Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
Say goodbye to these popular series that got the ax
Months after the broadcast TV bloodbath during May and June, the ax has fallen on the final network show that was on the bubble; The CW's new drama The Republic of Sarah has been canceled after a single season, the show's creator announced Thursday.
The Republic of Sarah was the 14th network show to be canceled during and after upfronts this summer as major networks cleaned house to make room for new shows on their fall rosters. Of course, one of those 14 shows has since been saved by streaming; after being canceled by NBC, Manifest will be returning for a fourth and final season on Netflix
Among the 13 series destined for TV's graveyard are Prodigal Son on Fox, Rebel on ABC, and All Rise on CBS. Here's a complete rundown of the TV shows that didn't survive the 2021 Upfronts.
ABC 2021 Fall TV Lineup: Schedule, Trailers, and More
How to watch: Hulu
American Housewife was canceled after five seasons following behind-the-scenes turmoil, including the departure of actress Carly Hughes, who cited a toxic work environment and racial discrimination. Co-star Ali Wong was also expected to exit the veteran comedy after booking the lead role on an Amazon series. The final episode aired in March.
How to watch: Hulu
ABC has hung up on freshman comedy Call Your Mother. The series starred Kyra Sedgwick as an empty-nester mom who decides to reinsert herself into the lives of her children. The Season 1 and series finale aired May 19.
How to watch: Hulu
The Season 2 finale of For Life, which aired in February, is now its series finale as well. ABC canceled the drama after lackluster ratings. The series starred Nicholas Pinnock as a wrongfully convicted inmate who becomes a lawyer in hopes of overturning his sentence and reclaiming his life.
How to watch: Hulu
Soon after ABC announced that the eighth season of acclaimed comedy black-ish will be its last, the network dropped the ax on spin-off mixed-ish. The show was a prequel to black-ish, delving into Bow's (Arica Himmel) experience growing up in the '80s as part of a mixed-race hippie family trying to adjust to life in the suburbs. The Season 2 and series finale aired May 18. Another spin-off, grown-ish, is still in the lineup at Freeform, and creator Kenya Barris is developing a third spin-off, old-ish, at ABC.
How to watch: Hulu
In a surprising move, ABC canceled the Erin Brockovich-inspired drama Rebel after just one season. The series, from Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff, starred Katey Sagal as Annie "Rebel" Bellow, a blue-collar legal advocate who fights for the causes and people she loves. The show's ratings weren't strong enough to earn a second season.
These ABC series join the previously announced cancellations of United We Fall and Stumptown. See the full list of TV shows that were canceled or are ending in 2021.
CBS 2021 Fall TV Lineup: Schedule, Trailers, and More
How to watch: Paramount+
CBS canceled courthouse drama All Rise after two seasons followed the firing of creator and showrunner Greg Spottiswood over allegations of racism and unprofessional misconduct. All Rise starred a diverse cast, led by Simone Missick playing a Los Angeles judge, and the show hired a diverse writers' room; however, all eight members of the original writing team eventually left the show, citing mismanagement, poor treatment, and racist comments, sources told Salon in an investigative story about the show. Spottiswood released a statement clarifying his intentions to create an inclusive set and have the series focus on ways the criminal justice system fails people of color. He didn't directly address the accusations of racism, only saying, "My communication style during the creative process sometimes was counterproductive." The Season 2 and series finale aired May 24.
How to watch: Paramount+
The Unicorn is no more. The single-camera comedy starred Walton Goggins as a widower whose friends and family help him step back into the world after the loss of his wife. While the series was a favorite among critics, it failed to deliver high ratings. The Season 2 and series finale aired in March.
These CBS series join the previously announced endings of MacGyver, Mom, and NCIS: New Orleans.
The CW 2021 Fall TV Lineup: Schedule, Trailers, and More
How to watch: The CW
Months after the rest of the networks announced their cancellations, The CW finally made up its mind about freshman drama The Republic of Sarah. On Sept. 2, series creator Jeffrey Paul King announced on his Instagram that the drama is canceled after its first season. The series starred Stella Baker as a high school teacher who uses a mapping loophole to help her town declare independence in a faceoff against a greedy mining company. The final episode airs Sept. 6.
The network had previously announced the endings of Black Lightning, Burden of Truth, Pandora, Supergirl, and Trickster.
FOX 2021 Fall TV Lineup: Schedule, Trailers, and More
Fox is closing the book on family comedy The Moodys after two seasons. The show, based on the Australian series A Moody Christmas, stars Denis Leary and Elizabeth Perkins as parents of three adult children. The Moodys began as a holiday event series, and then Fox brought it back for a second season, but it failed to gain the audience it needed to be renewed for a third. The final episode aired June 20.
How to watch: Hulu
Prodigal Son was a delicious treat for procedural nerds who like their case of the week to be on the darker side. The series follows Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), a homicide detective haunted by his past — and by his serial killer father (Michael Sheen). Twists and dark drama made the show an addictive watch for its loyal fanbase, but it wasn't enough to convince Fox to renew the show for a third season. —Megan Vick
Prodigal Son and The Moodys join the previously announced FOX cancellations of Bless the Harts, Filthy Rich, Last Man Standing, and Next.
NBC 2021 Fall TV Lineup: Schedule, Trailers, and More
Debris was yet another hour-long mystery series trying to follow in Lost's footsteps. However, the alien sci-fi drama starring Jonathan Tucker and Riann Steele couldn't find its footing, and NBC decided to pull the plug after one season. -Megan Vick
How to watch: Netflix, Peacock, Hulu
Time is up for Good Girls on NBC. The show, which ran for four seasons, starred Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman as desperate moms who find themselves embroiled in a money-laundering scheme. Executives had hoped to bring the series back for a shortened fifth season to wrap up the story, but unfortunately, the fan-favorite show got the ax.
The song is ending for Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist after two seasons on NBC. The fan-favorite musical comedy starred Jane Levy as a computer coder who can hear people's innermost thoughts expressed as full-on musical performances of popular songs. Lionsgate Television, which co-produces the series, is reportedly shopping the series to other networks.
How to watch: Peacock, Hulu, Netflix
NBC's decision in June to cancel Manifest after three seasons was met with an outcry from fans who were afraid they would never find out how Flight 828 went down, or what really happened to everyone on that doomed airplane. But then, Manifest spent weeks leading Netflix's Top 10 Rankings, and fans launched a vocal and passionate months-long #SaveManifest campaign as showrunner Jeff Rake scrambled to find the series a new home. Netflix announced on Aug. 28 it would pick up the show for a 20-episode fourth and final season as a Netflix exclusive. Hopefully the Flight 828 passengers get a happy ending, too.
NBC previously announced the endings of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Connecting, and Superstore.
See the full list of TV shows on broadcast, cable, and streaming that have been canceled or are ending in 2021. This story is updating live.