• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Black Actors Lose Work as Networks Cancel TV Shows

Canceled TV ShowsCanceled ShowsFrom "Law & Order" to "Ugly Betty," TV series are dropping like flies. No shows are getting hurt more than new TV dramas, many of which employ talented Black actors. We take a look at some of the shows that have been canned and the actors that we'll miss now that they're off the air."Defying Gravity," ABCOn air for just one season, sci-fi/drama "Defying Gravity," featured actors Malik Yoba and Karen LeBlanc as an American astronaut couple aboard a spaceship on a six-year voyage in outer space. After just 13 episodes, ABC decided not to renew the show."FlashForward," ABCABC also passed on renewing another season of science fiction series "FlashForward," starring Michael Ealy and Courtney B. Vance after just 22 episodes."The Deep End," ABCOnly seven episodes in, Nicole Ari Parker and Mechad Brooks' both lost their gig when ABC canceled the courtroom drama "The Deep End.""Three RIvers," ABCABC canceled most of the TV shows that were dropped this year, including medical drama "Three Rivers," starring Alfre Woodard."24," FoxDennis Haysbert stared in the hit TV mystery thriller "24" from 2001 to 2006. The show, now canceled, also stared Mykelti Williamson, D.B. Woodside and Roger C. Cross."Heroes," NBCNBC chose to can the highly successful sci-fi drama "Heroes", starring Jimmy Jean-Louis, after four seasons."Law & Order," NBCLaunched in 1990, "Law & Order" which starred a number of talented Black actors including S. Epatha Merkerson, Jesse L. Martin and Anthony Anderson, had the longest run of all the shows on the chopping block."Trauma," NBCAnother one season wonder, "Trauma" starred actor Derek Like playing San Francisco paramedic Cameron Boone."The Beautiful Life:TBL," CW"The Beautiful Life," starring Corbin Bleu was a show about gorgeous models living together in New York."Saving Grace," TNTAfter three seasons, TNT cop show "Saving Grace," starring Lorraine Toussaint, is going off the air.Ugly BettyUgly BettyWe loved Vanessa Williams as the bitchy fashion magazine editor-diva, Wihelmina Slater in "Ugly Betty." After four solid seasons the touching comedy series has come to an end. Here's what you had to say: Maureen commented via Facebook: "NBC has two new shows starring Black actors. One with Blair Underwood and the other Boris Kodjoe. It's not much, but it's a start." Christa Moore wrote via Facebook: "Here's a thought: Why don't these mega rich African-Americans pool together some money and create a "Network" that airs all the actors and shows that we want to see."
Black Actors Lose Work as Networks Cancel TV Shows
By · Updated October 29, 2020

Canceled TV Shows

Canceled Shows

From “Law & Order” to “Ugly Betty,” TV series are dropping like flies. No shows are getting hurt more than new TV dramas, many of which employ talented Black actors. We take a look at some of the shows that have been canned and the actors that we’ll miss now that they’re off the air.

“Defying Gravity,” ABC

On air for just one season, sci-fi/drama “Defying Gravity,” featured actors Malik Yoba and Karen LeBlanc as an American astronaut couple aboard a spaceship on a six-year voyage in outer space. After just 13 episodes, ABC decided not to renew the show.

“FlashForward,” ABC

ABC also passed on renewing another season of science fiction series “FlashForward,” starring Michael Ealy and Courtney B. Vance after just 22 episodes.

“The Deep End,” ABC

Only seven episodes in, Nicole Ari Parker and Mechad Brooks’ both lost their gig when ABC canceled the courtroom drama “The Deep End.”

“Three RIvers,” ABC

ABC canceled most of the TV shows that were dropped this year, including medical drama “Three Rivers,” starring Alfre Woodard.

“24,” Fox

Dennis Haysbert stared in the hit TV mystery thriller “24” from 2001 to 2006. The show, now canceled, also stared Mykelti Williamson, D.B. Woodside and Roger C. Cross.

“Heroes,” NBC

NBC chose to can the highly successful sci-fi drama “Heroes”, starring Jimmy Jean-Louis, after four seasons.

“Law & Order,” NBC

Launched in 1990, “Law & Order” which starred a number of talented Black actors including S. Epatha Merkerson, Jesse L. Martin and Anthony Anderson, had the longest run of all the shows on the chopping block.

“Trauma,” NBC

Another one season wonder, “Trauma” starred actor Derek Like playing San Francisco paramedic Cameron Boone.

“The Beautiful Life:TBL,” CW

“The Beautiful Life,” starring Corbin Bleu was a show about gorgeous models living together in New York.

“Saving Grace,” TNT

After three seasons, TNT cop show “Saving Grace,” starring Lorraine Toussaint, is going off the air.

Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty

We loved Vanessa Williams as the bitchy fashion magazine editor-diva, Wihelmina Slater in “Ugly Betty.” After four solid seasons the touching comedy series has come to an end.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now