11 Cancelled TLC Shows We Wish Would Make A Comeback

Before TLC was turning out family oriented reality shows and getting caught up in quite a few scandals, it had a wide array of shows on its broadcasting schedule. As fans are well aware, remakes and reboots are all the rage right now and TLC announced the return of one of its former most popular shows of all: Trading Spaces. With the hit series returning, we decided to reminisce on some other TLC shows fans now miss. While many of these series are still enjoyed by TLC fans on reruns, it would be great to seem them come back with brand new episodes, so here are 11 cancelled TLC series we wish would make a comeback.

11. Home Savvy

Before the endless onslaught of home and property renovation series and the popularity of HGTV, TLC wasn’t just cashing in on the home renovation genre with Trading Spaces. In the mid-’90s TLC launched Home Savvy which featured two hosts giving home improvement advice to everyday people. The series had all the makings for an excellent home renovation program that would thrive today, it just happened to air at the wrong time.

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10. Captain’s Log

Not many remember when TLC boldly and proudly called itself “The Learning Channel,” but those who do will most certainly remember Captain’s Log with Captain Mark Gray. Back in The Learning Channel’s infancy, Captain’s Log was one of the network’s highest-rated programs. The series ran from 1987-1990 and followed sea captain Mark Gray as he talked with other boaters about boating and most importantly being safe on the water. While that may sound boring to today’s TLC viewers, it was informative and educational, everything the network boasted and most importantly more of what TV today needs. Now, Gray won’t even let his own children watch TLC. “It used to be The Learning Channel. Now they might as well call it the National Enquirer channel. It’s heartbreaking,” he said. With huge improvements in technology and a much wider reach, there is no doubt that Captain’s Log could spruce things up and once again be a hit series for avid boaters and enthusiasts.

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9. My Strange Addiction 

Of those series that are often pointed to when discussing TLC leaving its “The Learning Channel” brand behind is My Strange Addiction. When the series first aired in 2010 it became heavily criticized, but like a car crash, audiences just couldn’t look away and My Strange Addiction went on a six season run. After many questions about the show’s authenticity the series came to an end in February 2014, but if TLC could work on authenticating the addictions and take a more real-life approach to the series and its subjects, it wouldn’t be surprising if it attracted viewers yet again.

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8. Four Weddings

There is no doubt that TLC has some amazing bridal and wedding series, but fans still can’t get over Four Weddings coming to an end. The popular series which featured four brides attending each other’s big days and rating the wedding dress, the venue, the food and the overall experience, with the bride who gets the most points winning a spectacular honeymoon for herself and her groom. The series included all of the makings for those wanting to see the dresses and options of many different wedding as well as the competitive edge of the four strangers. There is still no word as to why the show come to an end in 2014 and only airs re-runs, but it would be great if it came back!

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7. Trauma: Life in the ER

One of TLC’s initial forays into the live medical genre was with Trauma: Life in the ER. The series began in 1997 and had such high ratings, it spawned not one but two spinoffs. The yet to be desensitized audiences of the ’90s were shocked by the graphic and violent injuries that were showcased on the show and much controversy followed it. Trauma was eventually cancelled in 2002, and a few years later TLC realized the market for graphic and honest medical stories was only just beginning. So while they have broken into the genre with Untold Stories of the ER and Sex Sent Me to the ER, now would be the perfect time for an original Trauma: Life in the ER comeback.

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6. A Baby Story

Family oriented series have proven to be the most successful for the series, and one of the earliest hits when TLC shifted its focus to human-interest reality TV rather than educational shows. It was a huge hit for fans, running from 1998-2007, with each episode showcasing a couple in the weeks leading up to the birth of their child. It has now been 10 years since A Baby Story came to an end, and it still remains one of the most beloved series on the show. Not only did it tell a real story, it was often feel-good and most importantly relatable to new parents or those close to being new parents, meaning it would still very much be relevant today.

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5. Hoarding: Buried Alive

Along with series such as My Strange Addiction, TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive gave fans glimpses of lives they didn’t know people could live. Despite success, the series inexplicably came to an end in 2013, and there is no doubt that fans would love more. Each episode was completely fascinating and included everything from trying to deal with mental illness and the transformation of the home. If anything it would be great if TLC could do a spin-off in which they go back to some of the most famous Hoarding episodes and do a check-up to see if they had fallen back into their bad habits and illness.

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4. Ready, Set, Learn!

Before parents were banning their children from watching TLC, they were encouraging it. In the early days as The Learning Channel, the network featured a block of time dedicated to young children’s educational programming. The block of programming entitled Ready, Set, Learn! was so popular it ran from 1992 to 2008 before being shifted to the Discovery Kids channel and replaced by TLC’s new brand of programming. By bringing the series back, TLC would once again regain some of its credibility as The Learning Channel and it would definitely be a huge hit for parents who are trying to balance TV and screen time for their kids with educational growth.

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3. I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant

Without a doubt, one of TLC’s best reality human-interest series which became absolutely addictive and a guilty pleasure for viewers was I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant. The series ran for four seasons starting in 2009 until it was cancelled in the summer of 2011 with the network citing low ratings. Given a new time slot, and a new set of stories, many fans would love to see this series make a return, but at the same time hopefully there aren’t that many women left out there who go through entire pregnancies without even knowing they are pregnant.

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2. Paleoworld

Another one of The Learning Channel’s best original programs was Paleoworld, and it would be great for kids and adults if TLC once again invested in its educational programming. From 1994 to 1997 the series dedicated itself to teaching viewers about paleontology and everything you needed to know about dinosaurs. The interest in dinosaurs has never gone away, and with the right branding there is no reason why TLC can’t bring back it’s reputation as The Learning Channel, but balance out its human-interest and reality TV programming as well.

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1. What Not to Wear

What Not to Wear was one of TLC’s fan-favorite series and many are still not happy the show came to an end in 2013 after an amazing and successful 10 seasons. Thanks to host Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, the series was hilarious, interesting and most certainly addictive as the pair transformed the wardrobe of some of the worst fashion offenders. The “makeover” genre has always and remains popular, so there is no doubt that TLC would have a very warm reception if they revamped the series and brought back a whole new What Not to Wear as trends continuously change.