TV Series Cancelled on Cliffhangers

Network TV has a long standing tradition of cancelling shows just as they hit their stride. It does seem somewhat unfair that if a creator pitches you a series with a full vision that as a network exec you would cancel on a cliffhanger ending. Despite mine and others feeling on the topic at hand it certainly has not stopped networks from pulling the plug on some shows just as they faded to black with someone in potential peril. Here are the top 5 series that ended on massive cliffhangers that will likely never get a proper conclusion.

5. FlashForward- Ran for one season between 2009-2010 starring Joseph Fiennes, Sonya Walger and John Chu the premise centered around the entire world blacking out and seeing a vision of their own future. The show played around with wild concepts debating whether or not people have the ability to change their fate or not and of course what caused the "FlashForwards" to begin with. It has been 11 years since this show ended and an ending is not likely to ever come but a way to make that up to fans could be to remake this series and take another attempt at adapting it.

4. Hannibal- I hesitate to place this one on the list because it was never a ratings smasher so the decision to end on a cliffhanger was a risky one to begin with. However, I applaud Bryan Fuller and his creative team for risking it all throughout the run to deliver a mind bending thriller for 3 impressive seasons. This also may be the only show that literally ends on a cliffhanger as it fades to black with the fate of the leads uncertain as they dive off a cliff. This one has had a lot of rumours about a continuation and it would be lovely to reenter this amazing world.

3. Pitch- Starring Kylie Bunburry as Ginny Baker the first female athlete to play big league baseball. This show was filled with amazing sporting action sequences and did an amazing job of recreating the broadcasting aspect as well. It ended just as it got started with Ginny finding career and personal success just as she suffers a potentially career altering injury. Honestly a wrap up movie for this would have been sufficient because while there was potential for other seasons and other story what needed to be resolved would have likely been done in a few episodes and then onto something else.

2. Southland- A south central LA police drama starring Michael Cudlitz, Ben McKenzie and Shawn Hatosy it is the only show on the list that was cancelled on two major cliffhangers. Originally cancelled by NBC after the first season left a member of the detectives unit in jeopardy, the show was saved by TNT and lasted for another 4 seasons. That is remarkable in itself but still a shame TNT repeated history by cancelling it instead of renewing it for one final season and resolving the current plot threads.

1. Pushing Daisies- The fact this colorful, vibrant and uniquely original show only lasted two seasons makes me emotional still all these years later. Starring Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Kristin Chenoweth the show centers around Ned the piemaker who has a secret that he can bring people back from the dead for one minute only and if it goes longer someone else must take their place. It ran from 2007-2009 and will forever be the show I want to see continue most. It was the funniest, coolest and most visually ambitious show of that era. Bryan Fuller is a magical creator of immersive worlds and this show was his best and likely will remain that way at least for me.

Losing shows without a proper finale sucks. There is no reason to sugar coat those feelings. Even if the show is a one and done it deserves to leave fans fulfilled and not scratching their heads wondering what could have been.