My Top 5 Favorite Cancelled Web Series

Every lil’ Internet show dreams of getting that big sponsorship, cashing in, earning the big bucks. Some of us make it, most of us don’t. Unfortunately, even if your show does have some money backing it, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your worries are over.  Just today, Koldcast sponsored Midwest Teen Sex Show (a personal fave) saw multiple episodes yanked from Myspace and Youtube. Thankfully, MwTSS seems to be relatively unscathed. Still, it got me thinking…

Numerous shows get canceled on TV, but they rarely resurface. Web shows, however, live on. I present my top 5 favorite canceled shows that were shut down by the powers that be.

5. Viral (on Veoh)

An insider’s peek into the web industry, Viral was a show before it’s time that covered the creation of other shows that were before their time. Do we need a show like Viral? Yes. Is it feasible or profitable to have one in the near future. Probably not. Fortunately, they’re all archived for your viewing pleasure, and retain all the insight and interest they did the first time round.

4. Web Drifter/ Internet Superstar

An Internet Superstar in his own right, Martin Sargent is a serial show creator. His work on Revision3 was excellent, but apparently didn’t earn enough of a following to continue either of his series. Without Martin’s shows or Epic Fu, Revision3 hardly seems worth watching.

3. Super Deluxe (the all stars, at least)

I’ve written about SuperDeulxe (and how badly I miss it) before. Regardless, the lineup of shows like, I am Baby Cakes, the Professor Brothers, Derek and Simon, The Maria Bamford Show, Penelope Princess of Pets and Layers cannot be ignored. Super Deluxe made web series look fun and cool to produce in a way that no one else has since. Disappointingly, having talent and great ideas has proven to be only half the battle. Super Deluxe spent (and lost) some serious dough, and it shows.

2. Wallstrip

Though CBS thought that a 4 million dollar aquisition was reasonable, apparently keeping that 4 million dollar show running was not. As the first big web show aquisition, people thought the purchase of Wallstrip would be the first of many. It even spawned a few rip offs . Conversly, it’s canceleation was thought of as an omen for the crumbling video economy.

1. House of Cosby’s

One of my all time favorite shows, the House of Cosby’s is perhaps the most celebrated web series yet. The House of Cosby’s started as a break out hit from channel101. Then the original Bill Cosby fired off a cease and desist letter, or as Tilzy.Tv puts it, a “I have no sense of humor, so I’ll sue your poor ass” letter. Though the public dispute only fueled the popularity of the series, no new episodes were ever created. Creator Justin Roiland did have his comeuppance in an Acceptable.Tv (Channel 101′s VH1 spin off) spinoff called the Kosbees. Though similar in tone, it never matched the magic of that first series.

Like they say, only the good die young.