Many shows have been cancelled, marking the end of an era. That’s the operative word: cancelled. Shows like Breaking Bad, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory ended their runs and took an era with them, but they weren’t technically cancelled. Likewise, there are shows that presumably finished their runs but then came back for a second go. Remember when American Idol was done? Apparently not. What about Futurama, The Walking Dead, and Law & Order? It was the end of an era when they went off the air, until it wasn’t.
That said, there are some shows that, once cancelled, truly did mark the end of the era, whether it was a long-running series, the last of a franchise, or something even more poignant. One of those shows dates back more than 20 years, while another was just released in 2026. But in each case, the cancellation of the shows was about much more than just a show ending — it was about an entire era wrapping up.
1
‘How I Met Your Father’ (2022–2023)
Let’s make one thing clear: How I Met Your Father was in no way as good or memorable as How I Met Your Mother. But that spin-off, one of the most criminally forgotten Hulu shows, coming and going so quickly was the true mark of the end of a sitcom concept that we lived with for over a decade. Those who grew up as teens or young adults in the early-to-mid 2000s grew up watching the original characters through pivotal times in their lives. So, when How I Met Your Mother went off the air, that alone marked the end of an era.
When How I Met Your Father came about, the unique premise was brought back once again with a modern-day setting and a gender-swapped story. The sitcom even brought back Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) for a cameo. How I Met Your Father lasted two seasons, and once it ended following mixed reviews, it was clear the framing of the show was done for good. Never again would we see a parent telling their grown kids in the future the story of how they met their other parent. While How I Met Your Father is now nothing but a distant memory, still overshadowed by the original, it’s the show that technically marked the end of the era.
2
‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ (2015–2026)
The late-night talk show space is a hot topic nowadays, and many debate whether it will last long-term. But going back to the days of Johnny Carson and David Letterman, late-night talk shows hold a special place in pop culture history. That’s why when it was announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be ending, it was about much more than just a show cancellation — it was about the end of a legacy. The Late Show existed long before Stephen Colbert was host, starting 22 years prior with Letterman at the helm.
What’s especially significant about the end of the talk show is the way it came about and the reasoning, with many believing there were political motivations behind the show’s cancellation. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put the pieces together. Nonetheless, the cancellation marks the first time CBS has not had a late-night talk show since 1993, and the first time in decades that all three major networks aren’t airing one at the same time.
3
‘The Boroughs’ (2026)
The Boroughs is a standalone show that only lasted a single season before being cancelled. How could it mark the end of an era? It’s sort of the final project to mark the end of an era of The Duffer Brothers and their partnership with Netflix. Following the success of Stranger Things, Tales from ’85, and Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, the latter of which the pair served as executive producers, they also executive produced The Boroughs. Drawing comparisons to Stranger Things, the sci-fi series centers around a group of senior citizens in a lavish retirement community who investigate strange happenings.
It appears that, despite being one of the best sci-fi series of 2026 so far, The Boroughs might mark the last The Duffer Brothers project that appears on Netflix, at least for some time. The brothers signed a four-year deal with Paramount and ceased their partnership with Netflix in April 2026. Considering how huge Stranger Things has been for Netflix, a part of the streamer for almost a decade, the end of that longstanding partnership is a huge deal. And The Boroughs, while not created by the Duffers, will hold a special place for their involvement with it.
4
‘Two and a Half Men’ (2003–2015)
For 12 seasons across as many years and a total of 262 episodes, viewers knew they could come home and watch a new episode of Two and a Half Men every week. While the show is still heavily in rotation with repeats, when the sitcom ended in 2015, it was bittersweet. While Charlie Sheen had departed before the ninth season and Angus T. Jones reduced his role from the 10th onwards, the show still powered on with new characters played by Ashton Kutcher and Amber Tamblyn. It became a very different show, with Alan (Jon Cryer) really being the only constant.
Still, when it was announced that the show would not be coming back, it was a tough pill to swallow given that it felt like it could have lasted forever. Might the sitcom have gone on longer had Sheen and Jones stayed on and the same dynamic continued? We’d never know. Either way, it was a pivotal moment in television when Two and a Half Men was no longer producing more episodes — even more so when creator Chuck Lorre used the final moments to kill off Charlie’s character, who was already presumed dead, with a falling piano. Lorre turned to the camera to break the fourth wall and declare “winning!” ensuring he literally got the last laugh.
5
‘Blue Bloods’ (2010–2024)
Who wouldn’t love Tom Selleck back on the small screen after his long and iconic run in Magnum, P.I. in the ’80s? That’s why when Blue Bloods was announced with Selleck at the helm, there was no doubt the show would be huge. And that it was, airing for 14 seasons and 293 episodes.
In the police procedural, Selleck plays Frank Reagan, the New York Police Commissioner whose two sons, played by Donnie Wahlberg and Will Estes, are also officers, while his daughter, played by Bridget Moynahan, is an attorney. When Season 14 went on hold due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, it was then confirmed to be the last, and fans were devastated. The family story continues in Boston Blue, with Wahlberg as the lead character. But without Selleck, the end of Blue Bloods still marks the end of an era.
6
‘The O.C.’ (2003–2007)
Anyone who was coming of age or was a young adult in the early 2000s remembers watching The O.C. In fact, the show is experiencing a resurgence on streaming, its storylines and theme resonating with a new audience. When the teen drama ended what seemed like abruptly after four seasons, fans were devastated. The show had become a ritual part of the week — a pop culture phenomenon.
Fans loved the underdog story of Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), a high schooler with a troubled childhood who moved in with a couple and their son. Like a modern-day The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air meets Beverly Hills, 90210, Ryan tries to acclimate to this new life in swanky Newport Beach with snooty, materialistic kids and adults with more money than he’s ever seen in his entire life. The show gets soapy quickly, delving into Dawson’s Creek territory. With a stacked cast that also includes Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, and Mischa Barton as fellow high schoolers and friends, along with Peter Gallagher, The O.C. is one of those guilty pleasures you can’t help but get addicted to watching once you start. Its end left a huge hole that creator Josh Schwartz swiftly filled with Gossip Girl, starting a whole new era of teen drama TV.
7
‘Medium’ (2005–2011)
For seven seasons, Medium was a comforting procedural drama that entertained viewers in the primetime hours. The series stars Patricia Arquette as Allison DuBois, a medium who uses her gifts to help the local district attorney’s office. Her methods are unconventional and often considered hokey. That is, until she delivers the goods. Every single time.
From the fantastic acting to the predictable and formulaic crime-solving element and the depiction of a real family marriage as Allison balances her gifts with being mother to three kids, Medium is the right mix of cop show and horror. Yes, Allison claims to be able to speak to the dead, and while her gifts can’t be explained, there’s clearly something to them. You can’t help but get drawn into the show and question whether you think psychic abilities really exist or not.
8
‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)
Despite its weak final season, when Westworld ended, it was as huge a loss, as the show was a massive pull for HBO when it premiered. The dystopian sci-fi Western drama is based on the 1973 movie and loosely based on the Michael Crichton follow-up film, Futureworld. The story takes place in the future, where a high-tech company has created an adult playground where wealthy folks can buy time to stay there. They can live out fantasies of pretending to be cops, robbers, and cowboys, bedding beautiful women, drinking in the local bar, and even getting into real gunfights. It’s all real, except for the fact that humans can’t actually be killed. Most notably, the hosts who “die” are actually humanoid robots who are indistinguishable from real people and are simply resurrected to do it all over again the next day.
There’s a lot going on in Westworld, one of the best HBO shows. At the heart of the story is the real reason for the creation of the Wild West-themed amusement park and the slow-growing sentience of the hosts. Westworld marked the end of the sci-fi era of the late 2010s and early 2020s, though it was quickly replaced by some worthy follow-up shows like Severance.
Westworld
- Release Date
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2016 – 2022-00-00
- Network
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HBO
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