"Don't Trust The B**** In Apt 23," "Samantha Who," And 8 Other Sitcoms That Literally Were Canceled Into Oblivion

I'm tired of six-episode mini series — bring back decades-long TV shows!

In the world of streaming, almost everything is available in the click of a button, but that doesn't mean that everything available is worth watching.

TV Guide / Via pinterest.com

Gone are the days when we had to wait for a week to watch the next episode of our favorite show. Extensively planning your social schedule around the newest episode of Friends or ensuring your homework was completed before diving in front of the TV and commandeering the remote just in time for the new X-Files to air. If you missed an episode, that was it — you had to hope it would repeat sometime soon. Otherwise, you may never see it again.

Or the worst thing that would happen, the thing that could ruin your day, your week, your month even...your favorite show was cancelled.

NBC / Via giphy.com

That one show you loved, all of a sudden, is not airing anymore. You wait patiently for it to pop up on the schedule again, but it never does. You try to find out what happened, and no one else knows what you're talking about. Was it all a dream, or were you the only one watching?

And that's where this list comes in. Below are 10 shows that were so deserving of more, but alas, that wasn't the case and then all of a sudden, *POOF* gone. With most of these shows originally airing before streaming being the big thing it is today, many of them were simply the victim of poor scheduling.

HBO / Via giphy.com

And TBH, I am more than salty about it.

So lets dive into it...

10. $h*! My Dad Says — (2010) Rated 6.2/10 on IMDb

CBS

$h*! My Dad Says was a CBS sitcom centered around an adult son, Henry, moving back home with his cantankerous 72-year-old father, played by William Shatner. Henry is a writer without any ideas, so when he goes to an interview, and a phone conversation with his dad is overheard, he's forced to stick it out with Ed to use his unsolicited rants as a source of inspiration. Theoretically, it's a run-of-the-mill sitcom comparable to Last Man Standing.

Now, I am of the generation, where William Shatner is like a God to me.

CBS

From his role as Admiral Kirk in Star Trek to his spoken word albums, I think the man is a genius. He is so camp and watchable and makes this entire show. The premise didn't matter; just any more Shatner content, and I'm there. But that's not to say it's without other merits. The supporting cast of Will Sasso (Happy Gilmore, Drop Dead Gorgeous) as Vince, Ed's other son, and Nicole Sullivan (Kim Possible, MadTV, 17 Again) as Vince's wife Bonnie boost the comedy prowess of the script. 

The show is quite edgy for CBS, giving more of an HBO-like feel than a standard network show. On the whole, it just feels like an exciting and well-put-together comedy. All in all, the network just didn't know what to do with it. The show was based on a Twitter feed, Shit My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern, which then became a book. But since the word shit always surrounded the show, there was a massive uproar with the Parents Television Council, who were upset with the crude language and the show's 8:30 p.m. time slot. CBS was forced to address the issue before the show's release. The network assured the public that the show would not be indecent and would adhere to their standards. But the damage was already done, and $h*! My Dad Says was canceled after its first season.

9. Gary Unmarried — (2008) Rated 6.7/10 on IMDb

CBS

Gary Unmarried was another CBS gem that was cut off before its time. Starring Jay Mohr (Go, Jerry Maguire, SNL) as the titular Gary, it focuses on the delights of divorce and co-parenting. Gary's ex-wife, Allison, is still a constant in his life due to them trying to amicably co-parent, hindering his ability to move on and date others. At the same time, Allison is now engaged to their ex-marriage counselor. The show focuses on Gary and the relationships forged in the show — friendship, romantic relationships, or the relationship between Gary and his children. The children are 14-year-old Tom, a reckless teenager with a penchant for the ladies and wisdom (sometimes) seemingly beyond his years, and 12-year-old Louise, an intellectual, musical virtuoso, who watches C-Span and has posters of Mahatma Gandhi, Al Gore, and Che Guevara on her bedroom walls, being the complete opposite to her sports-obsessed father.

Allison views Gary as being irresponsible and Gary views Allison as being boring, thus the butting of heads.

CBS

The show itself is funny, cute, and wholly watchable. But for me, the best part is Jay Mohr. Some of you may not be familiar with his name, but you should be! Whether it's his work in movies, TV, stand-up, or his podcast Mohr Stories, the man has funny bones! But alas, the talent of the actors couldn't save the show. Between Seasons 1 and 2, the producers left the show, resulting in massive changes in the show structure and cast and, in doing so, losing a lot of its charm. Unfortunately, it was never given the time to get back on track and was canceled just after the second season aired.

8. Kevin Can F**k Himself — (2021) Rated 7.1/10 on IMDb

AMC

Kevin Can F**k Himself is possibly one of the most original TV shows I have ever seen. Starring the phenomenal Annie Murphy as Alison, a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage with the incomprehensible man/child Kevin. The show's premise is really where it starts to mess with people. The show depicts two different sides of her experience: one as a typical sitcom wife when she's with her husband, portrayed with a traditional sitcom setup and canned laughter, and the other as a woman facing personal challenges, filmed in a more dramatic single-camera style commonly seen in TV dramas.

The style change can be jarring at first. However, it quickly becomes an essential plot device, with the viewer craving each style.

AMC

During its whole existence, you're wondering who else in the world, if anyone, is seeing these changes. Some of the characters transition between both sides, like Alison's neighbor Patty, being able to exist in both the sitcom and the single-camera world with Alison, her personality changing ever-so-slightly based on which world she inhabits. The change from bright, studio-lit scenes with no swearing, no conflict, and canned laughter seem even more sinister when they flip to the blue/grey gritty single camera. Somehow, the fakeness of the sitcom is more glaring, giving it a somber tone. But don't think it's not funny, it is, it's just very, very dark. Imagine, if you would, this is a world extended from a show similar to Black Mirror or Inside Number 9 — everything in theory is "right," but it's not. Everything is just a bit off. The sitcom aspect is very run-of-the-mill, akin to King Of Queens or Kevin Can Wait. The "lovable idiot" doesn't know how much harm he causes because of his stupidity, but in the end, he learns a lesson, only to forget it all the next week and continue to treat his put-upon wife as nothing more than a maid or cook.

This show was canceled after its second season. The reasoning was that it was "too confusing to casual viewers," which I understand in theory, but come on, have a little faith. Who says everything has to be for the casual viewer? I didn't sit through eight seasons of Game Of Thrones, six seasons of Vikings, and seven seasons of Pretty Little Liars to be called a casual viewer!!

7. Samantha Who? — (2007) Rated 7.3/10 on IMDb

ABC

Samantha Who? was an ABC sitcom from 2007 to 2009, starring legendary Christina Applegate as the titular Samantha. Set around a woman who loses her memory after a traumatic brain injury, she now realizes that the "old Sam" wasn't a charming person. She has the choice to start a new life, being kind and generous to reverse some of the damage she did to those around her or slide back into her old mean-spirited partying ways. Surrounded by a hilarious cast of Jennifer Esposito (Spin City, The Boys, Blue Bloods), Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls, Bridesmaids, The Little Mermaid), Jean Smart (Designing Women, 24, Big Mouth), and Kevin Dunn (Dave, Snake Eyes, Veep), Samantha Who? is a genuinely unique take on the classic sitcom.

The vibes are more My Name Is Earl than your classic style of sitcom, giving it the freedom to feel more "real" than your average studio lights and canned laughter romp.

ABC

The best thing about this whole series, without a doubt, is Christina Applegate. She has been a sitcom legend since her days on Married With Children, but this was a standout vehicle to show off her fantastic comedy talent. She can transmute from devil to angel so quickly that you can believe her as both the mean girl and the woman searching for redemption. The rest of the cast does much to elevate this show above the norm, too. No one is letting the team down, there's no one I would recast, and there's nothing I would change, apart from the fact it was canceled after its second season. 

While Samantha Who? was a low-key hit when the first season aired, the audience numbers dwindled in the second season. So, with outside issues, such as the 2007 writers' strike and ABC's mandated budget cuts in 2008, the plans to make a third season were canceled. However, the 35 episodes of this classic show are perfect for a good old marathon watch.

6. Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 — (2012) Rated 7.3/10 on IMDb

ABC

I think we are developing a pattern here: don't put swear words in the title of your show! But since its airing, this show has become a massive cult favorite. Don't Trust The B**** in Apartment 23 was an ABC show that first aired as a mid-season replacement in the spring of 2012. It's centered around Chloe, portrayed by Kristen Ritter, the titular "bitch" and her new roommate June, portrayed by Dreama Walker. It starts with Chloe advertising for new roommates. When they arrive, she demands a month's rent upfront and behaves outrageously until they leave, thus making money without the roommate ever living there. However, June is a little different. June reverses the scam attempts unexpectedly, and the two begin a tenuous friendship. Another thing I should bring up is Chloe's best friend, James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek, Varsity Blues, Pose); playing a fictionalized version of himself, he completely steals the show!

The show itself is outlandish and hilarious, and was criminally mistreated by ABC.

ABC

As I said, it was a mid-season replacement, so out of its initial 13 episodes, only seven were aired in the first season, leaving the remaining six episodes stuck randomly within the second season. This left the second season feeling disjointed, and some multi-episode arcs took a lot of work to follow. This disregard is what led to the show's cancellation. But again, like I said, it was a massive cult hit. The fans are still active online today, with petitions still gaining signatures with hopes of a revival. It was such a fun show and was cut off before it could develop.

5. Off Centre — (2001) Rated 7.7/10 on IMDb

The WB

Starring Sean Maguire as sexy British investment banker Euan and Eddie Kay Thomas as perpetually nervous and useless with women but still a good guy because he has a girlfriend, Mike, the series sets the duo up as old college roommates. Both have nabbed themselves an apartment in the illustrious Hadley Building, Off Centre Street....ya get it? It seems like little when you think about the plot; it's just your average run-of-the-mill sitcom about two guys living in an NY apartment, not exactly breaking any boundaries there. But Off Centre caught me off guard. I'm not going to lie; I didn't watch this series when it aired. I honestly cannot tell you if or when it aired in the UK, but I would have been too young to watch it at the time anyway. So, I heard about this series from the depths of the internet and thought I would give it a go. After some digging, I found all 29 episodes (21 in season one, 7 in season 2, and the unaired pilot) on YouTube, and I was hooked.

The unaired pilot is in fairness, really good, but as a whole, different to the rest of the show.

The WB

First, Mike's role was played by Josh Radnor, who later played the role of Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother. It's easy to see he could be the lead in a sitcom from this show; he is funny and engaging, but he is too numb for this show — he fits but is still a bit of a downer. Josh Radnor feels a little too needy when playing off Sean Maguire's effervescent, upbeat delivery. At the same time, Eddie Kay Thomas plays the ensemble very well. You can tell he is having fun with the role, and you feel like they would have been friends in college. I wouldn't say I like recasts in TV shows; however, as this was done from the pilot to the first episode, it's like Josh Radnor never happened. 

Honestly, if this show was given a little more respect when it originally aired, I think it would have lasted a good five to eight seasons. It would have been up there with the likes of How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory. It just hit at completely the wrong time.

The WB

Off Centre was created by the producers of the American Pie franchise, and it's obvious. It feels like an extension of that universe; if you told me Mike was Finch out of college, and he's dropped the dead weight of his high school pals in favor of a sexy British guy, I would believe you. But network TV needed more time to prepare for what Off Centre wanted to lay down. 

With jokes in the first season about three ways, sexually transmitted crabs, and circumcisions, the network was not pleased. It could have been better rated, and for the second season, they moved it to a Thursday night slot, which didn't help its ratings. It got canceled seven episodes into its second season, leaving two episodes not even to be filmed.

4. Saxondale — (2006) Rated 7.7/10 on IMDb

Baby Cow Productions

Next is Saxondale, another British sitcom that features and is co-written by Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, 24 Hour Party People, Philomena). In this show, Coogan plays the main character, Tommy Saxondale, a middle-aged ex-roadie with anger management issues who has gone through a difficult divorce and is now navigating life with his new girlfriend, Magz. Saxondale sees himself as a free thinker and a maverick, spending his time sharing his wisdom with his naive assistant, Raymond, who he moves into his spare room. If you're a fan of Coogan or his iconic character, Alan Partridge, you'll likely enjoy Saxondale. It offers an honest portrayal of aging and how it catches up with us, even if we were wild in our youth.

Throughout the show, Saxondale has some interesting experiences, like almost befriending a celebrity, dealing with an annoying hippie, and even experimenting with makeup.

Baby Cow Productions

While Saxondale is a witty character, he can also be a bit of a jerk, which aligns with Coogan's other roles. I appreciate Coogan's performances, from his early days as Partridge on The Day Today to his various characters in Coogan's Run. However, Saxondale feels like his most authentic portrayal, filled with nuance, pain, and humor. Suppose you're a fan of British comedy in any way. In that case, you're likely to see some familiar faces occasionally, too, such as Matt Berry, Tim Key, Greg Davies, Kevin Eldon, and Rosie Cavaliero, which boosts the comedy. 

Unfortunately, the show only lasted for two series and 13 episodes, as it was overshadowed by the popularity of the Alan Partridge character instead. But I believe the world is ready for more Saxondale. So, give it a watch whether you're a Coogan fan or just reminiscing about your lost youth. It's worth it.

3. Game On — (1995) Rated 7.9/10 on IMDb

Hat Trick Productions

Game On is a British sitcom and possibly one of my favorite comfort watches. It centers around three roommates living in a Battersea flat in the mid-'90s. Matthew, played by Ben Chaplin in the first season, and Neil Stuke in the later seasons (listen, I know I said I don't like characters being recast, but Ben Chaplin was off to Hollywood, and Neil Stuke is an outstanding comedy actor). 

Matthew is a reclusive agoraphobic who inherited a large amount of money after his parent's deaths, allowing him to live a modestly excessive lifestyle but also affording him to fall deeper into his mental illness (okay, so I know that doesn't sound funny, but that's just a throwaway plot point). Matthew owns the flat they all live in, and he likes to let them know that. Then we have Martin, played by Matthew Cottle. Martin is a meek, tangerine-haired bank clerk who lives off his mother's frozen meals and hasn't ever really had a meaningful relationship with a woman. He fixates on every interaction with a woman to the point that he becomes obsessive. However, he cannot act on any desire because he is so nervous. Then we have Mandy, played by Samantha Womack. Mandy is an ambitious yet woefully underachieving career woman of the '90s who often finds herself in romantic entanglements more than office meetings. Mandy is anything but unintelligent; in fact, you could look at her underachieving as more of a fear of failure than anything else, but I feel I am over-analyzing this sitcom a little.

The general premise is the week-to-week hijinks of three roommates, seldom moving from the set of the flat itself (it almost becomes the fourth character).

Hat Trick Productions

You feel very comfy there like you live there, and you've just got a cup of tea to catch up. You may not agree with every decision they make, but just like a friend, you would support them. The series runs over three seasons, but like some of the greatest British sitcoms, this is only 18 episodes.

 
There was talk of a 4th season, but the writers needed to figure out where to go with the characters. I can appreciate that — like they say, leave on a high. However, at the end of Season 3, there is some pretty heavy character development, which I feel could have easily led into a 4th season.

2. Perfect World — (2000) Rated 8.2/10 on IMDb

BBC

Yet another British entry here, Perfect World, is often infuriatingly overlooked. Set in the deprived marketing world, this office-based sitcom is led by lazy, selfish, obnoxious, and amoral marketing exec Bob Slay. Bob is a cruel man who seemingly gets almost euphoric joy from making his employees' lives hell, namely Vaughan and Maggie, who, sadly, are also his only friends. However, he wouldn't let them know that. Bob's only real motive is trying to get into the skirt of whoever he is trying to woo that week and the constant pursuit of being the best but doing nothing to achieve it, ultimately desperate to impress misogynistic buffoon Terrence Bentley.

We often see Bob's schemes foiled, usually by his own doing or his coworkers, but he's never wholly unlikeable.

BBC

Being only two seasons long, and in the long-standing British tradition of having short series runs, it only works out to 13 episodes. But there are 13 episodes of gold.

More information needs to be out there to explain why this didn't get a longer run. BBC2, the channel in which it aired in the UK, was not shy about its comedy prowess, with some of the greatest BBC comedies airing on the channel (Red Dwarf, Bottom, The Office) and the subject matter of Perfect World not being much different in tone to those shows. It was nowhere near as gruesome as Bottom and had a similar if more sitcom-like, tone than The Office; there are no clear reasons why the show was never picked up for more episodes. Not only that, it has never been repeated; it was only ever aired in Australia and the UK. Even more infuriating was the first season released on VHS after it aired, and then nothing else. A regional DVD set of both seasons was supposed to be released in 2009, but due to the collapse of Woolworths, which owned partial rights, the DVD was delayed and subsequently shelved.

1. And 15 Storeys High — (2002) Rated 8.2/10 on IMDb

BBC

15 Storeys High, starring the late Sean Lock, is a sitcom that often goes unnoticed. The show revolves around Vince, played by Lock, and his clueless roommate Errol, portrayed by Benedict Wong (yes, that Benedict Wong of Dr. Strange and the Marvel franchise). Vince, a gloomy swimming pool attendant, and Errol, an unlucky fish factory worker, share a shabby apartment in a rundown high-rise building. Their monotonous lives are occasionally interrupted by moments of absurdity provided by their fellow residents. 

Vince is an eccentric loner who follows his own rules and expects Errol to do the same. Working as a lifeguard and fearing physical contact, Vince goes to great lengths to avoid interacting with others. However, his lack of social skills lands him in awkward situations, from teaching a swimming student with a dangerous husband to caring for a neighbor's horse and engaging in a bitter feud with a group of troublesome kids. Originally a radio show, 15 Storeys High was adapted into a television series in 2002.

Consisting of two seasons and a total of 12 episodes, the show initially gained a dedicated fan base who appreciated its deadpan humor.

BBC

However, due to poor scheduling and being aired on the digital channel BBC Choice (before it became BBC3), it failed to receive the same recognition as other sitcoms of the time, such as Phoenix Nights and The Office, which also used the same single camera format without a studio audience. To make matters worse, the second season was relegated to a late-night time slot on BBC2, following Bill Oddie's Badger Watch, which was aired live and would have a habit of running over time. 

As a result, viewership declined, and 15 Storeys High was never renewed for a third season or repeated by the BBC. It eventually got picked up in 2014 by the classics channel UKTV Gold in the "After Dark" slot, but it was way too late. 15 Storeys High was available to stream after Sean Lock's passing in 2021. In honor of Lock, a campaign was launched to bring the series back, resulting in its availability on BBC iPlayer.

So, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below of any forgotten sitcoms and comedy shows you love and you think were cancelled way too soon!

Disney / Via giphy.com