Back From the Dead: Our Favorite Cancelled Shows

It's just not fair. We fall in love with TV shows, then -- wham! -- they disappear forever into Cancellationville.

But what if they could come back from the dead? We name the ones we miss the most, then tell us which favorites you would revive and we'll feature the best comments in an upcoming gallery.

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'The Tick'

Missing You: Patrick Warburton made the big blue bug of justice larger than life in this hilariously brilliant adaptation. Only Warburton could convincingly utter lines like, "We form the yin to villainy's malevolent yang."
Comeback Story: The Tick battles The Axe -- a villain at the Fox network who's responsible for slashing top notch shows like itself, 'Keen Eddie' (see No. 17) and 'Arrested Development.' -- Sandy Deane, editorial director, AOL Television

More About 'Bourne'

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• See Matt Damon photos

'My So-Called Life'

Missing You: Claire Danes became a star after portraying the sensitive, angsty Angela Chase, who fought with her parents and pined for hottie Jordan Catalano (sigh). I was Angela Chase (weren't we all, a little bit?)
Comeback Story: Jordan finally wins Angela back, only to have her fall for the new guy in school, who likes poetry, Kierkegaard and black coffee. Jordan and Brian Krakow become best buds while commiserating together. -- Kelly Woo, senior editor, AOL Television

More About 'Grindhouse'

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• See poster and synopsis

'Murphy Brown'

Missing You: The fearless 'Murphy' took on then-Vice President Dan Quayle for stupidly criticizing a fictional TV show. With a stellar ensemble cast, it was one of the smartest comedies ever.
Comeback Story: Having beat breast cancer, Murphy reclaims her hosting gig on 'FYI.' Most of the old crew is still there, but Miles now runs the network. And Murph, still as cynical and sarcastic as ever, does double-duty as a single mother of a teenage son. -- Geoff Bennett, Editor, AOL Television

More About '300'

• Watch the trailer
• See poster and photos
• Read our early preview
• Get wallpapers
• Download screensavers

'Once and Again'

Missing You: Divorced parents marry, forming an awkward, flawed, blended family. This nuanced portrait of parenting-after-divorce was bittersweet and messily real. No other drama about family comes close.
Comeback Story: Lily co-hosts a syndicated TV talk show, while her daughter Grace pens a tell-all magazine article saying her mom's life is in disarray. Rick, working from home while caring for a toddler and mother-in-law, is growing weary of his wife's high profile and long hours. -- Meredith O'Brien, writer, TV Squad

More About 'Phoenix'

• Watch the trailer
• See photos
• Get synopsis and details
• See the spooky poster

'Melrose Place'

Missing You: This show truly blurred the line between ridiculous and sublime. The moment when Kimberly, who a drunken Michael left for dead after a car wreck, rips off her wig to stroke her head scar is pure potboiler heaven!
Comeback Story: Now that Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner are purportedly a couple, perhaps Amanda and Peter will finally get that spinoff I've always dreamed of. -- Kristin Rolla, Director of AOL Television & Moviefone

'Cupid'

Missing You: A pre-'Entourage' Jeremy Piven played a quirky Chicagoan who claimed to be the god of love. Paula Marshall was his analyst -- competent, sane ... and a little ambivalent about the Trevor's declration. And romantic tension? Oh, yeah.
Comeback Story: Ari goes over the edge after Vincent Chase fires him and his wife divorces him. He flees to Chicago (where he has some family) and has real delusions of grandeur -- he thinks he's a Greek god. -- Angie Argabrite, editorial director, Moviefone

'Love Monkey'

Missing You: I loved seeing what a good guy like Tom Ferrell (Tom Cavanaugh) can do in the music industry. And up-and-coming singer Wayne (Teddy Geiger) was so cute! Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after just three episodes.
Comeback Story: After a successful first album, Wayne embarks on recording his follow-up. Meanwhile, Tom focuses on how he's going to pay for the best producers to work on the new album. -- Christina Lang, intern, AOL Television

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

Missing You: For seven seasons, Buffy Summers was our modern day, stake-carrying, kick-boxing teen superhero! She took on Sunnydale's baddest vamps and demons.
Comeback Story: Spike comes back to life, he and Buffy get married and continue fighting evil ... but in Cloudydale. -- Jacqueline Smith, sales integration, AOL Television

'The Comeback'

Missing You: Valerie Cherish made you hate her, feel for her, love her, hate her all over again ... Lisa Kudrow's impeccable timing was heartbreakingly and hilariously dead on, and the lack of interest in this tragedy of a cancellation still irks me.
Comeback Story: With her reality show and sitcom both cancelled, Valerie decides to run for local office. She then realizes that politics isn't her thing either, so she pitches a reality show about her reality show about her running for local office, and wins a daytime Emmy. -- Stephen Lenz, editor, AOL

'Absolutely Fabulous'

Missing You: Who are drag queens and debauched broads supposed to look up to nowadays? Despite their faults, Edina and Patsy were fiercely loyal to each other and the vagaries of fashion. The Brit hit was a revolutionary female-centered comedy that let women be women, fabulously.
Comeback Story: Edina and Patsy move to L.A. Eddie reps for Hello! while Patsy plays party promoter to the celebutante set. Saffy lands a post-grad teaching gig at CalTech, but student loans mean she'll be shacking up with mom in Malibu. -- Julia Ward, writer, TV Squad

'thirtysomething'

Missing You: Mocked by some as narcissistic and whiny, the show delved into how the life of the upwardly mobile doesn't always jive with their youthful, idealistic expectations. This award-winning show was head and shoulders above its contemporaries.
Comeback Story: Hope, an environmental activist, pressures ad exec Michael to do a pro bono campaign promoting landmark environmental legislation, while her friend, Ellyn, now Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, is adamantly against it. -- Meredith O'Brien, writer, TV Squad

'The Larry Sanders Show'

Missing You: 'Larry' was a pitch-perfect satire of the Hollywood phoney-baloney we are all so eager to swallow. American TV hasn't had a show more biting or revealing since. I miss 'Larry' like I miss an old college friend that I shouldn't have liked, but did anyway.
Comeback Story: Jay Leno decides not to retire and the resulting feud between NBC and Conan makes Larry a hot property again. We follow Larry as he puts the old team back together and makes one more fame-grab ... er, attempt at making art. -- Jay Black

'Firefly'

Missing You: Only 'Buffy' creator Joss Whedon could make a "space western" work. The show was a funny, action-packed tale of a rickety old spaceship full of outlaws who seem to have enemies all over the universe. After it was cancelled, fans pestered Fox into making a movie, 'Serenity.'
Comeback Story: Post-'Serenity,' the crew picks up a new pilot, who instantly rubs a grieving Zoe the wrong way. Mal finds a valuable salvaging opportunity, but finds a rival ship and a very attractive rival capain already there. -- Kelly Woo, senior editor, AOL Television

'Felicity'

Missing You: Super producer J.J. Abrams hit a chord with this show long before he got 'Lost.' It was cool to watch a TV show that so closely resembled my own collegiate experience. Felicity and company attended the fake University of New York, and scenes were often taped on the campus of my alma mater, NYU. But the guys were way hotter than anyone in my dorm.
Comeback Story: If 'Saved By the Bell' could go on forever, 'Felicity' can, too. Maybe Felicity and friends all just happen to attend grad school in New York. -- Elizabeth Chan, writer, AOL Television

'Keen Eddie'

Missing You: New York cop Eddie Arlette followed some bad guys to London, immersing himself in a bizarre world of swinging Scottland Yard detectives, quirky criminals and a hot, hostile flatmate (Sienna Miller in her finest role). The music, writing, editing and casting ultimately proved to be too smart for Fox.
Comeback Story: Eddie suspects the Queen (Helen Mirrren, natch) in a plot to kidnap Camilla Parker Bowles. Plus, Eddie and Fiona (Miller) finally seal the deal, 'Moonlighting' style. -- Sandy Deane, editorial director, AOL Television

'Star Trek'

Missing You: Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy and the entire crew have been our friends since since September 1966. The series was cancelled before its time. Forgive them for they did not know!
Comeback Story: For all you Trekkies, let's go back to Talos IV and check in on Captain Pike. This time, Captain Kirk and crew are seeking the "illusion" youth. Will the Talosians let them stay? Not! -- Jacqueline Smith, sales integration, AOL Television

'The West Wing'

Missing You: President Jed Bartlett and his team of staffers stole my heart. Every week, I marveled at their way of dealing with potential disasters, and had to remind myself that they were actors, not actual politicians (too bad).
Comeback Story: President Matthew Santos has just taken office. The first few episodes would focus on the President and Secretary of State Arnold Vinick working to free a captured ambassador in Iran. -- Christina Lang, intern, AOL Television