Hulu's top 40 is teeming with shows that were too quirky (
Arrested Development), epic (
Kings), and out-there (
Firefly) to succeed on network television. Here's an in-depth look at seven exemplars.
Although this mockumentary-style sitcom--which chronicles the misadventures of the Bluth family--won 7 Emmys and launched the careers of funnymen Will Arnett (Blades of Glory) and Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno), its third and final season averaged a dismal 4.2 million viewers on FOX. Three years later, it's the fourth most-popular show on Hulu.
On FX, this edgy sitcom has struggled to find an audience, averaging just 738,000 viewers last season. But its strong showing on Hulu--where it ranks 8th on the most-popular list--may help extend its life on the network.
There hasn't been a new episode of this Stargate-inspired SyFy series since 2007--when it went off the air following its 10th season--but Web surfers are still obsessed: It's the 13th most-popular show on Hulu.
Disney XD broadcasts an edited version of this action-adventure ninja-dominated anime cartoon, but it's much bigger in Japan (Naruto comic books have sold more than 92 million copies there) and on Hulu, where it ranks 14th on the most-popular list.
Joss Whedon's cult classic predates True Blood and Twilight and survived a network shift from the WB to UPN during its sixth year. Still, Buffy struggled to lure more than 5 million viewers. It died in 2003, its seventh season, but has come back as the 22nd-most-viewed show on Hulu.
FOX canceled Joss Whedon's Firefly--billed as a futuristic drama with Western motifs--in December 2002, just three months into its first season. Since then, the TV series has evolved into a full-blown media franchise, replete with comic books, video games, a feature film (2005's Serenity). And now, Hulu hit Firefly is the site's 28th most-popular series.
Despite its $10 million pilot, this modern retelling of the biblical story of King David was dethroned after 12 episodes. But its royals have staged a coup on Hulu's popularity chart, where Kings ranks 37th.
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Recent Comments | 2 Total
This slideshow is incredibly
This slideshow is incredibly misinformed. It's like whoever wrote this thing just looked up half of these shows on wikipedia and that was the extent of his research. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" did not "die" as a result of low ratings, the seventh season was it's last season, ending with a series finale. It ended, it wasn't canceled. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's "strong showing on Hulu--where it ranks 8th on the most-popular list--may help extend its life on the network." May help extend its life? Before this current season even aired, the show was signed for two more full seasons by FX and remains one of their most popular original series. It's so popular in fact that the creators of the show have signed to create another original comedy series for FX. And finally, Stargate SG-1 found a "second life" on Hulu? I don't think a series that went on for TEN SEASONS and has an enormous fanbase as it is should be on a list about shows finding a second life on Hulu, especially when it already has TWO spin-off series' and was already saved from cancellation and found a "second life" on the SciFi Channel. So that might make it's new life on Hulu it's THIRD life
Naruto Shippuden is still
Naruto Shippuden is still airing! The current season is crazy intense too. Arrested Development has to be the best in this slideshow though.