The fact that shows like these are either gone or are about to be canceled makes me vomit when I think about it.
5- Stella
It's only been off the air for a couple of years, but there has never been a show like "Stella" on television. Blurring the lines between sketch and the traditional sitcom format, the former "State" alumni created the most unique comedy show in years. With cameos from veteran dramatic and comedic actors "Stella" broke conventions by continuously pointing out standard conventions and spinning them on their heads. The shows downfall came from not being able to branch out passed their built in fan base. It was just too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
4- My So Called Life
Now a cult favorite, "My So Called Life" was ahead of its time discussing issues like homosexuality, child abuse, and alcoholism in a program aimed for teenagers. Claire Danes lead the audience through the ups and downs of high school life while tacky shows like "Saved by the Bell" became a huge hit. The "bummer" attitude of the show did not work over well with the ratings or the executives. After one season the show was cancelled even though a cliffhanger was televised indicating a second season. The natural dialogue, intelligent direction, and perfect casting proved to be too much for audiences. It was just too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
3- Freaks and Geeks
NBC is kicking itself in the nuts now after letting this show go. Now that Judd Apatow could write a script about the paint on a wall drying and bring in a hundred million dollars, it's more than apparent how amazing this show is. Created by Paul Feig about his own experiences in high school in the early eighties "Freaks and Geeks" mixed comedy and drama effectively and became a cult hit. It only took the general public and the studios a couple years to realize they brutally murdered one of the best TV shows in twenty years. As tender as it is funny, "Geeks" made a point to create honest characters that resonated truth without being preachy and created comedy based on real emotion. It was too unique. So, naturally the show was cancelled.
2- The Wire
The previous shows on this list were only on one season but "The Wire" has the privilege to be the longest running show on this list. Now going into its fifth and final season, "The Wire" is the most intelligent and real crime drama ever created for television. Creator David Simon used his own experience working the crime beat for the "Baltimore Sun" to give this show its natural edge. Exploring the drug dealers and junkies' storylines as well as the police's point of view, "The Wire" was a fresh addition to the repetitive one-hour crime drama where the case was magically solved in 45 minutes. Simon has been quoted as saying that this show is a "visual novel". Problem is, most people don't like to read. "The Wire" never under minded it's audience. It was just too unique. So, naturally the creator became tired of its lack of recognition and the show was cancelled.
1- Arrested Development
There is nothing in the history of television more tragic than how this show was treated. Mitchell Hurwitz's take on the reality TV fad created a sitcom so layered in its jokes and execution of style, every fan felt like a member of the Bluth clan. Moved around to virtually every television spot FOX had to offer, the network just didn't know what to do with this brilliant sitcom this whizzed over the heads of many who watched. Amid rumors of being renewed for another season FOX cut their episodes short and ended the show in a two-hour marathon that felt like a public beheading. Although a revival has begun due to DVD sales it was too little too late for the Bluth family whose story was cut short in just its third season. Never again will there be a sitcom as intelligent as "Arrested Development". It was just too unique. So, for some fucking reason the show was cancelled.
