RIP: These TV Shows Were Laid To Rest In 2018

Television evolved in leaps and bounds in 2018. Streaming services like Amazon and Netflix introduced new shows that pushed the boundaries of the medium. As these shows have grabbed our attention, other shows have paid the price. Some old favorites aired their last episodes in 2018. Did you realize The Americans called it quits after seven seasons? Here are the best shows that were canceled before 2019. Some were critically hailed but lowly rated. Others simply finished telling their story. Either way, these shows may be gone, but they will not be forgotten.

The Middle - Nine Seasons

the middle ended in 2018
ABC
ABC

The Middle helped anchor ABC's Wednesday night comedy lineup for nine seasons. Paired with Modern Family, no other network could compete with the American Broadcasting Company. Seen as a hilarious and honest take raising a family in the middle class, the show garnered critical praise and a sizable audience.

The decision to end The Middle came from the show's creators. Its ratings were still strong at the time, and they wanted to be able to "go out on top." The series finale became a sentimental and hilarious love letter to the fans, who will always remember the laughs they shared with the Heck family!

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The Americans - Six Seasons

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the americans ended in 2018
FX
FX
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One of the most critically hailed shows of all time, The Americans was the poorly rated show that could. Airing on FX, it managed to last for six seasons despite extremely low ratings. Part of the reason was the awards it was reeling in, including a prestigious Peabody in 2014 and 18 Emmy nominations.

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In case you missed it, The Americans was about married KGB spies posing as American citizens in Washington D.C. during the Cold War. Their mission is complicated when an FBI agent moves in next door to them.

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House Of Cards - Six Seasons

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House of cards ended 2018
Netflix
Netflix
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The show that put Netflix on the map, House of Cards was a breakout hit when it debuted in 2013. As the seasons passed, the plotlines became more outlandish and critics started turning on the series. Uproxx was very harsh in its review of the fifth season, writing, "House of Cards has not been very good for multiple seasons now."

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After the fifth season aired, the show's lead actor, Kevin Spacey, was fired for lewd and inappropriate behavior. The sixth and final season was led by Robin Wright and was considered a complicated return to form.

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You're The Worst - Five Seasons

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youre the worst ended 2018
FXX
FXX
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Another critically beloved but lowly rated show, You're The Worst took the romantic comedy and flipped it on its head. The show followed broken people falling in and out of love while dealing with clinical depression and PTSD. Heavy stuff for an FXX comedy!

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Series creator Stephen Falk said at one point he imagined the show going seven seasons. Now that we know his vision for Jimmy and Gretchen won't come to fruition, we'll always wonder what could have been. At least we can sleep at night knowing they got married!

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Once Upon A Time - Seven Seasons

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once upon a time cancelled in 2018
ABC
ABC
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Once the darling of ABC, Once Upon A Time ran a few seasons too long and got lost in its own Disney fueled mythology. The show started with a promising first season and LOST-like ratings. Its first episode was seen by 13 million people.

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Its final episode, aired on May 18, 2018, was seen by a paltry 2.27 million. It's fair to say, Once Upon A Time was a victim of its own storytelling. We guess there will be no happily ever after in Storybrooke.

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Shades Of Blue - Three Seasons

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shades of blue ended 2018
NBC
NBC
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What could possibly go wrong with a cop drama starring Jennifer Lopez? That's what NBC was betting on when they cast her opposite Ray Liotta in Shades of Blue. The show first aired as a mid-season replacement and kept its sirens blaring for three seasons.

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When the show ended, Lopez thanked NBC for their support, and also thanked the character she played for helping her grow as a person. With the show over, Lopez made her return to the silver screen in Second Act, a movie about a woman reinventing her life.

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Young And Hungry - Five Seasons

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young and hungry ended 2018
Freeform
Freeform
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One of Freeform's carryover shows when the network decided to push for a more mature audience, Young and Hungry ran for five seasons. After it ended, the network promised fans a movie but never delivered. Fans still got a sentimental series finale, however.

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Unfortunately, the show was never going to work airing alongside edgier programming like The Bold Type and Grown-ish. A victim of circumstance, the show starred Emily Osment as a klutzy food blogger in San Francisco with a knack for knowing what people wanted to eat.

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The Fosters - Five Seasons

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the fosters ended 2018
Freeform
Freeform
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The Fosters may have ended its five season run in 2018, but it is getting new life in 2019 with a spin-off series called Good Trouble. The new show will follow "Callie and Mariana, as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives."

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Critically acclaimed, The Fosters dealt with LGBT themes, which was unheard of on Freeform at the time. For it's sensitivity, the show won two GLAAD Awards and one Teen Choice Award. We can't wait for the next chapter!

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Love - Three Seasons

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love ended 2018
Netflix
Netflix
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A high profile comedy created by Judd Apatow and streaming on Netflix, Love never found the audience it needed to stay on the airwaves past 2018. Like You're the Worst, the show followed two broken people who fall in love with each other but struggle with relationships.

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Sold to audiences as a "down-to-earth look at dating," critics praised the show for its relatability and and realism. Gillian Jacobs was the breakout star of the show, showing a knack for incredible comedic timing as well as dramatic chops.

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Casual - Four Seasons

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casual ended 2018
Hulu
Hulu
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The streaming show that put Hulu on the map, Casual ended its four season run on top. Another modern look at dating, critics called Casual, "self assured" and "edgy." In 2016, it became the first Hulu show to get awards attention, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best comedy.

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Since becoming Hulu's first big hit, the streaming service has expanded its offerings. Have you heard of The Handmaid's Tale? Casual might have put Hulu on the map, but that show made it a must-pay-for service!

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Portlandia - Eight Seasons

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portlandia ended 2018
IFC
IFC
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The weird show that could, Portlandia found a home on IFC in 2011 and showed off just how strange and hilarious Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are. After eight seasons, the two stars announced the show was ending because, "eight seasons is a lot."

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The remark felt appropriate for the odd duck show. It aired its final episode March 22, 2018. It's hard to believe the show is really over. Maybe after a few years away, Armisen and Brownstein will get the itch to make a few more sketches together.

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Major Crimes - Six Seasons

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major crimes ended 2018
TNT
TNT
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One of TNT's most successful shows ever, Major Crimes played a major role in the network's ability to compete with broadcast cable networks like ABC. A spin-off of The Closer, Major Crimes closed its doors in 2018 after airing more than 100 episodes.

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The decision to cancel the show wasn't easy for TNT, but the network was looking to rebrand at the time. These days you won't find crime procedurals on the network. Instead, you'll find more gritty fair like Animal Kingdom and Claws.

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12 Monkeys - Four Seasons

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12 monkeys ended 2018
SyFy
SyFy
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As part of SyFy Channel's promise to produce more science fiction programming, 12 Monkeys showed the network's commitment to their word. Despite averaging 400,000 viewers a week, SyFy backed the show for four seasons, desperately hoping it would find the audience it deserved.

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Critics called the show "bold" and "beautiful... one of the best sci-fi shows on television." Sadly, the time travel show based on the Bruce Willis movie never found stability. SyFy gave its small but rabid fanbase closure, airing the final season in a binge-like- model over three nights.

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The Originals - Five Seasons

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the originals ended 2018
CW
CW
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A successful spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals cast a spell on its CW audience for five seasons. Following a vampire-werewolf hybrid in New Orleans, the program was developed by Julie Plec and found a perfect home on the younger skewing CW Network.

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With the show ending, the CW announced Legacies, a spin-off that would focus on characters from The Originals and The Vampire Diaries. The show might be over, but its legacy is literally living on in 2019!

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New Girl - Seven Seasons

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new girl ended 2018
Fox
Fox
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New Girl snagged 11 million viewers when it premiered on Fox in 2011. It was an instant hit and made Zooey Deschanel into a star. Her quirkiness and comedic timing made her perfect for the role of Jess, a teacher who moves in with three dudes.

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The final season of New Girl was compacted into eight episodes. It skipped four years into the future and took a look at the characters' now stable careers and love lives. The series finale was seen by 1.47 million viewers.

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Nashville - Six Seasons

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nashville ended 2018
ABC/CMT
ABC/CMT
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Nashville faced cancellation once in 2016 when ABC decided to put an end to it. Fans were outraged that the lauded show about country music stars was done. CMT saw an opportunity and picked the showed up, saving it for two more seasons.

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The final episode on CMT aired on July 26th, 2018, giving fans a true ending to their beloved series. Every character got a happy ending. Nashville starred Hayden Panetierre, who was most well known at the time as the cheerleader from Heroes.

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Scandal - Seven Seasons

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scandal ended 2018
ABC
ABC
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Shonda Rhimes is a goddess for ABC. Not only did she create Grey's Anatomy, which is still on the air, she also created Scandal, which ended in 2018 after ten seasons. The show cemented Rhimes as the person for ABC to turn to when they needed a new hit show.

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Helping keep the show relevant for its entire run was its impact on social media. When new episodes aired, Scandal would regularly become the top trend on Twitter. Tweets for the shows season three premiere were seen by 3.7 million users.

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Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce - Five Seasons

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girlfriends guide to divorce ended 2018
Bravo
Bravo
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Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce was Bravo's first foray into scripted television. Created by Marti Noxon, it premiered in 2015 with 13 episodes. Noxon adapted the show from the Girlfriends' Guide series of books. Each season after the first was given a clever secondary name based on where the characters were in life (Girlfriends' Guide To Bossing Up, etc...).

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Production for the show was a whirlwind. After its second season, Bravo gave it a three season, 20 episode renewal. All the episodes were filmed together and then broken up to create to the last batch of episodes.

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American Vandal - Two Seasons

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american vandal ended 2018
Netflix
Netflix
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A surprise hit for Netflix when it came out in 2017, American Vandal took an absurdist look at life in high school. A school reporter sets out to unravel who graffiti'd every teachers' car. Along the way, the audience is taught not judge a book by its cover.

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The second season was released in 2018 and was met with similar praise. The location and characters were new, but the social commentary remained the same. A few months after the second season was released, Netflix announced there would not a third.

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The Last Man On Earth - Four Seasons

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the last man on earth ended 2018
Fox
Fox
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Fans were furious when Fox announced the fourth season of The Last Man on Earth would be its last. The show's writers didn't know if they would get a fifth season and ended the fourth season with a cliffhanger. Fans were desperate for closure, but will never get it.

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The show's creators were proud of what they were able to do in four years, though. They said they wanted to show a flawed person who needed everyone around him to disappear to change him into the person he could have been.