Never doubt the business leader of a devoted hearing : Time and again , adore fan bases have bring television shows back from the brink of cancellation — oractualcancellation . Shows likeFamily GuyandFuturamawere resuscitate long after cancellation by the indirect fan activity of videodisk purchases and the ratings of reruns on other networks , but sometimes fans take a much more direct role in rescuing their favorite programs . Here are some of the most rattling model of shows saved by their passionate audience .
1.Chuck
If you ever want to head a effort to store your favorite show , the one that keptChuckon the air should be the first place you look for breathing in . The campaign — which was launched after the show received humiliated ratings in its second season — involved a strong three - prong scheme that shoot the psyche , nitty-gritty , and sac books of electronic internet executives .
Petitions and letter - written material safari were just the first part of the successful plan . Fans also started a “ Have a substance , Renew Chuck ” plan , which asked fans to donate money to the American Heart Association on behalf of NBC . By the time the effort ended , over $ 17,000 was donate to the Greek valerian .
If there is one matter electronic web executive love more than witness , it ’s money , so when Subway announced that it would become an even bigger supporter of the show , it was pretty hard for the powers - that - be to deny the show a third time of year . Eventually , the show lasted a total of five seasons and acquire two Emmy laurels and threeTV GuideAwards .
2.Star Trek
After the 2d season ofStar Trekaired in 1967,rumorsbegan to distribute that the show was going to be delete . Trekkers / Trekkies jumped into action , creating arguably the most successful letter - written material campaign in television history . untried fans even hold protests at their school . The largest was at Caltech , where 200 bookman march from campus to NBC ’s studio in Burbank bear house with such expectant slogans as “ Vulcan Power ” and “ Draft Spock . ”
NBC denied the cancellation rumors . In fact , after the March 1st episode , the internet aired the following content : " And now an announcement of sake to all viewers ofStar Trek . We are pleased to tell you thatStar Trekwill continue to be seen on NBC Television . We know you will be appear ahead to seeing the hebdomadary adventure in space onStar Trek . "
One time of year subsequently , Star Trekwas actually canceled . But the show thrive in syndication , even occasionally attracting more witness on rerun nights than on the days the original sequence had air . As the show continued to reach fans , finally it inspire an enliven series , many motion-picture show and spin - off tv shows , and developed one of the most consecrate fan bases in geekdom .
3.Jericho
If you ’ve ever inquire how residents of a small town would survive after a nuclear war , then you should definitely moderate outJericho . When you get to season two , thank the fans who kept the show on after one of the wacky campaigns to save a program .
WhenJerichowas canceled after its first season , the show ’s devotee — inspired by the main graphic symbol shouting “ daft ” during an epic struggle in the season closing curtain — send over 20 slews of nuts to CBS studio executives , who then decide to survey the show ’s ratings . connection researchers looked at the numbers and announced that the show actually had quite a few more viewers than Nielsen reported because the show received so much online streaming and was consider so often on DVRs .
As a answer , Jerichowas renewed for one more season , but when military rating still decline , it was cancel for in effect — even after a second “ nuts ” campaign . The show ’s plot line was continued in a six - part comic book series though , which allowed creators to wrap up the plotlines . In fact , some fans call the comic the “ third time of year ” of the show .
4.Friday Night Lights
If networks actually find exercise for the matter fans send in to help oneself bear their show , then NBC must have really appreciated the campaign to saveFriday Night Lights . That ’s because fans hoping to save the show after its second season take the program ’s name literally and institutionalise the studio light bulbs — something everyone can find a use for ( assuming they did n’t break in transit ) . Fans also sent in eye drops as a mention to the show ’s shibboleth " Clear eyes , full hearts , ca n’t suffer , " although executives presumptively found those less useful .
Fans also created positive public relations for their cause with their “ Save FNL Campaign , ” which raised money to send scout troop station overseas 20,000 footballs andFriday Night LightsDVDs . Despite the show ’s low-spirited ratings , the efforts raise to be enough to get NBC and DirecTV to knead together on a cost - partake in partnership that kept the show on the air for a total of five season .
5.Arrested Development
Arrested Developmentfans mourn the show when it was canceled in 2006 . But its untimely death almost come much earlier . Fox almost cancel the series after its second season , which was cut from 22 episodes to only 18 due to low ratings . Fortunately , fans necessitate to sending letters to the internet and even sent executives crates of banana , a protection to the Bluth family business . Realizing there had to be some money in this banana stall , the connection agreed to regenerate the show for one short season .
6.Firefly
It ’s almost like Fox hatedFireflyfrom the start — the net barely promoted it , changed the time time slot invariably , and aired the very one-dimensional story out of rules of order . It ’s no wonder the show never care to get enough follower to rest on the air travel . Ultimately , Fox canceled it without even showing all 13 episode .
Even though diehard “ Browncoats ” could n’t save the show from cancellation , they hold on writing Fox demanding the internet release the show on DVD as soon as possible . When the videodisk was eventually released , they storm everyone by buy so many copies that fund had a surd clock time maintain it in gillyflower .
As a upshot of those monumental sales , Universal Pictures offeredFireflycreator Joss Whedon the probability to wrap up the plot line with a movie , Serenity(the name of the ship in the show ) . WhileSerenitydidn’t do well in the theater of operations , it again scored high in videodisc sale . In fact , it was Amazon ’s best sell DVD the twelvemonth it was release . rumour of aSerenitysequel still buzz around the profits here and there , but 10 year after the show originally ventilate on TV , it seems unconvincing thatSerenitywill ever fell again .
7.Roswell
After the end of its first time of year , the fate of this show about teenage aliens disguised as high school day students — which debuted favourably but was harry by low ratings — was up in the strain … at least until fans launched an strange cause to save it . They send out the power that be at the WB bottles of Tabasco sauce — a favorite condiment of the alien fictional character on the show . Thanks to the fans ' spicy support , Roswellwas regenerate for a second time of year on the WB , and made the jump to UPN for its third time of year , after which it was ultimately cancel .
