Cancelled TV Shows That Never Provided A Proper Ending

[Mark Giardina]

I don't remember anything mentioned about Connor's character going under cover or being pulled to safety by a friendly Native American. But I think there was one episode where it was hinted that Connor was ordered by the commanding officer to go get help, which is why he left the scene of the battle. He was wounded on the way to get help and it was assumed that he ran away. Since there were no other survivors to back up his story, he was drummed out of the Army for cowardice.

Several years before he died I believe (but not certain) that Chuck Connors was interviewed and asked why Branded never had a final episode clearing his character?

His reply was that the writers had tossed around the idea that another person survived the Bitter Creek battle; assumed another identity, got married, raised a family, and was well respected in the community where he lived. Jason McCord was traveling through the town where this person lived and recognized him. McCord tried to convince the guy to come forth and explain what happened, but he refused.

The writers apparently dropped that idea because it was so similar to how The Fugitive series ended. Around the same time Branded had been canceled and the writers moved on to other employment thus no ending to the show was ever written.

In retrospect, it would have been nice if Connor's had made a TV movie tying up all the loose ends of this show.

 

[Ultimajock]

I don't remember anything mentioned about Connor's character going under cover or being pulled to safety by a friendly Native American. But I think there was one episode where it was hinted that Connor was ordered by the commanding officer to go get help, which is why he left the scene of the battle. He was wounded on the way to get help and it was assumed that he ran away. Since there were no other survivors to back up his story, he was drummed out of the Army for cowardice.

Several years before he died I believe (but not certain) that Chuck Connors was interviewed and asked why Branded never had a final episode clearing his character?

His reply was that the writers had tossed around the idea that another person survived the Bitter Creek battle; assumed another identity, got married, raised a family, and was well respected in the community where he lived. Jason McCord was traveling through the town where this person lived and recognized him. McCord tried to convince the guy to come forth and explain what happened, but he refused.

The writers apparently dropped that idea because it was so similar to how The Fugitive series ended. Around the same time Branded had been canceled and the writers moved on to other employment thus no ending to the show was ever written.

...if that was indeed how Chuck Connors described it, his memory was way off. NBC canceled Branded in September 1966, while ABC ran the final episode of The Fugitive on August 29, 1967. Somewhere around here I have the DVD set of the first season of Branded; as I recall, some of the Bitter Creek back story was played out in the second episode as a flashback. I'll see if I can find that thing and look at it to see if in fact this was the case...

 

[Mark Giardina]

Several years before he died I believe (but not certain) that Chuck Connors was interviewed and asked why Branded never had a final episode clearing his character?

His reply was that the writers had tossed around the idea that another person survived the Bitter Creek battle; assumed another identity, got married, raised a family, and was well respected in the community where he lived. Jason McCord was traveling through the town where this person lived and recognized him. McCord tried to convince the guy to come forth and explain what happened, but he refused.

The writers apparently dropped that idea because it was so similar to how The Fugitive series ended. Around the same time Branded had been canceled and the writers moved on to other employment thus no ending to the show was ever written.

...if that was indeed how Chuck Connors described it, his memory was way off. NBC canceled Branded in September 1966, while ABC ran the final episode of The Fugitive on August 29, 1967. Somewhere around here I have the DVD set of the first season of Branded; as I recall, some of the Bitter Creek back story was played out in the second episode as a flashback. I'll see if I can find that thing and look at it to see if in fact this was the case...

You are absolutely correct; Branded was canceled a year before The Fugitive's final episode.
As I wrote, I wasn't 100% certain about Connor's comments, so I, most likely, either misquoted him, or perhaps he might have made an error during the interview.

 

[jwgreek8606]

I think Doogie Howser MD never had a proper ending. Steven Bochco had said that he will always resent ABC for pulling the show due to low ratings because he never got to properly finish the storyline.

 

[LKellerIII]

I think Doogie Howser MD never had a proper ending. Steven Bochco had said that he will always resent ABC for pulling the show due to low ratings because he never got to properly finish the storyline.

Many of the postings on this thread mention shows that didn't require an "ending," The Fugitive is one thing, and there were shows like it that needed resolution, and never got them. But Doogie Houser? Come on. I think you can assume Doogie continued his brilliant career as a doctor, and became Head of Surgery (or whatever) by his mid 20s.

 

[jwgreek8606]

I think Doogie Howser MD never had a proper ending. Steven Bochco had said that he will always resent ABC for pulling the show due to low ratings because he never got to properly finish the storyline.

Many of the postings on this thread mention shows that didn't require an "ending," The Fugitive is one thing, and there were shows like it that needed resolution, and never got them. But Doogie Houser? Come on. I think you can assume Doogie continued his brilliant career as a doctor, and became Head of Surgery (or whatever) by his mid 20s.

Actually friend, Steven Bochco said that He was going to write that Doogie got burned out by medicine and decided to retire from it and become a writer.

 

[LKellerIII]

I think Doogie Howser MD never had a proper ending. Steven Bochco had said that he will always resent ABC for pulling the show due to low ratings because he never got to properly finish the storyline.

Many of the postings on this thread mention shows that didn't require an "ending," The Fugitive is one thing, and there were shows like it that needed resolution, and never got them. But Doogie Houser? Come on. I think you can assume Doogie continued his brilliant career as a doctor, and became Head of Surgery (or whatever) by his mid 20s.

OK, friend, I stand corrected. I wasn't a regular Doogie watcher - I didn't personally find the show up to the normal Steven Bochco standards. I guess my point was - regular episodic TV shows do not necessarily require an 'ending' - you can just make a natural assumption that the show explored some period of time in their lives, and that their lives continue on after that.

But I realize the creators and writers of these showsmust get frustrated when their shows are canceled, and they're unable to shoot and air some story arc they think is important.


Actually friend, Steven Bochco said that He was going to write that Doogie got burned out by medicine and decided to retire from it and become a writer.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I don't remember anything mentioned about Connor's character going under cover or being pulled to safety by a friendly Native American. But I think there was one episode where it was hinted that Connor was ordered by the commanding officer to go get help, which is why he left the scene of the battle. He was wounded on the way to get help and it was assumed that he ran away. Since there were no other survivors to back up his story, he was drummed out of the Army for cowardice.

Several years before he died I believe (but not certain) that Chuck Connors was interviewed and asked why Branded never had a final episode clearing his character?

His reply was that the writers had tossed around the idea that another person survived the Bitter Creek battle; assumed another identity, got married, raised a family, and was well respected in the community where he lived. Jason McCord was traveling through the town where this person lived and recognized him. McCord tried to convince the guy to come forth and explain what happened, but he refused.

The writers apparently dropped that idea because it was so similar to how The Fugitive series ended. Around the same time Branded had been canceled and the writers moved on to other employment thus no ending to the show was ever written.

In retrospect, it would have been nice if Connor's had made a TV movie tying up all the loose ends of this show.

After reading your posting I went into every internet site I could to see if I could find the interview you mentioned where Chuck Connors made the statements regarding the end of Branded. I couldn't find a thing. So I called a former co-worker who has worked in Hollywood for over 40 years and asked him if he knew anything? His reply was no, but he would check around.

This last weekend, during an email I received from him, he mentioned about running into one of the writers of the show (now retired) and that person said he too never heard of an interview where Connor's discussed the ending of the show as you mentioned.

I'm not calling you a liar, but I think there is a misunderstanding here.

 

[MattParker]

Let's not forget that The Fugitive and other shows with a finale are the exception, not the rule. Sometimes the show is cancelled. Often, producers decide that a finale to wrap things up reduces the value of the show in syndication. And many shows don't have a continuing story line (less so now than in TV's early years); each episode is isolated and there is no apparent memory from one episode to the next. A regular character leaves without mention and without ever being mentioned again. A guest star comes and goes in a single episode. Characters repeat the same actions without learning from the past.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Often, producers decide that a finale to wrap things up reduces the value of the show in syndication.

Perfect example is "Who's the Boss." The finale was designed so that the show could run in syndication without having the characters of Tony and Angela married.

While at the time there were some fans upset with that ending, from a financial standpoint it makes sense; especially if the plan was to run the show in syndication.

 

[bpatrick]

Earlier I mentioned "Coronet Blue". The possibility of
Michael Alden being involved in espionage was another
theme explored during the show's short run. According
to Wikipedia (use your own discretion about believing this),
creator Larry Cohen said, years later, that Alden was actually
a Russian spy who had become extremely Americanized (shades
of Robert Goulet's character on "Blue Light" overplaying his hand
as a German), that "Coronet Blue" was the name of a group of
Russian spies, and that he had decided to defect and was marked
for extinction before he could give away the organization's secrets
and name names. And since he wasn't American no one could identify
him.

Possible? Maybe. I don't know how '60s audiences, still in the Cold
War, would have accepted this premise.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Gee I forgot about "Blue Light."

My theory however is since the allies won the war that it would eventually come out that Goulet's character was a spy for the USA.

Now another ending ( and I know this sounds morbid) is that the Nazis discover he's a traitor and he's executed as part of the series final episode.

Speaking of endings, It would have been nice if Route 66 ended. I just can't imagine these two guys traveling all over the place forever. The price of gasoline and cost of maintaining their car would have bankrupted them.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Speaking of endings, It would have been nice if Route 66 ended. I just can't imagine these two guys traveling all over the place forever. The price of gasoline and cost of maintaining their car would have bankrupted them.

Yes, Route 66 would have eventually ended, all right--with the road's decommissioning in June 1985. ;D ;D ;D

But with all the 66 memorabilia and nostalgia in the last couple decades, I'm surprised no one has attempted a revival of "Route 66" in some form even without the namesake route officially in existence.

 

[desertv]

Speaking of endings, It would have been nice if Route 66 ended. I just can't imagine these two guys traveling all over the place forever. The price of gasoline and cost of maintaining their car would have bankrupted them.

Yes, Route 66 would have eventually ended, all right--with the road's decommissioning in June 1985. ;D ;D ;D

But with all the 66 memorabilia and nostalgia in the last couple decades, I'm surprised no one has attempted a revival of "Route 66" in some form even without the namesake route officially in existence.

They did..and it didn't last long

 

[mleach]

Speaking of endings, It would have been nice if Route 66 ended. I just can't imagine these two guys traveling all over the place forever. The price of gasoline and cost of maintaining their car would have bankrupted them.

Yes, Route 66 would have eventually ended, all right--with the road's decommissioning in June 1985. ;D ;D ;D

But with all the 66 memorabilia and nostalgia in the last couple decades, I'm surprised no one has attempted a revival of "Route 66" in some form even without the namesake route officially in existence.

They did..and it didn't last long

Yepper..starring Dan Cortese. A guy who was "famous" for his Burger King ads and MTV Sports and along with rocker George Thorogood..their taste in cigars ..I can see why the "new' Route 66 didn't last.

 

[firepoint525]

It's interesting that route 66 was taken out of commission with the coming of the interstates, while other similar highways have been left in service. Here in Tennessee, I live about a mile from U.S. highway 70, which parallels interstate 40 all the way through the state of Tennessee, yet it has still been left in service. Good thing, too! I don't know how I would be able to go anywhere if I didn't have highway 70!

(And I can hear I-40 traffic from here at my house.)

 

[therealjm12]

Us 20 still runs from Boston to Chicago and is still a very cool drive. It's were you can go search for America.
The new Route 66 show was bad. They tried to make it too hip. They didin't even use Nelson Riddle's theme. I think it is a concept that could work if done right.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

It's interesting that route 66 was taken out of commission with the coming of the interstates, while other similar highways have been left in service. Here in Tennessee, I live about a mile from U.S. highway 70, which parallels interstate 40 all the way through the state of Tennessee, yet it has still been left in service. Good thing, too! I don't know how I would be able to go anywhere if I didn't have highway 70!

(And I can hear I-40 traffic from here at my house.)

And the other ironic thing with the 70/40 route matter--from roughly between Denver and Pittsburgh you have US 40 (the old "National Road") either parallel with or co-signed with Interstate 70!

 

[azumanga]

And the other ironic thing with the 70/40 route matter--from roughly between Denver and Pittsburgh you have US 40 (the old "National Road") either parallel with or co-signed with Interstate 70!

Actually, I-70 and US 40 both parallel further east, to Baltimore.

 

[mleach]

And the other ironic thing with the 70/40 route matter--from roughly between Denver and Pittsburgh you have US 40 (the old "National Road") either parallel with or co-signed with Interstate 70!

Actually, I-70 and US 40 both parallel further east, to Baltimore.

..and I-70 ends in Utah close to a very small town called Richfield..nowhere near Salt Lake City but 70 does go through all of Colorado.