9 TV Dramas Canceled Due to Controversy

Sometimes a TV show starts with a bang but ends in whispers due to controversies too deep to overcome. Here’s a deeper dive into nine such dramas that couldn’t escape their fate.

Soap –

This 1977 comedy was a spoof of soap operas and featured Billy Crystal as one of TV’s first openly gay characters. Its bold content sparked backlash from conservative audiences

Launched in 1977, “Soap” aimed to mock the traditional soap opera with its exaggerated plots and characters. It dared to be different, featuring Billy Crystal as one of television’s first openly gay characters, a bold move that drew both praise and severe criticism. While it brought laughter and was ahead of its time in terms of LGBTQ+ representation, conservative viewers were not amused. The backlash from these groups created a storm of controversy, putting pressure on broadcasters and contributing to the series’ eventual cancellation.

Gemini Man

A 1976 show about a secret agent with the power to turn invisible, courtesy of a special watch. Its premise couldn’t save it from being cut short.

In “Gemini Man,” viewers met a secret agent gifted with invisibility, thanks to a futuristic watch. This 1976 series was based on the intriguing concept of invisibility and the high stakes of survival if the protagonist stayed invisible for too long. Despite its promising premise and special effects, the show could not capture a significant audience. Its complicated plot and the challenge of maintaining suspense with the invisibility gimmick might have contributed to its early demise.

Holmes and Yoyo

A three-month stint in 1976 for this cop show with a twist: one detective is a robot. Despite its unique concept, it didn’t last.

This cop show with a futuristic twist premiered in September 1976 and was quickly taken off air by December. It featured a detective duo where one was secretly a robot, introducing science fiction into the police procedural genre. The novelty of “Holmes and Yoyo” wore off quickly as viewers struggled to connect with its far-fetched storyline and characterization. In an era not yet ready for such crossover genres, it failed to make a lasting impact.

Lucan

A 1977 adventure about a young man raised by wolves and then chased by authorities. It survived only 11 episodes.

“Lucan” brought to life an intriguing narrative of a boy raised by wolves and his struggle to adapt to human society, while being wrongly accused of a crime. The 1977 series explored themes of nature versus nurture, and survival, but struggled to find its footing in a television landscape filled with more traditional narratives. Viewers found the premise hard to relate to, and the series couldn’t extend beyond its initial 11 episodes.

Struck by Lightning

In 1979, this Frankenstein-inspired comedy saw a science teacher inherit an inn with a monstrous secret. Only three of its episodes aired in the US.

The tale of a science teacher inheriting a mysterious inn linked to Frankenstein’s monster promised a mix of horror and humor. “Struck by Lightning,” released in 1979, had a premise ripe with potential but failed to capture the audience’s imagination in America. Although it found a slightly warmer reception in England, the mix of genres and perhaps the dark undertones of its humor didn’t resonate well with viewers, leading to its quick cancellation.

In the Beginning

Produced by Norman Lear, this comedy about a conservative priest and a liberal nun struggled and was quickly removed from the CBS lineup in 1978 after just a few episodes.

“In the Beginning” was a comedy that tried to blend religious themes with humor through the dynamic between a conservative priest and a liberal nun. Despite Lear’s previous successes, this show quickly fell flat. It struggled to balance its religious commentary with comedy, and audience disinterest led to its removal from the CBS lineup in 1978 after just a few episodes.

Who’s Watching the Kids?

This 1978 series about two Vegas showgirls balancing work and family didn’t connect with audiences, leading to its quick cancellation.

This 1978 sitcom told the story of two Vegas showgirls trying to juggle their demanding careers and personal lives. Despite a promising cast and the potential for comedic exploration of its premise, “Who’s Watching the Kids?” couldn’t find a strong audience base. The struggle of balancing work and family life may not have been enough to keep viewers engaged, leading to its cancellation.

The Ernest Angley Hour

The 1970s show hosted by the Christian pastor faced its downfall after allegations of abuse surfaced, contradicting Angley’s public condemnations of sin.

This television show, hosted by Christian pastor Ernest Angley, started with a focus on spiritual healing and guidance. However, as allegations of abuse and misconduct surfaced, the show’s moral standing was questioned. Angley’s vehement condemnations of sin, paired with his own controversies, highlighted a hypocritical stance that viewers and supporters could not overlook. This contradiction ultimately led to the show’s downfall.

The P.T.L. Club

Known for scams rather than spirituality, this religious show hosted by Jim and Tammy Bakker faced criticism and ended amidst financial and abuse scandals in the late 1980s.

Also known as “The Jim and Tammy Show,” this religious program was embroiled in scandals far removed from its spiritual pretense. Hosted by Jim and Tammy Bakker, “The P.T.L. Club” faced backlash not for its content but for the actions of its hosts behind the scenes, involving fraud and financial misdeeds. The show’s integrity was compromised, leading to its cancellation amidst the controversies of the late 1980s.