7 shows canceled in 2024 that will be missed dearly

There have been some shocking and disappointing show cancellation decisions by the networks in 2024. We would have loved to see more of these shows in the fall, but the networks decided otherwise.

Some of these cancellations actually happened in 2023, but they are affecting 2024 shows. The decisions were made during or just after the strike action, and it was partly the strike action that caused the decisions. Other decisions just don’t make sense in the grand scheme of things, but are linked to a lot of shows being picked up and not enough shelf space for other shows.

Which cancellations are going to hurt the most? Here are my seven.

NCIS: Hawaii

There is no doubt that NCIS: Hawaii is one of the most devastating cancellations of 2024. The NCIS spin-off features everything that we need for mainstream TV. It has a strong female lead who doesn’t keep harping on about being a woman in charge; it has a realistic lesbian couple; it makes Hawaii a character of its own, honoring culture and heritage.

The worst part is that the season 3 finale made it clear that there was plenty more to come. We had a cliffhanger that connected back to the end of the second season and offered us hope that we’d further explore Jane Tennant and what made her who she is. We were also waiting to learn more about Boone’s family.

There is a campaign on the go to save the series. It needs it, and it will be heavily missed in fall 2024.

Not Dead Yet

What about a comedy series? ABC won’t have many in the 2024-2025 schedule, and part of that is because Not Dead Yet has been canceled. This is a fun and lighthearted series, but it does cover some important social topics.

The series brought us a premise that has worked well in the past. A woman is able to see the dead, and she gets a chance to learn more about life. As if the dead know more about life than the living. That’s the beauty of being dead, though, right? You can see what you didn’t achieve and share what’s actually more important.

Quantum Leap

I didn’t really know what to expect with the Quantum Leap revival, but I went into it with an open mind. I’m so glad I did. The series honored the original while bringing us an updated story. There were changes to the code, which allowed for a change to the original rules of leaping.

The series was canceled after the second season finale aired. We now find Ben in the exact same situation that Sam was left in. Somewhere in the past. Ben isn’t alone, though. Addison leaped, intending to switch with Ben, only to find that she was stuck in the same time period as him. And now we’re left wondering if the two will ever get back.

Station 19

This was one of the cancellations in 2023 that affected a 2024 series. Station 19 is coming to an end after seven seasons, and while the writers were given some time to craft an ending, it’s not what we want. This is another instance of us losing diversity from our screens at a time when we need more of it.

The series is more than a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off. It’s more than just a series about firefighters. It brings us a look at mental health, social stigma, and systemic racism through the eyes of the characters. We certainly need more of Maya and Carina, especially considering the exceptional growth Maya has had over the last seven seasons.

Blue Bloods

Okay, in some good news, we still have some episodes to go. In some bad news, there are only eight episodes and we’ll say goodbye to the series in 2024. And we’re not ready for it, especially since SWAT got a U-turn on the decision of its final season and the actors wanting the show to go on.

This series brings us a look at a family of cops. They are all at different points of their careers, and they have had different experiences that bring us different viewpoints of the world around them. One of the best parts is the family dinners that allow them to come together and figure out life, with even the older generations learning from the younger ones.

So Help Me Todd

Sometimes, we need a dramedy rather than a drama. We need something that is fun and entertaining, while still bringing up important topics. So Help Me Todd managed that with its two seasons. Sadly, the series was abruptly canceled, and there was a huge cliffhanger to deal with. It’s also another cancellation with a brilliant female lead, and with two characters who had a lot to learn from each other.

With more and more focus on the darker dramas, we need to see more light-hearted entertainment. There’s just so much negativity in the world. How many of us go to sleep with true crime podcasts? Canceling this series was a bad move with that in mind.

Housebroken

Sometimes, we just need a bit of comedy, and who doesn’t love animated comedy? Housebroken was creative and fun, just what we need in some darker times. The best thing is that it gave us a slightly different look at the world of humans through the eyes of animals. We need these different perspectives to make us think in a different way.

The writing did seem to be on the wall for this one. The second season actually aired last year, and we had to wait until 2024 for a decision. It did come down to the linear ratings, but I often think that this is partly due to scheduling and lack of promotion rather than a problem of people being interested in it.