Rest in peace, canceled shows we loved

“New Amsterdam”
Why it should have been renewed: After a lackluster pilot, Fox’s “New Amsterdam” surged creatively, mining its formula to set itself apart from other crime shows. The series starred Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as John, a New York detective who was cursed to live forever until he found true love. Each episode included a story set sometime in the immortal hero’s past. Airing only eight episodes, the series left plenty of holes in John’s sprawling past.

Series highlight: Those flashbacks were almost always a kick, but the awkward relationship between John and his physically much older son (and sole confidante) spoke to the heart of John’s relationship problems.

Silver lining: It’s hard to find one. At least this show gave Coster-Waldau some well-deserved exposure.

“Jericho”
Why it should have been renewed: Even with its scaled-back budget and narrower second-season focus, this CBS drama continued to deftly balance heart and action. And seeing more of wonderful actor Lennie James, whose cryptic Robert Hawkins was always the show’s most intriguing character, could never be a bad thing.

Series highlight: First-season episode “Vox Populi” was proof of how good “Jericho” could be. Letting the capable ensemble shine in a storyline fueled by panic and paranoia over the death of a shopkeeper, the standout episode aired right before the extended winter hiatus that ultimately killed this show.

Silver lining: At least there was a second season. Thanks to the now-infamous nut campaign (inspired by a line in the first-season finale), “Jericho” will go down in the annals of TV history as one of the few shows brought back from cancellation by its fans.

“Aliens in America”
Why it should have been renewed: This show about Justin, a Wisconsin high schooler, and Raja, the Pakistani exchange student staying at his house, was funny. Really funny. And it was one of the few family comedies on the air. The CW was wise to pair it with the equally enjoyable — and returning — “Everybody Hates Chris.” Couldn’t they both have survived?

Series highlight:  The kids were funny, but the real appeal was Amy Pietz, who with a spot-on accent and painfully funny delivery turned well-meaning mom Franny into “America’s” sweetheart.

Silver lining: Sometimes life just isn’t fair. Still, ever-positive Raja would probably say something optimistic about how it was better to have loved this show and lost it than to have never had it at all, so let’s go with that.

Jeff Hidek is the entertainment editor of the Star-News in Wilmington, NC. E-mail him at or read his blog at tv.starnewsonline.com.

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