The holidays will soon be upon us and with them comes the dreaded midseason hiatus blues. What's a dedicated TV fan to do when the shows they love temporarily go off the air? Why, find new shows to love of course. A few weeks ago we put out a call for those TV fans whose shows are faltering in the ratings to pitch their show. 336 people responded, representing 23 different shows. Since that's too many to include in one article, I've narrowed it down to no more than 4 responses per show. (A full breakdown of all comments, minus people who posted the exact same thing multiple times, can be found in the link below.) Hopefully, one of them will inspire you to start watching. As always, if you have a show that wasn't mentioned or if you would like to add to the dialogue, please comment below. Remember though that clear, detailed explanations get better results with the SpoilerTV community than all capitalized raves and triple exclamation mark hyperbole. Thanks to everyone who sent in their submissions. Can't wait to find a few new shows myself.
Complete Submissions List
The Vampire Diaries: Airs Thursdays at 8/7 C on the CW. The first 4 seasons are available on Netflix streaming. Recent episodes are available on Hulu.
Paula1010 - The question is.. Why not? The Vampire Diaries is the best show I have ever watched. I love vampires and triangles, so why not to watch it? After four seasons it's still on air.
The Good Wife: Airs on Sundays at 9/8 C on CBS. The first 4 seasons are available on Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime.
Tom: The Good Wife is the Drama series in terms of writing, directing and acting on broadcast television right now. In its fifth season, the show is on its creative peak and deserves one or two final seasons. Period.
The Americans: Season 2 of The Americans will premiere on FX in February. Season 1 recaps are available on the FX website. You can also get the discs on Netflix, although no streaming is available there.
H - I wanted to recommend "The Americans" on FX. Not only is the 80's setting an interesting look back at a time before technology ruled everything, but the heart of the show is the intense, deeply moving and often painful relationships between the characters. The show's two protagonists, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, are KGB spies in the Soviet era who have been sent to the U.S. to live illegally and spy, all the while living a fake life and raising two children who have no idea who they really are. It's the relationship that forms between the two of them and their circle of contacts, enemies and friends that's so compelling, particularly that they have with their two preteen children. They've created a family that is genuine, and yet it's all built on a lie. They were assigned to bring two children into the world as "cover" for their spy work, and yet the show goes to great pains to show how "real" that family has become--illustrating that they've managed to commit the worst crime of all to those they love the most. The writing is top notch, the various themes brought up in each episode echoed in the arcs of different characters, and those characters beautifully flawed. This show lives in gray areas, milks them for all their worth. Highly recommended!
Trophy Wife: Airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30 C on ABC.
Bob - This show is absolutely hilarious, and it is family friendly, it could fit well on Wednesday with modern family if only ABC changed their lineup, In my opinion it is the best comedy of the fall season so far
Lu - great show with a bad name, who can blame it? I almost missed the show because of the name, but I'm glad I watched it. Love those kids.
Ryan - It's funny! The cast is charming and quirky. Has the family dynamics of Modern Family, but feels more like Happy Endings or Suburgatory in terms of humor.
Siberia: Siberia's first season ended in September. It is available by disc only on Netflix.
Lost_At_Sea - Become weirdly addicted to this show recently, despite some acting/storyline mishaps, it quickly gets under your skin and has a KILLER cliffhanger that better be paid off! And although it was rumoured cancelled, it hasn't actually been axed...yet - and even if NBC do, the produces funded the project themselves so could shop it to other networks easier than most. Save Siberia!
Sean Saves the World: Airs Thursdays at 9/10 C on NBC.
Pauline Chen - Sean is finally back to TV; don't let him go
Revolution: Airs Wednesdays at 8/7 C on NBC. Season one is available on Netflix streaming. Recent episodes can be found on Hulu.
Wayliz - Great actors with great chemistry working with much better writing this season!
Revenge: Airs Sundays at 9/8 C on ABC. Midseason it will move back an hour to 10/9 C. The first 2 seasons are available on Netflix streaming. Recent episodes are available on Hulu.
Aciel - The show has gotten waaaay better from season 2 though the first couple episodes of this season weren't great but it really picked up on the third episode the shows stakes are higher now and it really pains me to see its ratings drop every week I hope if you stopped watching you give it another chance.
Rosa - The show is just so unique right now it's totally back to how it was in season 1 I would recommend anybody who stopped watching in season 2 and loved season 1 to give this season a chance because the show just took things to a whole new level
Were - The plot twists and the characters themselves are more than enough reason
Parks and Recreation: This show had more than 4 submissions so I narrowed it down. You can see all submissions via the link above. Parks & Rec airs Thursdays at 8/7 C on NBC. The first 5 seasons are available on Netflix streaming and Amazon Prime. Recent episodes are available on Hulu.
The Bunk - Flawless ensemble and smart writing
Joe - It is the only comedy on TV that consistently makes me laugh every episode. It is the highlight of my week. Every actor is amazing on the show showing that comedy is just as much an art as drama and they are true masters of their craft.
Miller - Funny, interesting and lovable characters, it doesn't rely on laugh tracks to show its humor. Most of all, very heartwarming which one needs after watching so much negativity in almost all shows.
Renee - The show combines heart and warmth with plenty of funny moments. The first season is a little lacking but its second and beyond are fantastic. The characters are great and the series never fails to make me laugh. The series gives a funny look at small-town politics and the personal lives of those who work there. It is like The Office only in a Parks and Recreation department with plenty of laughs. It is my must-see Thursday night comedy and has been since it first began.
Parenthood: Airs Thursdays at 10/9 C on NBC. The first four seasons are available on Netflix streaming and Amazon Prime. The latest episodes are available on Hulu.
Krystal - Parenthood is another gem, and extremely underrated. It is such a realistic show, probably the most realistic show I have ever seen. It's a comedic drama, but somehow there is not a single episode that I have not cried during. It's about the Braverman family, four siblings and their kids and also the grandparents are incorporated in it as well. They have covered just about everything from, autism, to cancer, to infidelity. marriage struggles, racism, poverty, school struggles, adoption, I mean just every real life situation. But they always find a way to make me laugh and cry within one single scene. It's really amazing how they do that. They are always struggling with ratings, and especially now that the show has moved to Thursday's with some steep competition, they are struggling with ratings again. One thing I can promise is that if you give the show a try, with even just the pilot, you will come back again and again because I can promise you that you will get attached to this family and root for them all.
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: Airs Thursdays at 8/7 C on ABC.
Janika - The show is actually very good. Adam and Eddy have yet again put a nice spin on the characters, making them much more complex and well-rounded than the Disney versions. I love Knave's dry humor and can't wait to see more of him and how he will develop over time. The love story of Alice and Cyrus is very interesting, and I love the flashbacks to their time together. Hopefully they will be together again soon. Even though I didn't much like the Red Queen in the first episode, she was much better in the second and there's clearly more to her than meets the eye. Jafar is also very intriguing, as is the White Rabbit, who is clearly the 'grey' character of the show. It'll be interesting to see which side he will end up on in the end. I know that the CGI may not be the best, but this is a TV show, not a movie, so they have more work with less time and money to work on. That's why you can't expect results looking like straight from the Avengers. They have never really bothered me, to be honest. So, watch the show, and don't judge it by the ratings. You might be surprised. :)
Setheriel - I think the show really has a place in the overall OUAT mythos and has the potential to set up many good stories for us. As well, there is great potential to see some glimpses into the past of certain characters (Cora and how she ended up being The Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter and what first brought him to Neverland, etc). The cast is strong, with Jafar being a particularly good villain. Great show folks, just give it a chance!
Mom: Airs Mondays at 9:30 / 8:30 C on CBS.
Christian - MOM is not like most comedies out there. It dares to show the ugly side of the mom-daughter ugliness, but does it in a remarkably fun way. The daughter and the mother are two completely different personalities, which adds a balance for the viewer and gives us many hilarious moments. The jokes are quite original, and despite the popular hatred for laugh tracks (even though it uses a studio audience), I am being perfectly honest when I say that this show has made me laugh out loud in a way other comedies just haven't. The two female lead roles are perfect, and the show offers hilarious half-hours that I am quite sure will have you wanting more if you give it a try!
The Mindy Project: This show got the second most submissions, so again I narrowed it down. You can see all submissions via the link above. The Mindy Project airs Tuesdays at 9:30 / 8:30 C on FOX. Latest episodes can be found on Hulu. Season 1 can be found through Netflix discs, but not on streaming.
Haley - A clever and thoughtfully written sitcom for comedy and romantic comedy lovers alike. One of very few shows on right now featuring a coloured woman as a lead, not to mention Mindy Kaling acts, writes, produces, edits and more for the show. Also features the amazing Chris Messina who gives an emmy-worthy performance as Danny Castellano every week (especially when he’s acting alongside Mindy). Can’t rave enough about how much this show and all of its characters (main, recurring and the MANY guest actors) crack me up each week. I really wish that people would give this show a chance.
Isabella Garcia - Romantic comedy lovers and even just comedy lovers should try to watch The Mindy Project. Yes, the main focus is hopeless romantic Mindy attempting to find true love, but I feel that this show relies on the comedy and chemistry between the main cast a lot more. It’s written by witty and very talented writers and acted by what is my favorite cast ensemble. The characters all bring their own quirkiness to the office. Even though it took a bit of time for it to find its right footing, the episodes just keep getting better and better.
Sarah - It's an intelligent comedy with its finger on the pulse of pop culture that blends the best qualities of 30 Rock and The Office, with a talented cast and amazing guest stars. With its beautiful set design and popular costume design, it is a feast for the eyes as well. At the heart of the show, there is a will-they-won't-they relationship between Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) and Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) that always leaves viewers wanting more.
Vanessa - Well, first, it's hilarious. So, if you enjoy laughing and happiness I highly recommend it. But aside from that, it is an extremely well-written show, with relatable characters. Mindy, especially, feels like your soul sister. She finds herself in situations you have been in before, trying to juggle having a career and a social/love life. And if you need a manly reason to watch it, may I introduce you to Chris Messina? Brilliant at everything he does. Give it a try! If you like New Girl, you will love The Mindy Project!
Masters of Sex: Airs Sundays at 10/9 C on Showtime.
The Dane - Though the show is not in danger of being cancelled, I think the show could use a bit more attention. The show airs on Showtime on Sunday nights and is the true story of Dr William Masters. With Breaking Bad gone, this has become my new favorite Sunday show. It is a period drama with outstanding performances by the main actors. It is subtle and yet outrageous, with both funny and sad moments. I have quickly fallen in love with the characters and hope that a lot of you will feel the same way. So give it a try!!
Hostages: Airs Mondays at 10/9 C on CBS.
Claudia - Has picked up the pace considerably since the pilot, features an intriguing set of characters and keeps me on the edge of my seat week after week!
Ine - My favorite show. It's exciting and awesome, and people would love it if they gave it a chance
Missy - Top notch actors, a good thriller that seems to be getting better with every episode I see.
Rachel - Excellent show, gripping, amazing actors and writers!
Hart of Dixie: Airs Mondays at 8/7 C on the CW. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix streaming and the most recent episodes are available on Hulu.
Kristin Raab - It's light and fluffy. A great change from all the dark drama on TV these days.
Krystal - It's a fun, light-hearted show. With so many shows that cause so much stress and angst to the viewers, HOD, is one that is a goofy dramatic comedy. It's honestly a little gem. It's funny, it has drama, and love. It has a hot cast, and the main relationship of the show is one that I know could draw in many viewers interest. I know it seems like a silly show and that's probably why many people bypass it, because trust me, I thought the same. I actually live only an hour away from the fictional town of Bluebell, Alabama, which is the setting of the show, so I was pretty skeptical to watch on that alone. But boredom and curiosity got the best of me on Netlfix and I watched the first season last summer and have been loving it ever sense. LIke any show, it is not perfect, but it always finds itself back to the hart of Dixie. My only wish is for people to just try it after the first few episodes. I would hate for one of my favorite shows to get cancelled and end without resolve.
Hannibal: This show had more than 4 submissions. To see all of them, please see the link above. Hannibal's second season will premiere on NBC in 2014. The last 3 episodes are available on Hulu and the season 1 discs, although not streaming, are available on Netflix.
Barbara Brown - Do you like to be thrilled and feel your heart race because you are watching a show filled with moments of beauty and terror, sometimes at the same time? Would you like to experience television that will make you clutch at your armchair, and watch actors at the top of their game cause you to have feelings that catch at the back of your throat? Do you want a chance to witness a superbly crafted drama, that challenges you in a way that no one expects to find on broadcast television anymore? If you do, than run, go watch this show now, on DVD, on Hulu, wherever you can find it before season 2 airs in 2014. But be warned, it IS intense and violent, and you may not see the world exactly the same way after you watch Hannibal.
Ivy B - It might have gore and horror, but it's more of a psychological thriller, the characters are layered and fascinating, everything in the show is immaculate- visually stunning, evocative imagery, great sound design. The procedural element takes a backseat to the characters' interactions and character development. Our main hero is flawed and brittle and our main villain is fascinating and enigmatic, but they never try to pretend that he's not a villain, as captivating as he is. The whole plot of the first season was woven so seamlessly to reach its finale, you'll want to rewatch the whole season, just to admire the journey there.
Pzan - Beautifully shot, acted and presented with a 7 Season plan which will include Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. This is the definitive version of Mr. Lecter.
Renee - Hannibal deserves all the love it can get. It is a fantastic drama with great characters portrayed by a wonderful cast. If you enjoyed Dexter during its peak years and anti-heroes like Walter White this is a show for you. It provides the right balance of drama and comedic surprises to make it an effective show.
Dads: Airs Tuesdays at 8/7 C on FOX.
Kim - It's improving
Community: Community will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8/7 C on NBC. The first 4 seasons can be seen on Hulu Plus.
Eric Van Velson - Community is one of, if not my favorite show of all time, let's just get that out of the way. Community is such an intelligent television program and uses humor to the full effect. It blends this humor with somewhat wacky characters, some scenes of emotion and drama (albeit rarely), and a LOT of meta (mostly thanks to the lovely Abed Nadir). Every single actor is fantastic, even Chevy Chase despite his well documented dislike of the show. Every character, whether as big as Jeff or as minor as Disco Roller-Blading Guy, is fresh, new, and absolutely hilariously used. Community deserves exactly what the fans have all been asking for. #sixseasonsandamovie
Brooklyn 99: Airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30 C on FOX.
Renee - This recently new series is one of the best comedies this fall season. The first two episodes are slow but the rest are a slam dunk. The characters are hilarious and the cast pull it off very well. The idea of a comedy about police officers may seem farfetched but it worked before with Barney Miller and so far Brooklyn 99 has hit all the right notes. Captain Holt and Gina are scene stealers. While the rest of the characters have plenty of great fun to add with funny one liners and physical comedy. It is one of the best comedies to watch right now!
The Blacklist: Airs Mondays at 10/9 C on NBC.
Kat Newkirk - James Spader plays the best morally ambiguous character I've ever seen!
Betrayal: This show had over 4 submissions as well. You can find all of them in the link above. Betrayal airs Sundays at 10/9 C on ABC.
Akshay - The show has a variety of complex plots intertwined with each other, and even if romance is not your thing (and it certainly isn't mine), the show is at least intriguing. Give it some time to develop, and I think it has potential to stay.
Jennifer Grasso - Great storyline, great acting...amazing chemistry between the main characters. Sexy steamy intense and hot!!!!!
Jinx - I just love the thought of a forbidden love. It kind of reminded me of Derek and Meredith at the beginning of Grey's Anatomy. Sarah falls head over heels for Jack but they both have baggage (just like Mer, who was coping with her mom's Alzheimer's and Derek, who was married). I like the chemistry between Sarah and Jack and also the other side of the story (the murder on Lou) is interesting enough to watch the show every week!
MB Daly - Henry Thomas is a pleasant surprise in the role of a refreshing gem of a character. He should not only be nominated for an Emmy, but he should win supporting actor! This show has something for everyone....sex, love, family, power, politics, suspense, mystery, hookers...lol. Original in a sea of reality and crime dramas. Beautiful acting....and James Cromwell shines! He has come a long way from Babe, baby!...and that movie rocked! All four leads are impressive and this is a show that actually keeps me guessing week to week. That hasn't happened since Lost, and that show's ending was all kinds of disappointing. Hoping for this drama/mystery to survive long enough to play out. I've got a theory...and it's a doozy;)
Beauty and the Beast - This show got more responses than all others combined. Their fan passion is legendary and actually inspired the article to begin with, so it was hard to narrow the selections down to just 4. You can see all submissions on the link above. BatB airs on Mondays at 9/8 C on the CW. Current episodes are available on Hulu Plus. Season 1 is available on Netflix Streaming.
Anne Garcia - Thank you for this opportunity for me to speak about Beauty and the Beast, a show that’s suffering in the ratings. I feel sure that if given the right amount of publicity (and, face it, a less competitive timeslot!) this show would catch on with a wider audience. First it has a terrific balance of humor, action, romance, and sci fi mythology—truly there’s something for everyone. It also has a stunningly diverse cast, which is something in itself that should be celebrated. And it’s a show that spotlights the strength of women, depicting a tough “Beauty” who can do her fair share of saving and who has an equally strong female police partner. That mix is sadly missing in television. The acting is great, the action scenes are tight, and the problems it had coming out of the gate with a few items like choppy editing and plot holes have all been addressed in changes made for the second season. Please help this show get the promotion it deserves!
JFrimpong - Do you like romantic comedies or romantic dramas? Do you like watching two people meet and discover what they love about each other and then watching them overcome obstacles to stay together? If any of that appeals to you, I highly, highly recommend the CW's Beauty and the Beast. This show is engaging, intelligent, funny, subtle television. The chemistry between the two leads will make you want to root for them. They will make you care so deeply that their every triumph, every set-back, every joy and heartache will feel like your own. This show is escapism television, and every week I watch, I'm pulled deeper into their lives. I want to know if they'll overcome the odds. I root for them as they navigate life together. What I love about this show is that the writers treat the audience as the smart, TV savvy people that we are. They don't draw out conflict, don't create conflict for no reason, don't break up the leads every fourth episode and don't let misunderstanding linger for weeks on end. The leads talk about their feelings, talk about their assumptions and work out their issues as we all do in our personal lives. And the supporting cast! They bring the funny each week. They are supportive of each other and still bring the real talk. If the leads are acting a fool, you can bet someone on the supporting cast will voice what we're all thinking. There have been times when I'm watching and I think out loud 'wait...what! noo!' And a scene or two later one of the supporting characters has the same reaction and tries to steer the leads in the right direction. I can't say enough good things about this show. Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.
Jules - Beauty and the Beast has evolved from a guilty pleasure show into a pure pleasure. It has improved in Season 2 to be a fast-paced, more tightly written sci-fi/fantasy show that is deepening its mythology while still retaining the romance. The main female protagonist, Catherine Chandler, is a woman of color (half Chinese-half Caucasian) who loves her "beast" but also kicks butt and is a stubborn, opinionated, compassionate woman. There's also a great female friendship between Cat and her cop partner, Tess (which we need to see more of on tv). As for the "beast" part of the show, Vincent can literally turn into a beast but he is conflicted between his old self and the killing machine he was turned into. And the chemistry between beauty and her beast? Sizzling. Seriously. They give you butterflies in your stomach feelings. It's sci-fi, it's romance, and it's all built around the two leads' great chemistry. Also, it probably one of the most diverse casts on television. It's refreshing to see a show set in "New York" actually resemble the diversity of New York.
Dani K - I’m not going to gush about how, ‘like, totally AMAZING’ my show is! Or inflate, ‘like, how AWESOME’ everyone and everything is. ;) Because, truthfully, it does have flaws, as do most shows, and I have no intention of creating false expectations. (I imagine you know how it is, once you become invested in a show it's easier to overlook the flaws and see the beauty within.) You may have already watched it. If so, hopefully you will find something in my submission that might make you want to give it another chance. Honestly, when I first heard about the show and saw it advertised I thought about watching it for 2 seconds flat. I made up my mind and that was that. It would come on after one of my shows and I’d quickly turn the channel, prepared to watch reality friggin TV over it! (that’s pretty bad for me! lol) But my mom convinced me, after months of trying, to give it a chance. I thought ‘well, I did talk her into Bones, Arrow, TVD, Rookie Blue, Bates Motel, so I think it’s only fair’. And those are just the ones that she took to, although I still think she missed out on Angel and Alias. So, I turned it on one night. Admittedly I wasn’t into it at first (I still had it in my head I wouldn't like it) and spent most of the episode on my phone. But something caught my attention towards the end and I found myself mildly interested about the next episode. When it came on the next week, I tuned in. By the time the episode was over I felt the insuppressible curiosity to know how this show and its characters had gotten to where it was. So I bit the bullet and bought the iTunes season pass so I could catch up. I marathon watched all the missed episodes and by the time I was caught up I could not believe I had been missing out all that time! I was officially hooked! More so than I have ever been.
So, what is it that draws me to this show? I honestly can’t say it’s one thing in particular, but all the elements put together. It’s the characters, and how they make me care about what happens to them. How complex and flawed they are, yet worthy of having their story told. They make me want to be a part of their growth and evolution as the show progresses. The supporting characters, who are equally complex and are actually relevant to the story, not just “fillers”. Ones that, should they meet a terrible demise, I know I'm gonna be pissed! lol But having 'real', compelling characters isn't enough. They need a story and a journey that I will want to explore with them. For this show, it's not about when or how these characters will come together, it's when and how will they overcome these obstacles. Not just physical and emotional obstacles, but outside forces working against them. Never knowing what or who's around the next corner, and how will it affect them and the people around them. Its plot is woven with deceit and truths for us to unravel, making us search and guess at ulterior motives and hidden agendas. Is this person really as bad as we think? Or will they be redeemed yet? And as we all know, every journey has its ups and downs, dark and light moments. It's how they tell these moments that really complete their story lines. In this show, they balance those moments in a dialogue that feels real, not polished with years of journalism that nobody can relate to. I personally, find an episode/show that can make me laugh and cry, have me holding my breath in anticipation until the action amps up, all in one episode, impressive. What I like about the action in this show is that it doesn't always come from a car chase, or a fist fight, or shooting, but when they do use a fight sequence, I am always impressed by the authentic feel it has. And it is certainly refreshing to see a female kicking some ass! As for the mythology/sci-fi tone to it, I really enjoy how they have shifted gears and are using it and telling it from a different perspective than the first season. It's become sort of a tool this season rather than a burden. And as a result has given strength and character to the characters. It's no longer boxing the characters in, but granting them some freedom….but is there a cost to this freedom? And what will be the price?
It's the small things too though. The things each actor brings to their character. The tone of their voice, the body language, the use of their eyes (which is always my favourite…..very telling!). To the music. The right song, at the right moment can turn an okay moment into something magnificent. All of these things have together captivated my attention. I know many find the fandom to be….irritating, and I can understand that, since we are all over the internet and can be very vocal, but are, in my experience, extremely welcoming. Unfortunately for us that may turn some viewers away. I believe that it comes from a good place, is motivated by an intense passion and fuelled by the fear that comes with low ratings. Especially since, in my opinion, it is a much better show than it is credited for. I really believe if people were to give it a chance, leaving all their preconceived opinions at the door, many would be pleasantly surprised. Judging from some Reviewers recaps, people are slowly starting to change their minds about this show. I hope it's not too late. Because I truly love it and hope others will too. My show, if you haven't guessed, is Beauty and the Beast. I hope you give it a chance and come to love it as much as I do. I would love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you might have. Thanks for taking the time to read my submission. I hope it changed your mind. :)
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