AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 12th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2017-2018 season. This category is a special one, given out most years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

People of Earth (TBS) represents the saddest case on this list. It was renewed for a third season in the middle of its second only to have that decision reversed nine months later for no particular reason, with all the scripts already written! This clever, very entertaining series about a support group for alien abductees was just getting started. It had its own unique energy that could have propelled it for many more years, and this incomprehensible choice to cancel an already renewed show stings all the more because of its potential to continue being great.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBC America) had an incredibly compelling and mind-boggling first season, and while its second season wasn’t quite as focused or as fantastic, its universe was definitely worth exploring more. Ending on a cliffhanger is always a sign that there should have been more to come, and given how different the first two seasons were, year three could have easily rebooted and tried something entirely new and refreshing. I was very distraught to hear that this show wouldn’t be continuing.

Me, Myself, and I (CBS) isn’t quite of the same caliber as the other two on this list, but it was an innocuous, charming sitcom that presented itself in an innovative format. Young actor Jack Dylan Grazer was especially endearing as the fourteen-year-old version of the show’s main character, and it would have been fun to see him grow and develop to be more like Bobby Moynihan’s forty-year-old dad and John Larroquette’s sixty-five-year-old retiree. This show might have been a very technical sitcom, but just imagine how many situations could have been heartwarmingly strewn together like the mere thirteen installments this show produced.

Keep these shows alive by checking them out and getting into them!

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 11th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2016-2017 season. This category is a special one, given out four times in the past six years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

Dark Matter (Syfy) ran for three seasons, so in a sense I can’t complain that much, but I’m citing my frustration for three reasons. One is that it ended on a game-changing cliffhanger, which showed that it was able to reinvent itself regularly. Secondly, it’s much better than “Killjoys,” which Syfy opted to renew for two more seasons, which also means it knows when it’s ending, and, thirdly, like “Alphas,” this is exactly the type of show that should be airing on a network like Syfy, and I can’t understand why no one appreciates it. It worked very well despite a questionable premise. Let’s hope Netflix or someone picks it up; otherwise, I’ll just have to keep recommending it to people.

The Great Indoors (CBS) wasn’t a show I ever expected to watch or like, but something about the relatively basic millennial-centric comedy won me over. The cast was fun and I laughed a lot, and you’d think that CBS of all networks would be up for another show like this which serves a slightly different population than all of its other shows. I recognize that this one doesn’t rank as high as the others in terms of quality, but I’ll miss it.

Making History (FOX) was one of my favorite shows to watch this past season, making a relatively unsophisticated concept into an enjoyable show with a lot of laughs. I was particularly fond of Leighton Meester’s Deborah Revere and her excited pronunciation of “ice cream.” I’m not sure how long this show ever had it in, but I think that it could have gone on a bit longer, even if some of its plotlines towards the end weren’t superb.

Powerless (NBC) is a show that really should have succeeded, and I’m sad that I forgot about it until this point, meaning that I didn’t get to recognize it properly in other categories (I may have to go back and do that). Vanessa Hudgens was terrific in the lead role as an overly excited do-gooder working with unmotivated people played by the likes of Alan Tudyk and Danny Pudi to combat collateral damage from supervillains. I don’t know why it didn’t catch on, and I really hope to see the episodes that didn’t make it to air.

Sense8 (Netflix) doesn’t technically belong here since it was un-cancelled, but it was only revived for a two-hour special and therefore has still been officially axed. This season demonstrated that this show has longevity, and its awesome finale showed that it’s finally ramping up its action to head somewhere great. Unfortunately, all we’ll have is two hours to wrap that up, which should hopefully be able to condense what could have been played out over several seasons.

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll (FX) is one of those shows that I feel like no one else was watching, and I was very sad to see that it was cancelled. “Rescue Me” lived on a whole lot longer than this half-hour comedy, and I would have loved to see more of this truly wild and singularly argumentative group. I get that it was a bit unfocused and messy at times, but I would call those things assets rather than limitations.

Keep these shows alive by checking them out and getting into them!

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 10th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2015-2016 season. This category is a special one, given out four times in the past six years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

The Brink (HBO): This show featured Jack Black as an unpopular Pakistani embassy employee and Tim Robbins as a sex-crazed secretary of state was so absurd that it shouldn’t have worked, but it proved to be tremendously entertaining. Why HBO decided to reverse its renewal and continue only with “Ballers” is a mystery - I would have enjoyed seeing more of this political parody.

Granfathered (Fox): I don’t think one ever got great reviews but it was a crowdpleaser. John Stamos matched his ability to not age with a fine performance as a man suddenly gifted with both a grown son and a young granddaughter, and he wasn’t even the best member of the cast - that honor goes to Paget Brewster. This show was genuinely funny, and I especially liked Josh Peck and Cristina Millian as the new parents who actually seemed to work together pretty well as a couple in the end.

The Grinder (Fox): This show got better reviews from its timeslot companion and even scored a Golden Globe nomination for Rob Lowe, who for the first time was actually the lead on a show he claimed to be. His hilarious lead performance matched with Fred Savage’s more down-to-earth turn worked well, and this show embraced its silliness and used it to maximum effect for the episodes it got.

Limitless (CBS): This show came the closest to being renewed, initially not mentioned when all of the network’s other series were being picked up. I still haven’t seen the movie that inspired this show, but I really enjoyed the creative way in which this show portrayed the use of a mind-altering drug. Jake McDorman’s performance is another thing I’ll miss very much, as well as his dynamic with costar Jennifer Carpenter.

Minority Report (Fox): This show was dead almost at the beginning of the season, but I enjoyed it a lot. The remake of one of my favorite sci-fi movies from the last decade or two never plummeted in quality the same way “Terra Nova” and “Almost Human” both did after tremendous starts. This show may never have been that great, but it certainly deserved a longer life that what it got.

Significant Mother (CW): This show technically hasn’t been cancelled, but many sites that track such things are reporting it as presumed dead because nothing’s been written about it in over a year. Its title was clever and its premise very funny, and I wanted to see more than just nine episodes of what could have well turned into an enduring comedy.

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 9th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2014-2015 season. This category is a special one, given out four times in the past six years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award. This year, this category includes shows that were cancelled during or immediately following their first or second season (with one notable exception below).

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

Babylon (SundanceTV): This blistering police parody was a superb and unequaled show that deserved much more than six episodes. There was plenty more storytelling to do, and it’s a shame that only a limited number of British and American audiences got to see the brilliance of this series and neither country wanted to keep it alive.

The Bridge (FX): Dramas on FX are of a certain caliber, and I don’t know why the network seemed to hold the latest excellent drama it offered in lower regard. Demian Bichir and Diane Kruger only get better in the show’s equally enticing second season, and this is just the latest great show to end on an intense cliffhanger that could have sent it into an even more compelling third season and beyond.

Happyish (Showtime): This show didn’t necessarily get to be the great series it could one day have become, but there were plenty of hints along the way that it had that potential. Showtime’s angriest new series starred Steve Coogan and Kathryn Hahn as people who couldn’t be more annoyed with their lives. Its incorporation of brands and famous historical figures was clever, and this show deserved another chance.

The Newsroom (HBO): This show doesn’t technically qualify for this category, but I see no reason why a show created by Aaron Sorkin should have such a short and unremarkable life. This show’s first season was excellent and its second slumped, but the six episodes in its final season were packed with superb material, a clear sign that this show had much more storytelling and speech-delivering to do.

Weird Loners (ABC): This show isn’t necessary worthy of comparison to the other series I’ve recognized in this category, but it was that broadcast network comedy of the season that I enjoyed a bit and looked forward to getting to enjoy for more than just a paltry six episodes. That and it’s always a treat to see Becki Newton back on television.

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 7th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2012-2013 seasons. This category is a special one, given out three times in the past five years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award. This year, this category includes shows that were cancelled during or immediately following their first or second seasons.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

Alphas (Syfy): This series about people with superpowers seemed like the most fitting entry for its network, and to see it axed after only two seasons is truly regrettable. This season’s main plotline pitted one set of mutants against another, and its cliffhanger conclusion indicated that it was only going to get more interesting.

Ben and Kate (FOX): Why this show died when the much less even “The Mindy Project” lived on is a mystery. Nat Faxon and Dakota Richards were fun leads for the show, and Lucy Punch was a superb supporting player. While the premise may not have been original, this was a great cast and a wonderful complement to FOX’s other comedic offerings.

Boss (Starz): Everyone loves “House of Cards,” but few remember this magnificently dark and dramatic show with a tremendous cast led by Kelsey Grammer. A third season may never have been in the cards, but the fact that it was doomed because of a premature season two renewal before its first season even premiered is a shame, especially considering the less impressive “Magic City” suffered exactly the same fate. Watch this one if you haven’t seen it – it’s truly terrific, and season three would have been awesome.

Common Law (USA): I debated whether to include this, “Apartment 23,” or “Vegas” as the fifth nominee in this category, and I opted for this short-lived USA series because it was the least ambitious and most evenly entertaining of the three. Michael Ealy and Warren Kole were a superb pair, and this was exactly the type of fare that USA usually showcases, which made its predictable demise all the more lamentable.

Enlightened (HBO): Series on HBO and Showtime are always better off than others because those premium networks tend to invest in their shows, and to see this completely creative, one-of-a-kind dramedy get sent off the air after only two short seasons is terrible. Its second season demonstrated that it knew where it was going, and the only real comfort is that, out of this list, it’s the only one that really got to be wrapped up in a satisfying way.

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 6th Annual AFT Television Awards to be announced. This category is a special one, given out only twice in the past five years, 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 honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award. This year, this category includes only shows that were cancelled during or immediately after their freshman seasons.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

Alcatraz (FOX) This show burst out of the gate with a magnificent, insanely intriguing pilot, and then held on to the mystery and thrills in subsequent episodes. Most lamentably, this show’s mythology would have taken it to very interesting places, and it’s a shame to see it cut off from the opportunity to tell more of its fascinating, highly exciting stories.

The Finder (FOX) This spinoff of “Bones” was wonderfully eccentric and entertaining, giving actor Geoff Stults a perfect leading role. The supporting cast – Michael Clarke Duncan, Maddie Hasson, and Mercedes Masohn – was equally superb, and it’s a shame that they only got thirteen weird, wacky adventures when FOX choose only to renew its more established series.

How to Be a Gentleman (CBS) Most will tell you that this show was awful, but it’s actually on par with most of CBS’ current comedy lineup. Though it may not have been blisteringly clever comedy, it was quite funny and should have run for more than three episodes before being cancelled. Fortunately, it did return to air the rest of its filmed episodes earlier this summer, showcasing more generally amusing and funny installments.

Luck (HBO) This horse racing drama took a bit of time to get good, but it received a renewal long before that. Unfortunately, animal deaths during filming got that order reversed, something that HBO has done before (“Tell Me You Love Me” was another example). This show wasn’t perfect, but it did have its share of mesmerizing scenes and strong characters, plus some terrific turns from Dennis Farina, Dustin Hoffman, and others.

Outcasts (BBC America) The demise of this show was softened only by the fact that, by the time I encountered it, it had already been cancelled by BBC. That said, it was one of the most creative and most engaging sci-fi series in a long time, featuring excellent performances from the likes of Liam Cunningham, Amy Manson, and the rest of the ensemble. It definitely deserved more than eight episodes, and any sci-fi fan who missed it should begin watching immediately.

And the winner is…

Outcasts

Next up: Best Drama Series

AFT Awards: The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

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.

The “Threshold” Award for Best Cancelled Series

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

AFT Awards: The "Threshold" Award for Best Cancelled Series

This is the nineteenth category of the 1st Annual AFT Television Awards to be announced. This category is a special one, honoring those shows which failed to live past, or even up to, their initial episode orders. "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 to be titled the "Firefly" award, but I could not in good conscience name an award after a show I have not yet seen (though I plan to). Thus, I would like to honor the memory of "Threshold" with this award.

To be eligible, shows must have aired anywhere between one and twenty-four episodes and not have been renewed for a second season.

The "Threshold" Award for Best Cancelled Series

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ABC)
This quirky comedy was a lot better than critics might have you believe. Jonathan Silverman and David Arquette led an able cast, the standouts of which were supporting players Kelly Hu and Greg Germann. ABC aired 12 of the 13 produced episodes.

THE KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY (ABC)
This was hyped for a while, and everyone seemed prepared to like it, but when it premiered, it got pulled after only nine episodes. I personally think the show needed work, but it was definitely fun and got better as it went along.

THE NINE (ABC)
ABC really cancels a lot of their good shows, huh? And "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers & Sisters" get undeservingly renewed. "The Nine" started off with a thrilling and promising pilot, faltered and went downhill a bit, but otherwise a great "what happened in there" concept worthy of more than seven episodes. Luckily, ABC has decided to air the remaining six beginning August 1st.

RAINES (NBC)
I am not a fan of "Medium" or "Ghost Whisperer" and their respective leads. This show came as a welcome surprise. While it may have needed a bit of time to develop, its brief midseason seven episodes showed that Jeff Goldblum is fantastic (and a runner-up for my Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series nominees) and that a cop-talking-to-dead-people show can work.

SMITH (CBS)

I have previously bemoaned this show's death, due mainly due to its time slot, here. Regardless, this was a fantastic heist drama with a pretty good cast and a lot of potential. Three episodes was so much less than the show deserved. Here's hoping for a DVD release real soon.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC)
This is another show I have mentioned a lot. It had a remarkable cast and great premise, but needed a bit more balance to make it truly excellent. NBC did give it a chance, which was good, and a burn-off run in May. It is too bad it did not make it.

And the winner is...
RAINES

Next: Best Comedy Series