We hate seeing shows go. It is like a best friend moving away or a sibling going off to college. When it comes to Disney shows, both the good and bad end up being cancelled. It depends on the situation, like an actor moving on to different projects, the show itself not getting much love it definitely deserved or lacking the funds to keep on going. In a way, some of the shows left an impact for good or bad reasons. Even if the show managed to get a conclusion, sometimes it does not feel like enough. There might be unanswered questions regarding story lines, characters, or plot holes not fixed at all. We find ourselves crying that our favorite show is cancelled or cheering when we found out a show we despise gets the boot.
Whatever the situation, whenever a show we love or hate gets cancelled, sometimes it makes us gasp in shock due to the reason behind it. What was going on in Disney’s mind in making this decision? Did something bad happen regarding the actors, writers, or directors? There are some many questions, but so little time to answer them. In fact, some shows were on the brink of being cancelled, only to have another season instead, or get a spin-off to bring some closure or develop the characters more. There will be the good and the bad shows on here that have ended. Here is a list of twenty shows that were cancelled for shocking reasons!
20 Never Had A Chance
Sonny with a Chance aired on Disney Channel in 2009, where most sitcoms from this channel were being one-note and boring. However, this sitcom was surprisingly charming, thanks to Demi Lovato’s captivating and likable performance. She truly represented the presence of a teenage girl whose dream came true and was loving every minute of it. The budding romance between her and teen heartthrob Chad was also very cute to watch. Unfortunately, in 2011, Demi would not return for a third season, which technically cancelled the show overall. What Disney Channel did instead is to make an awful and unfunny spin-off without the main lead. Of course, when the star of the show is not returning, there is no point in recasting. This show had a chance, but it was short-lived.
19 Too Much Of The Jonas Brothers
Jonas was pretty much a fictionalized show about three brothers who are in a band and at the same time go to school. It is pretty much like the Jonas Brothers except they have different last names. Because it did well in its first season, Jonas ended up getting a second season. While it seemed like sunshine and rainbows for this sitcom, when it was announced for cancellation, it was a big surprise. How could it be cancelled? It starred Kevin, Joe, and Nick, who captured many girls’ hearts and are pretty much loyal to them. Well, the views were not satisfactory. It only attracted 3.7 million viewers while Hannah Montana had more than double on a Sunday. It just shows that not everything the Jonas Brothers does will always be successful in the end.
18 Prank Gone Too Far
PrankStars was Disney Channel’s version of Pranked, and to put it lightly, it kind of sucks. It was hosted by Mitchel Musso, star of Hannah Montana and Pair of Kings. The reality show features actors from Disney Channel shows and put them in situations where pranks go wild. It is not that funny and you are better off watching Ridiculousness or something else more comical. When it got cancelled, it might have been a sigh of relief from people who could not stand this reality show, but the truth is very shocking on why it ended up getting cancelled. It was not because of a lack of viewers, it was because of Musso’s arrest. Because of his arrest, it ultimately ended the short-lived series (and his involvement with his other show) after only six episodes.
17 They Clearly Did It
I Didn’t Do It was a sitcom about twins Lindy and Logan who, with their best friends, enter as freshmen in high school. It starts every episode, at least in season one, with them going through a scenario of what happened earlier. Love it or hate it, it was a unique concept for the annoying and irritating sitcoms Disney Channel has produced over the past few years. While this show is a mixed bag, the actors did a decent job bringing their characters to life and make the script work, even if it can be cringe-worthy sometimes. Season two abandoned the concept altogether, which slowly made the show less interesting, and eventually cancelling the show once season two ended. It is best to go with the original plan instead of adapting to a new one.
16 Underappreciated
This animated series was a strange one, but it had a surprising charm that managed to entertain us. Brandy and Mr. Whiskers is a cartoon about a dog and a rabbit who managed to get stuck in the Amazon jungle and start to settle in. Brandy hoped to get back to her hometown while Mr. Whiskers just does whatever. Their chemistry was very interesting, since they would have quarrels from time to time, but managed to work it out since they have to survive in the new environment they are in. For this show to be cancelled was surprising during its time on the air. Despite its cool animation, unique characters, and rather simple plot, the show was cancelled due to low ratings, which effectively ended after only two seasons.
15 Who Saw This Coming?
So Random! definitely deserved being cancelled since it was a terrible and rather unoriginal idea. After Sonny with a Chance ended due to Demi Lovato leaving for health issues, Disney Channel decided to completely remove any trace of her character and make a spin-off about the show instead. What we got was a boring comedy, annoying characters, and time filler. Even the actress that costarred with Demi, Tiffany Thornton, admitted about So Random!’s cancellation, “Without Demi, it just fell apart. She was the glue in it and she had to put herself first. I do admire Disney for trying to keep her co-stars on air, but it just failed.” The downfall of this show started before the first episode aired, and without the puzzle piece being Demi, that ultimately gave the reason why So Random! ended after just one season.
14 Apparently Never
Best Friends Whenever is another one of those shows that are kind of a mixed bag due to the awkward acting, but has an interesting concept. It is about two best friends who, after an experiment gone wrong, are able to travel when they want to, but sometimes when they do not want to. That idea in of itself is interesting and can make for really great plot-lines. However, like with other shows on this list, this one was cancelled due to declining ratings. With that, the show only lasted two seasons. The fact that the actors had great chemistry on-screen and off-screen affected them, but at least they were able to work together. At least in off-screen, the cast can still remain, friends, whenever.
13 Not In The House For Long
After That’s So Raven ended, we were given an opportunity to watch a spin-off about Raven’s brother, Cory, and his father move to the White House to become the personal chef for the president. Cory in the House has sparked a lot of attention after it got cancelled, with it becoming a meme as being regarded the best anime of all time, which is so true. But for real, it might not have the same charm as That’s So Raven, but the characters and the situations they got into were funny and interesting. As for why this show got cancelled? Well, the actors were pretty busy with other projects at the time and that it did not get much attention compared to That’s So Raven.
12 Talk Show Gone Wrong
Did anyone remember Take Two with Phineas and Ferb becoming a thing? While looking up shows that were cancelled for this list, there was nothing but confusion and awe. To think that this spin-off of Phineas and Ferb existed, albeit for a short while, and took on the form of a talk show. It was no surprise this got cancelled after one season due to low ratings, but still, the fact that this existed is a huge shock. It had celebrity guests such as Jack Black, Tony Hawk, Regis Philbin, and more recognizable names. It is hard to say that this was an original idea though because it does resemble Cartoon Network’s Space Ghost Coast to Coast. If you love Phineas and Ferb, then you might enjoy this short-lived show.
11 No Guide For Staying On The Air
Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything sounds like a show us gamers would like to tune in, right? Well, the writing is definitely lacking and the characters are one-note and stereotyped. The plot sounds like a great idea, with a gamer going back to school after having his chance at a gaming tournament ruined thanks to a thumb injury. However, it sounds very rushed when it comes to the pacing. When it was cancelled, the show’s creator, Devin Bunje, said in a tweet, “Unfortunately, this was a business decision, not a creative one. So we must leave you with 2 seasons we hope you all enjoy for a long time.” It seemed that Disney XD knew the show was not going to work out anyway.
10 Ending At Rock Bottom
Boy Meets World had an impact during the 90s, and it definitely had beloved fans who will always look back on it. Nearly two decades later, a spin-off titled Girl Meets World made its way into the small screen. Taking place years after the original show, Girl Meets World centers around Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley who goes through the experience of life and school. It was a surprising love letter to fans who grew up with the main characters of the original show. Unlike its predecessor, this spin-off met its end too soon, at least on Disney Channel. Co-creator Michael Jacobs tried his best to find a network to continue the show, but eventually, he tweeted out, “I wasn't able to find a new venue for the show. I'm sorry. We brought our best and hope we made you think and feel. Until next time. Thanks.” Very truly sad.
9 Glitch In The System
It seems that the Tron franchise has been cursed. After getting a long-awaited sequel to the first movie, we were amazed by the visuals and music. We were waiting for the third movie, but it eventually got scrapped. Tron: Uprising was like a love letter to those who wanted more Tron. The visuals were just as breathtaking as the movies while the characters were in-depth and captivating. However, with only two seasons, the show was cancelled. Like with most shows on this list, the lack of views really hurt the expectations of Disney. Judging by the animation, it was rather expensive, and the demographic did not fit the audience for Disney XD, despite getting rave reviews and a rather strong debut. This show definitely deserved more than it has received.
8 Growing Up Sucks
That’s So Raven was one of Disney Channel’s stand out sitcoms. It was clever, cheeky, and very enjoyable to watch. When we watch Raven get a vision of the future, we either worry of what will come if she does not fix it, or smile when it has to do with good and positive things. Unfortunately, this show’s future would not last forever, even if it had over one hundred episodes. It did not feel like the show has been cancelled, but it has been since the actors were getting older. However, it was not the end of That’s So Raven overall, since it did get a spin-off Cory in the House, and sequel titled Raven’s Home. Let us hope that the sequel can last just as long as the amazing That’s So Raven did.
7 The Empire Wins This Time
Star Wars Rebels has brought us an interesting perspective of the events that took place before Revenge of the Sith, and it did not disappoint! The characters were enjoyable to watch, the action was gripping, and the story was so addicting that it felt like we were getting more of the mythos in every episode. When it came to the rumors that the show would end after its fourth season, it was confirmed to be sadly true. The reason behind it somehow made sense. According to Kelsea Stahler, she stated, “Of course, this would all make sense considering the pace at which the series is barrelling towards the events of Rogue One.” Due to the cartoon’s events tying up together with the films, it helps build the franchise by going in chronological order.
6 Secret Identity Discovered
Ever since its debut, Hannah Montana was everywhere. There were so many girls wearing the show’s shirts, albums sold like crazy, and it pretty much became the most marketable TV show in Disney Channel history. So, when it came to the point where the show was wrapping up, it left a lot of fans really sad. They still wanted to have more adventures with Miley Stewart and sing along with the songs she would perform on stage. The “cancellation” happened to be Miley Cyrus wanting to move on. According to her father and co-star Billy Ray Cyrus, he said, “She wanted it to build to where there’s a moral to the story, to where it doesn’t just end and go away and that’s it. She wanted there to be an official ending to Hannah Montana.” To be honest, the fact that this show ended is really a blessing in disguise.
5 Pulling The Plug
While coming up with a list of shows cancelled, Gravity Falls might be the most surprising to appear on here. It technically did not get cancelled, but the creator of this creative and amazing cartoon, Alex Hirsch, actually wanted the story to end once the second season finished. It was a shock to us because the show was doing very well and we wanted to see more adventures with Mabel and Dipper. Even though we have to respect the wishes of Hirsch’s decision, it is still upsetting to see this genius of a cartoon end so soon. However, it might not entirely be the end of Gravity Falls, because Hirsch is open for continuing the series with some specials. Let us hope that this cartoon will come back very soon!
4 Money Trouble?
If you were to name an OG sitcom from Disney Channel, chances are you would have guessed Lizzie McGuire. The idea behind this show was brilliant: having the main character want to be popular, despite being so clumsy and shy, but at the same time, has amazing friends who are supportive with an animated version of herself representing her true feelings. This show eventually got a movie to tie in the events after ending middle school, and while it was a great way to end the series, it still felt too soon. The interesting fact is that Disney never cancelled Lizzie McGuire at all. Technically, it was Hilary Duff’s mother, who thought Disney was not giving them enough money after offering for Duff to do a sequel on Lizzie McGuire.
3 Slowly Burnt Out
If there was a cartoon that was so great but incredibly underrated, that would have to be American Dragon: Jake Long. We loved Jake and his friends, as well as hoped that he and Rose would end up together, despite the fact that the latter is a member of a clan where they slay dragons. If that is not an interesting version of Romeo and Juliet, then I do not know what is. The reason why it was cancelled was shown in front of our eyes when we saw the first episode of season two. The animation was certainly lacking due to the funding the show got then. Because of that, once the second season was ending, the show was too. It is never too late for doing a reboot!
2 Stoppable For A Bit
When it comes to the shows on here, Kim Possible managed to get away from being cancelled completely, but it was considered to be cancelled after three seasons, which is why it is on this list. Apparently, there was a curse where a Disney Channel series would end once it reached sixty-five episodes. Kim Possible happened to be one of the victims, but thanks to a strong and dedicated fanbase, it managed to get one more season to close the series off while dealing with Kim and Ron’s transition from best friends to romantic partners. If you were to watch the original series finale, So The Drama, there was an Easter egg referencing the ridiculous policy Disney Channel used to have. Even though it was originally cancelled, it managed to stay a bit longer and get the ending we needed.
1 Too Dark?
Who does not love this classic Disney Afternoon cartoon? Gargoyles was an interesting show with an interesting premise! We loved the characters, the dark and amazing story, and the setting. Even after its cancellation, the show still had a strong and loyal fanbase, which eventually resulted in a fan convention that started in 1997, the year the show unfortunately ended. The fact that this show still has its fans shows how much it left an impact on them. The cancellation of this show was a tragedy, to say the least. Fans begged for a revival or a new season. When it came to cancellation, Greg Weisman stated, “I do believe that Disney in general views the show as a disappointment. They had tremendously high hopes for it.” Talk about irony, since it is a rather beloved cartoon during its time.