With a quick draw approach that rivals even its staunchest competitors, dramas on Fox are notoriously given one of the shortest tryout periods in the history of the television space. Some are culled within the first few episodes, while others last for far too long.
Only a select few manage to hit that sweet spot between non-syndication and early exit. The following are some of the shows that, for better or worse, landed themselves in that spot. Here are the best short-lived Fox dramas that deserve another visit.
10 Red Band Society
Based on the international television show Polseres Vermelles, this version of the series followed a rebellious group of teenagers stuck in the pediatric ward of an L.A. Hospital. A mix of John Hughes and Skins, Red Band Society was an unorthodox mix of dramedy and soap, all wrapped up in a gauzy hospital setting. The show was originally picked up by competitor ABC, then dropped, and subsequently acquired by Fox. Produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, Octavia Spencer had a starring role in the series as Nurse Jackson.
While 13 episodes were ordered, the show was pulled from the schedule after only ten aired. Unlike other Fox productions, the remaining episodes did wind up airing later that season. In the end, it was soft ratings that spelled the final death knell for the series.
9 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
This Western dramedy with a steampunk edge was well ahead of its time when it premiered in 1993. Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame starred as a lawyer turned gunslinger with some seriously ahead-of-his-time firepower. For what it’s worth, Campbell has said that Briscoe was one of his favorite roles of all time to play.
Co-created by Carlton Cuse of Lost fame and Jeffrey Boam of The Dead Zone, the pair’s work on the third Indiana Jones movie caught the eye of Fox executives wanting them to do a show. The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr., which was inspired by B-movies of the ’50s and ’60s, was one of the last to be filmed on the Laramie Street backlot, which had been used for many a classic Western in its time.
While the show garnered a dedicated following during its run, the number of viewers just wasn’t enough to justify continuing the series at the time. The majestic theme song for the series, however, would garner new life after it was repurposed for competitor NBC’s sports productions (including, of all things, the Olympics). As recently as 2020, the cast got together for a (paid) live table read of the pilot.
8 The Finder
This offshoot of the ever-popular Bones television series featured Geoff Stults as an Iraq war vet with the incredible ability to help people locate the unfindable. Stults’ character was introduced in season six of Bones before being carted off to this series, which was created by Hart Hanson (also of Bones fame). There were some pretty high hopes for The Finder when it was announced for the 2011-2012 season, but those hopes were soon dashed after many of the episodes were aired out of order, which led to some rather unfortunate continuity errors in the long run.
Unfortunately, shuffling from time slot to time slot failed to help matters. Unable to get enough eyeballs onscreen, the show was soon canceled after ratings plunged.
7 Lie to Me
While this series had a hefty three-season run, it could easily have stayed on the air for much longer. Cashing in on the CSI trend, this drama featured Tim Roth as specialist Cal Lightman, a leading expert in body language and facial expressions who uses these skills to help law enforcement (and, of course, well-paying clients).
Lie to Me was inspired by the real-life work of Professor Paul Ekman, an advisor to police departments and anti-terrorism groups who also served as a science consultant for the series. The show had an on-again, off-again relationship with the network throughout its run. It was eventually canceled from its two-year run after viewership started to decline.
6 The Outsiders
Perhaps better known for the Francis Ford Coppola movie featuring an all-star 80’s cast, this novel turned movie had a foray into the television space a few short years after its big screen release. Few, if any, of the original cast members followed into the series from the movie… with the exception of Matt Dillonby (by default). His ending scene in the movie was replayed in the pilot, which picked up where the film left off. Its premiere garnered one of the highest ratings ever for a drama episode on Fox at the time. Unfortunately its Married… With Children lead-in did little to bolster the series’ success after that.
5 Dollhouse
Walt Disney Television
Six years after the equally beloved, short-lived series Tru Calling was taken off the air, Eliza Dushku returned to Fox in 2009 with the new series Dollhouse. Premiering in competition with J.J. Abrams’ Fringe, this Joss Whedon vehicle shadowed a secret organization in charge of reprogramming young people as blank slates, aka Dolls, before hiring them out for assignments to the highest bidder. The organization in question is forced to take some serious steps when one of their many Dollhouse members suddenly becomes sentient.
While Whedon promised to shoot separate webisodes for each episode aired, this unfortunately never came to fruition. Though ratings were low from the start, projected fan response to canceling the show prompted its renewal for a second season. This wasn’t enough to save the series as a whole, however. It was canceled shortly after the end of its sophomore run.
4 Space: Above and Beyond
Set in the distant future, this science fiction series was created by X-Files co-writers Glen Morgan and James Wong. Loosely inspired by the 1960s TV series Combat!, Space: Above and Beyond followed futuristic Marines in their fight against alien invaders. Released just two years shy of Starship Troopers (and the litany of end-of-the-world movies to follow), this series suffered greatly from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The series, which was supposed to run for several seasons, was canceled after only one due to high costs and low ratings. The show ended on some serious cliffhangers, even though the creators knew the series was due to be canceled. Nonetheless, both would go on to greener pastures with hits like theFinal Destination series.
3 Alcatraz
This time-switching show first premiered as a mid-season replacement in 2012. The series, which was created by Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, and Bryan Wynbrandt as a J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot production, starred Sarah Jones, Jorge Garcia, and Sam Neill. Interestingly enough, it was filmed mostly in Vancouver instead of the actual location due to production costs.
In the alternate reality of Alcatraz, the prison—which was shut down in real life in 1963 due to unsafe conditions—is instead shut down after all guards and prisoners on the island mysteriously disappeared. Now, years later, they’ve just as mysteriously reappeared in the modern day. While the series certainly started strong, lost nearly half its viewers by the time the end of the season rolled around. The show was subsequently canceled.
2 Backstrom
Another brainchild of Hart Hanson, this witty, biting show was based on the Swedish book series by writer and criminologist Leif G. W. Persson. 20th Century Fox originally shopped the project around to other stations before landing a series order with their own network.
Backstrom featured Rainn Wilson in a distinct, but related departure from his Office role. Set in Portland, but filmed in Vancouver, the series centered around a cantankerous member of an elite Special Crimes Unit whose self-destructive tendencies and failing health make it, shall we say, difficult to work with his team of equally eccentric criminologists. The role of a man trying to change his self-hating ways was perfect for Wilson, but it proved to be short-lived. Soon, a killer time slot and low ratings spelled a quick end to this series.
A new Swedish take on the franchise was created in 2020, and has since performed successfully with two seasons under its belt.
1 Almost Human
The hype for Almost Human was practically palpable upon its two-night series premiere in 2013. A partnership of J. H. Wyman for Frequency Films, Bad Robot Productions, and Warner Bros. Television, the show followed a hesitant LAPD cop played by Karl Urban who is forced to partner with an android (Michael Ealy) in a futuristic world plagued with crime.
While the series was aired out of its intended order, most of the episodes were isolated enough from each other to not cause too many continuity issues. Despite a strong launch of 9.2 million viewers, both viewership and ratings had taken a nosedive by the time the finale rolled around. In looking ahead to the already packed Fall season, a mix of low viewership and the high cost of running the series proved too much for the network to keep up with.
Thankfully, eager audiences can now turn to DVD sales, lending libraries, or streaming resources to get their quick fix of these programs. Many of these series just missed syndication by a hair, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t worthy, stand-alone shows in their own right. The sad truth is, had they been given a chance to stick around just a wee bit longer, they might just have amassed the ratings and audience they needed to survive and thrive.
