Some cancellations always hurt more than others. That was certainly the case for the broadcast TV shows in 2024. We are still salty about some of those decisions.
We know that some TV shows have to come to an end. The writing is usually on the wall for some of them. The linear ratings are down, or the show just isn’t getting great reviews. However, this year, there were some cancellations that were completely unjustified. Or we lost great shows that just didn’t have the chance to find their audiences.
We’re taking a look back at 2024 and the TV cancellations that hurt the most. We’re not just sad; we’re salty. This is for broadcast only. There are some streaming cancellations that I absolutely hate!
Not Dead Yet
There are very few comedies on TV now. This year has seen a few hits on NBC, but other networks have struggled. ABC only had one comedy, and then there’s one more and The Conners final season coming in 2025. It really did mean the Not Dead Yet cancellation hurt a lot—what was it canceled for?
This series had a great premise. It brought us a realistic lead character—okay, without the ability to see dead people—and a look at why some ghosts stick around. We got that reminder to do the things we want before we die, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Station 19
While I do admit that the linear ratings were on the decline for this series and I wanted it to end on a high, that high wasn’t Station 19. The series deserved so much better, especially considering it ended after the strike, so it meant a shortened season.
The series finale worked well. I will give them that. The fact that the writers had time to craft an ending was great. However, there were so many more stories to tell. I would love to see Maya and Carina appear in Grey’s Anatomy now, and I would love to see more of Trevor and Vic doing their new thing and how Jack continues to do as a 911 dispatcher—I’m very salty we didn’t see more of Jack in the final season!
NCIS: Hawaii
We go from one show with a diverse cast to another. NCIS: Hawaii brought some excellent characters, storylines, and relationships. Who didn’t love to see the growth of Lucy and Kate’s relationship? Their love was one of the purest and most realistic we’ve seen on TV when it comes to lesbian couples.
CBS unfairly canceled this show. It was ranking well in the linear ratings and it brought the stories we needed to see. Yet, there wasn’t the room, and rather than put a show that was meant for streaming back on streaming, CBS canceled a show that performed better. Make it make sense.
Quantum Leap
NBC had some cancellations that I’m extremely salty about, and the first is Quantum Leap. This show had a great start, but I do admit that I think it pushed some agendas too much—there’s a way to make a show progressive and inclusive without being too pushy. However, that wasn’t a reason to cancel the show or for such a decline in ratings between the seasons.
Part of the issue was lack of promotion. It was in a bad timeslot, and it just didn’t quite get the push it needed at the time of limited TV shows on the networks. Found and The Irrational found their audiences quickly, so why couldn’t Quantum Leap? Who else sometimes forgot the show was on because of lack of promotion?
Magnum PI
Another salty NBC cancelation is Magnum PI, and again, this one comes down to NBC’s lack of thought for the series. The scheduling was terrible for it. Not only was the show put on a Sunday night, but it followed reruns rather than new episodes of another show or leading in the night!
On top of that, we were promised a chance for the show’s success with the second half of the season, which was originally going to be season 6. NBC decided to cancel it as cast options came up again, making it clear that it didn’t really care about the audience. Honestly, I’m glad we got some time to say goodbye in a properly way and not abruptly like CBS did to us, but this show deserved way better.
The Good Doctor
We end the list with another ABC series, and another show canceled after seven seasons—there was a curse in 2024. The Good Doctor did have time to wrap up like Station 19, but it wasn’t in a fair way. It came off the back of the strike action, meaning we got a shortened season as the end.
On top of that came a devastating character death, and one that probably wouldn’t have happened had the show not been final seasoned partway through writing. It meant that the characters didn’t quite have time to honor Asher the way they should have. We lost a great, inclusive series that is important for today’s social climate.
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