14 Science Fiction Shows That Left Us Hanging

If you enjoy science fiction, you no doubt are fed up with the networks that bring the new shows, and abruptly cancel them. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that network and studio executives are not big scifi fans, if at all. It's like they let these shows be created, get an audience following. Then when the meaningless, and unscientific ratings say too few people are tuning in, they pull the plug.

What they refuse to see is the enormous and loyal following science fiction has. If they would just give new shows half a chance, they'd laugh all the way to the bank. Remember that show called Star Trek? The original series only ran for 3 seasons, 1966-1968. NBC and Desilu Studios decided to cancel the show, and all was later sold to Paramount. Their lose would measure in the hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe more as the Star Trek universe is enormous, and is still a cash cow franchise.

Ironically, NBC did a similar thing with Baywatch in the early 90's. When will they learn??? Here are 14 science fiction television shows that were cut short in their infancy. They are not listed in any particular order.

Now And Again (1999)

Now And Again was cancelled after the first 22 episode season, on a cliffhanger. It premiered on CBS television on September 24th, 1999. Michael Wiseman is a 45 year old insurance salesman (John Goodman), he is accidently pushed in front of a New York City subway car after a night out. A secret government experiment headed by Dr Morris (Dennis Haysbert) gathers up the barely alive man. His living soul is transplanted to a manmade, genetically enhanced body a 27 year old man (Eric Close).

The press on this show was liken to the Six million Dollar Man; in this case about 500 million dollars. The new Michael Wiseman has superhuman abilities, but is forced to play along with the governments agenda as a one man savior against the bad guys. And he cannot have any contact with anyone from his former life, and he cannot reveal his true identity. But he finds creative ways to frequently run into his wife (Margaret Colin) and daughter (Heather Matarazzo).

Seven Days (1998)

Seven Days premiered on the United Paramount Network (UPN) in October 1998, and was cancelled after three seasons. Frank Parker (Jonathan LaPaglia) is a former special ops soldier that has been sent to a mental institute. He is recruited for a highly experimental secret government project name "Backstep" by the NSA. The project centers on an alien device recovered from 1947 Roswell that enables sending one person back in time 7 days. Frank has has a unique ability to deal with the rigors of time and space travel.

But Frank Parker is more a conscript than a volunteer, and is confined to the Never Never Land (NNL) Nevada base. He has constant run-ins with base security. He has alcohol abuse and gambling problems, and he's forever trying to get horizontal with his female coworkers, chiefly Dr. Olga Vukavitch (Justina Vail). But everytime he gets a break with her, once he backsteps, and her feelings for him are erased.

Frank does, however, have a good heart, and is a true soldier underneath his anger at the system. Along with his issues and baggage, it makes for some interesting storylines. Given today's realworld headlines there is an ocean of stories that could be made to fit this show. It has remake and big screen potential writen all over it.

The show airs frequently on SPIKE.

Tru Calling (2003)

This show airs occasionally on the SciFi channel during all day marathons. It premiered October 30th, 2003 on 20th Century Fox Television. It aired 26 episodes, and ran for 2 seasons, one full and 6 episodes of a second. According to imdb.com, a pilot episode never aired. It also has received (superb) 9.0 rating (of a possible 10) from tv.com. Why this show was cancelled is a deep mystery.

Tru Davies (Eliza Dushku) works the midnight shift at the city morgue. She discovers she has the ability to communicate, or rather hear dead people cry out for help. When this happens she is pulled back in time to a point before their deaths, and her mission is to stop them from dying. Tru's nemesis is Jack Harper (Jason Priestly), who wants these people to stay dead. This makes her job harder, and the suspense that much better.