CANCELLED TV PROGRAMS

I can't count how often it's happened: I like the concept for a TV show. One of my favorite actors or writers gets involved. The show airs. It's quirky, not for everybody, but seems made for me. And then, after a few episodes--one season if I'm lucky--my show is cancelled, replaced by some awful retread or reality show. As this strike-shortened season ends, allow me to pay tribute to some of my favorite cancelled crime shows.

THE DRESDEN FILES Based on the wizard P.I. novels of Jim Butcher, this series developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe of ANDROMEDA and STAR TREK: DS9 wasn't very faithful from a purist's standpoint, but Paul Blackthorne as Harry, Valerie Cruz as Lt. Murphy, and Terence Mann as the ghostly Bob, gave it a more grounded chemistry all its own. The show's cancellation is a real shame considering it was replaced by an even-less-faithful FLASH GORDON and PAINKILLER JANE, which have since been cancelled as well. The first and only season of 12 episodes was released on DVD.

RAINES Created by Canadian Graham Yost, this series starred Jeff Goldblum as LAPD Det. Michael Raines, recently returned to duty a year after the death of his partner. An aspiring writer, Raines begins to have vivid visions of the murder victims he's investigating. He deduces these are figments that won't stop haunting him until he solves their cases. By far the most cerebral and appealing show for crime fiction fans in years, NBC was very high on RAINES leading up to the season, but its stock inexplicably dropped along with its episode order until it was reduced to a midseason replacement.

ANDY BARKER P.I. Created by Jonathan Groff and Conan O'Brien, this show starred Andy Richter as an accountant who moves into a private investigator's old office and is promptly mistaken for the P.I. Harv Presnell's over-the-top performance as P.I. Lew Staziak was balanced by Richter's good-hearted everyman, Clea Lewis as Andy's wife, and Tony Hale and Marshall Manesh as Andy's friends. The concept was a stretch from the start, but I would've gladly watched more of Andy bumbling into situations and improvising his way out.

EYES ABC's 2005 ensemble drama about the shady inner workings of a modern P.I. firm specializing in corporate crime. With several running plotlines, the show was reminiscent of NBC's LAS VEGAS and ABC's own SNOOPS, a female take on the modern P.I. from David E. Kelley, cancelled in 1999. It's a shame none of the storylines had the chance to wrap up.

KAREN SISCO Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Jennifer Lopez's character from the 1998 film OUT OF SIGHT, ABC aired this series in 2003. Carla Gugino (formerly of SPIN CITY) played Karen in Lopez's place, but the series also starred movie veterans Bill Duke and Robert Forster, and was written by screenwriters Scott Frank and Jason Smilovic. I wish it had had the success of STARGATE SG-1, but ABC only aired seven episodes, with the remaining three running on USA Network.

FIREFLY (2002) Perhaps the most famous cancelled science fiction show since Star Trek, FIREFLY followed nine regular characters aboard a small spaceship trying to eke out a living in a future fraught with problems similar to those of the American Old West. It's a tribute to creator Joss Whedon that each of the nine characters had a distinct personality, allowing the actors who played them to shine. The series made a splash on DVD, leading to the 2005 feature film Serenity and a continuing run in Dark Horse Comics.

THE HUNTRESS (2000) After the success of a TV movie based on the adventures of Ralph Thorson's widow and daughter, USA Network developed a series starring Annette O'Toole and Jordana Spiro as bounty hunters Dottie and Brandi Thorson. Both O'Toole and Spiro brought a relaxed, natural quality to their roles that often made me forget they were bounty hunters. Fifteen episodes aired.

VENGEANCE UNLIMITED In 1998, EYES creator John McNamara brought movie tough-guy Michael Madsen to TV as Mr. Chapel, a man without a backstory who helped those who'd been wronged by the system. In return for $1 million or a favor, Mr. Chapel would run elaborate scams on villians until, one way or another, they repaid their victims. Incidentally, this premise was almost identical to NBC's 1985-87 show STINGRAY from Stephen J. Cannell. VENGEANCE UNLIMITED ran sixteen episodes against NBC's FRIENDS and was replaced by the American version of WHOSE LINE IS IT, ANYWAY?

MR. AND MRS. SMITH No relation to the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie movie, this 1996 CBS show was produced by and starred Scott Bakula as an industrial spy teamed with a female counterpart (Maria Bello) to masquerade as a married couple. Thirteen episodes were shot, and nine aired.

MATRIX (1993) Steven Matrix (Stingray's Nick Mancuso) was a hitman finally gunned down himself. While hospitalized in a coma, Matrix has visions of all his past victims surrounding a sea of fire. At last repentant, he is given a chance to redeem himself by turning others away from actions that will set their lives on the wrong path. In his new life, Matrix invests in a gym co-owned by Liz Teel (Carrie-Anne Moss) , but keeps in touch with one cohort from his old life, Billy Hicks (Phillip Jarret). A wholesome premise to be sure, but with Mancuso playing a seen-it-all cynic, it never became preachy and was perfectly hardboiled. Created by Canadian Grenville Case, MATRIX ran thirteen episodes on USA Network.

BOOKER (1989) In this spinoff of 21 JUMP STREET, leather-wearing rebel ex-cop Dennis Booker (Richard Grieco) is hired as head of security for the multinational Teshima Corporation. I always thought Booker was too cool to play with Hanson, Hoffs, and Penhall on Jump Street, and he stood out even more in a corporate backdrop. Like many of the series I've mentioned, BOOKER emphasized personality over procedure and was well respected by those who caught it.

Part of me wishes these shows had found more viewers and had good, long runs. Another part of me is glad to be one of the few who connected with them when they first aired and remembers them when no one else can.