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Pick: What was the greatest one-season wonder in TV history?
Did Kato and Kolchak deserve more love?
Television is a competitive business. The pressure is on from the first episode. It seems as if half of the shows made last a single season.
This is not always a knock on their quality. Perhaps a series received a tough time slot. Maybe it was too ahead of its time. In some cases, it might have just been too high quality — too expensive to produce.
There are many single-season shows with rabid fanbases. In fact, we show several such shows on MeTV. We call them one-season wonders.
Below, we gathered some of our favorite one-season wonders from the 1950s through the 2000s. They range from sci-fi to drama to Westerns. Which one is your favorite?
Of course, there are too many to list. Did we not include your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
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Which is your favorite television show that only lasted one season?
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Pick: What was the greatest one-season wonder in TV history?
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112 Comments
I picked Briscoe County Jr., but it doesn't surprise me that Kolchak was number one.
I picked “Planet of the Apes”, however the one I would’ve voted for wasn’t on the list which is “American Gothic”.
So many great shows here - Kolchak, Green Hornet, T.H.E. Cat...But you forgot my very favorite "One Season Wonder," the 1990 version of The Flash!
Earth 2 (94-95 seadon) was awesome with Tim Curry.
When does the earlier sci-fi attempts on network TV but it never caught on. It was too woke for its time
When does the earlier sci-fi attempts on network TV but it never caught on. It was too woke for its time
What about The Simpsons?
Wait, I think they were on more than one season. My bad.
Wait, I think they were on more than one season. My bad.
My brother wrote The Pilot script for "my so-called life".
It aired on MTV and has a cult following. Can't believe it's only getting 3%. It deserves better.
Also can't believe Matthew Star has no votes (Actually I can! That was garbage)
It aired on MTV and has a cult following. Can't believe it's only getting 3%. It deserves better.
Also can't believe Matthew Star has no votes (Actually I can! That was garbage)
Your brother is the man then! Still can’t believe that aired on MTV 🤯
Few remember "He & She" with Dick Benjamin and Paula Prentiss. Dry. subtle and a decade ahead of it's time as the original show about "nothing".
100% agreed. Allan Burns, one of the creators of Mary Tyler Moore, was a writer on this show!
Amazed that Firefly got 5%, and Battlestar Galactica got 19%, thought it would be the other way around. Fox really messed Firefly up ny running the episodes out of order, showing (I think) episode 3 or 4 first, then episode 2, then 5, etc. The last episode aired was the 2 hr pilot. If you watch Firefly in the correct sequence, it's one fantastic show.
It was my choice, but The Magician with Bill Bixby would be my second, and Police Squad my third.
It was my choice, but The Magician with Bill Bixby would be my second, and Police Squad my third.
Very disappointing quiz
Houston Knights, with Michael Pare and Michael Beck.
It was between Firefly and Battlestar Galactica. I went with Firefly
Frank’s Place starring Tim Reid, created by Hugh Wilson (of WKRP fame).
I might also suggest Quark
Richard Benjamin. Nice.
I think the Invisible Man but David McCullum was only one season. It was pretty good.
I think the Invisible Man but David McCullum was only one season. It was pretty good.
100% similar. Loved Kolchak and them goofy monsters.
You left off Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner" (1967-1968). It's my favorite one-season wonder, followed by "Kolchak the Night Stalker" at 2nd place. Is it because "The Prisoner" was a British show?
The Jetsons or Top Cat
You could never get Top Cat on television today. But I love it. Bought the DVD set to show my kid. He likes Benny and JuJu
How about the tv series, The Honeymooners (1955-56)…. one season, 39 episodes, shown over and over and over again to generations of new fans and old. Great comedy. It inspired the Flintstones and the King of Queens.
You left off my 2nd favorite one-season wonder, American Gothic.
There are at least 5 I could pick...to hard to pick just one.
Forgot Surface (2005 - 2006)