There’s nothing worse than discovering a new favorite series, only to find out it’s been added to the long list of canceled TV shows that went off the air far too soon. Even shows that were canceled many years ago, like “Freaks and Geeks,” “The O.C.,” and “Twin Peaks” continue to be Googled by Americans to this day. So which canceled TV shows are Americans Googling the most? We turned to Google Trends to find out the most searched canceled TV shows in every state and nationwide.
The Most Popular Canceled TV Show in Every U.S. State
There are plenty of examples of canceled TV shows that prove quality is not always enough to keep a series on the air. Even shows that feature some of America’s favorite talents, like “Veronica Mars,” which starred Kristen Bell, and “The Get Down,” which was produced and directed by BAFTA and Golden Globe award winner Baz Luhrmann, didn’t make the cut. One canceled show that has had TV connoisseurs up in arms for decades is Judd Apatow’s “Freaks and Geeks,” which launched the careers of comedy superstars like Seth Rogan, James Franco, and Jason Segel. This now-legendary cult classic premiered in 1999 and was canceled after just one 18-episode season, but maintains its legacy, scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes to this day.
It’s shows like this, which capture the attention of viewers and then leave them wondering where the story could’ve gone, that seem to crop back up in the collective consciousness time and time again. In the streaming landscape, with thousands of options, it’s telling that these shows continue to pique public interest, so much so that they look for answers online.
We Were Robbed: The Most Popular Canceled TV Shows Overall
The most popular canceled TV shows in the U.S. are as follows:
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – 10 states
- Twin Peaks – 5 states
- The OA – 3 states
- The Get Down – 3 states
- Freaks & Geeks – 2 states
- GLOW – 2 states
- Happy Endings – 2 states
- My Name Is Earl – 2 states
- The O.C. – 2 states
- Veronica Mars – 2 states
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? – 2 states
The most searched canceled show in the U.S., by a landslide, is the Netflix original series “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” top searched in 10 states. The reimagined, darker version of the classic ’90s sitcom lasted two seasons and was canceled due to the pandemic, but it is clearly missed by the public.
Also sorely missed is David Lynch’s prolific series-turned-franchise “Twin Peaks,” which was the most searched canceled TV show in five states. The surreal crime drama lasted two seasons in its initial run in the early ’90s, was followed by two feature-length films in 1991 and 2014, and then had a final reboot season in 2017, wrapping up the show’s ongoing mysteries. For “The OA,” however, much remains a mystery after Netflix canceled the series two seasons in.
Closing Thoughts
It seems that with these beloved shows gone too soon, America will always wonder what could’ve been. For these canceled TV shows, though, a lasting impression was made on the public, and their legacy is as timeless as diamonds.
That being said, you can Netflix and chill with the knowledge that your own story can go on forever when the main character proposes to the love interest with an engagement ring from Shane Co. that has higher ratings than any of the shows on this list.
Methodology
Using Google Trends search data over the past 12 months, we analyzed the search volume of 50 of the most popular canceled TV shows from sources including BuzzFeed, IMDB, and Reddit to ultimately determine the canceled TV shows viewers are still searching for most in every state and nationwide.
