Ordinarily, the producers of TV shows tend to make a new season every year or two until the story ends. However, there have been a few instances where there were unusually long gaps between seasons, with the hiatuses stemming from various unavoidable factors.
For some shows, the creators and actors were busy with other projects, while for others, the networks were simply unsure whether continuing the journey would be worth it. Luckily, fans got to see new seasons of these popular TV shows, and for most of them, the wait was truly worth it.
10 True Detective Has A Star-Studded Cast
4 Years
True Detective is adored by critics because of the detailed storytelling and by fans because of its casting practice of plucking Hollywood stars and putting them on the small screen. In the seasons that have aired so far, actors such as Mahershalla Ali, Colin Farrell, and Mathew McConaughey have given unforgettable performances.
Unfortunately, despite serving juicier storylines than some popular police procedurals on TV, the HBO series hasn’t had a consistent supply of seasons. It took four years for Season 3 to be released, while it’s also been close to four years since the last season aired. There's reason to keep hoping, though, since there has been neither news nor rumors of terminations.
9 24’s Protagonist Is Quite Badass
4 Years
24 is revered for having arguably the best action hero on TV and for the endless suspense. The ratings have always been high, too, so much so that in the early 2010s, FOX decided to bring back the show for another season, four years after the series was thought to have ended.
The decision to bring it back was a good one because there were plenty of unanswered questions regarded Jack Bauer after he went on the run. Interestingly, the ninth season, which aired back in 2014, left even more questions, and since then, there have always been rumors of the show continuing. For now, fans will be hoping such rumors come true.
8 Curb Your Enthusiasm Is A Flawless Self-Aware Satire
6 Years
Having been a major reason for the success of two of the funniest sitcoms of all time, starting with the ‘90s hit, Seinfeld, Larry David deserved the hiatus he took back in 2011. Consequently, there was a 6-year gap between Season 8 and Season 9.
There’s always a risk of the quality dropping or fan-interesting dwindling whenever shows take such long breaks but Curb Your Enthusiasm returned as strong as ever, with hardly any blemishes to spot. Intriguingly, it would take another three years for Season 10 to air though the output has been consistent ever since.
7 Arrested Development Raked In Numerous Accolades
7 Years
Arrested Development’s case has always been baffling as it’s considered a masterpiece by critics and one of the best ABC shows, yet viewers never seem interested in checking it out. Despite garnering 6 Emmys during its original run, the sitcom was put on hold by FOX before being picked up by Netflix years later.
Regrettably, even with the popular streaming service, the low viewership figures still ailed the sitcom, so it had to be canned. For the lead, Jason Bateman, this was somewhat a blessing in disguise as he went on to star in an even better show, the drug drama Ozark.
6 Gilmore Girls Covers Familial Themes Adequately
9 Years
Gilmore Girls is highly regarded because of how brilliantly it addresses interpersonal relationships and family bonds. It was thus a huge disappointment when back in 2007, rumors started circulating that there wouldn’t be another season. This remained true until 2016, when Netflix commissioned a shorter final season.
Consisting of only four episodes, the final season is precise and aims at tying up all loose ends fans had lamented. While watching, viewers get the impression that a finale movie could have been a better option, but fans will still appreciate the fact that they were never forgotten.
5 Will & Grace Has Intriguing LGBTQ Characters
11 Years
More than making people laugh, Will & Grace does a perfect job of anatomizing LGBTQ relationships and making the public understand them better. It was, therefore, necessary for the show to be brought back, especially at a time when there were serious efforts in society to ensure tolerance.
Thanks to the warm reception of a short reunion, NBC felt the need to continue the show, so three more seasons were ordered. After eleven seasons, Will & Grace finally ended. Even though fans might have wished for the fun to keep going, they’ll be satisfied with longevity, especially in the current brutal TV landscape where cancelations are common and spontaneous.
4 The X-Files Remains A Cult Classic
14 Years
The X-Files’ consistently strong ratings mean it’s one of the shows that could have continued for years. Unfortunately, several behind-the-scenes factors, notably a feud between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, led to a premature end. Fortunately, the show would later be brought back for two more seasons.
Though plenty of time had passed, the show kept using kept of the ingredients that made it one of the best-ever sci-fi shows. The cases were complex, while the dialogue remained intriguing. However, critics weren’t convinced about the more recent adventures, so breaks had to be stepped on once again.
3 Doctor Who Has Been Around For Ages
16 Years
Doctor Who holds the record for being the longest-running fictional series of all time, and that’s partly because a couple of years were skipped during its run. After an initial run from 1963 to 1989, the show wouldn’t return until 2005.
Such a long break means fans got to see an entirely new cast and a fresh narrative. Still, the spine of the show has been maintained, making fans of the original series content with what is happening in modern times. To prevent the show from going stale, several different actors have also gone on to portray The Doctor.
2 Dallas Is The Quintessential ‘80s Show
21 Years
Some shows define a specific era so much that attempts to place them in modern settings end up backfiring. Such is the case with Dallas, which came back in the early 2010s and was met with poor reception from fans and critics.
The decision to continue the show was a bad one because it had initially been ailing because of the poor plot twist that revealed the entire Season 9 was a dream. It’s a direction the ‘80s hit never recovered from, and the attempts to correct it in modern times failed too.
1 The Air Of Mystery In Twin Peaks Is Unmatched
21 Years
David Lynch is reputed for working on projects at his own preferred time rather than bowing down to fan or network pressure. Since he has earned the right to do this, Twin Peaks fans were more than happy to wait for more than two decades.
The wait was truly worth it as the new season dived deeper into surrealism and crisp cinematography. The mystery serial’s other strength is its wide pool of intriguing supporting characters, and this was maintained, too, resulting in fans demanding even more seasons. Unfortunately, Lynch has pumped the breaks again.