This is the twentieth category of the 5th Annual AFT Television Awards to be announced. This category is a special one, last given out four years ago, honoring those shows which died this past season. "Threshold", for those who do not know, was a fantastic science fiction drama that premiered in 2005 on CBS and was axed after only nine episodes (the DVD release contains four additional unaired episodes). Led by the great Carla Gugino and featuring a fun cast, the show began with an electrifying pilot surrounding an interesting type of alien invasion strategy. Unfortunately, the show premiered around the same time as two similar sci-fi series, the dreadful "Surface" and the impressive "Invasion". Both those shows outlived "Threshold" but ultimately did not make the cut for a renewal order. "Threshold" was the victim of a bad timeslot, and just to make it worse, CBS decided to renew a staggering six series from the 2005-2006 season. This category was suggested by a friend several years to be titled the "Firefly" award, but I hadn’t yet seen that show, which has a large enough fan base, thus, I would like to continue to honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award. In 2007, this category was only for shows that failed to live past, or even up to, their initial episode orders, but I’ve decided to include two sophomore shows this year.
Better With You (ABC)
This comedy was never superb, but it definitely had potential and deserved a chance over “Happy Endings” to join the ranks of ABC’s successful Wednesday night block. The cast was pretty great, featuring superb supporting performances from the likes of Josh Cooke and Kurt Fuller and a fine leading role for JoAnna Garcia. Given some time, it could have become truly endearing.
The Chicago Code (FOX)
This above-average cop drama featured strong characters and an enormously compelling season-long arc involving the corrupt Alderman Gibbons, played by Delroy Lindo. Jennifer Beals and Jason Clarke made a great team, and this show definitely deserved to stick around and stand out from the many less-than-thrilling procedurals that FOX continues to run.
Human Target (FOX)
This awesome action series was fortunate enough to get twenty-five episodes over the last two seasons, but I could have gone for dozens more installments. Adding in two ladies to the male-centric cast was fun, and there were so many more crazy scenarios which Christopher Chance could have handled with extraordinary aplomb.
Lights Out (FX)
Most cable shows have an easy shot at second season, but this stirring drama about an ailing fighter poised for a comeback didn’t make the cut with FX. Thirteen episodes was enough time to tell one truly intriguing and well-executed story, and while it concluded decently, it could definitely have done better with a few more years.
Undercovers (NBC)
I couldn’t understand why this show from J.J. Abrams failed so miserably and quickly. I enjoyed it quite a bit until its cancellation was announced, and even then I thought it had potential that wasn’t being entirely used. No-name stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Boris Kodjoe had good chemistry, and this show was decently exciting when it wanted to be and certainly didn’t deserve such a quick death.
V (ABC)
This show managed twenty-two episodes and had a rather rocky run after an iffy start and a slow-moving first half of its second season. Somewhere in there, however, there was an exciting action show just waiting to be born. A depressing finale didn’t do justice wrapping it up, and it had considerably more ground to cover.
And the winner is…
Human Target
Next up: Best Drama Series
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