In the competitive world of television, not every show makes it to become a long-running success. Some series face the axe after just a few episodes, while others never even get the chance to premiere.
Among the most notable quick cancellations was "Turn-On," which holds the record for the shortest-lived TV series in history. ABC pulled the plug on this comedy show in 1969 during its first commercial break, with some affiliates refusing to return to the program after the first segment aired.
"Emily's Reasons Why Not," starring Heather Graham, lasted just one episode on ABC in 2006 before getting cancelled. The network had heavily promoted the romantic comedy but pulled it immediately after its premiere due to poor ratings and reviews.
Some shows never made it to broadcast at all. "Manchester Prep," a prequel series to the film "Cruel Intentions," was cancelled by Fox before airing any episodes in 1999. The completed pilot was later repurposed as a direct-to-video film.
The 2013 NBC series "Next Caller," starring Dane Cook, met a similar fate. Despite ordering six episodes and completing four of them, NBC decided not to air the comedy series at all, citing creative differences with the show's direction.
These rapid cancellations highlight the high-stakes nature of television programming, where networks must make quick decisions based on ratings, viewer reception, and production quality. While some shows go on to become classics, others become mere footnotes in TV history, remembered only for their remarkably brief existence.