Summary
- Canceling a show is not always due to controversy around the content, sometimes tragic events lead to a decision not to air.
- Reality TV history is full of fascinating production stories, including shows that never made it to air for various reasons.
- From the tragic to the controversial, the stories behind canceled reality TV shows can be just as compelling as the shows themselves.
Over the last several years, it has been common for some celebrities to be "canceled", including TJ Miller who had a strange meltdown. On top of that, fans worried Morgan Wallen's career was over, and Anne Hathaway narrowly avoided cancelation.
Even when a celebrity gets canceled, there is always a possibility they could make a comeback. However, there were a bunch of reality TV shows that were so controversial that they were canceled before they even aired and will never return.
9 Why I Love Money's Season 3 Never Aired
Was Produced By VH1
When Was I Love Money's Season 3 Supposed To Air?
- 2009 or 2010
Throughout reality TV history, there have been several shows with fascinating production stories. Despite that, the story behind what happened to I Love Money is one of the strangest in the genre's history. After all, 4 seasons were produced but the third one never aired.
As strange as that sounds, what happened to I Love Money Season 3 isn't funny at all. In January 2020, Entertainment Weekly published an article about the sad truth about what happened to I Love Money Season 3.
That article revealed that after starring in Season 3, a man named Ryan Jenkins took his wife Jasmine Fiore's life. Ryan then went on the run and eventually passed away by his own hand before he could be arrested. Based on these tragic events, the understandable decision was made not to air Season 3 due to Ryan's involvement.
Survivor's Kat Edorsson's Open-Heart Surgery And Arrest Reveal The Dark Side Of Her Private Life
Survivor star Kat Edorsson went through some really hard times during her private life despite her sunny disposition.
8 Why Flip It Forward Never Aired
Was Produced By HGTV
When Was Flip It Forward Supposed To Air?
- Fall 2014
In August 2023, Showbiz Cheat Sheet published an article about reality shows that never aired after they were filmed. That article revealed an interesting story about why HGTV decided not to Flip It Forward.
Before the show was canceled, HGTV announced plans to air Flip It Forward with David and Jason Benham as hosts. Once that news was revealed, however, reports surfaced about the Benham brothers making homophobic comments in the past. After that news garnered a backlash, HGTV decided not to air Flip It Forward after all.
7 Why Ev and Ocho Never Aired
Was Produced By VH1
When Was Ev and Ocho Supposed To Air?
- 2012
After previously being engaged to Antoine Walker for a decade, Evelyn Lozada began starring in the Basketball Wives franchise. As a result of her starring role, fans got to see Evelyn's relationship with Chad Ochocinco Johnson during their engagement. The couple went on to get married in 2012.
Ultimately, VH1 decided to give the couple a spin-off series called Ev and Ocho. However, Variety reported in August 2012 that VH1 canceled all plans to air Ev and Ocho, and the show was abandoned after that.
The reason why VH1 washed their hands of Ev and Ocho was that Chad was arrested for domestic battery. Chad later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery, which allowed him to avoid jail time. Evelyn filed for divorce within days of the arrest and their marriage officially ended just over a month later.
"Basketball Wives" Star Evelyn Lozada Reveals If She And Her Ex Can Make Co-Parenting Work
Evelyn Lozada and Carl Crawford are not romantic, but the former couple have worked hard to create an almost "perfect" co-parenting relationship.
6 Why The Activist Never Aired
Was Produced By CBS
When Was The Activist Supposed To Air?
- 2021 or 2022
As a part of Showbiz Cheat Sheet's aforementioned article, they covered why The Activist never aired. Announced in 2021, the show was set to be hosted by the star-studded cast of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Julianne Hough, and Usher.
The show focused on 6 activists with a long history of protesting about their beliefs. Those activists would compete in challenges to generate the most buzz on social media as well as among the rich and powerful.
When the show was announced, it suffered an immediate backlash from people who felt it cheapened real protests. According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet's report, CBS announced plans to retool the show only to abandon it completely.
5 Why Good Grief Never Aired
Was Produced By Lifetime
When Was Good Grief Supposed To Air?
- 2014
In the 2010s, Lifetime announced plans to air a show called Good Grief. The reality show would have focused on the Johnson Family Mortuary in Texas. However, the network's plans fell apart after a series of stunning events.
According to a CBS News article, Dondre Johnson and Rachel Hardy-Johnson were evicted after failing to pay rent for their mortuary. Then, the couple were arrested for charges related to mistreating people they were supposed to prepare for burial.
In response to the revelation, a representative for the network told CBS News that Good Grief "has not and will not air on Lifetime".
This Survivor Winner Seemingly Spent His Prize Money On Something Incredibly Ridiculous After His Arrest
Survivor winner Judson "Fabio" Birza got arrested for a wild reason and then seemingly spent part of his prize money on something ridiculous.
4 Why Ultimate Slip N’ Slide Never Aired
Was Produced By NBC
When Was Ultimate Slip N’ Slide Supposed To Air?
- 2021 or 2022
When NBC announced plans to air Ultimate Slip N’ Slide, it certainly seemed like producing the show wouldn't be risky. After all, kids all over the world love to play on their Slip N’ Slide so they seem relatively harmless.
What nobody involved could have anticipated was that Ultimate Slip N’ Slide would never air for an awful reason. Not only that, it is very clear that the people involved with the show had an awful time following filming.
According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet's aforementioned article, there was an outbreak of a parasite on the show's set. That resulted in Ultimate Slip N’ Slide having to shut down as many people involved in the filming suffered extreme bowel activity. After the show shut down, NBC concluded that it would be too expensive to resume production, so Ultimate Slip N’ Slide was abandoned.
3 Why Welcome to the Neighborhood Never Aired
Was Produced By ABC
When Was Welcome to the Neighborhood Supposed To Air?
- 2005
Of all the shows included in this list, it arguably is the most baffling that anyone thought that Welcome to the Neighborhood was a good idea. After all, even if the show was intended to change the world for the better, the format implied something disturbing.
The concept behind Welcome to the Neighborhood was that a gay couple with a child and various couples of color would compete to move into a home. The twist is that the families would have to compete to get the approval of the conservative Christian families who already lived in the neighborhood.
According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, there were competing reports about what led to Welcome to the Neighborhood's cancelation. The first version of events was that the show was canceled in reaction to offensive comments made by the judges. The second version of events was that churches threatened to boycott ABC for showcasing a gay couple with a child.
2 Why Seriously, Dude I’m Gay Never Aired
Was Produced By Fox
When Was Seriously, Dude I’m Gay Supposed To Air?
- 2004
In 2004, Fox announced plans to air Seriously, Dude I’m Gay. Episodes of the show would feature two straight men who competed to convince their friends and families that they were gay. The men would then be judged by a jury of observers who would decide which of them was more convincing and award them $50,000.
Based on the show's concept, it seemed very clear that it would inherently play into a lot of stereotypes. That led to a swift and sizable backlash that inspired Fox to scrap the show a few weeks after it was announced, according to Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
1 Why Escaping the KKK Never Aired
Was Produced By A&E
When Was Escaping the KKK Supposed To Air?
- 2016 or 2017
Based on the announced plans for Escaping the KKK, the show wasn't going to showcase the hate group in a positive light. As a result, it seemed like a show could have been valuable for education purposes until one detail about its production came to light.
According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet's aforementioned article, it was revealed that some of the show's participants were paid to take part. Since the show was supposed to be a reality docuseries about a hate group, that revelation outraged observers. While A&E stated that no hate group members were paid, the network ultimately canceled the series without airing an episode.
