TRIO, a cable network that three subscribers get on the outskirts of Fridley, occasionally runs a series called “Brilliant but Cancelled,” paying tribute to shows that got the axe before their time. “Jericho” was almost a member of that club. Thanks to an Internet campaign, the show returns next Tuesday (for details on how they did it, see my Sunday column in the A&E section).

Truthfully, I wouldn’t have been heartbroken if “Jericho” hadn’t returned. Not that it’s a bad show. It’s just that I’ve shed too many tears for other worthwhile fare that got no respect.

At the top of the list has to be 1996’s “EZ Streets” on CBS. It was created by some TV hack named Paul Haggis, who would later go on to do “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby.” But when it came to this series, he only got a handful of shows on the air. What I saw was amazing. I had just started covering TV and this was one of the first shows I reviewed. Call it puppy love, but it promised everything that “The Sopranos” would later deliver on: A charasmatic mob leader, crooked cops, shattered families, great music and cutting dialogue.

It was network TV at its edgiest and most sophisticated - so naturally it got dumped. Check out it  out if you can find it on DVD.

What’s on the top of your brilliant-but-cancelled list?Â

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.