictable. Nicole Byer has always been a star, but she shines especially bright in this series, and I want to see her in evvvvvvvverything.
Who’s in it: Nicole Byer, Echo Kellum, Aaron Jennings, Carl Tart, Grasie Mercedes, and Justin Cunningham
Where it aired: NBC
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 20
Here’s the original trailer:
9. Pushing Daisies (2007–2009) follows Lee Pace (6’5″) as a pie shop owner while he (6’5″) has the ability to bring dead things back to life with a single touch. There are some interesting caveats to his (6’5″) power, which really help to keep the series on its toes. Oh, and he (6’5″) also uses this ability to help his (6’5″) friend, a private investigator, solve murders. It’s quirky, romantic, and super freaking charming. Also, Lee Pace (6’5″) is just so fun to look at, so there’s that too.
Who’s in it: Lee Pace, Kristin Chenoweth, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Swoosie Kurtz, and Ellen Greene
Where it aired: ABC
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 22
Here’s the original trailer:
10. Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013) is a comedy about a young, naive woman who moves to New York City and basically has to start over. Her roommate ends up being one of the most chaotic people alive, and she just so happens to be best friends with James Van Der Beek, who plays an exaggerated version of himself in the show. We should have gotten at least five seasons of this unpredictable and outrageous sitcom, but somehow we only got two. It was way ahead of its time!
Who’s in it: Krysten Ritter, James Van Der Beek, Dreama Walker, and Eric André
Where it aired: ABC
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 26
Here’s the original trailer:
11. Pitch (2016–2017) is a drama from the creator of This Is Us, so you already know that it’s super heartfelt and has some wild twists. It stars Kylie Bunbury as the first woman to play in Major League Baseball, along with all the challenges that come with it. The pilot episode alone made me gasp.
Who’s in it: Kylie Bunbury, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mark Consuelos, and Ali Larter
Where it aired: Fox
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 10
Here’s the original trailer:
12. Crashing (2016) is a short-lived comedy from the mind of Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It’s about a group of young adults who live as property guardians for an unused hospital in London. It’s witty, chaotic, and full of so much sexual tension. Jonathan Bailey is also in this, and he’s perfection.
Who’s in it: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, Amit Shah, Julie Dray, and Damien Molony
Where it aired: Channel 4
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 6
Here’s the original trailer:
13. The Society (2019) is a gripping series about a group of teens who return from a class trip, only to realize that everyone else in their town has vanished. The show was originally renewed for a second season but then got axed during the pandemic, which is especially heartbreaking because it ended on such a cliffhanger, and I NEED ANSWERS.
Who’s in it: Kathryn Newton, Alex Fitzalan, Sean Berdy, Toby Wallace, Spencer House, and Olivia DeJonge
Where it aired: Netflix
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 10
Here’s the original trailer:
14. Ziwe (2021–2022) is a satirical talk and variety show that addresses serious topics — like politics, white privilege, and other cultural or social issues — in really clever, humorous ways. Each iconic celebrity guest basically spends the whole time trying not to get baited or “canceled,” and it goes about as well as you’d imagine. Prepare to laugh and cringe.
Who’s in it: Ziwe Fumudoh, with guests like Bowen Yang, Fran Lebowitz, Nicole Byer, and Drew Barrymore
Where it aired: Showtime
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 18
Here’s the original trailer:
15. Tru Calling (2003–2005) is a supernatural drama where Eliza Dushku plays a morgue attendant who has the ability to relive days in order to save the corpses who come in. It’s dark and fun and super entertaining, and there are a lot of cool twists. It’s been 20 years, and I’m still salty that we never got a Season 3.
Who’s in it: Eliza Dushku, Zach Galifianakis, Shawn Reaves, Jason Priestley, Matt Bomer, and Lizzy Caplan
Where it aired: Fox
How many seasons: 2
How many total episodes: 26
Here’s the original trailer:
16. Reboot (2022) is a comedy about a group of actors from a 2000s sitcom whose show is getting rebooted in the present day. Much like 30 Rock, what follows is a behind-the-scenes look at “a show within a show,” along with its highly dysfunctional cast. It’s topical, clever, and just plain good.
Who’s in it: Rachel Bloom, Judy Greer, Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Calum Worthy, Eliza Coupe, and Paul Reiser
Where it aired: Hulu
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 8
Here’s the original trailer:
17. Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020) follows a set of 16-year-old twin sisters who secretly stumble into the world of bounty hunting. Now, they’re forced to juggle school, crushes, and dangerous criminals. In theory, this show may sound like it shouldn’t work, but it does. It really, really, really does.
Here’s the original trailer:
18. The Company You Keep (2023) stars Milo Ventimiglia as a conman who unknowingly falls for an undercover CIA agent, played by Catherine Haena Kim. Milo’s character is in debt to a crime boss, while Catherine’s character is secretly trying to take her down. Was this show going to revolutionize TV? No. But was it great for super casual, fun, and entertaining viewing? Absolutely.
Here’s the original trailer:
19. And, finally, Q-Force (2021) is an animated comedy series that’s soooooo gay, gay, gay, gay, gay. It follows a group of unapologetically queer secret agents who go on missions to save the world. It’s funny and hot and a breath of fresh air. If you liked Charlie’s Angels or Totally Spies, then you’ll love this.
Who’s in it: Sean Hayes, Wanda Sykes, Matt Rogers, Patti Harrison, David Harbour, and Laurie Metcalf
Where it aired: Netflix
How many seasons: 1
How many total episodes: 10
Here’s the original trailer:
Do you have a favorite TV show that got canceled wayyyyy too soon? Tell us all about it in the comments below! If you prefer to be anonymous, you can use this form.