20 TV Shows from the 2000s That You Forgot Existed
A nostalgic deep dive into 20 forgotten TV shows from the 2000s that once had potential, mystery, and cult followings—only to vanish into the void of canceled television history.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
The 2000s were full of TV series that flamed brightly and didn’t last long—some precariously early, others casualties of network turbulence. From eerie horror shows to offbeat comedies and complex sci-fi shows, these were promising series whose demise was attributable to cancellations, poor audiences, or untimely eras. These 20 classics are brought back to life from the depths of forgotten television here, stirring memories for the television series that very nearly became giant shows but disappeared into television’s lost and forgotten memory.
1. Point Pleasant (2005)
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This brief supernatural drama tracked a strange girl who washed up on the beach of a small New Jersey town, only for locals to discover she could be the daughter of Satan. It had all the creepy, slow-burning horror of The O.C. combined with The Omen. Unfortunately, it only lasted 13 episodes before disappearing into TV history.
2. Reaper (2007–2009)
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Think about finding out on your 21st birthday that your parents made a deal with the Devil and sold your soul—yep, that’s Sam’s existence. Ousted into the job of Hell’s bounty hunter, he spent his days working at a Home Depot-esque store and his nights tracking down escaped souls. It was a hilarious blend of comedy, horror, and action, but The CW canceled it after two seasons.
3. Jake 2.0 (2003–2004)
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A geeky NSA tech becomes infected with nanobots, making him a government super-spy with super strength, vision, and hacking skills. It had huge Chuck vibes before Chuck was even a thing. Sadly, it never made it beyond its first season.
4. Drive (2007)
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Nathan Fillion led this high-stakes drama series about an illicit, coast-to-coast road race where participants raced for a cryptic grand prize. It had mystery, speedsters, and an excellent cast, but FOX canceled it after just four episodes. Too bad, as it had Fast & Furious amounts of potential.
5. The Middleman (2008)
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It is a comic book-based series where a working-class artist is recruited into an underground agency that repels freaky supernatural threats. Imagine Men in Black crossed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with plenty of absurdity thrown in. Critics adored its humor, but it didn’t make it past one season on ABC Family.
6. Tru Calling (2003–2005)
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Eliza Dushku portrayed Tru Davies, a morgue attendant who discovered she could reexperience days to avert fatalities. The show had a captivating premise, like Groundhog Day crossed with Medium. However, it was unexpectedly canceled in season two, leaving the audience with no closure.
7. John Doe (2002–2003)
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A man wakes up nude on an island with no recollection of his name but remembers everything else in the world—history, physics, languages, you name it. While figuring out his own enigma, he assisted the police with solving cases using his unexplainable knowledge. It concluded on a huge cliffhanger, and the audience never got answers.
8. Journeyman (2007)
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A San Francisco reporter finds out that he travels involuntarily through time, so he starts changing lives while trying to maintain his marriage. It had a similar thing to Quantum Leap but had a strong emphasis on the drama of juggling past and present. Unfortunately, the 2007 writers’ strike damaged its prospects and was canceled after season one.
9. Threshold (2005–2006)
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This science fiction thriller followed a government task force as they examined an alien attack using bizarre signals and biological abnormalities. It had a great cast, including Carla Gugino and Peter Dinklage, but it was overshadowed by other shows about aliens in the air at the time. It lasted just 13 episodes before being canceled.
10. The Nine (2006–2007)
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A tense drama about nine strangers who were held hostage for 52 hours in a bank—but what did happen during those hours was gradually uncovered over time. It was tense and mysterious but could not sustain viewers. ABC canceled it after only a few episodes had been shown.
11. Moonlight (2007–2008)
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Before there was Twilight mania, there was Moonlight, a PI drama with a dark vampire gumshoe who struggled to contain his blood lust. Starring Alex O’Loughlin, it was essentially Angel meets Veronica Mars. In spite of its cult status, CBS dropped it after one year.
12. My Own Worst Enemy (2008)
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Christian Slater acted as a guy with a dual personality—a typical family man and a government assassin. Imagine Mr. & Mrs. Smith, except the fight was going on in his own mind. NBC canceled early, and viewers were left with cliffhangers.
13. The Forgotten (2009–2010)
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It is a drama series about a team of amateur sleuths who cracked cases surrounding unidentified corpses, providing a narrative for the nameless. Christian Slater (once more!) commanded the team in this heart-tugging crime drama. ABC soon forgot The Forgotten and axed it after a single season.
14. Kid Nation (2007)
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Perhaps one of the strangest reality shows ever, Kid Nation left 40 children in a Wild West-themed ghost town and let them govern their own society. It caused huge controversy regarding child labor and safety issues. CBS never brought it back, but it is a strange part of reality TV history.
15. Life on Mars (U.S.) (2008–2009)
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A New York police officer is somehow transported back to 1973 following a car crash, and he must survive old-fashioned police procedures while trying to find a way back home. It was an adaptation of the British series of the same name but failed to recapture the same charm. The American version concluded with a strange twist that turned off viewers.
16. Do Over (2002–2003)
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A 34-year-old man is returned to 1981, waking up in his 14-year-old body with all his adult memories. It was like Big in reverse, an opportunity to do his life over. However, for all its enjoyable premise, it didn’t even last one season.
17. The Inside (2005)
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It is a gritty crime drama about a new FBI agent with a troubled past who is an expert at getting inside the minds of offenders. Developed by Tim Minear (Firefly), it was reminiscent of Criminal Minds but too bleak for network television. FOX dropped it after seven episodes.
18. The 4400 (2004–2007)
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About 4,400 individuals who had gone missing for decades suddenly reappeared, unaged and with inexplicable powers. It was X-Men crossed with Lost, featuring themes of destiny, government conspiracy, and man’s evolution. Though it had a cult audience, USA Network canceled it before the story could be completely resolved.
19. Surface (2005–2006)
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A science fiction series on a new breed of sea creatures that started popping up everywhere across the globe, some of which were enormous and potentially intelligent. It had a compelling Lost-esque mystery and good build-up, but NBC canceled it on a cliffhanger. Viewers still wonder what became of the sea monster called Nim.
20. The Unusuals (2009)
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A wacky police dramedy about a team of New York police officers, all with their own strange secrets to conceal. Starring Amber Tamblyn and Jeremy Renner, it had a strong mix of drama and comedy but didn’t manage to gain much of an audience. ABC canceled the show before it could build a true following.