Unbelievable Moments: How Fans Rescued These 10 TV Shows from the Brink of Cancellation

The cancellation of TV shows can elicit diverse reactions. While some cancellations are expected for various reasons, there are instances where the announcement of cancellation feels unjust, prompting fans to unite and fight for the survival of their beloved TV shows. With the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, TV show cancellations have become less surprising, given the trend of cancelling series after three seasons or due to subpar quality.

Nevertheless, there have been cases where the cancellation of a TV show came as a shock, particularly due to its immense popularity. Regardless of the network's explanation, or lack thereof (as seen with Netflix), fans refuse to accept the cancellation and utilize their voices and online presence to launch campaigns in support of the show. These fan campaigns have proven successful on numerous occasions, resulting in the salvation of several TV shows. Here are 10 examples of TV shows that were saved by passionate fans from impending cancellation.

10 Nashville

Nashville, a musical drama TV series created by Callie Khouri, first aired on ABC in 2012. The show revolved around the lives of fictional country music singers in Nashville, Tennessee. After four seasons on ABC, the network decided to cancel the series in May 2016 due to declining ratings. This cancellation came as a surprise, especially since new showrunners had just been named, and Lionsgate was optimistic about finding a new home for the show. Despite the uncertainty, the fourth season ended with a cliffhanger instead of the originally planned happy ending.

Determined fans took action to save Nashville and successfully gathered over 171,000 signatures on a #BringBackNashville petition. In June 2016, it was announced that a deal had been struck with CMT and Hulu. CMT would air a full season and Hulu would provide streaming services for the show the following day. Nashville ultimately concluded after its sixth season, as CMT shifted its focus to all unscripted programming.

9 Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights is a sports drama TV series that was developed by Peter Berg and was inspired by H.G. Bissinger's nonfiction book from 1990 titled "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream." The show revolves around a high school football team in the fictional town of Dillon in rural West Texas. It tackles various social issues including racism, substance abuse, limited economic opportunities, and more. The series first premiered on NBC in 2006 but faced the threat of cancellation due to low ratings after its second season, which was cut short due to the 2007-2008 writers' strike. However, dedicated fans launched several campaigns to save the show. One of these campaigns involved raising funds to send footballs and contribute to charity foundations associated with the show, while others took a more direct and assertive approach by sending broken light bulbs with "Light On" written on them to NBC's Entertainment head, Ben Silverman. These collective efforts were successful, and as a result, Friday Night Lights was saved through a collaborative agreement between NBC and DirecTV to co-produce three more seasons. The series ultimately concluded in 2011 after a five-season run.

8 Arrested Development

7 Veronica Mars

Arrested Development is a sitcom that was created by Mitchell Hurwitz and revolves around the Bluth family, who were once wealthy but are now facing numerous dysfunctional issues following their father's arrest and imprisonment. The series originally premiered on Fox in 2003, but unfortunately, due to low ratings and viewership, it was canceled after three seasons. However, the cancellation didn't prevent the fanbase of Arrested Development from growing. Fans showed their dedication by creating dedicated websites and even sending banana crates to Fox's executives as a unique form of protest (via TV Insider). It took some time, but eventually, Netflix stepped in and revived Arrested Development in 2013, providing two additional seasons. The show concluded in 2019 after a total of five seasons.

Veronica Mars, a popular teen mystery drama TV series, was created by Rob Thomas, a well-known screenwriter. The show is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California and revolves around the life of the title character, played by Kristen Bell, who is not only a high school student but also a skilled private investigator. Originally airing on UPN in 2004, Veronica Mars unfortunately got canceled in 2007, much to the disappointment of its dedicated fanbase. However, in 2013, Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell took matters into their own hands by launching a Kickstarter fundraiser in hopes of producing a Veronica Mars movie. Much to their delight, their dedicated fans rallied behind them and not only met but exceeded their fundraising goal.

To add to the excitement, Hulu later picked up the series and released a highly anticipated fourth and final season in 2019, much to the delight of fans who anxiously awaited the return of their beloved show.

6 Lucifer

Lucifer is a TV series based on the DC Comics character and developed by Tom Kapinos. It centers around Lucifer Morningstar, played by Tom Ellis, who leaves Hell and settles in Los Angeles. There, he owns a nightclub and works as a consultant for the Los Angeles Police Department. Originally premiering on Fox in 2016, the show was canceled after three seasons in 2018. The third season finale was designed to create a buzz and urge fans to support the series with the hashtag #SaveLucifer, hoping to prevent its cancellation. The hashtag #PickUpLucifer also gained traction, leading to an online petition. Eventually, Netflix picked up the show for its fourth season in June 2018. Lucifer aired on Netflix for three more seasons, concluding with its sixth season in 2021.

5 The Expanse

The Expanse, a science fiction TV series created by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, is based on a series of novels by James S. A. Corey. It is set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System and follows a diverse group consisting of a United Nations Security Council member, a police detective, and a ship's officer and his crew. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens the fragile state of cold war in the system. Originally airing on Syfy in 2015, the show was initially canceled after three seasons in 2018. However, dedicated fans rallied behind the series, gathering over 100,000 signatures in an online petition and actively lobbying streaming platforms like Amazon Studios and Netflix to save the show. In a remarkable display of support, fans even crowdfunded a plane to fly a "Save The Expanse" banner around Amazon Studios' headquarters. These efforts were further bolstered by the endorsement of notable celebrities such as Patton Oswalt, George R. R. Martin, and Wil Wheaton. Fortunately, their hard work paid off, and Amazon Prime Video stepped in to rescue The Expanse, renewing it for a fourth season and subsequently renewing it for two more seasons. The Expanse ultimately concluded in 2021 after six seasons.

4 Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series was developed by Gene Roddenberry and introduced viewers to the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), led by Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner), First Officer and Science Officer Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy), and Chief Medical Officer Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley). The show premiered on NBC in 1966 but was canceled after two seasons due to low Nielsen ratings. However, the dedicated fanbase refused to let Star Trek fade away and mobilized efforts to save the show. They wrote numerous letters to the network, urging them to revive it (via Vox). Thanks to their unwavering support, Star Trek: The Original Series returned for a third and final season, concluding in 1969. The immense passion and commitment displayed by fans paved the way for a successful and enduring franchise.

3 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police procedural comedy TV series, was created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur. The show is set in the fictional 99th Precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn and revolves around a team of detectives who must adapt to a new commanding officer. Originally airing on Fox in 2013, the network made the decision to cancel the series after five seasons in 2018. However, the passionate fan base quickly mobilized on social media using the hashtag #SaveBrooklyn99 to rally for the show's revival. Their efforts paid off when NBC picked up Brooklyn Nine-Nine, allowing it to continue for three more seasons before ultimately concluding in 2021.

2 Family Guy

1 Futurama

Family Guy, a beloved animated TV series, was created by Seth MacFarlane and centers around the daily misadventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family. The members include parents Peter and Lois, their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their anthropomorphic dog Brian. Initially premiering on Fox in 1999, the show faced cancellation after its second season concluded in 2000. However, due to overwhelming demand and the series' remarkable success in DVD sales, Fox ordered an additional 13 episodes for a third season, which aired in 2001. Despite being temporarily canceled again, Family Guy experienced a surge in popularity, eventually leading to its revival. As of now, the show is gearing up for its remarkable 22nd season.

Futurama, created by Matt Groening, is a sci-fi sitcom that chronicles the escapades of Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West), a juvenile pizza delivery boy who inadvertently undergoes cryogenic preservation for 1000 years and is revived on December 31, 2999. Initially airing on Fox in 1999, Futurama endured for four years before its cancellation. Fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision, leading the network to revive the show as four direct-to-video movies. Subsequently, Comedy Central became the new home for Futurama, hosting two additional seasons before its cancellation in 2013. Fortunately, Hulu stepped in to resurrect the series, scheduled to premiere on July 24, 2023.

Sources: Washington Post, Buddy TV, Vulture, TV Insider, EW, Newsweek, Independent, Vox