Best of TV (Short Run), No. 1 (Tuesday)



Today I wrap up the first part of my best of TV exploration this summer with my favorite show that was cancelled too soon.

Firefly (2004)
Network: FOX
About: FOX strikes again. The most egregious cancellation on this list belongs to “Firefly.” Yes, if you’re keeping track, three of the shows on this five-show list were on FOX. And this is yet another show (like “Wonderfalls”) where FOX didn’t air the episodes in order, bounced around the timeslot, and basically helped to kill the show before it really got going. And, like “Brisco County Jr.,” the genre didn’t help this show succeed. Look, it’s a space-western from the creator of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” What, that doesn’t suck you in instantly? You’re not alone. When the ads for this show came out, I didn’t know what to think and, thusly, didn’t watch it. I found “Firefly” years later on DVD and felt an instantly blast of shame. It is, without a doubt, one of the most fun and creative shows I’ve ever seen. That is a credit to creator Joss Whedon, whose singular vision for this futuristic tale is fascinating and fun. The show got just 13 episodes but, again, you can see where it would have gone. There is an excellent cast, led by Nathan Fillion as Capt. Malcolm Reynolds. Additionally, the show featured excellent work from Gina Torres, Sean Maher, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarain, and Summer Glau as part of the principle cast. The 13 episodes are a perfect mix of comedy and drama as Whedon also creates a fascinating vision of the future. Fortunately, though the show was cut short, Whedon had a chance to continue his vision in a unique way with the movie “Serenity,” which sort of wraps up some of the unanswered questions of the show. “Firefly” was a great show. I’ve seen all the episodes many times and they never get old. Sadly, not enough people followed it when it was on so it tops the list of brilliant but cancelled shows.
How to Find It: The complete series of “Firefly” is available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as is the film “Serenity.”

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