Time For A Change
Usually when a network or streaming service cancels a series, that's the end of the show. However, sometimes a series that has been kicked out of its home on one network, is able to find a home on another. These shows managed to do just that.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Started On The WB In 1997
Following a five-season run on The WB, Buffy and the gang moved over to UPN for seasons 6 and 7.
Twentieth Century, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
The Great British Bake Off: Started On BBC Two In 2010
The first four seasons of Bake Off aired on BBC Two. It got so popular it was moved to BBC One for seasons 5-7. Since 2017, the popular competition series has been on Channel 4.
Love Productions, The Great British Baking Show (2010-)
JAG: Started On NBC In 1995
For many, JAG is so associated with the CBS network that many forget it actually premiered on NBC. But after finishing 79th in the ratings, NBC gave it the ax. That's when CBS said, "We'll take that, thank you"—and that is where the show stayed for the next nine seasons.
Cobra Kai: Started On YouTube Red/Premium In 2018
The show was a hit for YouTube—but in 2020, the company decided to stop producing original shows. That's when Netflix came in and grabbed Cobra Kai.
Counterbalance Entertainment, Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
You: Started On Lifetime In 2018
After one season on Lifetime, Netflix picked up the series and it has been a hit on the streamer.
SEAL Team: Started On CBS In 2017
SEAL Team began airing its fifth season on CBS before making the permanent move to Paramount+—where it remained for the last couple seasons of the series' run.
CBS Television Studios, SEAL Team (2017-2024)
Friday Night Lights: Started On NBC In 2006
The series was a critical darling and the fans it did have, loved it. But there weren't enough of them and after two seasons, NBC was looking at having to pull the plug on the show. But that's when they made a deal with DirecTV to co-produce the series and air its first run on DirecTV's 101 Network (what would become the Audience Network)—before going to NBC months later.
Imagine Television, Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
Diff'rent Strokes: Started On NBC In 1978
It takes Diff'rent Strokes to move the world and it took diff'rent networks to run all eight seasons of this classic sitcom. The first seven aired on NBC and the eighth on ABC.
Tandem Productions, Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
American Dad!: Started On FOX In 2005
The series moved to TBS for its 12th season, beginning in 2014—and is still there (season 24 will premier at the end of October 2024).
20th Television, American Dad! (2005-)
Scrubs: Started On NBC In 2001
When NBC announced that they would not renew Scrubs after season 7, ABC came in and said they would pick it up for what was going to be the eighth, and final, season. However, the series stuck around for a ninth season (albeit with a mostly new cast and the subtitle, "Med School").
ABC Signature, Scrubs (2001–2010)
Clueless: Started On ABC In 1996
Based on the hit 1995 film, ABC premiered the Clueless television series as part of their 1996 TGIF prime-time lineup. It only lasted one season at ABC before moving over to UPN for its final two seasons.
Cockamamie, Clueless (1996–1999)
Black Mirror: Started On Channel 4 In 2011
While many think of it as a Netflix series, we forget that Black Mirror actually aired its first two seasons on Britain's Channel 4 before heading over to Netflix for series 3 and beyond.
Zeppotron, Black Mirror(2011-)
Everybody Hates Chris: Started On UPN In 2005
Originally, Everybody Hates Chris was produced to air on FOX, but it ended up on UPN for its premier. After the first season, it headed over to The CW for seasons 2 through 4.
3 Arts Entertainment, Everybody Hates Chris (2005-2009)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Started On FOX In 2013
After five seasons, FOX canceled the series but within 24 hours, NBC had picked it up and that is where B99 finished up in 2021 after its eighth and final season.
3 Arts Entertainment, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
Lucifer: Started On FOX In 2016
The ratings for the show dropped for each consecutive season on FOX—and after season 3, the network gave it the boot. But a fan campaign to save the series piqued Netflix's interest and they brought Lucifer over—where it ran for three more seasons and was a solid hit for them.
DC Entertainment, Lucifer (2016-2021)
Cougar Town: Started On ABC In 2009
This underappreciated Courteney Cox sitcom was canceled by ABC after three seasons. However, it didn't take long (two days) before TBS swooped in and picked it up. It ran on TBS for three more seasons.
ABC Studios, Cougar Town (2009–2015)
Babylon 5: Started On PTEN In 1994
The sci-fi series ran for four seasons on the Prime Time Entertainment Network before moving to TNT for its fifth and final season.
Warner Bros., Babylon 5 (1993-1998)
Community: Started On NBC In 2009
After running for five seasons on NBC, Community was able to find one more season of life on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen service.
Krasnoff Foster Productions, Community (2009–2015)
Family Matters: Started On ABC In 1989
Family Matters made Steve Urkel a household name and ran for eight seasons on ABC before moving to CBS for its ninth and final season.
Bickley-Warren Productions, Family Matters (1989–1998)
Baywatch: Started On NBC In 1989
NBC canceled the series after one season, but it went the syndication route following the cancellation and ran for 10 more seasons.
The Baywatch Company, Baywatch (1989–2001)
Damages: Started In 2007 On FX
This legal thriller starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne did three seasons on FX before low ratings forced it to find a new home or be canceled. Along came the Audience Network—where the series aired its fourth and fifth seasons.
KZK Productions, Damages (2007-2012)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures: Started On CBS In 1990
The animated series made big changes after season 1. They switched production companies, they switched out the voice cast, and they switched networks—moving over to Fox Kids.
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990–1991)
The Bionic Woman: Started On ABC In 1976
This female-led Six Million Dollar Man spin-off series ran for two seasons on ABC before moving to NBC for its third, and final, season.
Harve Bennett Productions, The Bionic Woman (1976–1978)
Brotherly Love: Started On NBC In 1995
Starring real-life brothers Joey Lawrence, Matthew Lawrence, and Andrew Lawrence, this 90s sitcom ran for two seasons—the first on NBC, and the second on The WB.
Witt/Thomas Productions, Brotherly Love (1995–1997)
The Critic: Started On ABC In 1994
The adult animated sitcom only aired 23 episodes. The first 13 aired on ABC—who canceled the series after half a season. The following season, FOX aired 10 episodes.
Columbia, The Critic (1994–2001)
The Expanse: Started On SyFy In 2015
SyFy canceled The Expanse after three seasons, but Amazon picked it up and it ran for three more seasons on their Prime streaming service.
Alcon Entertainment, The Expanse (2015-2022)
Get Smart: Started On NBC In 1965
Created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, this secret agent parody series aired its first four seasons on NBC. The series switched over to CBS for season 5 (its last).
Talent Associates, Get Smart (1965–1970)
Gilmore Girls: Started On WB In 2000
In 2006, the WB network and UPN merged to form The CW. Gilmore Girls was one of a few shows that made it through the merger and it aired its final season on the new The CW.
Hofflund/Polone, Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Started On FX In 2005
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia added an "X" after season 8—moving from FX to FXX beginning in season 9.
3 Arts Entertainment, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-)
Wonder Woman: Started On ABC In 1975
Set in the 1940s, the first season of the Wonder Woman series aired on ABC. While ABC dragged their heels on picking it up for another season, CBS came in and grabbed it (on the condition that the setting be moved to present day (1970s)). It ran for two more seasons on CBS under the new title, The New Adventures of Wonder Woman.
Bruce Lansbury Productions, Wonder Woman (1975–1979)
9-1-1: Started On FOX In 2018
In May of 2023, Fox canceled the series after six seasons. ABC jumped on it and after airing season 7, they renewed it for an eighth season that began in September of 2024.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Started On NBC In 2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is one of the longest-running series in the L&O-verse—running for 10 seasons and 195 episodes. The first six of those 10 seasons aired on NBC and the last four premiered on the USA Network.
Wolf Films, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011)
Leave It To Beaver: Started On CBS In 1957
It might be an iconic series from the early days of television, but Leave It to Beaver wasn't a huge hit when it first aired in the late-50s and early-60s. In fact, after one season at CBS, the network said enough. ABC decided to give it a chance and it ran there for five more seasons.
Gomalco Productions, Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963)
Manifest: Started On NBC In 2018
The supernatural mystery premiered to strong ratings in 2018, but they dropped in season 2 and fell even farther in season 3. However, the third season ended on a major cliffhanger and with NBC canceling the series, it looked like fans might never know what happened. But that's when Netflix came to the rescue. They started streaming the series and it became an instant hit on the streamer—becoming only the third show ever to remain in Netflix's Top 10 for 100 days. The viewership numbers led to the streamer renewing the series for a fourth season, and final, season.
