Another day, another canceled television show. It’s always a bummer when you get attached to beloved characters and their storylines and then it abruptly ends. In past years we’ve had fan favorites like Love Life and 61st Street get canceled just when things started heating up. Most recently, shows such as Red Table Talk and Truth Be Told were also given the boot.
Often television programs are canceled for several reasons, including low viewership numbers or financial reasons. Sometimes canceled shows had very promising premieres that were full of potential. And, seemingly out of nowhere, they ended abruptly. Sometimes after only one or two seasons.
Nowadays, there are more options for Black viewers that reflect their own experiences. There have been many successful shows from Black creators, showrunners, writers, executive producers, and actors. Some, unfortunately, don’t make it for the long haul.
Here are Black TV shows that ended way too soon.
Girlfriends
This show never got the proper ending it deserved. Girlfriends followed four friends: Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni, as they attempted to navigate adult life. Girlfriends premiered on UPN on September 11, 2000, and aired for six seasons on the network before moving over to The CW for seasons seven and eight. Though a popular show, it was canceled in 2008 after an eight-season run. According to TV Series Finale, The CW decided not to produce any more episodes due to the show being too expensive to film. The final season was also during the Writers Guild of America strike.
South Side
The beloved show that melded humor and commentary showcasing Chicago life has been canceled after three seasons. In February, Deadline reported that HBO Max announced the show’s cancelation. “While HBO Max will not be moving forward with a fourth season of South Side, we are so proud of the rich world Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle and Sultan Salahuddin created,” an HBO Max spokesperson told Deadline. After the announcement from the streaming service, Riddle tweeted that the team hopes to find the show a new home to do more episodes. So, there’s something more to do with the show. Hopefully, we get to see it.
Legendary
The ballroom competition show at HBO Max was canceled after 3 seasons. Legendary judge Leiomy Maldonado addressed the cancellation Tuesday, tweeting, “Thank you everyone who supported the show. On to the next…” All three seasons featured a star-studded guest roster. From Issa Rae, Megan Thee Stallion, Law Roach, Keke Palmer, and others. Who knows who else could’ve graced the show?
61st Street
Despite a 2-season order and completion of Season 2 production, the legal drama starring Courtney B. Vance and Aunjanue Ellis was stopped at AMC after only airing one season. Following the sudden cancelation of AMC Network’s 61st Street, executive producers confirm the series is looking for a new home as reported by Deadline.
Kindred
The drama was based on Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 novel about a young Black woman who is pulled back and forth in time. This former FX show had a massive cliffhanger at the end of season 1… and then the show was canceled. Fans of the show were obviously disappointed.
