The best TV shows that lasted only one season

This was the one that got the whole Galactica ball rolling, even though it lasted just one season for ABC. Starring Lorne Greene and Dirk Benedict, this space sci-fi show pitting the Galactica against those evil but cool-looking Cylons was a ratings hit off the bat. However, those ratings became inconsistent, and ABC ultimately pulled the plug in April 1979. Die-hard fans were not happy, and outrage ensued. A spinoff (Galactica) surfaced in 1980, and the 2003 mini-series based on the original opened the door for the hugely popular series of the same name that kicked off in 2004.  

Trying to capture the same success they enjoyed with the hit film Airplane!, brothers David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams took to television. That same type of farcical, spoof comedy did not work with the American TV audience of the time. However, star Leslie Nielsen's Detective Frank Drebin eventually got his due from the hilarious Naked Gun franchise of films that spawned from this underrated gem.

Like many shows on this list, consistent viewership is a central theme. That was the case with this Bruce Campbell vehicle, which was often praised by critics and had a nice little following. While the show has an Old West premise, it regularly mixed comedy, science-fiction, and fantasy elements, allowing for some crossover appeal. It's a good bet that if this show debuted 20 years later, it would still be on the air.

Remember when the world was introduced to the moody, insecure Angela Chase (Claire Danes) and brooding rebel Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto)? Life was a critical hit because of its realistic portrayal of teenagers and their struggles to fit in, conform, and please their parents. While it's long been reported that Danes did not want to return for a second season, low ratings in later episodes and other behind-the-scenes factors reportedly contributed to the show's short existence. But we still miss Rayanne and Rickie, Brian Krakow, the Buffalo Tom cameo, and the mysterious Tino.

Is it fair to call a TV show that lasted only one season one of the best of all time? That might not be a stretch with this one — if only for the future star power associated with this one-season wonder. Created by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) and featuring Judd Apatow as an executive producer, it's been reported that the creative minds behind the show and the execs at NBC were not on the same page when it came to the future travails of Lindsey (Linda Cardellini), her slacker friends, and geeky brother and his crew.

Judd Apatow was at it again and brought along Seth Rogan as a regular with several other Freaks and Geeks alums as guest stars. However, the result was the same, as this look into the life of a group of college freshmen suffered the same one-season fate. It still generated a cult following that remains part of Apatow's ongoing legacy.

While Patrick Warburton was not as funny and entertaining as he was while portraying Seinfeld's David Puddy, he delivered an above-average comedic performance as this spoof of a superhero. As Warburton has suggested over the years, Fox never really gave the show a real chance, and it only lasted nine episodes.

Regarded in many circles as the best one-season show in television history, Firefly still has a devoted following to this day, and cast members remain regulars on the pop culture and sci-fi convention circuit. This Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) space-western theme show never got the ratings worthy of the project's ambition but built quite the impressive legacy.

Originally a Canadian animated hit, Clone High is one of the few shows on this list that received lukewarm reviews and even cooler ratings while on MTV in the United States. The premise is kooky enough (a high school of historical figure clones like Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi, the latter, whose portrayal was rather controversial), but its cult following did not take off until well after the fact.   

If there was one knock on Invasion, there was a lot going on, and it was sometimes confusing. However, this somewhat modern-day, 2.0-version of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers was worth the time. Quality performances from the sinister William Fichtner and conflicted Kari Matchett helped the effort. A big part of the show's premise revolved around a hurricane, and since it debuted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, perhaps interest was not as high.

This Aaron Sorkin project had plenty of big names: Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Sarah Paulson. What it did not have was a consistent schedule, as NBC often put the show on hiatus during its brief run. While not a full-blown comedy like 30 Rock, Studio 60 was smart, humorous, and filled with that witty dialogue we have come to expect from Sorkin's work.

It would be easy for some to look at Flashforward as the next Lost. There were some similar supernatural elements at play after the world blacked out for two minutes, 17 seconds, then certain characters saw a glimpse into their future. Liked by most critics, inconsistent scheduling hurt the show's run while ratings declined. Still, there was enough reason to be invested as a viewer.

Donal Logue should be considered one of the more underrated actors in Hollywood. This FX program was witty and surprisingly creative for an often overplayed buddy-crime comedy drama theme. Logue was the star, and the overall dysfunction of the characters seemed oddly endearing, but it was not enough for people to watch.

For those fans of Gilmore Girls, this Amy Sherman-Palladino follow-up should have been right up their alley. The dialogue was witty, and stage star Sutton Foster and Gilmore veteran Kelly Bishop were brilliant as the ballet-teaching daughter-mother-in-law team. However, it never got much internal buzz while on the then-ABC Family network, though its fan base was allegedly quite large. Foster resurfaced in the truly delightful Younger.

Apparently, Fox wasn't keen on keeping this J.J. Abrams (executive producer) project going for more than a season. Humans and androids coming together to fight crime. Sounds like a winning concept, and maybe it would have been if given more time to develop and find a rhythm. But time is not a luxury if people are not watching consistently enough. 

Starring Malin Åkerman as the young attractive Kate, who marries a middle-aged lawyer (Bradley Whitford) and also must deal with his children and ex-wives, Trophy Wife was probably better than the title suggests. Åkerman was genuinely funny and likable in the lead role, though not likable enough to make it past one season.

Before Karen Gillan became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she starred as Eliza Dooley in this millennial take on My Fair Lady. Gillan shined as the self-absorbed, social-media-obsessed character who brought out her true talent as an actor. From the show's early days, it was hailed for its potential, which it was never allowed to achieve.

Rob Lowe and Fred Savage together. How can this not work? Well, it didn't, but it was not for lack of trying. For some, Savage is still Kevin Arnold from The Wonder Years. Lowe received positive reviews as an actor who portrayed a lawyer trying to play the same role in real life. However, as we've heard before, poor ratings led to its demise.

Despite a brief run, The Get Down had been hailed as one of Netflix's best original offerings. Set in 1970s New York City, the show highlights the rise of the hip-hop movement. The music helped reinforce the plot lines, and the acting is pretty brilliant, especially that of Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom). However, with any show that offers a niche storyline, it seems tough to achieve mass appeal.

Forget Kyle Richards' associations to the Hilton sisters, this show based on her childhood was about women (highlighted by Alicia Silverstone) who learn to become strong after life throws them a curve — or five. It ran on the Paramount Network but might have been worthy of a bigger showcase. It did not help that show creator John Riggi left the project.