I’ll admit it – I am a TV junkie. There are so many shows that I watch each week and my DVR is more organized than my monthly planner. Sometimes it makes me sad when I think about how addicted I am to the lives of television characters that aren’t even real. But only sometimes.
Naturally, when one of my favorite shows ends it is a very difficult time for me. I can’t tell you how hard I cried when Lost ended and I found out none of it was real to begin with. And just thinking about the day when Sam and Dean Winchester no longer exist on my television every Wednesday night saving humanity, kicking monster butt and taking names, all while looking fabulous and cracking witty one-liners…well it scares me, people.
It scares them, too.
But sadly, all good things must come to an end. There are many shows that have been cancelled or simply come to an end over the years, but here are five that I am still mourning.
5. Freaks and Geeks – Judd Apatow’s depiction of high schoolers in the early eighties was hilarious and heartfelt. Watching young James Franco, Seth Rogan, Jason Segal and other stellar cast members go through “that awkward teenage stage” and all of the ups and downs of high school was so enjoyable. Not to mention the awesome 80’s aspect of the show (killer music).
4. Buffy The Vampire Slayer – As a young girl who loved horror and supernatural books/movies, I was stoked when Joss Whedon gave us Buffy in 1997. The idea of a Valley Girl as humanity’s savior against the dark forces of the world was so fantastic to me. I loved watching Buffy and her friends, Willow and Xander, along with her sage mentor, Giles, kick evil’s butt every week. I guess Supernatural will have to fill my Buffy void for now. Sigh.
3. The Muppet Show – Jim Henson’s The Muppet Show originally aired from 1976 to 1981, and although I was only one when the show went off the air, I remember watching reruns as a child (which is no doubt where my unconditional love for The Muppets stems from). Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Animal, Fozzie Bear and all the other Muppets will always have a special place in my heart. The weekly show featured skits and celebrity appearances and was kind of like Saturday Night Live for Muppets. Although the show ended it led to many movies to be made later.
2. Felicity – Felicity (played by Keri Russell) was a female character that I think every girl can relate to in some way. She followed her heart across the country on a whim just to explore her feelings for her high school crush, which takes some serious courage. Not only did Felicity display courage but also vulnerability, romanticism, willpower and fierce friendship – all things women identify with.
I really loved this show and the raw emotion and experiences portrayed by some of my absolute favorite characters of ALL time (Noel, Ben, Elena, Meghan, Sean and Javier). So many small details about Felicity went a long way in creating this atmosphere that made you feel like you really knew these people and were right there with them at NYU: the lighting, the music, the sets. My heart broke watching the final episodes and I was blown away when creator J.J. Abrams (amazeballs) interpreted time travel in to the show. (Yes, time travel! I know!)
1. Firefly – This one takes the cake for me as the biggest disappointment ever in terms of TV show cancellations. Although I just watched this series on Netflix last year after having it in my queue for ages (I knew that I was going to love this Joss Whedon gem) I was instantly hooked – and still am! Firefly aired in 2002 for only one season (blasphemy). Set in the year 2517, it’s about nine people aboard a Firefly-class spaceship who travel the ‘verse, rebelling against the controlling Alliance. Fourteen episodes were nowhere near enough for the fans of this show, so the crew went on to create a major motion picture inspired by Firefly titled Serenity, in 2005. The show is still celebrated at conventions like Comic-Con and last year a ten-year reunion special interviewing cast and crew members aired on the Science Channel (yes I watch the Science Channel and you should, too).
In my opinion, Firefly was leaps and bounds ahead of other television shows of its time (which I’m sure had something to do with its cancellation due to the simple-minded, reality-show loving population who wouldn’t tune in to it) and I have no doubt if a show like that was on television today, people would go crazy to get in front of their TV’s every week to watch it.
Honorable Mention: Smallville. That show was about Superman, y’all. Need I say more?
Good Girls Inc 