After their web series, several television programmes are cancelled after one episode, rapidly withdrawn off the broadcast schedule, or development is terminated. Such abrupt cancellations are exceedingly unusual and are generally the result of a combination of exceptionally unfavourable reviews, low ratings, radical or controversial material, or events far beyond the network’s control.
Pilots, premiere episodes produced primarily for network executives to review as proposed series; “backdoor pilots,” pilot episodes shot in just such a way that they’re being aired as just a regular episode of another series; as well as feature-length television movies produced to be broadcast as either an extended premiere episode, if picked up as just a series, and as a separate television film are specifically excluded from such a list.
The pilot was either screened as a television movie after a decision not to develop a series, or the pilot was televised as just a television movie following a decision to just not produce a series.
The time the episode aired, any criticism, as well as what happened to the series following cancellation are all mentioned in chronological sequence.
Carnival of Dennis James (October 31, 1948)
The CBS television network hosts a variety programmes. The Dennis James Carnival featured a variety of vaudeville-style acts underneath the pretence that presenter Dennis James was striving to keep his uncle’s carnival running. The show received generally unfavourable feedback, as well as its sponsor, General Electric, was unhappy with the carnival environment.
Whose Property Is It, and Whose Isn’t It? (June 25, 1951)
On CBS, four celebrity panellists attempted to guess which of three male candidates was married to which of three female competitors in a panel quiz programme presented by Phil Baker. This sitcom took over for The Goldbergs, which was cancelled because producer Gertrude Berg refused to discharge blacklisted performer Philip Loeb. While one source described this show as a television pilot, current news reports corroborate that this was a series that’s been cancelled after just one showing by its sponsor (General Foods).
Turn-On (February 5, 1969) was an ABC variety comedy series that was a racier version of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Because of its strong sexual and political humour, the show upset broadcast officials as well as sponsors, who quickly saw it as inappropriate.
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