LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - - "Joan of Arcadia" was canceled and I feel your pain.

As we’ve already previously discussed, May was a tough month for TV fans. But the cancelation of "Joan of Arcadia" seems to have upset you more than any other. So I thought we would take a moment to lament the untimely passing of a pretty terrific show. It’s rare that a show pops in the first season only to experience a ratings decline and network abandonment in its second season. The series truly worked because of its perfectly imperfect protagonist The kids on "Joan" were painstakingly real. The story lines were thought provoking. The themes explored were not your typical television fare. The show was surprisingly poignant, often funny, and instantly compelling. So, of course, it was cancelled.

It’s even more upsetting that "Joan" ended on a cliffhanger with our heroine and her gangly group of pals about to face off against the devil’s minion. That pretty much means the series was banking on coming back for another season and really leaves devoted viewers hanging. Suffice to say it totally adds insult to injury that the show is being replaced by a Jennifer Love Hewitt tour de force. Many of you have asked me whether your complaints to CBS will have any effect. The unfortunate answer is "probably not." Yes, "Family Guy" came back to FOX, UPN rescued "Roswell," "JAG" moved to CBS and enjoyed a 9-year run. But those stories are the exception and certainly not the rule. At this point, it might take divine intervention to resurrect the show.

While we’re having a big old group hug, let’s take a look at some of the shows that were cut short long before their time. And because we here at Team TV Gal are all about the positive (which is why we’re pretending we don’t even know about the Tom Cruise on "Oprah" thing), when possible, I’ll give the upside of a heartbreaking cancelation.

# "Sports Night" (ABC 1998-2000): In a sitcom world full of stock characters, connect-the-dot plots and laughs we’d seen a million times before, "Sports Night" stood alone. The beauty and brilliance of "Sports Night" stemmed from the subtle, intriguing, believable way the show dealt with human relationships. Positive Result: Who else but Felicity Huffman could play Lynette on "Desperate Housewives"?

# "Once and Again" (ABC 1999-2002): The show made marriage sexy, had two of the best female characters on television in Judy (Marin Hinkle) and Karen (Susanna Thompson), and the best crop of young actors ever to be on one series. Somewhat Positive Result: Sure I loved seeing Sela Ward on "House" and Billy Campbell on "The 4400" and "The O.C.," but I’d give that all up for another season of "Once and Again."

# "Now and Again" (CBS 1999-2000): Only a show this clever and fun could make us believe that John Goodman was reincarnated as Eric Close. Dennis Haysbert was fantastic as the shady doctor in charge of this bionic man for the new millennium. Positive Result: I simply can’t imagine anyone else playing President Palmer on "24."

# "The Job" (ABC 2001-02): This show was a smart, poignant and hilarious look at a familiar television subject. Positive Result: Cable is where the fantastically talented Denis Leary belongs and "Rescue Me" (which is even a better show than "The Job") returns to FX for a second season on Tuesday, June 21.

# "Freaks and Geeks" (NBC 1999-2000) and "Undeclared" (FOX 2001-02): These shows were high school and college as I remembered it — in all its awkward, embarrassing glory.

# "My So-Called Life" (ABC 1994-95): Angela, Jordan, Rayanne, Rickie and Brian even though I saw every episode at least three times on MTV, I still miss you.

What short-lived shows do you wish had never been cancelled? Talk about it on the TV Gal Message Board.

"The Inside"

Summertime and TV watching is not so bad actually. Remember when networks used to hibernate during the summer leaving us with nothing but "if you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you" repeats? Thanks to cable TV and the success of the first seasons of "Survivor" and a little show called "American Idol" that’s a thing of the past. And, added bonus, not every new show is a reality show.

"The Inside" (Wednesday, FOX, 9 p.m.) is a show with a lot going for it both in front and behind the camera. Put Adam Baldwin (Jayne on "Firefly") in anything and I’m pretty much there. Add in Tim Minear (the man behind "Firefly" and "Wonderfalls" and producer and writer on "Angel") as creator and executive producer and how can you go wrong?

Well, alas, it’s my job to tell you how. "The Inside" follows the Los Angeles Violent Crime Unit of the FBI. Agent Rebecca Locke (Rachel Nichols and a dead ringer for Bridget Fonda if you ask me) has special insight into the criminal mind (reminiscent of NBC’s "The Profiler") because she was abducted a child. Peter Coyote is her boss. Jay Harrington (last seen being dumped on "Summerland") is the agent who wants to protect her. It’s an intriguing premise but here are the three ways the show must improve:

1. The crimes are horrifically violent and heinous. We’re never going to have a show about the Shoplifting Unit of the FBI or "Law & Order: Parking Tickets." But I wonder if the show would be stronger if more was left to the imagination. Because let me tell you right now, finish your dinner long before you sit down to watch the pilot episode. The opening scene is stomach churning.

2. In the three episodes available for review, most of the victims were women and perpetrators were men. And sometimes I’m simply tired of watching women being victimized on television. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the series lead is female. But in each episode, Rebecca ended up in peril and being held hostage in some way or another by the male criminal. The series can’t sustain itself if she is placed in danger every single week. Not to mention that she would be due for a nervous breakdown by episode four.

3. The show is dark and moody and seems to cast everything in a shade of gray. Sure that sets the tone but a tone that murky and depressing can quickly turn numbing and boring. The series needs to be careful.

I’m not giving up on the show yet but I will need to see some improvement before I recommend it. After you watch "The Inside" talk about it on the TV Gal message board.

Quotes of the Week

"I think after puking all night you were awesome Rachel." Jonathan Roberts to Rachel Hunter on "Dancing with the Stars." Thanks to Paul for the quote. Seriously, how fun was that show?

Where Have I Seen Them Before?

Summer Glau, the mental patient Tess on the season premiere of "The 4400," was River on "Firefly." Thanks to Regina and Sara for recognizing this familiar face.

Highlights of the Week Ahead All times listed are Eastern Time for June 6 to 12

I have to tell you that "Six Feet Under" (Monday, HBO, 9 p.m.) has totally worn me down. Each season slowly chipped away at my affection for the show. By the time last year’s finale came around, my like affair with the show was so over. I never really cared about Lisa and I certainly didn’t care who killed her. I view this final season as something to merely endure (I hope I’m wrong, but I fear I’m not) and anxiously await Mathew St. Patrick and Michael C. Hall’s next projects.

Jonathan Antin and his fabulous tan are back for a second season of Bravo’s "Blow Out" (Tuesday at 9 p.m.).

Wonder why Johnny Damon looks like he put Sun-In in his hair? Find out when "Queer Eye" returns with a brand new season Tuesday at 10 p.m. I’m thinking the new abbreviated show title means the Fab Five will soon be helping all types of folks (not just straight men) improve their look, their place and their life. Boys, I’m waiting.

I didn’t want it to have to come to this since this is confessing how much I love it but I’m going to have to go ahead and make "Beauty and the Geek" (Wednesday, WB, 8 p.m.) mandatory viewing. Will you still respect me in the morning?

I have never (I repeat never) felt older then when I saw Mike Reno of Loverboy on "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.). I used to have pictures of him on my wall.

Jimmy Fallon hosts "The MTV Movie Awards" (Thursday at 8:30 p.m.). I am still waiting for "The MTV TV Awards" — who’s with me?

I didn’t love "The Comeback" (Sunday, HBO, 9:30 p.m.), but I’m willing to give the show a chance. It is the perfect vehicle for Lisa Kudrow’s first big project post-"Friends." Valerie is completely different than Phoebe (the red hair helps as does the fact that Kudrow has infused Valerie with only a few of Phoebe’s trademark mannerisms) and I kind of liked the show in all its uncomfortableness.

Rick Schroder joins the cast of "Strong Medicine" Sunday at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. The show is kind of hokey and the dialogue stilted but as long as they don’t kill off my Ricky sans explanation, I’m in.

HBO’s Sunday night may get all the hype, but having "The 4400" (Sunday, USA, 9 p.m.) and "The Dead Zone" (Sunday, USA, 10 p.m.) is pretty great. Look for Natasha Gregson Wagner to soon join the cast of "The 4400" as Diana’s sister. Also keep an eye out for Sharif Atkins (our "ER" friend), Karina Lombard ( "The L Word") and Robert Picardo. "The Dead Zone" kicks off season four with a compelling episode (does anyone else think Anthony Michael Hall gets sexier each season?) and will soon feature guest star turns from Dedee Pfeiffer, Jennifer Finnigan, Edward Asner and Danny Masterson.

That’s all for today. I’ll be back next week with my choices for this year’s Emmy nominations (it’s cute, isn’t it, how I naively hold out hope that this year will be different). Also coming in June the annual Amy Awards where you pick the categories, the nominations and the winners. Have a question, seen a familiar face, have an inside scoop or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com by clicking on my byline at the top of my column.