There are times when you love television networks. They stick their necks out for a show like Lost or X-Files or Chuck and they make your season.

But sometimes… they suck.

Here are a few times when the networks sucked:

Pushing Daisies: Even though it was cancelled in 2008, the remaining episodes played in 2009, pouring salt on the open wound of missing a great show. Pushing Daisies had it all; a cute lead, a quirky heroine, an awesome private dick, and a chipper best supporting actress. The show also had some of the most interesting mysteries and the best narrator since Arrested Development’s Ron Howard. It was a show like nothing I’ve ever seen, a show with a compelling storyline, with interesting characters, and everything about it made me want to return to the screen every week. Bad move, ABC, canceling Pushing Daisies. I’m going to miss Chi McBride’s Emerson Cod saying “dead girl”.

The Unusuals: There is still a part of me that refuses to believe that Southland got picked up by another station but that The Unusuals was pushed out the door. Don’t get me wrong, Southland is a good show. I just think that The Unusuals was an awesome show. A great blend of comedy and tragedy, character dialogue that sparkled, complex relationships that intrigued us, a writing staff that didn’t take themselves too seriously – it was great. Those were characters I wanted to see on a weekly basis. I think there were actually tears when I learned they were canceled and I never searched so hard for information about whether the show would be picked up by another station. It worked for Medium, why not The Unusuals? Another dropped show by ABC that would have done really well given time and a steady timeslot.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: There are people who would disagree with me because of the slow pace of the final season, but the awesomeness that was John Connor jumping forward in time spelled an interesting third season opener for me. To me, it meant more action, the act of storytelling was kicking into high gear and the overprotective mother being hunted down by vicious, intelligent robots would mean it was time to get serious with the story. Also, I liked the big screen Terminator reboot (retelling, rework, rewhatever they were calling it) and thought that if they moved the television show towards that movie future, it would have been an excellent way for the series to go. Alas, poor future John Connor. We know you no more.

Life: There is just something about a police procedural that I like. I didn’t watch Homicide: Life on the Streets or NYPD Blue or even The Shield (although that’s my next tv marathon). I was too late for those shows. So for me, these shows are not retreads of better cop procedurals. Of the investigative shows that I like – Castle, Bones, The Wire – Life was my favourite. In real life, I’m a notorious lover of red-heads (if you knew them, just ask my friends), so that put Charlie Crews above the rest. But the story is what got me. Done documentary style, it told the story of a cop who was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. When he is acquitted, with the help of his lawyer, after spending 12 years in prison, he sues the city and the police department, wins $50 million and gets his job back on the force. His partner Dani Reese was a great character too. A recovering addict from one too many undercover assignments, she doesn’t trust Crews at first. Why should she? He comes off as a little crazy with is Zen like assuredness, but underneath the unflappable exterior beats the heart of a man who will find the truth at all costs. Season one was a nail biter and season 2 had me enthralled, especially the finale when I thought he was coming to the conclusion that he was in love with Dani. I would have loved to see how that thought would run through continued seasons, but my time with Detective Charlie Crews would end much to prematurely for me.

I loved all of these shows. I will miss all these shows. So what about you? What shows do you think should have come back for the 2009-2010 season? (All links lead to watchable episodes of the show)

Serial accusers, break-in porn, couple’s counseling, arguing buddy cops, sex in a closet, rich kids in Harlem…

Why is this show getting canceled? I mean, I see the numbers for viewers and while they are low in general, that is not unusual for a show just starting out midseason while people are still trying to catch up with their other shows. The Unusuals didn’t replace another show like Southland did. It came into its spot with a little bit of fanfare and a bajillion commercials if you watched Lost online.

Let me clue you to a little secret ABC. Most of the people I know who watch television were so busy trying to catch up on some shows that by the time they were able to watch a few episodes of The Unusuals, it was cancelled. In the last few weeks of the show, my friends discovered what I explained was a fantastic show, only to be dashed against the rocks of disappointment when they realized they would be getting no more.

Southland is a good show. The Unusuals was better (no offense Southland writers).

What will I miss the most? The cops picking on Eddie Alvarez? Making Cole blush? Beaumont’s and Walsh’s relationship? No. What I will miss the most is the delightful, delightful interaction of partners Leo Banks and Eric Delahoy. Oh God! The last episode, when they are arguing in the cafe, was so funny, so gold, that it made me want to go on some kind of anger rampage when I remembered that the show was FRAKKIN’ CANCELED!

I really just can’t understand it. I mean, a whole episode devoted to moustaches. I didn’t even notice half of them until the show pointed them out. Or how about the way they show that Delahoy’s tumor is progressing? How about Walsh’s attempt at kindness even as he hassles Alvarez or Alvarez’s resilience and the fact that, despite it all, he’s a damn good cop? Oh, do you remember the murder room episode? I’m not really sure what I’m going to do now that The Unusuals will be viewed no longer…

Well, I’ve watched the last episode of The Unusuals, I’ve stalked Noah Hawley on Twitter, I’ve written about it, complained about it, cursed about it, and considered going on an anger rampage. Now, it’s time for me to get to the acceptance part of this grief. I haven’t felt this strongly about a show having a short season since Firefly. A part of my soul is crushed, ABC, and you did it.

So when the season comes out on Blu-Ray, I will buy it. When the actors join other shows, I will watch them. I will miss you and watch you over and over again because for this season, you were the best little midseason show in town. Speaking of midseason, how the FUCK did Harper’s Island stay on but The Unusuals get canceled. I know, different network, but COME ON! (said Gob Bluth style).

Oh well, all’s well that end’s well and even if it was short, it was sweet. But if it gets picked up somewhere else, you better believe I’ll be on rooftops, shouting.

While we are still basking in the glow of several good finales (House, Supernatural, Grey’s Anatomy) and are still wondering WTF for some (Bones season=great, Bones finale=WTF?), as we look to the summer season as well as dip our toes in the previews for the new fall season shows, we must remember the shows that we left behind.

All canceled show are not deserving of a send off. Life on Mars, Kath & Kim, Dirty Sexy Money, Eleventh Hour, Prison Break, The Riches – I never liked these shows. Their cancellation comes at no great loss to me as a tv viewer.

Yet there are a few shows who lost their lives this season, due to poor rating, that were well written, well acted, and just did an overall great job of keeping me entertained. If it were up to me, I would bring every one of these shows back for several more season.

Life – We didn’t get to see if Charlie Crews was going to fall in love with his partner, or if she would return his love. We know that the only reason he trusted her is because he realized he trusted her. That was a love triangle waiting to happen. And what about Ted? Did he get Mrs. Malcolm Reynolds or didn’t he? I’ll never know and I’ll forever hate that.

Pushing Daisies – The most unique and unusual show on the air, of course it suffered the cancellation fate. People didn’t get how funny Chi McBride was or how great Lee Pace was or how beguiling  and lovely Anna Friel and Kristin Chenoweth were in this delightful fractured fairytale that was one of the best shows on ABC. Oh, how I miss Emerson Cod. And Ned. And Chuck. And Olive Snook. And Lily and Vivian Charles.

The Unusuals – From the first episode, I loved this show. From the second episode, I fell in love with the opening credits. Love that song and the sense of adventure it sets up. What I do not love is that, after only 5 episodes, it was canceled. Not only did it not get enough time for those of us who liked it to talk it up, but it didn’t have a chance to come out of its “new in the middle of the season” slump that wasn’t actually a slump. Everyone that I have turned on to this show likes it. ABC is out of their frakkin’ minds.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – I know that people feel like there was a good ending to this episode and everything, but I wanted to see John Connor on his own without his mom as he grows into a man. I wanted to see how he would be brought back to the “past/present” and how what he gained from the future would aid in the salvation of the planet. I mean, that’s what I wanted to see. I hate that more people didn’t watch it because the finale was off the chain. I’m just sayin’.

Kyle XY – This one is for nostalgia sake. I grew up in a shitty household, to be frank. I always wanted a tv family. So whenever I get one that also had a good story (and I didn’t mind the bit of sci-fi thrown in either), I like to keep watching. I know that I will get other shows, but I miss the Traegers and Kyle. I wish I could get at least one more season of Kyle XY without the surprise cancellation.

Other shows that aren’t coming back:

ABC

Cupid
Eli Stone
In the Motherhood
Samantha Who?

CBS

Harper’s Island
The Unit
Without a Trace
Worst Week

FOX

King of the Hill
Sit Down, Shut Up

NBC

Kings
Knight Rider
Law & Order: CI:
Lipstick Jungle
Medium
My Name is Earl

The CW

Everybody Hates Chris
The Game
Privileged
Reaper

If you know of any other shows that have been canceled, that you miss or that you won’t miss drop a line in the comments.

I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. It could be from being sick last week, but I think it is because ABC has done something so egregious, so unconscionable, I may not be able to watch the network for a while (although they help make that easy by having a shitty video viewer).

They have decided that, after only 5 episodes, they will be canceling The Unusuals. Turning the knife and sinking it deeper, they will also not carried Cupid over to next season. I liked Cupid, but I LOVED The Unusuals.

Do you know how you felt when Spock, in the new Star Trek, said, “Live long and prosper!” in that completely sarcastic, stick it to the Vulcan, way? Or when you first see McCoy and realize you love him best (or hate him most, whichever camp you fall in, I’m not prejudiced), or when they splode the bombs and push the Enterprise away from the black hole (this is a tv blogger doing a small “two thumbs and, a third appendage if I had it, up” review of Star Trek), that feeling of awe, delight, comedy and drama is what I felt every time I pulled The Unusuals up on my DVR.

I’ve written more than once about how much I like the Unusuals. I’ve explained the Goldberg/Perrineau perfect storm, I’ve talked about Kai Lennox as Eddie Alvarez, I mentioned Tamblyn although I  included how excellent Jeremy Renner was/is in the blanket statement of excellence concerning the entire crew. I’ve felt this way about a few shows, most of which were canceled.

Shows that give me the same warm fuzzy feeling l get when I watch The Unusuals:

Firefly – God! that was a good show! Watching it’s only season on Hulu right now.

Arrested Development – It got a little more time, but it was canceled way too early!

Bones - An unusual procedural that is going the distance.

Doctor Who – I mean, duh.

There are only a few shows that give me this feeling, where the anticipation makes me anxious. I just hate that we never got to see this fledgling show fly. So long, The Unusuals. We hardly knew ya!

If you want to hear this in writer Noah Hawley’s own words, go here. I feel you, man. I feel you.

No, this is not a suicide post. More like a notice of murder.

Yes, I feel strongly. No, I don’t feel bad about it.

NBC revealed that Life did not make the cut today (I believe televisionaryblog.com used the word DOA to describe Life’s chances). While I may talk about the other shows that did make it, later, let me mourn now.

Of course I want to rant. It’s only natural. After spending all that time catching up on it after the writer’s strike, I felt sure that the stellar writing (god, that writing was good) and the acting would bring it to the renewal side. In a way, I guess we should feel lucky that Life didn’t go the way of Journeyman (which I also liked). So, in honor of Life and all the good feelings I felt about it, I will write a crappy poem. It will, of course, not rhyme.

Ah, goodbye my favourite ginger/with your penchant for eating fruit/and your questions with weird answers/that you somehow always get right./Yours isn’t the first show that we lost/(old grudges die hard FOXNBCCBSABC and sometimes I still hate you)/for Firefly/for Arrested Development/for Pushing Daisies/ and now/ for Life/Damian Lewis, you are now my favourite redhead/ Sarah Shahi you were turning into Crews and I liked it/Donal Logue, in being serious, you were seriously funny/You and your crew and your mysteries/I will miss you all/Thanks for the suckage, NBC.