Could One or More of This Season’s Cancelled Shows Like Star-Crossed, Dracula, or Revolution (or Last Summer’s Siberia) be Good Candidates for Netflix or Amazon (or Hulu) to Rescue?


The end of season cancellation announcements are already a month in the past, but fans of several of the ill-fated sci fi / fantasy entries have not given up on their shows and are currently fighting to see them live on into additional seasons. Based on history, once a series has officially received its cancellation notice, its chances of seeing that decision reversed are slim. But then the streaming services Netflix and Amazon Instant Video have come on strong with their original programming the last few years and have shown a willingness to save cancelled shows (Arrested Development for the former and Ripper Street for the latter). Hulu has even made some waves just lately, most notably with its pickup of the NBC’s cancelled sitcom Community.

So with that in mind, are any of this last season’s cancelled sci fi / fantasy shows good candidates for a revival by one of these services? I consider each of them below (and throw in last Summer’s Siberia as well) from most likely to least. And note that my ranking is not based on which shows I personally would want to see picked up but on which ones could be a good fit based on their cost, their name recognition, and the fanbase they have established.

star_crossed_cw_cancelled1 Star-Crossed (CW, Cancelled after One Season) – This series may have pulled poor ratings even for the fifth place network (not helped by the fact that it was scheduled on a particularly treacherous night), but it apparently managed to attract a loyal and active following based on the votes it received in our recent poll and the social network activity I have seen surrounding it. And it is a very good candidate because it should be a relatively low cost show seeing as it aired on The CW and should easily fit within the budgets that Netflix or Amazon is playing with and possibly even Hulu. If one of those services is not looking at this one (or even one of the cable channels), they definitely need to give it some attention.

2 Siberia (NBC, Cancelled after One Season) – This Summer 2013 entry was never really cancelled, NBC just elected not to carry it for a second season. But it came to them prefunded (following a new model for producing a television series) and it was a relatively low cost entry similar to the shows on The CW. And the series has picked up a following worldwide even if they are not as vocal as the fans of shows like Star-Crossed, Dracula, and Revolution (we see regular traffic as CancelledSciFi.com from people searching for its status). It is ripe for a pickup and could easily fit within the budget constraints of Netflix and Amazon and likely Hulu as well, and they should give a long hard look at it.

3 Dracula (NBC, Cancelled after One Season) – This show never enjoyed great ratings, but it did okay for its Friday 10 PM EST timeslot. And it managed to amass a notable following based on the fact that it it received the most votes in our poll and also on the social network activity I have seen. As a period show, it’s likely more expensive than Star-Crossed above, but it also has an international financing arrangement that apparently makes it less expensive than the typical hour drama that airs on the Big Four broadcast networks. The series definitely has the name recognition and I have heard that it played very well overseas, so that should help its cause as well. It would seem like this one (as well as the two mentioned above) would be a sure thing for any of the three streaming services to take a flyer on.

4 Revolution (NBC, Cancelled after Two Seasons) – After the first three entries, things start to get a bit more murky. Revolution started its first season as a ratings darling, though its numbers tracked downward through its first year. And in its second year its ratings slipped further, though that can be blamed in part on its dubious early timeslot that did not fit well with its darker tone. Still, the series has built up a loyal fanbase that is actively campaigning for the show and they claim that series producer John Favreau supports their efforts. Revolution would be more expensive than the shows above, but possibly still in the ballpark for Netflix who has indicated they are willing to go toe-to-toe with the broadcast nets on production costs. It could be a big PR win if one of the streaming services picked this one up, especially with big names like Favreau, J.J. Abrams, and Eric Kripke attached to it. The money may be the biggest stumbling point, but it is a possibility.

almost-human-fox-cancelled5 Almost Human (FOX, Cancelled after One Season) – By all rights, Almost Human should be considered almost a hit. It ended the season ranked Number 29 among all broadcast network shows based on its rating in the 18-49 demographic and could have likely ended higher if not for the scheduling hurdles FOX threw at it. I’m surprised that another broadcast network or one of the cable channels has not shown an interest in snagging it. But if Netflix of Amazon were to grab it, that could bring them some good PR with J.J. Abrams’ name attached. The biggest issue with this one is that it is certainly an expensive entry and may be pushing the bounds of what the streaming services can afford. And I haven’t noticed that AH has generated near as much social activity as Star-Crossed, Dracula, or Revolution, so I’m not certain how strong its fanbase is. Still, it deserved better than the treatment FOX afforded it and one of the networks or streaming services should consider giving it a chance.

6 The Tomorrow People (CW, Cancelled after One Season) – This series started off the season with decent ratings (for the fifth place network) though quickly slacked off to a pretty mediocre level. But then it started to get some good buzz from fans during the second half of the season in contrast to the rather tepid response to its early episodes. It would seem like this one should be above both Almost Human and Revolution seeing as it is a lower cost entry like Star-Crossed, but then I don’t see that it has generated the same passion among its fans as that latter entry. If the fans were to come together and make a stand for the show, it could interest one of the three streaming services. But short of that rally, its chances seem slim.

7 The Neighbors (ABC, Cancelled after Two Seasons) – This second year sci fi sitcom never lived up to the low ratings expectations of its Friday night timeslot and ended up getting the cancellation notice I expected it to receive during its first year. But with two seasons under its belt, you would have thought it would have developed some sort of notable fanbase. And seeing as sitcoms are cheaper to produce than dramas, you might think one of the streaming services would have an interest in it. But fan noise has been almost non-existent, so its chances of continuing on seem negligible.

8 Believe (NBC, Cancelled after One Season) – This series unfortunately got shuffled into a difficult timeslot and just could not contend with the competition from shows like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Resurrection. It has some pedigree attached to it with the names of J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuarón in its credits. And it should be cheaper to produce than Almost Human or Revolution. But it never seemed to develop much of a following (in a large part because of its scheduling) so I don’t know that any of the streaming services would have an interest in it.

9 Being Human (Syfy, Cancelled after Four Seasons) – The cancellation announcement for this show came as a bit of a surprise considering its ratings were better than Syfy’s two renewed shows from 2013-14, Haven and Helix. But according to series star Sam Witwer, the fourth season wrap-up was planned and I did not hear much outcry from the show’s fans. Financially, this show would likely be a good pickup because its production costs should not be too high (unless the BBC has a steep licensing fee attached to it). But I don’t see too much interest in having it continue, so a pickup seems unlikely.

intelligence-cbs10 Intelligence (CBS, Cancelled after One Season) – This series could never find much of an audience in the difficult Monday 10 PM EST timeslot, and I believe that genre fans mostly dismissed it as yet another CBS procedural with a twist. It’s likely a relatively costly entry as well, but the Josh Holloway factor would bring some attention to the show if picked up by Netflix or Amazon. Still, that seems like an extreme longshot even though the show deserved better.

11 Once Upon A Time in Wonderland (ABC, Cancelled after One Season) – This spin-off from Once Upon A Time was allegedly planned for only a single season run in the first place (but of course more would have followed if it scored well in the ratings).  And it never generated much of a following (even among the parent show’s fans) in part because of its scheduling in the treacherous (for ABC) Thursday 8 PM EST timeslot. It will live on as part of the Once Upon A Time syndication package, but I don’t see any of the three streaming services showing an interest in footing the bill for new episodes.

Author: admin

14 thoughts on “Could One or More of This Season’s Cancelled Shows Like Star-Crossed, Dracula, or Revolution (or Last Summer’s Siberia) be Good Candidates for Netflix or Amazon (or Hulu) to Rescue?

  1. Bring back Star Crossed Believe Revolution The Tomorrow People and Almost Human there all great shows and were never given a chance I would pay extra for new seasons on any of the streaming sites and I bet many more would as well.

    1. Yes I would pay for Star Crossed as well it was such a good new family show and it was refreshing seeing something new hope someone has the good sense to bring it back.

  2. bring back believe! almost human was a great show too,dont know why it got canned! revolution was cool! I was surprised to see it end but i’d like to continue seeing these 3 shows.so Netflix? your up!

  3. BRING BELIEVE BACK!!!

    ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS I HAVE WATCHED AND IT IS GONE WAY TOO SOON
    BEST SHOW EVER

    #BRINGBACKBELIEVE

    revolution should also be brought back the story was never quite over i still want to see more!
    BRING BACK REVOLUTION AND BELIEVE!

  4. BRING BACK BELIEVE!!!!

    #BRINGBACKBELIEVE
    #RENEWBELIEVE
    #GIVEBELIEVEASECONDCHANCE
    #NETFLIXPICKUPBELIEVE
    #SAVEBELIEVE

  5. There are several cancelled shows that I will miss (Tomorrow People, Dracula among them) but the show that I will miss the most is Star-Crossed. I am still stunned that it was cancelled after just one season as there was (in my opinion) great writing and acting and unbelievable potential for the story-lines. I am really hopeful that our collective “Stargazer” power will save Star-Crossed and give everyone who hasn’t seen the show a chance to fall in love with it as much as I did. Thanks for the well-written article, the poll and for bringing attention to the fans’ battle to save their favorite show, no matter which one it is.. (For our own “Save Star-Crossed” petition, please follow this link: http://www.change.org/petitions/cw-network-mark-pedowitz-cbs-corporation-renew-star-crossed-for-a-second-season )

  6. Thank you for noticing #StarCrrossed. This could have and hopefully will the the chance it deserves. I am not speaking about hot guys & romance, I am speaking about the aspect of learning about those that are different from you before judging.

  7. Please bring Dracula back ! NBC, Sky, Netflix, SyFy, … friday night or not, PLEASE !!!
    It such a wonderful show, with a great cast, amazing costumes, fantastic writing and so promising !

    NBC did not advertise it well and the three weeks gap in the middle of the series when Sky still aired it didn’t help at all. People just started to hear about the show. Plots were just beginning. It’s like shooting on a little bird when it just had taken off and isn’t yet flying. It’s cruel and such a wrong teasing !

    They canceled the show just because of slots problem ? At least they can give it a short season 2 on another timeslot (In the flesh had 3 episodes for a first season… come on!) to let it have an ending ! It really needs a second season.

    Please #SaveDracula ! Go to Twitter @save_dracula and help us ! Sign the petition : https://www.change.org/petitions/nbc-continue-producing-nbc-dracula

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE !!! This show deserves it !!!

  8. I would love to see someone pick STAR CROSSED back up believe me it would be well worth there time it will only become stronger and grow a stronger fan base by the day it already has a huge fan base it just needs to be on a different night lovethis show and ccan’t wait for more I miss it.

  9. fans of Dracula will not stop until somebody picks it up! It didn’t have a chance with poor advertising, then a hiatus during the holidays, and putting it on opposite Blue Bloods, doomed it from the beginning! It is a stylish, well written, and new and fresh idea on the old Dracula tale, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Dracula equal to gary Oldmans Bram stokers Dracula. If anyone wants to help save Dracula, #Netflix save Dracula, and or #savedraculafor syfy. Every Wednesday, or whenever you want, make comment and use @’s above. Also T VChoice award 2014 is voting for best new drama, (Dracula) and best actor (jonathan Rhys Meyers) so go vote. Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.