Happy Endings should have ran for ten seasons but ABC did everything they could to kill it - airing the episodes out of order, changing their air time and date at random, and even airing an episode in the wrong season. Absolutely ABCs fault and not the show but at least we got 3 perfect seasons out of it (and streamers finally learned to put the episodes in order!)
11
bromygod203Apr 20, 2026
+2
They aired episodes out of order and in the wrong season?? I've never heard about this before
2
Inside_Dimension2319Apr 20, 2026
+5
I’m not sure about the wrong season, but I definitely remember watching the first season and being super confused. Dave just randomly had a food truck out of nowhere (Steak Me Home Tonight). Then three episodes later he decides to make a big life change and start a food truck and he’s also living with his friend Max. And then the next episode he’s going to kick the ass of the guy who took his fiancée and is super depressed and decides to move in with his friend Max.
5
bromygod203Apr 20, 2026
+2
I guess I never realized that. I caught a couple episodes live but then watched it all on demand (remember those days?) and then rewatched it on Hulu with I showed my wife the show and we watched it in order cause Hulu fixed it
2
Plane-Tie6392Apr 21, 2026
Yeah, obviously it makes sense it was out of order now but not knowing the origin of a character’s food truck isn’t exactly confusing/immersion breaking.
0
LebbyLebLebLebApr 20, 2026
+3
The kickball episode was Season 2 but they didn't air it until deep in season 3! You can view all the right orders under "Production Code" on the Wikipedia episode lists (I know this because Hulu used to post the episodes out of order too and I had to use that to watch it in order)
3
Plane-Tie6392Apr 20, 2026
-5
I’m sorry but it’s ridiculous to think that’s why the show didn’t do better. I mean I love the show but it was a sitcom where story wasn’t a big part of anything.
Edit: Downvote all you want but some episodes being out of order still wasn't the reason we didn't get more of it.
-5
Dida_DApr 20, 2026
+5
For a first season when you’re finding your audience and introducing your characters, that’s very important, yes.
Dave had his steak truck before the whole episode about him getting it. Alex and Dave were fine with each other before the episode where they make amends. The third episode aired 11th! The 6th episode aired last! The 12th episode aired 5th! Nothing made sense! It’s impossible to build a core audience that way especially when the air dates are constantly moving.
5
Plane-Tie6392Apr 20, 2026
+1
Well we can certainly agree that air dates can/do really affect things sometimes.
1
ChataboutgamesApr 20, 2026
+4
> but it was a sitcom where story wasn’t a big part of anything.
So like, most sitcoms?
4
Plane-Tie6392Apr 20, 2026
I'm confused why you're getting upvoted for agreeing with me. But there are certainly sitcoms where the order of episodes would affect things more like Friends for one example.
0
occonoApr 21, 2026
+1
Listnook downvoted comments do often get replies which are upvoted that agree with them worded a different way.
1
Plane-Tie6392Apr 21, 2026
+1
Yeah, reading comprehension is getting worse and worse. Or not quite the same but what really irks me is when someone makes an amazing joke and then someone replies to them merely restating/explaining the joke and gets a f*** ton more upvotes.
1
Proud_Pepper_6264Apr 20, 2026
+2
That show had such perfect chemistry between the cast, really shame it got axed when it did
2
[deleted]Apr 20, 2026
+35
[deleted]
35
nomnomsquirrelApr 20, 2026
+6
Between this and Santa Clarita Diet, Victor Fresco's shows have been amazing and then unfairly canned.
6
tetoffensApr 20, 2026
+4
Andy Richter Controls the Universe too.
4
nomnomsquirrelApr 20, 2026
+1
And Life on a Stick, The Trouble with Normal, and Sean Saves the World, but nobody watched those so they don't count as much. Life on a Stick AND The Trouble with Normal were pulled after 5 episodes and the final 8 never aired.
1
tetoffensApr 20, 2026
+1
Andy Richter Controls the Universe though has a cult following kind of like Better Off Ted. The others you mentioned, no one really cared after they were cancelled.
1
Cam27022Apr 20, 2026
+2
Damn, that was the same guy? What a shame.
2
ChataboutgamesApr 20, 2026
+3
Portia De Rossi just doing a tour of comedies way ahead of their time.
3
I_Cut_ShowsApr 20, 2026
+2
The only answer to this question.
Here…I brought you a cake…and a jar of herring…maybe you can wait until I leave before you smear the cake with it?
2
flord10Apr 20, 2026
+15
My Name is Earl
15
Missile_LawnchairApr 20, 2026
+13
That show in the early 2000s Almost Human with Karl Urban.
13
I_Cut_ShowsApr 20, 2026
+5
That show was completely destroyed by network incompetence. I know people who worked on it.
5
Regula96Apr 20, 2026
+4
I think that was 2014 lol.
4
Missile_LawnchairApr 20, 2026
+2
Damn, I guess I just feel old.
2
BLUESWHALESApr 20, 2026
+7
Forever.
An immortal medical examiner who has been alive for over a quarter of a century while searching for a way to permanently die, uses his ability to die and come back to help solve crimes
The ending of the first (and only) season surprisingly works as a show ending if you're okay with wide open endings.
7
celica18lApr 20, 2026
+1
It was a great premise. I wish it hadn’t been canceled.
1
ersomethingApr 20, 2026
+7
Pushing Daisies
Damn strike killed it
7
OfficeChairHeroApr 20, 2026
+2
I went in knowing it was cancelled prematurely and was still mad. That show was so damn charming.
2
mrgoodnighthairdoApr 20, 2026
+5
Ten Year Old Tom deserved more seasons. I will die on this hill with the other dozen fans
5
bannedfromdennysApr 20, 2026
+3
The Brink, a HBO comedy starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins.
3
thesecretbarnApr 20, 2026
+1
That show was so good. I’m not sure you could call it episodic, though.
1
The_Erlenmeyer_FlaskApr 20, 2026
+3
John Doe, The Lone Gunmen, 1899.
3
NeedsToShutUpApr 20, 2026
+1
The Lone Gunmen predicted 9/11.
1
ekWatson_Apr 20, 2026
+2
I wouldn't necessarily say it was "canceled too soon" in a traditional sense, but Super Drags definitely deserved more than just five episodes. It had such an absurdist, yet unique energy that didn't really get enough room to breathe before it was over.
2
SunMyungMoonMoonApr 20, 2026
+2
I'm Sorry
2
karmammothtuskApr 20, 2026
+2
Norsemen, Bored To Death, and Wrecked. All great shows that didn’t receive the network support or credit they deserve.
2
strungupApr 20, 2026
+2
Dead Like Me
2
iceghostsaliensApr 20, 2026
+5
Santa Clarita Diet
5
MoooneyApr 20, 2026
+6
I haven't watched since it aired and could be misremembering, but I felt like this was more of a serialized 'dramedy' and not really at all episodic.
6
moneyfishApr 20, 2026
+4
Firefly
4
phantombrick22Apr 20, 2026
+1
Surviving Jack
1
zowietremendouslyApr 20, 2026
+1
Adam Ruins Everything
1
Impossible_Ad_2517Apr 20, 2026
+1
It came back of course but the easy answer for me is the original run of Arrested Development. A couple years ago someone working on the show did an AMA on here about what they were planning and it sounded awesome.
1
letsmunchApr 20, 2026
+1
There was a show on Fox called Ben and Kate starring Nat Faxon (right after winning an Oscar) and Dakota Johnson (right before she blew up). It’s a standard sitcom from that time frame but really fits in seamlessly with the New Girls and Happy Endings genre of comedy from that decade. Terrible marketing, terrible name for a show, and impatience totally sunk it right as it was finding its groove. It’s available for purchase in Amazon but otherwise deleted from existence on streaming. Which is crazy because you’d think Netflix would want to capitalize on Dakota Johnson’s fame level with an older show like they’ve done with other series.
1
glimmerthirstyApr 20, 2026
+1
Ray Donovan
1
Shot-Club-3882Apr 20, 2026
+1
Santa Clarita Diet
Pushing Daisies
Roswell
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Dead to me
Samantha Who?
1
SloppykrabApr 20, 2026
-7
Doctor Who
-7
Illustrious-Peace989Apr 20, 2026
+2
It hasn’t been canceled though
2
SloppykrabApr 20, 2026
-12
It died long ago in my eyes.
-12
Plane-Tie6392Apr 20, 2026
+5
Lame af.
5
SloppykrabApr 20, 2026
-2
Chiball ruined the show. I stopped enjoying it when he took over.
57 Comments