The TV landscape faced upheaval this year with writers’ and actors’ strikes disrupting fall schedules and economic pressures leading media companies to reconsider their show investments. The outcome was a surge in TV show cancellations.
Curious about the casualties of 2023? Here’s a list of noteworthy shows that met their end in the past 12 months.
Is your favorite among them? (Note: Excluded are shows canceled but airing final episodes in 2024, like Young Sheldon, Magnum P.I., and Blue Bloods.)
‘The Rookie: Feds’
ABC’s derivative series of “The Rookie” featured Niecy Nash-Betts as the senior trainee agent at the FBI. Despite premiering in fall 2022, it faced uncertainty for months following the season 1 finale in May 2023. In November, the network officially announced that “The Rookie: Feds” would not be returning for a second season. Nash-Betts referred to the show as “a casualty of the strike” on Instagram.
‘The Wonder Years’
ABC’s revival of “The Wonder Years” centered around a Black middle-class family in 1960s Montgomery, Alabama. Despite its fall 2021 premiere, the delayed second season, consisting of 10 episodes, didn’t air until the summer of 2023. The sitcom, with Don Cheadle as the narrator, faced cancellation in September when ABC decided to pull the plug on “The Wonder Years.”
‘The Resident’
Fox pulled the plug on the medical drama “The Resident” in April 2023, months after the broadcast of its Season 6 finale in January. Declining ratings were cited as the reason for the show’s demise, according to reports from Deadline.
‘The Blacklist’
In July, viewers bid farewell to Raymond Reddington (James Spader) as The Blacklist concluded its 10-season journey. James Spader mentioned that the FBI drama had reached its logical conclusion, stating, “I suspect that the show, if it went much further, would just become something that would be less recognizable to me,” in an interview with NBC.
‘NCIS: Los Angeles’
After 14 years of crime-solving in the City of Angels, the NCIS: Los Angeles team wrapped up their final case in May 2023. While bidding farewell to the spinoff, fans can look forward to seeing Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) in Season 3 of NCIS: Hawai’i, set to premiere on CBS in February 2024.
‘Young Rock’
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s semi-autobiographical sitcom, “Young Rock,” faced an early conclusion in 2023 with NBC canceling it after three seasons. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope, as executive consultant Harvey Wippleman hinted in November 2023 that it might not be the end, stating, “Young Rock will be back” (via PopCulture.com).
‘The People’s Court’
Judge Marilyn Milian concluded her final season this summer as the curtain fell on the 26-season run of “The People’s Court.” Notably, the original version with Judge Joseph Wapner spanned from 1981 to 1993, and the enduring court show “Judge Mathis” faced cancellation after 24 seasons.
‘Big Sky’
ABC’s crime drama “Big Sky” concluded its final case as it was canceled after three seasons in May. Starring Katheryn Winnick as undersheriff Jenny Hoyt and Kylie Bunbury as private detective Cassie Dewell, the show’s initial season enjoyed high ratings, but subsequent seasons faced a decline in popularity, ultimately resulting in its cancellation.
‘Fear the Walking Dead’
In 2023, AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” concluded its eight-season run, marking the end of the long-standing spinoff. Despite its “really fun run,” according to series star Danay Garcia, the show wrapped up, but the Walking Dead universe continues with new additions like “The Walking Dead: Dead City” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.”
‘Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’
HBO’s vibrant sports series, “Winning Time,” vividly portrayed the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime era. While NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and some real-life figures weren’t fans of the fictionalized depiction, the first season garnered positive reviews. However, Season 2 faced less success, concluding with a dramatic finale showcasing the Lakers’ devastating defeat to the Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals.
‘All Rise’
Following its cancellation by CBS in 2021, the legal drama “All Rise” experienced a revival as it transitioned to OWN for its third season in 2022, starring Simone Missick. Regrettably, the show faced another cancellation in 2023, culminating in the airing of its final 10 episodes this fall.
‘The Idol’
HBO decided to cancel “The Idol,” a controversial drama created by Sam Levinson, after just one season consisting of five episodes. Despite generating significant headlines, the show, which depicted the entanglement of a pop star portrayed by Lily Rose-Depp with a Svengali-like figure played by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, faced lackluster ratings. HBO, in a statement to Variety, expressed satisfaction with the strong audience response to the provocative series but, after thorough consideration, jointly decided with the creators and producers not to proceed with a second season.
‘Ride’
The Hallmark Channel’s rodeo drama “Ride,” featuring Nancy Travis, got the axe after one season due to a lack of success. Despite the cancellation, The CW will give the first season a second chance, airing it in January 2024. The network, though, has not confirmed a second season.
‘iCarly’
After three seasons, the reboot of “iCarly” on Paramount+ concluded. Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, and Nathan Kress, the original stars, came together for the show. Nathan Kress expressed disappointment in the cancellation, stating on X, “this stings a bit… we had a lot of story left to tell, and we were excited to give you guys the ending you deserved. No one wanted this to end on a cliffhanger.”
‘Warrior’
“Warrior,” a series portraying the Tong Wars in 19th-century Chinatown, initially premiered on Cinemax in 2019, later transitioning to Max for its third season. Despite Max canceling the show in December, there’s a slim possibility of a fourth season. Starting February 2024, the first three seasons will be accessible on Netflix, and according to reports, there’s a chance Netflix might consider continuing the series.
