The Top Ten Best Shows I Miss And Would Watch If They Would Come Back!
Oct 14 '07 (Updated Oct 05 '08)
The Bottom Line Everybody has beloved television shows that get canceled or finish their stories. Here are the best shows that, if they would only make new episodes, we'd come back for...
When I first started writing articles on ePinions with lists of essential collections and discs and the like, I wrote an article on the Top Ten Series' I No Longer Miss (available at: http://www.epinions.com/content_5090025604 ) and I found myself surprised at what shows I had once devoted much time and attention to and now easily live without. This recently got me to thinking about what shows I miss. There are shows that might have been prematurely canceled that I think left a gap, but there are others that I think have a different quality to them. They are shows that may have had a decent run and ended but I still find myself thinking about.
With the success of "Family Guy" being reborn as a result of fantastic DVD boxed set sales, I think it is high time other shows honestly consider resurrecting their stories, reuniting their casts and giving a good go of it. These are the top ten shows I would gladly make time for still, if only they would return to the air:
10. NYPD Blue (season four reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_243823513220 ) - All right, "NYPD Blue" was on, like, forever, and it suffered from declining ratings and a seriously repetitive formulaic feel to it after awhile. Yet, those of us who stuck with it found Andy Sipowcz finding some measure of serenity, love, and a steady job at the head of the squad in the series finale. And because the show had such vivid characters, watching them evolve and changing the formula would be worthwhile. I'd love to see Andy Sipowicz, deskbound leader of the squad and how he changes, how he stands up for his people and continues his growth as a human being. They could continue with Andy mentoring John Clark, raising Theo, becoming more tolerant of others and dealing with command level issues and still produce a great show. As Fox Video holds up the release of new DVD sets, I keep finding myself wishing what Sipowicz would be up to now, if he were still on the air,
9. Carnivale (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_446947888772 ) - In the interest of honesty, this one is on the list because it was cut down in its prime. The story was set to be a five-year arc and it was axed after season two. The tale of good versus evil in the defining time where reason overcomes magic was impressive while it lasted and intriguing enough that even if it were only released as seasons as boxed set DVDs (we all know eventually there will be a straight-to-DVD series!), seeing how this story of a traveling carnival set opposite a growing cult founded by a supposed man of god finally unraveled would have been wonderful. And if that happened, I could rate the existing parts higher, because the payoffs for the threads begun would be there,
8. Once And Again (season one reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_93429206660 ) - After three seasons, "Once and Again" got axed by ABC and the truth is, there's no better time to bring it back than now. "Once and Again" told the story of Rick Sammler and Lily Manning, two divorcees who have children and end up hooking up. Prominently featured in their lives were their ex's, their employers, and their other family members. Restarting "Once and Again" now would come at a time when Rick and Lily (who were married well before the series ended) are beginning to feel some serious empty nest syndrome as three of the four children would be out of the house, leaving just Zoe around (and probably entering high school by now). Jake's marriage might well be on the rocks by this point and Karen (Rick's ex-wife) might have actually found some happiness and contentment. In other words, instead of a fractured drama that was going all over, the show could finally focus solely on the adult relationships and the issues in making a second marriage work for real and for good,
7. Nothing Sacred - Never heard of it? Probably never saw it, either. "Nothing Sacred" was part of ABC's daring line-up right before it let Disney stockholders muscle it over with its "cancel everything controversial" campaign. "Nothing Sacred" and "Ellen" were axed in that particularly spineless season. "Nothing Sacred" followed the exploits of a priest in Florida who had stopped believing. Miserable over money issues, a lack of faith and the Church dictating things contrary to his own beliefs, the protagonist of the show and the other leaders of the church were filled with angst in one of the best written, most emotionally complex shows for quite some time. Yeah, I want it on DVD, but I'd love even more to see where those characters are now, especially in these dogmatic and oppressive times,
6. Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_405716242052 ) - Aaron Sorkin's last stab at television had an amazing cast, interesting characters and the strong sense it was going somewhere because . . . wait for it . . . it was! Sadly, it went to cancellation before the show could get where it was going with the characters. The truth of it is, though, that this was the smartest thing being written on television last year and in its absence, nothing has popped up that is qualitatively worth watching at the moment on broadcast television,
5. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_339233181316 ) - Those who follow my reviews might well wonder why this series ranked so low. It's simple: I've lost so much faith in the executives who control the fate of the franchise that while I would absolutely love "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine The Next Generation," I have absolutely no confidence that they could pull it off with any measure of quality. And how hard would it honestly be? At this point, the station personnel comprised of (Colonel or Commander) Kira Nerys, Lieutenant Nog, Dr. Bashir, Counselor Dax, and Quark are all in place. Throw in a moody, bitter Jake Sisko whose stuck around broken for the last decade and a few new characters and you have a show ready to continue exploring the "Star Trek" universe with serialization, character development and adult themes. Yeah, it'll never happen (the Powers That Be have nixed so much as a film for the series) but a person can dream and if one can dream, this is a decent dream to have,
4. Firefly (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_195862695556 ) - Sure, there are already rumors of "Serenity 2" and this series was always misnamed, but yeah, I'd love to see it come back. Truth be told, with the bodycount from "Serenity" being what it was, that frees up some space in the budget . . . In all seriousness, this was too rich of a universe to let lay fallow and it would be wonderful to see what could happen with Mal Reynolds and his merry band of outlaws in space, especially following the revelations made in the film. There are enough characters left to make a solid and interesting go of it and with the DVD boxed set still selling ridiculously well after all these years, hasn't it yet gotten to the point where it would be more economically beneficial to the studio to make new episodes, just to sell more boxed sets? It seems like that might be the only avenue to convince the suits because the idea that there are still more stories to be told in this universe doesn't seem to make them blink,
3. NewsRadio (seasons 1 and 2 reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_405336788612 ) - It's a rare thing where one might beg for a situation comedy to be reborn but as I've begun reviewing the series after having it around and enjoying it for so long, the thought has never been clearer that this is a show ripe for renewal now. After all, imagine the storytelling opportunities: after a decade stuck in New Hampshire, Dave Nelson and staff return to WNYX to restart the station Jimmy James abandoned. They might be a little out of touch, Lisa's marriage could be on the rocks, there could be new characters and Dave could still have that obtuse and incredible relationship after all these years. And yes, they could restart the series with Dave and Jimmy returning to WNYX and paraphrasing one of the "Kids In The Hall" jokes that was so funny, "We just wasted a whole decade in New Hampshire farm country. Why?!" "I'll try anything once!" Yeah, it writes itself,
2. The West Wing (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_340588400260 ) - Simple. We still need it. New Administration, new Congressional balance, what would happen when Sorkin's progressive idealistic characters got the reins to change the world? Isn't it about time that picture was painted for the American television audience? I think so. Note to Jimmy Smits: When "Cane" gets canceled, come back to us here,
1. Sports Night (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_88946806404 ) - Sure, a lot of plots from the show were recycled into "The West Wing" and Felicity Huffman would have to be abducted from the set of "Desperate Housewives" (she might thank us later for that!), but this show was so smart, funny, touching, well-written and everything else that television never seems to be anymore that I want it back. But more than that, with its incredible characters and fast-paced dialogue, I miss it more than any other show that's been canceled, I think.
Okay, the truth is, I've seen the two seasons so many times now that I'm just desperate for something new to memorize . . .
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