The relationship between Hollywood and Television hasn’t always been easy. While a handful of movies have made the successful leap from screen to cathode, just as many never complete the swim upstream to spawn additional seasons. Whether due to the network pulling the plug prematurely or the stench of death emanating from their ratings, these shows managed one season (and some not even that long), before being rolled to the morgue.

Alien Nation (FOX)
22 episodes; September 18, 1989 - May 7, 1990

Alien Nation didn't so much suffer from low viewership than a lack of network foresight. Canceled due to budget concerns, this excellent science fiction police procedural was purged after just 22 episodes. It still however, managed to cram societal issues of xenophobia, religion sex, and cultural intolerance in its short tenure. Five made-for-TV movies followed, but it was never quite the same.

RoboCop (FOX)
21 episodes + pilot; March 18, 1994 - November 26, 1994

RoboCop failed to connect with viewers and critics because unlike it's big screen predecessor, syndicated Robocop chose more non-violent methods of apprehension. For instance, his badass pistol was relegated to firing tracking device tags. Show-runners failed to understand that the over-the-top violence significantly boosted Paul Verhoeven's movie to box office success. The show also featured new characters, like Gadget, who served as the young audience counterpart. Audiences didn't appreciate it enough and the show was swiftly jailed.

StarMan (ABC)
22 episodes; September 19, 1986 - May 2, 1987

The StarMan series picks up 15 years after the movie, with Robert Hayes replacing Jeff Bridges. The alien returns to Earth to help his half-alien son hunt for the son's mother. Imparting wholesome family values as a solid father/son team, the duo work together to elude the law. Depending on who you talk to, it was either too much science fiction or not enough buddy drama, and so it was launched into a black hole.

Ferris Bueller (NBC)
13 episodes; August 23, 1990 - August 11, 1991

In this TV series' universe, the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off actually exists, but was a paltry portrayal of the "real-life" Ferris (played here by Charlie Schlatter) and his antics at Ocean Park High School. Where movie Ferris (Matthew Broderick) was the popular kid everyone knew by name and reputation, TV Ferris was just a few rungs north of sociopath by manipulating his girlfriend’s grades to keep her at his school and doing whatever he wanted without reprisal. This Ferris wasn't the loveable scamp, but more like the guy who made you want to check for your wallet after shaking hands. He was merrily flunked and forgotten.

Tremors: The Series (Sci-Fi Channel)
13 episodes; March 28, 2003 - August 8, 2003

Airing the series out of order didn't help gain traction for the built-in audience of a highly successful movie franchise. Leave it up to network execs to find a way to screw up something as simple as continuity. Set up to fail, Tremors: The Series never hit projected viewership and was buried after only the first 6 episodes aired. Incidentally, Kevin Bacon announced via Twitter that he is revisiting the role of Valentine in a Blumhouse-produced 10-episode Tremors TV mini-series.

Articles by
MontiLee Stormer
Movie Reelist Contributor: MontiLee Stormer
MontiLee Stormer is a writer of horror, dark and urban fantasy. She’s also is a troublemaker, concocting acts of mayhem and despair for her own selfish pleasure. An avid movie watcher, she prefers horror but will see just about anything if you're buying. Poltergeist (1982) is her favorite movie and she actively hates The Shining (1980) due to its racism, misogyny, the butchering of the source material. She could host a TEDtalk on this single subject. Writing about herself in the third person is just a bonus.

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