It ’s plausibly happened to most of us : We get addicted to aTV showand strain in every workweek , but for some reason no one else seems to watch . Or maybe you hear that one of your favourite programs is up for cancellation , and you ca n’t figure out why . There are all sorts of reason that networks adjudicate to delete show . The show could be stick lowratings , or maybe it turn back controversial material that advertisers do n’t want to frequent . It could be too expensive to produce , or mayhap the networks just desire to shuffle up the computer programming schedule . No matter what the reason , it ’s never fun to find that a show you look forward to each week is about to get canceled .
So what if your favorite show is on the chopping pulley-block ? While cancellation might seem at hand , looker have more power than you might believe . Since the ' 60s , viewer campaigns to save TV shows have helped buy programs more metre on the melodic phrase . From e - mail and letter - writing military campaign to more gimmicky stunt , viewers have demo networks their loyalty for save their favorite shows from cancellation .
Here , we ’ll look at 10 cases in which the devotee came to deliverance of their favorite programs .
10: Star Trek
" Star Trek : The Original Series " was the firstTVprogram saved by fans . NBC was plan to delete thescience - fictionseries after two season , but a missive - committal to writing campaign by fans kept the show on the zephyr for an extra time of year .
In 1968 , sci - fi fan Bjo and John Trimble organized a missive - writing blitz when they heard that one of their favorite show was facing cancellation , and many fan credit Bjo with saving " Star Trek . " She and her husband mailed letters to fellow Trekkies telling them how to write in to NBC to expect them to save the show .
While one more season might not seem like a expectant win , this set the stage for many subsequent safari to keep shows on the air , and the devotee outcry was part of what encouraged Paramount Studios to produce the first " Star Trek " flick in 1979 .
9: Family Guy
Unlike many other shows that fans deliver from cancellation , " Family Guy " was the result of indirect action , rather than an get up cause to lay aside the show .
Fox cancelled " Family Guy " in 2002 after just three seasons and issue the first 28 episode onDVDthe stick to year . That sacking sold 400,000 copy in the first month alone , and when Cartoon web ’s Adult Swim picked it up in syndication , their ratings go up 239 pct . In an unprecedented move , Fox renew the serial in 2005 based on those DVD sales and syndication rating , place it in meridian computer programming actual estate – right after " The Simpson " during its " Animation Domination " cube . Fox also released a lineal - to - DVD movie , " Stewie Griffin : The Untold Story " in 2005 .
8: Futurama
Fox canceled " Futurama " in 2003 after a four - twelvemonth run , and the series remained off the air for years until Adult Swim picked up it up in syndication . Those old episode got great rating , and Cohen took a hint from " Family Guy " and pushed Fox to produce a lineal - to - videodisc movie . " Bender ’s Big Score " was the first of four feature - distance " Futurama " flick . base on DVD sales event , Comedy Central pick up the serial , where it ’s been renewed for another 26 sequence . That stand for " Futurama " will be on the air through at least the summer of 2013 , much to its fans ' joy .
7: Jericho
" Jericho " fan played a much more active role in buying the show another season on the zephyr .
After viewership flatten for the post - apocalyptic serial following an 11 - week hiatus , CBS make up one’s mind to cancel " Jericho " after the first season . In the season conclusion , the main character was present with pressure to cede his town , and he shouted , " Nuts ! " Fans took that sentiment to heart , and they not only called ande - mailedthe electronic internet , but also send off 20 gross ton of goober to CBS Entertainment to show their support for " Jericho . "
The fans ' batty plan worked . web researchers took another look at those ratings , discovering that there were more viewer than Nielsen was reporting thanks toDVRsandonline cyclosis . CBS brought the show back for a short 2d season but canceled it for good in March of 2008 . However , the show continued as a six - part comic book serial publication that many consider a third season for " Jericho . "
6: Cagney & Lacey
CBS ’s " Cagney & Lacey " was aTVseries about a pair of distaff police officers . While a distaff fuzz show might seem like nothing new now , in the other ' fourscore , this assumption was a expectant stack for the growingfeminist movement . It started out as a made - for - television movie and was so democratic that CBS launched a series . So how did the show get scrub , and what relieve it ?
The 2nd season of " Cagney & Lacey " suffer from downhearted military rank , and the web canceled it in 1983 , much to the dismay of overzealous fans , as well as the show ’s supporters in thewomen ’s motion . Barney Rosenzweig , who wrote the TV movie , began receive letter from fan who wanted the show back on the melodic phrase .
The response barrack Rosenzweig to organize a fan letter - authorship run , and some heavy hitters like Ms. Magazine and Gloria Steinem avail push the private road . The fan response was overpowering , and CBS occupy posting . The connection renewed " Cagney & Lacey " in 1984 , and it went on for four more season .
5: Firefly
Joss Whedon ’s space - cowboy series " Firefly " almost seemed like it was doomed from the starting line . Fox frequently convert the show ’s time expansion slot or displace it for other scheduling . It even aired episodes out of order . Thesci - fiseries only run for a exclusive time of year , and Fox canceled it before all 13 episodes air .
Despite its big time slots and bouldered scheduling , " Firefly " built a secure fan base of operations , and when Fox released the entire 13 - episode series on DVD , sale were through the roof . Stores sold out of theDVDas quickly as they could stock the shelves . lover of the show , who call themselves " Browncoats " after the rebel fighter from the show ’s backstory , played a big part in getting DVDs on the shelves . The Browncoats campaigned Fox with online prayer , e - mailsand letters .
While Fox did n’t bring " Firefly " back from cancellation , Universal Pictures saw the DVD sales and offered Whedon the chance to make " Serenity , " a movie to wrap up the serial ' narration line . " Serenity " came out in fall of 2005 with less than astral box office numbers pool . But while the $ 39 million motion-picture show failed to break even in the theatre , it did very well as a videodisc . " Serenity " ranked No . 1 on Amazon ’s best - trafficker list the year it came out . There have been several rumors of a " Serenity " sequel , but so far no studio has officially announced one .
4: Roswell
Thesci - fiseries " Roswell " premiere in 1999 on the WB and ran for three disruptive seasons before the electronic connection canceled the show . For much of that clock time , it was the devoted lover base that kept " Roswell " on the air through a serial publication of campaigns and gimmicks .
The well - live campaign to keep " Roswell " on the air during the first two season was " Roswell is live ! " Fans lead off an online petition and sent in letters and bottles of Tabasco sauce , a favorite of one of the show ’s role , to show the WB that they supported their favorite show . The WB received over 3,000 bottle of the raging sauce , and net executives state that the campaign contributed to the show ’s survival .
In 2001 , the WB spend the show , but UPN pick it up for a third 22 - installment time of year . The deal included buying rightfulness to " Buffy theVampireSlayer , " and UPN hoped that ventilate " Roswell " after the pop " Buffy " would give the show a ratings boost . Unfortunately , ratings for the show remained scurvy , and a Tabasco campaign could n’t carry through it for a fourth season . UPN canceled Roswell permanently in 2002 .
3: Friday Night Lights
A form of fan - organized and media safari kept " Friday Night Lights " on the melody when NBC want to offset the show .
Fans pulled together throughFacebookgroups , online petitions ande - mailcampaigns to show NBC that they supported " Friday Night Lights . " In the heart of " Roswell " and " Jericho , " fans search for a symbol that they could send to the meshing to show their support , so they sentlight bulbsand eye-drop to NBC .
Inner Light bulbs are fairly self - explanatory , but why eyedrops ? The Clear Eyes - stigma eyedrop were a address to the team ’s shibboleth on the show : " Clear eyes , full bosom , ca n’t misplace . " The VH1 show " Best Week Ever " organized the clean bulb effort , while the eyedrops were a totally fan - drive machine .
Despite the show ’s low ratings , these fan - supported efforts keep " Friday Night Lights " on the tune for five seasons before NBC announced its cancellation in 2010 .
2: Designing Women
When CBS canceled the ' fourscore situation comedy " Designing Women , " a fan letter - writing movement successfully resurrected the show .
" Designing Women " started out with good rating , but when CBS moved it from its Monday dark sentence one-armed bandit to Thursdays , viewership plummeted . In the Clarence Day beforeDVRs , there was no way this fledgeling drollery could contend with the popular series " Night Court , " which aired at the same meter on NBC . Fans pulled together with an protagonism group to organize a letter - writing campaign , inspire by the one that saved " Cagney & Lacey " a few age earlier . Around 50,000 devotee send out letter to CBS demand that they resurrect the show , and they also petition advertisers to support " Designing Women . "
The mesh responded . In January of 1987 , the head of CBS Entertainment reportedly flew a white flag in his office window and renew " Designing Women . "
1: Quantum Leap
lover and producer worked hard to save thesci - fiseries " Quantum Leap " from the notoriously risky 8 p.m. Friday time slot . The show in the beginning ventilate on Wed at 10 p.m. , and it relish high-pitched ratings until NBC moved it to Friday evenings , a virtual death sentence for mostTV shows . web executives arrogate that they motivate " Quantum Leap " to the Friday night time slot to attempt to improve that metre period ’s dismal ratings , but the manufacturer and fan were not on board .
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