5 TV shows saved by fans

Netflix, the movie-on-demand service that will be airing new episodes of the canceled Fox series 'Arrested Development,' recently announced that all 10 episodes will be available at the same time, not airing weekly in the traditional television model. Fans rejoiced and planned a 10-hour window to get reacquainted with the Bluth family. The series, which originally aired from 2003 to 2006, was critically beloved but had a hard time maintaining ratings and was canceled after its third season. However, fans of the show who had seen it on TV as well as those who caught it on DVD and wanted more were so vocal that it was announced the show would be airing a fourth season – and then an 'Arrested Development' movie would be released sometime in the future. Here are 5 other TV shows that were brought back for new seasons after being canceled by their network.

Fox

1. 'Star Trek'

Actress Nichelle Nichols portrayed Uhura on the original 'Star Trek' series Courtesy of PBS

Several spin-offs and a still successful movie franchise later, it's hard to believe the series that explored space, the final frontier was ever in danger of cancellation – let alone canceled. But the original show was almost taken off the air after its second season, and though a letter-writing movement saved it for a third season, NBC still canceled the show after the third season of the original show ended. However, once the series entered syndication, its fan base grew, and an animated series aired from 1973 to 1974 and 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' starring Patrick Stewart began in 1987. The show is still a strong presence in pop culture due in part to the 2009 film version, a sequel to which is due in 2013.

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