This week it was announced that Showtime, which provides us with TV gems like the thrilling Dexter and the evolving emotional narrative The Big C, has made one of the biggest mistakes by cancelling the show United States of Tara (While keeping Nurse Jackie on for another season).
Now, we all know television networks pick up shows and cancel them based on ratings, because the higher the ratings, the more money they're getting for the show. Therefore no appeal could be made to showtime in regards to ratings. So, why would a network bring back a show if it thinks it can find a new show that will bring in an even larger audience? The short answer is that it just wouldn't. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and ultimately there are three paths this show could take.
Path #1 : The network could realize how much they have upset their fan base and renew it for a 4th season.
I'm sure this idea seems absolutely ridiculous because it never happens. However there is one major exception to that rule: Family Guy. After being off the air for 2(?) years and after they saw DVD sales spike after it was cancelled, Fox decided to give Seth MacFarlane another chance, and now it seems as though the show will never leave and Seth will keep taking over Sundays on Fox.
Path #2 : Another network could pick up where Showtime failed.
Again it may be hard to think of many shows that have done this, but two major ones come into mind for me instantly: Futurama and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of course Fox ended up cancelling Futurama as they tend to cancel every great show they get (Arrested Development anyone?). Luckily Comedy Central has its act together and picked up the show and its had a solid couple seasons on the new network.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a bit of a different path though. Originally airing on the WB when the WB was just an infant the show had a solid 5 seasons and Joss Whedon ended the 5th season in such a way that it could be the end of the series after not knowing if it would be picked up for a 6th season by any station. Luckily for Whedonites everywhere UPN picked it up and it lasted another 2 seasons.
Path #3 : Big Screen Production
There are two big examples of when this has happened. Fox cancelled Joss Whedon's show Firefly after only 14 episodes leaving fans hanging. Luckily, someone saw that there was a large enough fan base that Joss was able to make a movie Serenity to give fans the closure they needed.
Arrested Development, thankfully, is the other example of this path. Although I haven't seen the movie they're making, which is finally in production after years upon years of rumors and false hope, I'm sure it'll be a great addition to the 2.5 seasons that already exist.
Ultimately, if this show is to come back in any form, it is going to take all the fans out there to let Showtime know they're pissed off by writing letters, e-mails, tweeting, facebooking, and cancelling subscriptions on the basis that if they brought USoT back on the airs we would resubscribe.
We could appeal to Showtime by expressing just how interesting, novel, and raw this show is, but unfortunately, I have a feeling "the man" won't consider these appeals legitimate enough to bring a show back. You would think that an Emmy for Toni Collette would garner the show some kind of safety net or grace period, but apparently not.
Businesses speak money, let's not give them any.
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