6 great TV shows cancelled too soon (and 5 that ran too long)

Television is a lasting game for some shows, while others never get the attention (or runs) they deserve. Which TV shows stuck around too long and which ones should have stuck around longer?

It’s an interesting time to be fan of television. The TV medium is constantly changing and evolving to match the needs of a modern world in which streaming seems to be the dominant form of consumption. So it’s not just about what shows are airing on broadcast TV networks, it’s also about what’s streaming on services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV+, Max and others.

With that ever-growing landscape, it can be hard for some shows to get the attention that the they would have gotten in another era, and thus their runs are a little shorter than we would have liked. You don’t have to look any further than 2022, when The CW – a network known for allowing its shows long runs – cancelled over half of its programming slate.

But, just as there has been in every other generation, there are also some TV shows that have managed to stand the test of time, surviving for better or worse to produce incredibly long runs.

With that in mind, let’s take a moment to look back on some of the TV shows that were cancelled too soon, as well as the ones that ran a little too long, all while discussing what went right or wrong for each one of them.