A host of television shows were canceled in this round of season finales, bringing a nicely tied-up conclusion to some, cliffhangers for others, and some truly head-scratching endings in some cases. As the networks start their summer vacations, we’re ranking the network television shows that were canceled in 2025, from the least surprising to the most heartbreaking.
13.S.W.A.T.
CBS – Canceled After 8 Seasons
A stalwart on the CBS schedule since 2017, S.W.A.T. was set in the same universe as FX’s critically acclaimed drama The Shield and starred Shemar Moore and Jay Harrington. After surviving its initial cancellation after season 6, it was revived with a first and final run for season 7, only to be renewed again, only to be canceled after season 8.
It’s hard to be shocked at the news that S.W.A.T. was canceled for good after its 8th season, specifically as it was saved twice before by CBS for more adventures for Sgt. Hondo and Twenty Squad. Even as Hondo’s adventures will continue in the spin-off S.W.A.T. Exiles, sometimes it’s best to let things end naturally, and the ending of S.W.A.T. felt more like a necessity than a surprise.
12.Lopez vs. Lopez
NBC – Canceled After 3 Seasons
When you think about television sitcoms from the early aughts, George Lopez’s self-titled ABC sitcom ranks among the most popular and most successful of these, so it was no surprise to find him back on TV, this time on NBC with a new program, Lopez vs. Lopez. His third attempt at sitcom magic since Lopez went off the air in 2007, it saw him return to the same familial setting comedy show formula, moving in with his daughter, played by his real-life daughter, Mayan Lopez, after bankruptcy forced him out of his home.
The show sat on the bubble for weeks waiting for a decision on renewal, with NBC ultimately opting not to bring the Lopez family back for season 4. Although the success of George Lopez made him a household name, he’s struggled to recapture the magic of the original series and what made it connect with the fans, and even as the show was celebrated for its depiction of the Latino experience, it wasn’t enough to save it from the axe.
11.Night Court
NBC – Canceled After 3 Seasons
One of the many revival shows hitting the airwaves over the past few years, Night Court was brought back to NBC after its predecessor, a popular program and nominated for multiple Emmy Awards in its day, went off the air for good in 1992. Night Court‘s third season ended on a cliffhanger, including a “To Be Continued” graphic at the end of the episode, as Judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch) gets a surprise appearance from her past as Jake (Ryan Hansen) plans to propose.
With nostalgia levels at an all-time high, and the return of original cast member John Larroquette as public defender Dan Fielding, the show came out of the gate with high expectations. Unlike some of its contemporaries in the reboot department, like ABC’s The Conners and CBS’ Hawaii Five-O, Night Court never seemed to capture the attention of viewers the way the original did. While NBC opted to move on from its past successes, Rauch is hopeful to see the show picked up elsewhere, at the very least for a proper send off to its cliffhanger ending in season 3.
10.Frasier
CBS/Paramount+ – Canceled After 2 Seasons
If its season 2 finale becomes its permanent series finale, there’s nothing wrong with ending on a holiday high note that captures the essence of the original.
Although the new cast provided a different dynamic for an older and wiser Frasier Crane, fans felt the show was missing its heart and soul without its other principal cast members, including David Hyde Pierce, who declined to join the reboot as Dr. Niles Crane, and the show struggled to find the sweet spot that made 1993’s Frasier so beloved. Grammer remains hopeful that Frasier will continue on another platform or network, but if its season 2 finale becomes its permanent series finale, there’s nothing wrong with ending on a holiday high note that captures the essence of the original.
9.Suits LA
NBC – Canceled After 1 Season
The Cleaning Lady‘s season 4 finale saw multiple story arcs and character angles tied up neatly after a chaotic season, but the show never seemed to regain its footing from a creative perspective after the death of main cast member Adan Canto after season 2. The void left by Canto’s death, along with ratings that were often hit-and-miss, Fox felt it was time to pull the plug on its most unique show, ending Thony’s journey just as she became an associate of Sin Cara.
7.Poppa’s House
CBS – Canceled After 1 Season
In what seemed to be another exciting entry into the Wayans’ creative world, Poppa’s House saw Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans, Jr. starring opposite of each other as father and son navigating life. Wayans, a veteran player in television and sitcoms after his successful run on ABC’s My Wife and Kids, mirrored the approach of George Lopez, working to recapture the magic of their popular franchise from the early aughts.
Although Poppa’s House holds an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the show failed to find its footing among a crowded and bloated CBS television schedule. With the struggles CBS has faced in finding its own place in the network television landscape, Poppa’s House found itself the victim of a network restructuring process, one that saw other popular franchise entries cut.
6.The Irrational
NBC – Canceled After 2 Seasons
A promising show, The Irrational starred Jesse L. Martin as Professor Alec Mercer, a behavioral analyst who used his skill set to assist the FBI and other governmental agencies. Loosely based on the life of Professor Dan Ariely, the show debuted to strong ratings and stronger reviews. It certainly seemed like The Irrational was around for the long haul, providing Martin with another successful television venture in his post-Law & Order career.
The season 2 finale of The Irrational saw Mercer coming to terms with a surprising revelation while also leaving the door open for season 3 and continuing its semi-procedural approach into syndication territory. Sharp declines in ratings throughout the season, however, proved to be too much for NBC, and it surprisingly pulled the plug on the show after 2 seasons.
59-1-1: Lone Star
Fox – Canceled After 5 Seasons
9-1-1: Lone Star reportedly hit snags behind the scenes, as network financial constraints were a consistent fight for showrunners, working hard to justify its hefty price tag, as well as navigating the creative void left by the exit of Sierra McClain after season 4. Ultimately, the showrunners were able to give the show a final fifth season, with a complete, but disappointing series finale.
4.Found
NBC – Canceled After 2 Seasons
One of the most heartbreaking cancelations of the current network television lineup, Found was both a critical success and had a devoted fan base. The show starred Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, a kidnapping victim who now runs a firm to locate other missing victims while on the search for her own captor, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar).
Found was firing on all cylinders in terms of both story, pacing, and execution, so the cancelation of the popular show was very surprising, even as NBC is reportedly working to clear its schedule to make room for incoming NBA programming. After a large groundswell of support by its devoted fan base for Found season 3, fans can find solace in the fact that the show is currently being shopped around for pickup by other networks.
3.The Equalizer
CBS – Canceled After 5 Seasons
The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah in the reboot of the 1985 series, struggled in its 4th season to regain viewer traction even as it remained popular among critics. CBS officially canceled the show after 5 seasons, citing the show’s financial struggles along with a viewership drop it never seemed to recover from (via Variety).
The first of three heartbreaking cancellations by CBS, The Equalizer appears to be a part of a restructuring of its prime-time network TV schedule as the network works to find its identity in the Big Three make-up. The Equalizer remained a popular show throughout its run on CBS, and The Equalizer series finale left fans feeling content while providing opportunities for more stories to be told in the future.
2.FBI: International
CBS – Canceled after 4 Seasons
A show in the Dick Wolf Universe that spans across two networks, FBI: International was the second spinoff from the original FBI series and parts of both the Chicago and Law & Order universes. Although the show, starring Luke Kleintank and Heida Reed, satisfied critics, it never seemed to gain traction with viewers in the way its sister shows did, and CBS gave it the axe at the end of season 4.
