12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (2025)

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12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (1)

By Leila Holley

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12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (2)

How does the public gauge whether a past comedy series is worth their time? One metric is the number of seasons. If a show continues for multiple years and seasons, that's a pretty good indication that it has merits. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Year after year, fans wait to see if their new beloved show is going to be picked up for a second or third season, and many times, it is not.

It's a tough business, and with thousands of series competing for attention, both new and old, it makes sense that studio or TV execs sometimes get it wrong. This leads to impassioned online campaigns and petitions to bring back series fans believe deserve a second chance. More pointedly, there is a slew of belly-laugh-inducing comedy series that got criminally cut short after just one season.

12 ‘Lucky Hank’ (2023)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (3)
Lucky Hank

TV-14

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date
March 16, 2023
Cast
Bob Odenkirk, Diedrich Bader, Suzanne Cryer, Mireille Enos, Olivia Scott Welch, Cedric Yarborough

Seasons
1

Lucky Hank follows Hank Devereaux, the English chairman and professor at a poorly resourced college in Pennsylvania. He's a struggling writer, doesn't like his colleagues, and is often annoyed by his students. As both his work and personal lives begin to unravel, Hank must try his best to avoid a full-on breakdown.

So Much Potential

Some series show teachers the public would love to have or would love to be. Neither is the case with Hank. The series mixes dry humor and a bit of drama. While we all can't relate to Hank, his issues can be applied to most people. Despite this seemingly universal appeal, AMC gave it the boot after one eight-episode season.

11 ‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999-2000)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (6)
Freaks and Geeks

Drama

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Release Date
September 25, 1999
Cast
James Franco, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley

Seasons
1

Freaks and Geeks is a teen dramedy that has taken on a life of its own since its release. Set in Michigan, the series revolves around a group of teenagers at McKinley High School in the early eighties. Two significant characters are siblings Lindsay and Sam. Lindsay begins acting out by hanging out with outcasts, while Sam is trying to survive freshman year.

A Long Tail

With how the internet talks about this series now, one would think it was a massive hit. Wrong. Those who saw the show liked it, but that number was quite small. Adding to the tragic one-season trajectory, the studio and creators behind the show couldn't see eye-to-eye. The original run didn't air the final few episodes, though they were eventually released once amassing its cult following.

10 ‘In the Know’ (2024)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (9)
In the Know

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Release Date
January 25, 2024
Cast
Zach Woods, J. Smith-Cameron, Charlie Bushnell, Carl Tart, Mike Judge, Caitlin Reilly

Seasons
1

In the Know is an animated series following an NPR radio program and its staff. Lauren Caspian is the host of the third-most-popular interview show. Voiced by Zach Woods, Lauren shows how the radio show gets made and all the escapades that occur on and off the air.

Lights Out, Everyone

While most of the show is animated, real people are interspersed in the episode when Lauren interviews them. Celebrity cameos include Roxane Gay, Kaia Gerber, Mike Tyson, and Hugh Laurie, among others. The world doesn't get many adult animation series, let alone stop-motion animation. That made In the Know so special and its short lifespan all the more disappointing.

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9 ‘Garfunkel and Oates’ (2014)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (15)

Garfunkel and Oates

TV-MA

Comedy

Release Date
August 6, 2012
Cast
Arden Myrin, Shannon Woodward, Davey Johnson, Kate Micucci, Natasha Leggero, Riki Lindhome, Matt Braunger, T.J. Miller, Thomas MIddleditch, Randy Liedtke, Artemis Pebdani, Heather Lipson Bell, Torrie Bogda, Becky Feldman, Chelsea Hackett, Genevieve Howell, Meagan Kong, Shannon Janet Smith, Veronica Stevens, Lauren Brooks, Julie Dugan, Kathleen O'Toole, Amy Welch, Brett Gelman, Jon Daly

Seasons
1

Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci make up the folk comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates. In 2014, they took their musical act from the stage to the screen. The series, also named Garfunkel and Oates, depicts the pair's climb to Hollywood success by singing satirical songs about their lives.

A Truly Dynamic Duo

The premise of twenty-somethings trying to make it in a big city has been done ad nauseum. Yet the introduction of satirical music gives Garfunkel and Oates an edge over its contemporaries. It doesn't feel like something viewers have seen before, and how Lindhome and Micucci bounce off each other is unmatched. Still, scheduling conflicts left this series as a one-and-done.

8 ‘The Brothers Sun’ (2024)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (16)

The Brothers Sun

TV-MA

Action

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date
January 4, 2024
Cast
Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, Highdee Kuan, Joon Lee, Alice Hewkin, Madison Hu, Rodney To

Seasons
1

The Brothers Sun is a Netflix original that combines comedy, action, and family drama. Bruce Sun hasn't experienced life much outside of California. That's all set to change when his older brother, Charles, comes from Taiwan and tells him about their family's gangster legacy. Oh, and that assassins are now after Bruce too.

What's Going On at Netflix HQ?

The plot never lets off the gas and the humor is properly woven into the drama and action. The Brothers Sun is perfect for comedy lovers who want more depth and grit in the shows they consume. Michelle Yeoh plays the family matriarch and in true Yeoh fashion, steals the attention in every scene she's in. It's yet another case of Netflix canceling a great program.

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7 ‘Wonderfalls’ (2004)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (19)
Wonderfalls

Drama

Release Date
March 12, 2004
Cast
Caroline Dhavernas, Tyron Leitso, Tracie Thoms, Katie Finneran, Lee Pace, Diana Scarwid, William Sadler

Seasons
1

Wonderfalls centers on Jaye Tyler, a graduate of a prestigious university. However, she's disappointed with the path her life has taken, as she works at a gift shop in Niagara Falls and lives in a trailer. She's naturally closed off to people, but the figurines and dolls at the gift shop start talking to her and force her to come out of her shell.

Too Weird for Audiences?

Yes, Wonderfalls sounds quite odd and that's because it is. This was released in the early 2000s, so while the effects on the talking objects aren't great, that just adds to the humor. The show did so poorly that only a few of the episodes were aired on the original network, though the remainder were later released elsewhere. Still, this quirky comedy is a lot of fun and worth a watch.

6 ‘Reboot’ (2022)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (20)
Reboot (2022)

TV-MA

Comedy

Where to Watch

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Release Date
September 20, 2022
Cast
Bob Clendenin, E.J. Callahan, Fred Melamed, George Newbern, Johnny Knoxville, Mauricio Mendoza, Paul Reiser, Walter Murphy, Calum Worthy, Izzy Diaz, Keegan-Michael Key, Kate Comer, Stephanie Allynne, Esther Povitsky, Jamila Webb, Krista Marie Yu, Cody Derr, Kenneth Mosley, Alex J. Joseph, Cleo Fraser, Mnelik Belilgne, Michael Moskewicz, Korama Danquah, Chris Kleckner, Kristian Ventura

Seasons
1

Reboot is a comedy series from 2022 that viewers could find on Hulu. From Steven Levitan, the co-creator of Modern Family, this is a series about a series. Taking place in the early 2000s, Step Right Up is a popular sitcom with a cast who don't always see eye-to-eye. But if they want to avoid their show getting rebooted, they'll have to learn to come together.

It Did Everything Right

This series was stacked with an incredible cast, including Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Knoxville as two of the cast members. Most viewers loved the show and it earned critical recognition too, in the form of many award nominations and wins. Ratings were solid, which is why it came as a shock when Hulu canceled it and no other networks snatched it up.

5 ‘Police Squad!' (1982)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (22)

Police Squad

TV-PG

Comedy

Crime

Release Date
March 4, 1982
Cast
Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Ed Williams, William Duell, Marvin Miller

Seasons
1

Police Squad! is a crime comedy that pokes fun at stuffy, serious police procedurals. Leslie Nielsen plays Sergeant Frank Drebin, a derpy dude who leads his squad to solve a number of cases. Critics and fans alike couldn't get enough of Nielsen's portrayal of this character. Who could get enough? ABC, as it was canceled after airing for its six episodes.

Start of Something New

But the story doesn't end here. While this was the end of the road for Police Squad, it wasn't for Nielsen or Frank Drebin. The series led to The Naked Gun film series, spawning three successful movies. The legacy of the movies far outlived the show, as in 2025 Liam Neeson will star in a fourth film as Frank Drebin Jr.

4 ‘The Grinder’ (2015-2016)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (23)
The Grinder

Comedy

Where to Watch

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Release Date
September 29, 2015
Cast
Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, William Devane, Natalie Morales

The Grinder is a legal comedy starring Rob Lowe. He plays Dean, an actor known for his role as a lawyer on a long-running series. When that show comes to an end, Dean moves back to his hometown in Idaho. Inspired by his character, Dean decides to practice law for real at his family's firm.

Everything Was Looking Up

The series premiered on Fox in 2015 and the reception was strong. The network ordered more episodes for season 1. So many people connected to Dean, the other lawyers, and his family. On top of that, the writing and humor were so razor-sharp that a second season seemed imminent. Alas, twenty-two episodes over one season was all the world got.

2:32

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3 ‘Goodtime Girls’ (1980)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (27)
Goodtime Girls

NR

Comedy

War

Release Date
January 22, 1980
Cast
Annie Potts, Lorna Patterson, Georgia Engel, Francine Tacker, Adrian Zmed, Marcia Lewis, Peter Scolari, Merwin Goldsmith, Michael McKean, Scott Baio, Richard Stahl, Paul Gale, Philip Charles MacKenzie, Philip Levien, Jack Blessing, Sparky Marcus

Understandably so, World War II and comedy aren't two things that get associated with one another often. But Goodtime Girls managed to pull it off. The sitcom revolves around four women sharing a tiny apartment in Washington D.C. during the war. Edith, Loretta, Camille, and Betty must learn to survive one another and these times in one piece.

An Underrated Gem

Goodtime Girls had so much going for it. A ragtag group of characters? Check. Wacky mishaps? You betcha. Quick, digestible episodes? Of course. Yet it never found the audience it should have, neither in its initial release nor in recent years. So many missed out on these ladies' hilarious adventures.

2 ‘Kaos’ (2024)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (28)
Kaos

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Release Date
August 29, 2024
Cast
Jeff Goldblum, David Thewlis, Janet McTeer, Cliff Curtis, Nabhaan Rizwan, killian scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Rakie Ayola, Stanley Townsend, Billie Piper, Suzy Eddie Izzard.

Seasons
1

Kaos is a British dark comedy that came into the world via Netflix. Steeped in Greek mythology, viewers get acquainted with Zeus who is holding fellow god Prometheus captive. Little does he know, that his captor is sowing the seeds of a prophecy that will overthrow Zeus, with the help of three humans.

Netflix's High Standards

Mythology nerds will devour this series in one sitting. Not just because Netflix canceled it after a measly eight episodes, but because it's highly bingeable. Actor Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus and reminds audiences why he's had such a thriving career for decades. But Netflix is cutthroat and even top-performing series aren't safe, so this quieter show stood no chance.

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1

1 ’Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ (2023)

12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (31)
12 Hilarious TV Comedies That Were Axed After a Single Season (32)

4.5 /5

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Where to Watch

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Release Date
November 17, 2023
Cast
Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman

Seasons
1

The Scott Pilgrim world has had a lot of ups and downs. Originally a graphic novel, it was made into a film in 2010. The movie disappointed in theaters but gained a dedicated following after. From this, an animated series called Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was created and premiered on Netflix in 2023. Much of the original cast reprised their roles, including Michael Cera and Chris Evans.

An Unstable IP

Takes Off veered away from the book's material and went into a new direction. Normally a recipe for disaster amongst fans, the changes were largely liked and some even preferred it to the original works (blasphemy!). Though there's no clear reason why, it was confirmed that Takes Off wouldn't land a season 2.

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