Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for a final viewing of the TV shows who met an untimely death this year. May was a blood bath; as we near the end of the month, eight shows and counting have gotten the boot, including four from Peacock and NBC. As always, we’ll be keeping track of the losses on this living funeral of a post, though we should note that we will not be including shows that are ending on their own terms (or claim to be, anyway). Consider, for example, The Righteous Gemstones. Creator and star Danny McBride said in a statement that “the Lord spoke to [him] and said it’s time to wrap this sucker up” after four seasons. That means it doesn’t count … unless McBride comes forward one day to clarify that when he said the Lord, he actually meant HBO. Below, a running list of every TV show canceled in 2025.
The Harsh Reality of 2025 TV Show Cancellations
The entertainment world in 2025 has been anything but predictable. With networks tightening budgets and streaming services changing strategies, many fan-favorite TV shows met an untimely end this year. Whether it was due to low ratings, rising production costs, or creative differences, we’ve rounded up every single TV show canceled in 2025. So, if you’re wondering whether your go-to series made it through the chopping block—or not—this comprehensive guide has all the answers.
Why So Many Shows Got Canceled in 2025
Let’s start with the big question: Why were so many shows canceled this year?
Declining Viewership
With audiences having more choices than ever, many shows just couldn’t maintain enough viewers to stay afloat.
Rising Production Costs
From CGI-heavy dramas to location-based series, the cost to keep things running in 2025 skyrocketed.
Shifting Platform Strategies
Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Max have changed direction, favoring limited series and franchise universes over traditional seasons.
Canceled Network TV Shows (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW)
ABC’s 2025 Cancelation List
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The Rookie: Feds – Despite a strong start, the spinoff couldn’t maintain viewership.
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Alaska Daily – Canceled after a dip in ratings and critical interest.
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Big Sky – Fans were heartbroken, but ABC pulled the plug after Season 4.
NBC’s Cuts
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Quantum Leap – Despite a cult following, NBC axed the reboot.
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La Brea – Sci-fi fans were disappointed as Season 3 became the end.
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Young Rock – Ratings decline led to its quiet exit.
CBS Says Goodbye To…
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East New York – Didn’t make it past its sophomore season.
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So Help Me Todd – A fan-favorite legal dramedy that got the short end of the stick.
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NCIS: Hawai’i – Surprising many, this spinoff was cut due to budget concerns.
FOX’s Farewell Shows
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Call Me Kat – Canceled after mixed reviews and fluctuating ratings.
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The Cleaning Lady – A bold and beloved crime series that sadly got the axe.
The CW’s Massive Shakeup
The CW canceled multiple shows to realign its brand:
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Walker: Independence
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The Winchesters
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Kung Fu
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Gotham Knights
Streaming Services Slash Originals
Netflix Cancelations in 2025
Netflix is known for pulling the plug quickly, and 2025 was no exception.
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Shadow and Bone – Fans campaigned hard, but it wasn’t enough.
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The Chair – Sandra Oh’s dramedy never found its full audience.
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The Midnight Club – Canceled after just one season despite critical praise.
Hulu’s Surprise Exits
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The Great – This historical dramedy ended on a cliffhanger. Fans are still livid.
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Reboot – Ironically, it was canceled before it could get a proper reboot of its own.
Max (Formerly HBO Max)
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Titans and Doom Patrol – Both DC shows were given a final season but then shelved.
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Love Life – A rom-com anthology that quietly disappeared from the catalog.
Genre-Specific Casualties: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, and More
Comedy Casualties
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American Auto (NBC)
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Welcome to Flatch (FOX)
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Uncoupled (Netflix)
Drama Downfalls
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Monarch (FOX)
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A Million Little Things (ABC)
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The Resident (FOX)
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Cancellations
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Willow (Disney+)
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1899 (Netflix)
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Paper Girls (Prime Video)
Fan-Favorite Shows That Ended Too Soon
Some shows weren’t necessarily failures—but they still got the axe.
Cult Favorites Gone Too Soon
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Reservation Dogs (FX) – Ended after three powerful seasons.
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Barry (Max) – Wrapped up in a bittersweet finale.
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Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) – Technically “ended,” but fans wish it hadn’t.
The Harsh Truth Behind Some Cancelations
Not every cancelation is about ratings. Some have messier stories.
Behind-the-Scenes Drama
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The Idol (Max) – Controversial from day one, it was never renewed.
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Minx (Starz) – Shuffled between networks, and eventually dropped.
Contract & Budget Disputes
Several shows had high salaries that made renewal financially unviable—even with loyal fan bases.
What Could’ve Saved These Shows?
It’s always easier to play Monday morning quarterback, but some of these series might have survived with:
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Better marketing strategies
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Creative rewrites or mid-season retools
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Shorter episode counts to reduce budget
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Switching platforms or co-productions
Fan Reactions: Outrage, Petitions & Hope
Social media blew up after many of these cancellations. Some fandoms even launched petitions, hashtags, and letter-writing campaigns to bring their favorite shows back.
Remember Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Stranger things have happened.
Possible Revivals in the Works?
While cancellations seem final, a few shows are rumored to be:
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Picked up by other networks
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Rebooted in a new format
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Continued via spinoffs or films
Stay tuned—2026 might bring surprises!
Final Season vs. Canceled: Know the Difference
Some shows were given a chance to wrap things up, others were simply cut.
Final Season:
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Proper conclusions, emotional finales.
Canceled:
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Abrupt endings, unresolved plots.
Monthly Breakdown of Cancelations in 2025
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January – The Watchful Eye (Freeform)
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March – Poker Face (Peacock) not renewed.
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May – Network TV’s cancellation bloodbath.
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July – Streaming shakeups intensify.
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September – Silent cuts and hidden removals.
What’s Next for TV in 2026?
With cancelations comes innovation. 2026 is shaping up to focus on:
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Franchise content (Marvel, Star Wars, etc.)
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Limited event series
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International co-productions
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Interactive/AI-powered storytelling
Conclusion: The Bittersweet Nature of TV
TV shows come and go, but their impact sticks with us. Whether it was a short-lived comedy or a sweeping sci-fi epic, every show that got canceled in 2025 left behind a community of fans.
While we mourn these losses, we also look forward to what’s next. Because if one thing’s true in the world of television—the story never really ends.
