Before Not Dead Yet, ABC Axed This Cult Teen Drama With 94% on Rotten Tomatoes

While studio executives are busy resurrecting once-popular shows that had everything from a multi-season storyline to a not-so-successful finale, projects with fresh ideas are being shut down after one or two seasons.

Often, the end of a series comes as a surprise even to its creators, let alone its audience. This was the case with Not Dead Yet – despite the entertaining premise, ABC canceled the show after the second season. Although the show did not become a hit, it gathered a loyal fanbase that refused to believe that a third season of Not Dead Yet will never hit the screens.

Of course, this is not the first time in the history of ABC that outstanding projects have had too short a life. But the most unfair case of cancellation happened thirty years ago.

My So-Called Life Was a Teen Show Ahead of Its Time

In the mid-1990s, a compelling and honest drama about teenage rebellion, My So-Called Life, aired on ABC. In it, 15-year-old Angela talks about her place in the school hierarchy and tries to become popular.

Unlike similar shows, My So-Called Life dealt with important social issues that series about high school tend to ignore, from child abuse and teenage alcoholism to divorce and depression.

Even in the title, the show's creators tried to play on the show's main motif – the school years are deceptively called the most fun and joyful period of life, but in reality, teenagers are always confused by the meaninglessness of what is happening and the complexity of school socialization.

My So-Called Life Was Canceled Due to Low Ratings

In this respect, My So-Called Life was a completely innovative project, ahead of its time in many ways. Probably one of the most underrated teen dramas of the early 90s, it disappeared from television after its first season, despite good reviews from critics and nominations for prestigious awards.

The show's demise was influenced by several factors: firstly, it was difficult for the young actors to combine studying and filming, and secondly, its ratings were safely close to zero. As a result, the final episode did not resolve the love triangle between Angela, her boyfriend Jordan, and her best friend Brian.

Over the years, My So-Called Life has received well-deserved recognition and now is considered one of the best (if not the best) series about teenage life and its problems.

Where to Stream My So-Called Life?

The one and only season of My So-Called Life is available to watch on Prime Video and Hulu.