*Salute* okay I will look at for a part 2 at some point.

I would concur but also true of older SF shows. Remember how you used to have those super expensive pilots that were like mini movies, then flawed Series as went on? And the promotion seemed really generic, as if it was just any standard drama? I seem to recall those a lot?

Which years would you suggest to investigate then?

Not trying to yuck anyone's yuck, feel free to rail away at your fave show being cancelled, just plus ca change.

So looking at this, things haven’t changed all that much. Shows have always been pulled quickly, networks and platforms are brutal, and often the ones that get to find the audience are based on existing properties.

Even if we fold in the middle 3 into the cancelled, this gives us 49% renewed, 51% cancelled. In terms of episodes, the average is 10 episodes with a median of 8.

Of the 35 I could find, 15 were cancelled or no news since first season ended, 3 were renewed for 1 more season then cancelled, 17 were renewed and yet to be cancelled.

How does this compare to nowadays?
In order to compare, I pulled the scripted fantasy and sci-fi shows that started in 2023 and 2024, were listed as originating in the USA, live action and on a main commercial platform (so not counting programs like indie youtube shows).

In terms of episodes the cancelled shows had an average of 11 episodes, before being pulled. However that is skewed by Werewolf, looking at the median it falls to 8.

Now, on to the numbers. Of these 11 shows, 7 were cancelled, 3 renewed and 1 moved format. So counting the last one as half renewed half cancelled that gives 32% renewed and 68% cancelled.

My view on it: This definitely feels like a Childrens TV show in the way it is made, but without any charm. Plus they seemed to put excessive canned laughter after every line just to convince you it is meant to be a comedy, which really grates.

An experiment from NBC of trying to extend their primetime block back to 7:30 PM. The experiment was cancelled after the first season of 24 episodes but it was able to continue in First-Run syndication. So I will count this move as a half point.

#11:
Out of This World (Prem: 17th September 1987):
Exec Producer: Bob Booker
Starring: Maureen Flannigan (Starved), Donna Pescow (Saturday Night Fever), Burt Reynolds (Smokey and the Bandit).
Family comedy about a girl who on her 13th Birthday discovers she is an alien and has special powers.

Another first run syndication show, this lasted 3 seasons of 72 episodes.

My view: Whilst theoretically not a bad way to do a horror story of the week, it all felt a bit flat and amateurish. Nothing much that would have made me keep watching.

#10:
Friday the 13th (Prem: 3rd October 1987)
Exec Producers: Frank Mancuso Jr.
Starring: Chris Wiggins (Swiss Family Robinson), Robey (Singer), John D. LeMay (Jason Goes to Hell)
Items sold by an antiques shop are found to be cursed, the new owners trying to locate them. (No relation to the films)

My view: I appreciate the attempt to do the darker tone but honestly I found it a bit tedious and “been there done that”. Not for me.

#9:
Werewolf (Prem: 11th July 1987):
Exec Producers: Frank Lupo & John Ashley
Starring: John J. York (General Hospital), Lance LeGualt (The A-Team)
A college student becomes a werewolf and goes on the run to rid him of the curse. Think American Werewolf meets Incredible Hulk meets Miami Vice.

The original two-parter was a success, but when the main series began airing in October it was pulled after 6 episodes.

My view: Not bad but doesn’t work as well once it hits the weekly procedural. Unfortunately, Cortese and d’Abo don’t work as well together as the other pairings here.

#8:
Something is Out There (Prem: 5th May 1988)
Exec Producers: Frank Lupo & John Ashley
Starring: Joe Cortese (Green Book), Maryam d’Abo (Living Daylights)
A police officer discovers an alien shapeshifter and teams up with an alien space traveller to hunt it down and solve other crimes.

My view: An interesting meta-take on superheroes, that feels ahead of its time. Unfortunately, it is also quite preachy from a conservative perspective about some moral issues and the concept of doing the comic book world on very stagey sets wears quickly.

It quickly came bottom of the table, and once Star Trek: TNG started airing many stations simply pre-empted Once a Hero with that, leading to it being completely pulled from the schedule after episode 3.

#7:
Once a Hero (Prem: 19th September 1987):
Exec Producer: Dusty Kay
Starring: Jeff Lester (Walking Tall), Josh Blake (ALF), Robert Foster (Jackie Brown), Milo O’Shea (Ulysses)
A Superman-esque character discovers his comic is to be cancelled, so he travels to our reality to save it.

The one SF success outside of the FRS shows, running for 3 seasons and 56 episodes, and getting a 2012 reboot.

My view: The main reason to watch the pilot is Hamilton’s and Perlman’s performances. The rest of the show at this stage is fairly mid but they carry it along.

#6:
Beauty & the Beast (Prem: 25th September 1987):
Exec Producer: Ron Koslow
Starring: Linda Hamilton (Terminator), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Roy Dotrice (Amadeus), Jay Acovone (Stargate SG-1)
A DA is rescued from an attack, leading to her discovering a hidden group of outcasts under NYC.

#5:
Star Trek: The Next Generation (Prem: 28th September 1987):
I don’t need to explain this show do I?
Ran for 178 episodes over 7 seasons.

My view: I would probably put Star Trek: TNG pilot here. It shows a lot of potential even if it will still be a while before it matches TOS.

My view: Whilst not a top-tier comic book adaptation in the opening episode it balances darker and lighter elements nicely, kind of reminds me of the 1989 Batman film.

#4
Sable (Prem: 7th November 1987):
Executive Producer: Dick Rosetti
Starring: Lewis Van Bergen (Rage of Honor), Rene Russo (Nightcrawler), Ken Page (Cats)
Based on the comic book Jon Sable Freelance, about a mercenary-vigilante who lives a double life as an author.

Also cancelled after 7 episodes.

Started airing late in the season and cancelled after 7 episodes.

My view: A Sherlockian double act touching on science fiction works very well, and whilst the tone varies, the chemistry is enough to take you through.

#3
Probe (Prem: 7th March 1988):
Exec Producers: Michael Wagner & Alan J. Levi
Starring: Parker Stevenson (Hardy Boys), Ashley Crow (Heroes)
A secretary solves the riddle of a socially inept computer genius, getting hired to work together to solve high-tech crimes.

The pilot aired in September ’87 but the series proper didn’t start until March ’88 getting 10 episodes and no renewal.

My view: A surprisingly fun show, even if a touch cheesy at times (the truck-helicopter hybrid looks very silly), that balances world-building and case of the week nicely.