In the fast-paced world of television, it’s not uncommon for shows to get the axe. But what about those that were given a second chance, only to be canceled once again? From cult favorites to critical darlings, these programs illustrate the fickle nature of the industry and the power of dedicated fans. They also show that it takes more than one try to make a lasting impression.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore the TV shows that were canceled more than once.

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10 Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

     The Mark Gordon Company

Designated Survivor is a thrilling political drama series that first aired on ABC in 2016. The show centers around Tom Kirkman, a previously unknown cabinet member who suddenly becomes President of the United States after a devastating attack on the Capitol during the State of the Union address. Created by David Guggenheim and starring Kiefer Sutherland as President Kirkman, the series was initially canceled by ABC after two seasons. However, in a surprise move, Netflix and Entertainment One announced they had picked up the show for a third season of 10 episodes. The third season premiered on Netflix on June 7, 2019, but was ultimately canceled by Netflix due to issues with the actors’ contracts, despite its captivating premise and talented cast.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Futurama (1999-Present)

     20th Television

Futurama is an animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening, the mastermind behind The Simpsons. The series follows the adventures of Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who is cryogenically frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future. Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, the show was unfortunately canceled twice: by Fox in 2003 and by Comedy Central in 2013. Futurama was intended to air at 8:30 pm on Sundays following The Simpsons, but Fox disagreed and instead moved to different time slots, resulting in an erratic schedule. Eventually, Fox decided to stop buying episodes midway through the production of season 4, causing it to go out of production before the fall 2003 lineup.

In 2003, Cartoon Network acquired the rights to air Futurama on its Adult Swim block, which led to TBS picking up the shows later that year. The show’s success led to the production of straight-to-DVD films, and in 2006, Comedy Central entered negotiations to take over the syndication rights. Futurama was later resurrected by Comedy Central, airing new episodes from 2010 to 2013, but was canceled with prospects of continuation. In February 2022, Hulu decided to bring back the series with a 20-episode order. The new episodes are expected to premiere in 2023.

8 Jericho (2006-2008)

     CBS

Jericho was a post-apocalyptic television series on CBS from September 20, 2006, to March 25, 2008. The show follows the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas as they struggle to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United States. Despite being critically acclaimed, the show struggled with low ratings and was ultimately canceled after its first full season. However, a fan campaign managed to persuade the network to bring the show back for a shortened second season of seven episodes, but it was canceled again.

Despite its cancelation, the show has managed to maintain a dedicated fanbase and has been included in several “Top Cult Shows” lists. In 2007, Jericho was ranked number 11 on TV Guide’s Top Cult Shows Ever. Plans for a feature film based on the series were announced in 2009 but later canceled. Instead, fans were treated to a continuation of the Jericho storylines in a comic-book series released by IDW Publishing, which included season 3 and season 4.

RELATED: 8 TV Shows That Were Canceled Before They Could Properly Finish Their Story

7 Timeless (2016-2018)

     National Broadcasting Service

Timeless was a time-travel drama series that originally aired on NBC. The show follows a team of scientists and a soldier as they travel through time using a time machine to prevent a shadowy organization from altering history and changing the course of the future. It premiered in 2016 and was canceled after its first season due to low ratings. However, three days after the cancelation, the network renewed the series for a second season following negotiations with Sony Pictures Television. The second season premiered in March 2018 and was well-received by fans and critics.

But despite the positive reception, NBC announced that the series had been canceled again on June 22, 2018. The show’s devoted fanbase campaigned for the show’s continuation, and NBC decided to give the series a proper conclusion by ordering a two-part finale that aired on December 20, 2018. The finale was a way to wrap up the series and give closure to the fans.

6 The Killing (2011-2014)

     AMC

The Killing was a crime drama series that originally aired on AMC. The show follows the investigation of the murder of a young girl, Rosie Larsen, and its impact on the people involved, including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim’s family and the suspects. It premiered in 2011 and ran for two seasons, but AMC canceled it in July 2012 due to low ratings. However, the show’s devoted fanbase campaigned for its continuation, and Fox Television Studios announced that they were attempting to shop the show to other networks. In November 2012, it was confirmed that Fox Television Studios was in final negotiations with Netflix to continue the series for a third season.

AMC, which had originally canceled the show, was also included in the deal, giving the network the privilege of airing the new episodes before Netflix hosted them in return for sharing any associated production costs with it. Despite this, AMC ultimately canceled the series again after the third season in September 2013. But in November 2013, two months after its cancelation, Netflix announced it had picked up The Killing for a fourth and final season consisting of six episodes.

5 Roswell (1999 -2002)

Roswell, a science fiction series that premiered on The WB in the United States on October 6, 1999, captivated audiences with its unique blend of teenage angst, romance, and alien encounters. Despite initially gaining a passionate fanbase, the series faced challenges with ratings during its first season. In response, the show’s creators brought in veteran science fiction writer Ronald D. Moore to develop the science fiction elements of the show and launched a fan-driven campaign involving bottles of Tabasco sauce.

However, despite these efforts, the ratings continued to disappoint, leading to its cancelation on May 15, 2001. But fans were not ready to say goodbye to the show yet, and 20th Century Fox persuaded UPN to pick up the series for a third season. Despite airing directly after the popular series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show could not hold on to its audience, resulting in its final cancelation in 2002. RELATED: Best Netflix TV Series That Were Canceled After Just One Season

4 The X-Files (1993-2018)

The X-Files, a science fiction-horror series that premiered in 1993 on Fox, captivated audiences with its unique blend of government conspiracies, supernatural phenomena, and the search for the truth. The show follows FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate unsolved cases, known as X-Files, involving paranormal or supernatural phenomena. The series quickly gained a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim, running for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002.

Despite its popularity and success, the show was canceled by Fox in 2002. However, the show’s cult status and strong fanbase led to the series’s revival in 2016 for a tenth and eleventh season, which aired in 2016 and 2018, respectively, bringing back many of the original cast and crew to continue the story of Mulder and Scully. Again, the series was canceled, most likely due to low viewership, despite the network claiming that Anderson was done portraying Dana Scully and had made her wishes known before the release of season 11.

3 Family Guy (1999 – present)

     Disney-ABC Domestic Television

From its premiere after the Super Bowl in 1999, Family Guy quickly became a cultural phenomenon, but not without controversy due to its adult content. Created by Seth MacFarlane, it is a wildly popular animated sitcom that has captivated audiences for over two decades, quickly gaining a cult following for its irreverent humor and offbeat characters. Despite the initial success and a dedicated fanbase, Fox canceled the show twice, first in 2000 and again in 2002.

But just when you thought it was over, the show returned stronger than ever and has become a staple of American television. With its unique blend of satire, pop culture references, and cutaway gags, Family Guy has cemented its place in the pantheon of classic American comedies.

2 Breaking In (2011-2012)

     FOX

Breaking In is a high-stakes comedy that had audiences on the edge of their seats. The series premiered on Fox in 2011 and followed a team of unorthodox security experts who would do whatever it took to protect their clients’ assets. Starring Christian Slater as the team’s leader, the show quickly gained a loyal following for its clever writing and dynamic performances. Despite facing cancelation after its first season, the show was brought back for a second season. Unfortunately, Breaking In was canceled again after season 2 and didn’t return for a third season. Breaking In remains a cult favorite among fans of smart, character-driven comedy despite its short run.

1 The 4400 (2004-2007)

     USA Network

The 4400 was a popular science fiction series that lasted four seasons on the USA Network from 2004 to 2007. The show followed a group of 4,400 people who had mysteriously disappeared over several decades and then returned to Earth with extraordinary abilities. The series was created and written by Scott Peters but did not return for a fifth season due to factors such as the Writers Guild of America strike, financial constraints, and declining ratings. In 2018, it was announced that a reboot was being developed for The CW network, and it was to be written by Taylor Elmore and Craig Sweeny. The reboot premiered in October 2021 but was ultimately canceled after one season in May 2022.