Some shows never got much of a chance -- and should get another go-round. One that maintains a fervent fan base is <strong>"Firefly,"</strong> the Joss Whedon-created sci-fi western that starred Nathan Fillion. It aired for just one season. Yeah, there was a movie -- 2005's "Serenity" -- but come on, wouldn't a limited-run series be better?
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Some shows never got much of a chance -- and should get another go-round. One that maintains a fervent fan base is "Firefly," the Joss Whedon-created sci-fi western that starred Nathan Fillion. It aired for just one season. Yeah, there was a movie -- 2005's "Serenity" -- but come on, wouldn't a limited-run series be better?
20th Century Fox
<strong>"Freaks and Geeks,"</strong> about a group of misfit students, also lasted just one season (1999-2000). The show was full of talent -- creator Paul Feig, producer Judd Apatow, stars Linda Cardellini, James Franco and Jason Segel -- and rich in character, so it might be worth a short run to see what's happened to the gang at McKinley High. (No, "Undeclared" doesn't count.)
Shows we'd love to see revived —
"Freaks and Geeks," about a group of misfit students, also lasted just one season (1999-2000). The show was full of talent -- creator Paul Feig, producer Judd Apatow, stars Linda Cardellini, James Franco and Jason Segel -- and rich in character, so it might be worth a short run to see what's happened to the gang at McKinley High. (No, "Undeclared" doesn't count.)
Chris Haston/NBC/Getty Images
Leslie Nielsen played Detective Frank Drebin in<strong> "Police Squad!"</strong> ("In color!" the credits announced), which lasted just six episodes in 1982. The show was from the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker team that made "Airplane!' and had a similar anything-goes attitude about comedy -- one that rubbed off on "The Simpsons" and "30 Rock." The show spawned three theatrical films, but there was something about a half-hour comedy that brought out the wackiest chaos.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Leslie Nielsen played Detective Frank Drebin in "Police Squad!" ("In color!" the credits announced), which lasted just six episodes in 1982. The show was from the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker team that made "Airplane!' and had a similar anything-goes attitude about comedy -- one that rubbed off on "The Simpsons" and "30 Rock." The show spawned three theatrical films, but there was something about a half-hour comedy that brought out the wackiest chaos.
Paramount Pictures
Damian Lewis (center), now of "Homeland" fame, starred in<strong> "Life,"</strong> an NBC series about a wrongly convicted detective that ran for two seasons in 2007-09. With its layered characters and interesting themes, the show could be refreshed for a new run.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Damian Lewis (center), now of "Homeland" fame, starred in "Life," an NBC series about a wrongly convicted detective that ran for two seasons in 2007-09. With its layered characters and interesting themes, the show could be refreshed for a new run.
Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
<strong>"Jack and Bobby,"</strong> which aired for one season in 2004, had a great cast -- Christine Lahti, John Slattery, a young Jessica Pare -- and a curious concept: It was the story of two teenage brothers, one of whom becomes president. The final episode revealed some details of the future, but so much was left hanging.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
"Jack and Bobby," which aired for one season in 2004, had a great cast -- Christine Lahti, John Slattery, a young Jessica Pare -- and a curious concept: It was the story of two teenage brothers, one of whom becomes president. The final episode revealed some details of the future, but so much was left hanging.
Andrew Eccles/The WB
Yeah, <strong>"Deadwood"</strong> had a good (expletive deleted) run, but it still just ended. The 2004-06 HBO series about the West in the 1870s, with John Hawkes (right) and Timothy Olyphant, had one foot in fact and another in fiction, and for many fans there was more story to tell.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Yeah, "Deadwood" had a good (expletive deleted) run, but it still just ended. The 2004-06 HBO series about the West in the 1870s, with John Hawkes (right) and Timothy Olyphant, had one foot in fact and another in fiction, and for many fans there was more story to tell.
HBO
Though never a huge hit,<strong> "Picket Fences" </strong>(1992-96) was popular with critics and award-givers: it was twice named best drama series at the Emmys. But Tom Skerritt (center) and the rest of the residents of Rome, Wisconsin, could use another run.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Though never a huge hit, "Picket Fences" (1992-96) was popular with critics and award-givers: it was twice named best drama series at the Emmys. But Tom Skerritt (center) and the rest of the residents of Rome, Wisconsin, could use another run.
CBS
Given its prominence in reruns once upon a time, it's surprising that <strong>"Rat Patrol"</strong> (with Christopher George) ran for just two seasons in the 1960s. The original show was about a World War II military unit in North Africa; you could easily update it with troops in the Middle East.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Given its prominence in reruns once upon a time, it's surprising that "Rat Patrol" (with Christopher George) ran for just two seasons in the 1960s. The original show was about a World War II military unit in North Africa; you could easily update it with troops in the Middle East.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
Bryan Fuller, who now produces "Hannibal," has had a number of series that never got the audience they deserved. One of them was <strong>"</strong><strong>Pushing Daisies</strong><strong>,"</strong> which ran for two seasons in the late '00s. Lee Pace (right) starred in a strange mix of mystery, magic and pie.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Bryan Fuller, who now produces "Hannibal," has had a number of series that never got the audience they deserved. One of them was "Pushing Daisies," which ran for two seasons in the late '00s. Lee Pace (right) starred in a strange mix of mystery, magic and pie.
ABC
Another Fuller show was<strong> "Wonderfalls,"</strong> which had one season on Fox in 2004. The show starred Caroline Dhavernas as a Niagara Falls gift-shop worker who talks to the shop's figurines. Dhavernas is now in "Hannibal."
Shows we'd love to see revived —
Another Fuller show was "Wonderfalls," which had one season on Fox in 2004. The show starred Caroline Dhavernas as a Niagara Falls gift-shop worker who talks to the shop's figurines. Dhavernas is now in "Hannibal."
20th Century Fox
<strong>"Party Down"</strong> had a terrific cast, including Ken Marino (left), Adam Scott (right), Jane Lynch and Lizzy Caplan. But the comedy about struggling actors doing catering lasted just two seasons on Starz. Rumor has it a film is in the works.
Shows we'd love to see revived —
"Party Down" had a terrific cast, including Ken Marino (left), Adam Scott (right), Jane Lynch and Lizzy Caplan. But the comedy about struggling actors doing catering lasted just two seasons on Starz. Rumor has it a film is in the works.
Starz