Five Canceled ABC Shows We’d Like to See Take Over for Roseanne

In the fallout of Roseanne Barr’s massive Twitter flame-out, ABC did the right thing and canceled the highly rated reboot. I mean, the right thing would have been to never reboot the show in the first place, a fact obvious to anyone whose been following Barr on Twitter, but we’re grading on a curve here. Many actors, writer and creators have tweeted in support of ABC’s move, with Hannibal‘s Bryan Fuller tweeted a more tempting and palatable revival idea:

Pushing Daisies fans quickly took to Twitter to support the reboot of the whimsical fantasy series, and it got us thinking. There are so many great canceled ABC series that deserve a second chance, series not helmed by problematic creators and stars. Here are our top five shows we’d like to see get resurrected.

Marvel’s Agent Carter

With Marvel mania at an all-time high, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. heading into it’s sixth and possibly final season, there’s room to bring back our favorite feminist secret agent. In the male-dominated field of Marvel heroes, Peggy Carter has always stood as one of the franchise’s most nuanced and inspiring female characters. This badass agent deserves one more mission.

My So-Called Life

Even though My So-Called Life was canceled 23 years ago, the teen coming of age drama has left an indelible mark on pop culture. Even though the series only lasted one season, it left a lasting impact on a generation, launching the careers of Claire Danes, Jared Leto and Wilson Cruz. The show wasn’t afraid to tackle heavy themes, and gave us the first queer teen television character in Cruz’s iconic Rickie Vasquez, as well as the first openly gay actor playing an openly gay character. This groundbreaking show deserves another shot at breaking our hearts.

Cop Rock

Oh Cop Rock, we hardly knew ye. Steven Bochco’s bizarre musical police drama only lasted 11 episodes, but has remained a pop culture punchline since its cancellation in 1990. With both Glee and Galavant off the air and NBC’s Rise recent cancellation, we need a new prime-time musical show. Lea Michele needs a job, y’all.

Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23

The hilarious and brilliant Don’t Trust the B was canceled in 2013 after two seasons, and honestly we’ve never recovered. The irreverent adventures of Chloe, June, and their BFF James Van Der Beek kept us laughing and Ritter has already expressed interest in reviving the series. Though her plate may be full with the next season of Jessica Jones, we’d love to see Ritter reprise her role on the cult comedy.

The Flying Nun

Possibly the silliest premise to ever hit television, The Flying Nun featured Sally Field as Sister Bertrille, the nun who could take to skies thanks to high winds and a stiff cornette. Field could return to reprise her role, or take over as Reverend Mother Placido, the leader of the convent. Maybe a sweeps episode with the chill Pope Francis? Now that’s some divine intervention.

What shows would you like to see ABC reboot? Share your thoughts in the comments.

(image: Mark Seliger/ABC via Getty Images)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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