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Roswell Today
By the People, for the People
10 Forgotten TV Shows That Should've Taken Over The World
These shows had all it takes to be successful.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:03am
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Many great television shows have been forgotten over time, but these ten should have taken over the world. From fantasy comedies to sci-fi dramas, these series had captivating premises, impressive production values, and talented casts, yet failed to find a wide audience. Reasons range from poor marketing to airing on the wrong network or at the wrong time. While some have developed cult followings, these forgotten gems deserve a second chance to shine and find the global success they were primed for.
Why it matters
The article highlights how even excellent TV shows can be lost to time due to factors outside of their creative merits. Understanding why certain shows failed to break through can provide lessons for networks, creators, and audiences on how to better support and promote quality programming in an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape.
The details
The article profiles 10 TV shows that had the potential to become worldwide hits but instead faded into obscurity. These include the fantasy musical comedy "Galavant", the sci-fi drama "FlashForward", the "Battlestar Galactica" prequel "Caprica", the British superhero series "Stan Lee's Lucky Man", the quirky murder mystery "Trial & Error", the original "Roswell" series, the irreverent sitcom "Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23", the superhero show "Stargirl", the anthology series "Miracle Workers", and the supernatural comedy "Dead Like Me". The reasons for their lack of success range from poor marketing, airing on the wrong network, being released at the wrong time, or simply not finding a wide enough audience despite critical acclaim.
- Galavant aired on ABC from 2015 to 2016.
- FlashForward aired for one season in 2009-2010.
- Caprica aired for one season in 2010 on SyFy.
- Stan Lee's Lucky Man aired for three seasons from 2016 to 2018 in the UK.
- Trial & Error aired for two seasons from 2017 to 2018.
- The original Roswell series aired from 1999 to 2002.
- Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 aired for two seasons from 2012 to 2013.
- Stargirl aired from 2020 to 2022 on The CW.
- Miracle Workers aired for three seasons from 2019 to 2021 on TBS.
- Dead Like Me aired for two seasons from 2003 to 2004 on Showtime.
The players
Alan Menken
Composer who wrote the original music for Galavant.
Christopher Lennertz
Composer who wrote the original music for Galavant.
Glenn Slater
Composer who wrote the original music for Galavant.
Bryan Fuller
Creator of the series Dead Like Me.
James Van Der Beek
Played a fictionalized version of himself in Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23.
The takeaway
These forgotten TV shows highlight how even high-quality, innovative programming can struggle to find a wide audience due to factors like poor marketing, airing on the wrong network, or being released at the wrong time. Their stories serve as cautionary tales, but also inspire hope that with the right circumstances and second chances, these deserving series could one day find the global success they were primed for.
