Karen Sisco (ABC): Its network promised that this female-bounty-hunter series, spun off from the movie and Elmore Leonard novel "Out of Sight," would get a "relaunch" this spring. So much for promises. Carla Gugino was a sexy, tough and vulnerable package as the Florida-based Sisco -- who remained determined to get her man even when another man was in her arms. A wonderful bonus was character actor Robert Forster as her father, a former U.S. marshal.
Mister Sterling (NBC): In a political drama that had tremendous potential, Josh Brolin played the novice-politician son of a lifelong politico (James Whitmore). The truly novel aspect was that the younger Sterling actually had scruples, and didn't give a whit about the power of the political world. No one expected him to win, and when he did, others expected him to be a puppet for lobbyists and multinational corporations. Silly them.
Brooklyn South (CBS): Produced by Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue"), this cop drama had a sense of gritty reality so many others lack. It also, in a very short time, tried to show the officers' personal lives. They were not always glorified, but they were easy to understand. The show proved how impossible it is to penetrate the "blue wall" by showing that cop families often are dynasties, slights are not forgotten or forgiven, and both love and hate can take place in the department.
Boomtown (NBC): Some might consider a season-and-a-half -- which was more like a season and one month -- sufficient time for a show to prove itself. But there are many who feel this Los Angeles drama was cut down (or at least, not adequately supported by its network) in its prime. The original concept was altered a bit, but the initial idea of showing one story from the different standpoints of cops, politicians and reporters was clever and smartly executed. If Neal McDonough's brave performance as an ambitious prosecutor could't keep this afloat, nothing could.
Jake 2.O (UPN): A 21st-century take on "The Six Million Dollar Man," this fantasy-adventure is gone, after a promising (in UPN terms) start last fall. Thanks to Christopher Gorham's performance, the show proved geeks can be fun, especially when embedded with tiny nanites that cause faster running and higher jumping. Extra appeal was provided by Keegan Connor Tracy as a scientist quietly if not-so-secretly in love with her subject, Jake.
Bull (TNT): The energy and complexity of Wall Street was captured briskly and intelligently in a drama that never got the chance to show its second round of 13 complete episodes. It provided Stanley Tucci with the means for a terrifically sly performance as a money man of shifting scruples, and it also set up Elisabeth Rohm to become the current female prosecutor in "Law & Order."
The Lyon's Den (NBC): The expectations for Rob Lowe's post-"West Wing" series may have been unnaturally high, which shouldn't have translated into the law drama having such a brief life. Intentionally dark, the show had the mysterious flavor of John Grisham's "The Firm" -- with the supposed suicide of an attorney as a story thread -- while depicting the constant struggle of Lowe's character to retain his ethics in a cutthroat atmosphere. And what we would have given to see a romantic rematch between Lowe and guest star Jewel (who played his character's ex-fiancee, a rival attorney).
Cupid (ABC): Was a disheveled man (Jeremy Piven) really the legendary emissary of love, as he claimed, or just a delusional soul who happened to be in the right place at the right time to influence romances? 'Twas a puzzle for the relationship expert (Paula Marshall) who was alternately frustrated and charmed by him. The magic of this comedy-drama was its inclusion of enough realism to sway viewers into believing that what it posed was possible.
Pasadena (FOX): Had this engagingly bizarre serial taken off, it might have impeded the impressive film career of young co-star Alison Lohman ("Matchstick Men"). She played a member of a privileged California family riddled with many more problems than just low ratings. The aforementioned Mark Valley ("Keen Eddie"), also was in a cast that featured Dana Delany, Martin Donovan and Balthazar Getty. Making this show's loss more painful was the caliber of its production team, which included Diane Keaton and screenwriter Mike White ("School of Rock").
Freaks and Geeks (NBC): High-school misfits ruled in this witty and much-lamented comedy, which at least is on view in a recently released DVD set of the complete series. Foremost among the affectionately labeled "freaks" is Linda Cardellini, who now co-stars in "ER," and plays Velma in the live-action "Scooby-Doo" movies. But co-stars Busy Philipps (later of "Dawson's Creek") and Samm Levine also were showstoppers.
The American Embassy (FOX): At the end of the day, this was a soap opera, but what a fun one. Series star Arija Bareikis ("The Myth of Fingerprints") proved a thoroughly charming guide to international diplomacy as a novice embassy worker stationed in London.
For now, fans of these gone-too-soon programs only can hope the episodes -- those seen and those that never aired -- will be resuscitated sometime, somewhere. Or at the very least, they should hope TV networks will come up with equally unique shows to make the loss of these a less-bitter pill to swallow.
