25 Canceled TV Shows That Made A Comeback
Lucifer
After Fox canceled Lucifer in 2018, fans—dubbed “Lucifans”—took to social media with passionate campaigns. Their prayers were answered when Netflix picked up the series, launching Season 4 in 2019. The devilishly charming drama went on for two more seasons before ending in 2021. The revival not only gave closure to Lucifer Morningstar’s story but also turned the show into one of Netflix’s most binge-worthy supernatural dramas.
You
You started modestly on Lifetime in 2018 but became a pop culture phenomenon after Netflix acquired it. The thriller about dangerously charming stalker Joe Goldberg gained a massive following, starting with Season 2 on the streamer. Netflix extended it till the fifth and final one. What began as a small cable series grew into one of streaming’s biggest obsessions.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
When Fox canceled Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2018, fans erupted on social media, and NBC responded almost immediately. Just one day later, the network revived the beloved cop comedy starring Andy Samberg and Terry Crews. The show went on to deliver three more seasons, wrapping in 2021 with a heartfelt final run. Few revivals felt as deserved or as celebrated as this one.
Community
“Six seasons and a movie” started as a fan joke but became a rallying cry for Community. The quirky sitcom about a group of misfit students at Greendale Community College aired five seasons on NBC before being canceled in 2014. Yahoo! Screen rescued it for a sixth and final season in 2015. While the streaming service itself didn’t last, Community’s revival proved the show’s cult-like fanbase had real power.
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is the poster child for fan power. After three seasons across UPN and The CW, the teen detective drama ended in 2007. In 2014, a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign funded a feature film continuation. But the story didn’t stop there. Hulu revived the series in 2019 for a fourth season. Kristen Bell’s razor-sharp sleuth returned with a darker edge, proving some mysteries and fan devotion never truly die.
The Comeback
Lisa Kudrow’s The Comeback was short-lived as HBO canceled it after just one season in 2005. Fans thought they had seen the last of Valerie Cherish, Kudrow’s hilariously self-absorbed actress. But nearly a decade later, HBO revived the series with a second season in 2014. The satirical mockumentary format felt even more relevant in the age of reality TV, making Valerie’s return both timely and triumphant.
Manifest
NBC’s Manifest left viewers with countless unanswered questions when it was canceled after three seasons. Luckily, Netflix swooped in and ordered a 20-episode fourth and final season, released in two parts between 2022 and 2023. The supernatural drama about Flight 828’s passengers found an even larger fan base on streaming. Thankfully, fans got the closure they desperately craved.
Cougar Town
Cougar Town began as a single-woman comedy on ABC in 2009 but evolved into a warm, ensemble-driven sitcom. After three seasons, ABC canceled it, but TBS picked it up in 2013. The network gave Jules Cobb and her quirky Florida crew three more seasons to toast wine-filled friendships. By the time it wrapped in 2015, the show had rebranded itself as a cult favorite rather than a punchline.
Designated Survivor
Political thriller Designated Survivor followed Kiefer Sutherland as a low-level cabinet member thrust into the presidency after a terrorist attack. It aired for two seasons on ABC before being canceled in 2018. Netflix revived the series for a third season in 2019, continuing Tom Kirkman’s fight for political stability. However, the streamer ultimately pulled the plug again. Even so, the revival gave fans one more gripping season of intrigue.
The Killing
Talk about resilience—The Killing was canceled three different times! AMC first axed it after Season 2, then revived it due to fan outcry. When the network finally ended it for good after Season 3, Netflix stepped in to produce a short but satisfying fourth season. The gloomy Seattle murder mystery got a rare chance to tie up loose ends and deliver closure, despite its rocky broadcast journey.
The Expanse
When Syfy canceled The Expanse in 2018 after three seasons, fans were furious. Many even launched petitions and flew a banner over Amazon Studios to save it. Amazon listened and revived the epic space saga for three more seasons. The sprawling political tussles, interplanetary conflict, and gritty storytelling earned widespread acclaim. Ending in 2022 after six seasons, the show’s resurrection remains a gold-standard example of fan-driven revival success.
Friday Night Lights
High school football drama Friday Night Lights nearly got sacked after just two seasons on NBC. However, a co-production deal with DIRECTV saved the critically acclaimed series, giving it three more seasons to win over fans. The gritty, heartfelt look at small-town life, family, and ambition turned into one of TV’s most beloved shows. Thanks to that lifeline, Coach Taylor and the Panthers left behind an enduring legacy.
Nashville
Country music drama Nashville struck a chord with fans during its ABC run from 2012 to 2016. When the network pulled the plug, CMT rescued it, giving the series two more seasons until 2018. The revival allowed the show’s blend of music, romance, and heartbreak to play out more fully, offering a stronger send-off. For fans, the extra time in Music City made saying goodbye a little easier.
All Rise
All Rise brought legal battles and personal drama to CBS for two seasons before being abruptly canceled in 2021. But the gavel didn’t stay down for long. Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) picked it up for a third season in 2022. While OWN later confirmed the third season would be its last, the revival gave Judge Lola Carmichael and her team a proper send-off that fans welcomed wholeheartedly.
Scrubs
After seven seasons of zany yet heartfelt medical comedy on NBC, Scrubs looked finished in 2008. But ABC revived the series for two more seasons, giving fans additional laughs and emotional gut-punches. The ninth season introduced new interns and shifted focus, polarizing viewers, but it still extended the legacy of the show. Love it or not, Scrubs became one of the rare network sitcoms to survive a major channel shift.
Longmire
A&E cut Longmire after three seasons in 2014, despite its loyal following. Netflix quickly seized the opportunity, picking up the neo-Western drama about Sheriff Walt Longmire. The streamer produced three additional seasons, concluding the story in 2017. The move allowed the series to dive deeper into character development and darker storylines, giving a satisfying ending fans hoped for.
Arrested Development
A cult favorite, Arrested Development originally aired on Fox from 2003 to 2006 before being canceled due to low ratings. Seven years later, Netflix brought back the Bluth family for a long-awaited fourth season in 2013. Fans eventually got a fifth season in 2019, though reactions were mixed. Despite the ups and downs, the revival cemented the series as one of TV’s most influential comedies, keeping its dysfunctional family alive.
The Mindy Project
Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project was quirky, funny, and full of heart, but Fox canceled it in 2015 after three seasons. Thankfully, Hulu stepped in to save the day, giving the comedy another three seasons until 2017. The streaming platform gave Kaling the creative freedom to explore new directions, allowing Mindy Lahiri’s journey—both personal and professional—to wrap up with charm.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
When Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended its WB run after Season 5, fans feared Sunnydale had seen its last apocalypse. But UPN swooped in to rescue the cult hit, granting it two more seasons until 2003. Its move also coincided with Roswell’s survival on the same network. Buffy’s UPN years gave audiences some of its darkest and most ambitious arcs, solidifying its legendary status in TV history.
Roswell
Before reboots became the norm, Roswell experienced its own revival of sorts. Originally airing on The WB from 1999 to 2001, the teen sci-fi drama about alien-human hybrids moved to UPN for its final season from 2001 to 2002. Though it ended after three seasons, fan campaigns left a cultural mark. The franchise found new life years later with Roswell, New Mexico, which debuted on The CW in 2018.
Sanditon
Based on Jane Austen’s unfinished final novel, Sanditon quickly developed a passionate fanbase. But ITV canceled the period drama after just one season, leaving viewers hanging. In 2021, thanks to BritBox and PBS, the series was renewed for two more seasons. The revival allowed the seaside romance and social intrigue to unfold further. By its conclusion, Sanditon established Austen’s incomplete tale could be lovingly and satisfyingly brought to life.
Last Man Standing
Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing proved it wasn’t going anywhere quietly. After six seasons on ABC, the sitcom was canceled in 2017, sparking an uproar from fans. Fox stepped in a year later, reviving the comedy for three more seasons. By the time it wrapped in 2021, the show had aired a whopping nine seasons, making Allen’s Mike Baxter one of TV’s longest-running sitcom dads of his era.
One Day at a Time
This reimagined version of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom was a heartfelt hit on Netflix, running from 2017 to 2019 before being canceled. Fans campaigned hard, and Pop TV revived it for a fourth season in 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic halted production, and the series was canceled again. Still, its representation of a Cuban-American family left a meaningful cultural impact, making its brief revival especially significant for its fans.
A.P. Bio
NBC gave A.P. Bio the boot after two seasons, but it wasn’t long before Peacock enrolled the comedy for more mischief. The series about a disgruntled ex-Harvard professor turned high school teacher returned in 2020 with a third season and followed up with a fourth. Despite its modest run, the revival allowed Glenn Howerton’s snark and Patton Oswalt’s clueless charm to flourish.
Magnum P.I.
The 2018 reboot of Magnum P.I. brought Jay Hernandez into Tom Selleck’s iconic Hawaiian role. For four seasons, the CBS crime drama delivered tropical action and charismatic charm. When CBS canceled it in 2022, NBC jumped in to give it a fifth season. Though the revival marked its final chapter, fans appreciated the extra closure. The reboot carved out its own identity while still paying homage to its legendary predecessor.
