TV Shows That Got Bigger After a Second Chance

The Power of Second Chances

There are some TV shows that are not able to achieve the viewership they deserve straight away, but in one way or another, are given a second chance and become much bigger. In some circumstances, it takes a series being canceled, going off the air, and then triumphantly returning to gain a larger share of the audience. This can happen in a number of ways, from viewer campaigns, being picked up by a different network, or even being revived decades after the original series has gone off the air.

The cast of Breaking Bad in a promo shot

In the modern television landscape, there are also many new factors that influence TV shows receiving successful second chances. In the age of streaming, viewers can binge-watch new series and end up influencing network decisions to renew, revive, or reboot faltering and dormant television shows. There are just so many ways that TV shows become much bigger after being given a second chance.

TV Shows That Defied Expectations

Breaking Bad originally achieved modest viewing figures, but its popularity skyrocketed after it appeared on Netflix. The binge-able nature of the series on the streaming platform allowed it to gain a much larger audience, making it one of the most talked-about shows on television.

Doctor Who, a staple of British television, gained a worldwide audience following its revival in 2005. The show managed to become an even bigger hit than in its original run, and a deal with Disney is set to further increase its budget and audience.

Doctor Who All The Doctors 50th Anniversary

Family Guy, after being canceled, was later revived due to high rerun viewership. It went on to become one of the longest-running animated series of all time.

Peter Griffin looks at his family in Family Guy

Revivals and Resurgence

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, after declining viewers on FOX, regained its audience on its NBC revival. The show gained a whopping 3.54 million viewers in its season six premiere on NBC, almost double the viewers from its previous season on FOX.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Jake, Holt, and Amy

Twin Peaks, which experienced declining viewership in its original run, gained a whole new generation of viewers when it was revived after 25 years. The third season, titled The Return, was a major television event, demonstrating there was still an audience for the series.

Dale and Audrey from Twin Peaks

Arrested Development, initially canceled after three seasons, received more acclaim after its original run, leading to a successful revival on Netflix with two extra seasons.

Arrested Development the main cast