TV shows come and go all the time. It’s the eternal cycle that’s been going on since the advent of television. One thing that fans can be comforted by is that their favorite show will still be available to watch even after it’s done airing episodes. That is, except for fans of these shows. Today we’re going to talk about TV shows that never got a home release or shows that are outright considered lost media.
Sweet/Vicious
Let’s start with something a bit obscure. In 2016, MTV premiered a TV show ahead of its time in terms of subject matter and execution. Before The Boys, another rag-tag odd couple was handing out vigilante justice. Sweet/Vicious follows college students Jules and Ophelia. Jules is the quintessential Type-A overachiever and sorority member. Ophelia is a laid-back and cynical stoner. What brings the two women together is a shared hatred of predators.
It’s this hatred and a traumatic experience that Jules has with her best friend’s boyfriend that pushes the two to take matters into their own hands. Don’t be fooled, the show isn’t all fight scenes and revenge fantasy. There are also some funny moments and even some touching moments. Specifically, Ophelia and Jules develop a great bond that would’ve continued to grow had the show been on the air longer.
The only issue was it was airing on MTV in 2016 after the network had its live-action heyday and was winding down on that kind of content. Worse, there’s no way to watch this show currently. It’s not on MTV’s website and it’s not on any streaming services. The only way to watch Sweet/Vicious is to buy it episode by episode on YouTube or Prime. MTV is sitting on a show that would resonate with audiences if they made it more accessible. Imagine people discovering Sweet/Vicious by stumbling across it on Paramount Plus.
South Central
Airing on FOX from April 5 to June 7, 1994, South Central follows Joan Moseley as she raises her three kids in South Central, LA. The show was known for offering a sobering and dark portrayal of family life that most sitcoms wouldn’t touch. There are a lot of mentions of gangs and violence on the show and not in the Fresh Prince or Family Matters kind of way. Another interesting and staggering detail about the show is it stars a good handful of well-known and decorated actors. Larenz Tate, Maia Campbell, Shar Jackson, and Michael Beach are all here, and the show features an appearance by Miss Jenny from the Block herself, Jennifer Lopez.
The show was canceled after only airing 10 episodes. This was done in a sweep of FOX’s Thursday night lineup as they claimed this programming block wasn’t bringing in enough viewers. It just so happened that this programming block was also made up of mostly Black shows. Jesse Jackson called the mass cancellations an example of institutional racism. The show is unavailable on streaming services and was never released for home video.
Just Jordan
From 2007 to 2008 Nickelodeon aired Just Jordan on its TEENick programming block. The show starred Lil’ JJ. The show followed Jordan Lewis who moves with his mom and little sister from Arkansas to Los Angeles. Jordan works in his grandfather’s diner while juggling normal teenage hi-jinks and everyday responsibilities. Jordan’s crush on Tamika, his cousin Tangie’s friend, also has its own ups and downs. Unfortunately, the show was a casualty of the 2007–2008 writer’s strike, as Nickelodeon decided not to renew it after the strike concluded. Just Jordan has two seasons, totaling at 29 episodes. It was never released for home video and as of 2024, does not have a streaming service to call home.
Kids Incorporated
Who remembers where audiences were first introduced to one Stacy Ferguson aka Fergie? If you said Kids Incorporated you’re correct. Kids Incorporated ran from 1984 to 1994. It was a show about a group of kids in a music group who are dealing with normal teenage issues like crushes and peer pressure, and even more serious issues like abuse, while working on their music. They both frequent and play at a venue called The P*lace. It’s actual name is The Palace but the A in the sign burned out and was never fixed.
Fergie isn’t the only big name that made their start on Kids Inc. There’s also Shanice, Mario Lopez, Martika, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Another surprising thing about Kids Inc. is that it was never released on home video. It’s also not on any streaming services, showing that Disney+ still has some titles to add to its library. Kids Incorporated is a crucial step in pop culture that led to hits like Big Girls Don’t Cry, Toy Soldiers, and I Love Your Smile. It also led to one of the biggest ’90s heartthrobs, AC Slater. It’d be a real shame to never have an official way to rewatch it.
