There comes a point in everyone's life when their favorite sitcom gets canceled. Either the networks and streamers are axing their shows or the creators are. Of course, one can't blame NBC for canceling Seinfeld as the co-creators, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, decided that time was running out on their beloved series. But most sitcoms aren't like Seinfeld or Friends. Most end far too early or far too late. Either way, it's on the shoulders of the networks and streamers who gave them a chance in the first place. However, the cancelation process tends to be a bit more complex than a ratings dive. There can be creative differences at play and even some behind-the-scenes drama that tanks a series. So, where does 3rd Rock From The Sun Fall?

While some of the cast members of 3rd Rock From The Sun seemingly disappeared after the finale in 2001, fans of the show are still absolutely in love with them. The sitcom, which was co-created by Bonnie and Terry Turner in 1996, followed four aliens who explore the third planet from the sun to learn the secrets of the human race. Aside from the fact that the show was a launching pad for actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and really showed off the comedic chops of the likes of John Lithgow, French Stewart, Kristen Johnston, and SNL-alumna Jane Curtin, it was so adored because it shed a fascinating light on human interaction. After all, that is what the show was ultimately about. But even with critical praise and some really strong ratings, the show was ultimately canceled in 2001. Here's the real reason why...

3rd Rock From The Sun's Premise Made It Difficult For Audiences To Stay With It Every Week

3rd Rock From The Sun's issue was also its strength. While sitcoms about aliens have certainly existed before 3rd Rock From The Sun... ahem... ahem... Mork and Mindy and Alf... the vast majority of the successful shows in the 1990s simply didn't have this premise. The sitcoms of the 1990s were workplace-based, about families (like most sitcoms), or about dating. 3rd Rock was all of these things but also about aliens and about really understanding what it meant to be a human in the 1990s.

Frankly, this is why the show had such a dedicated fanbase for so long... and even to this day. But It also meant that the ratings were uneasy. Some weeks, the ratings were extremely strong and others were pretty abysmal. This usually correlated to the more 'out-there' episodes where the sitcom took daring chances, something that the die-hard fans adored. But the mainstream just couldn't fully get behind that. The show's network, NBC, could see that 3rd Rock was worth saving, however, which is why they tried to build on t's fanbase as much as possible. However, they did this is in a way that ultimately destroyed the show.

Related: Could 3rd Rock From The Sun Be Revived in 2020?

NBC Moved 3rd Rock From The Sun to 18 Different Timeslots, Ultimately Setting It Up For Cancelation

According to Looper, NBC ultimately moved 3rd Rock From The Sun to a whopping 18 different time slots in order to find the right home for it. One night it was on at 7, the next it was on a completely different day at 8.30. It became confusing to the fans and this wound up with the show losing a significant amount of viewers opening it up to receiving the ax from the network. So, yeah, the network could definitely be blamed for this mistake.

Related: The Cast Of ‘3rd Rock From The Sun’: Where Are They Now?

The cast of 3rd Rock definitely believes that the network was to blame for the show's cancelation. Even though Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who played Tommy Soloman) briefly left the show in order to go to college, he claims that the show was "formative" and instrumental to the building of his tremendous career.

Related: How Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is Adding To His $35 Million Net Worth

On top of it, Joseph Gordon-Levitt truly adored the cast and the stories they were telling. Recently, Joseph even claimed he would be interested in doing a revival of the show in the modern age. But he was the first to blame the network for the initial cancellation of the show. He even went so far as to say that NBC was "disrespectful" of 3rd Rock and didn't believe it had longevity. This is a comment that was echoed by series lead John Lithgow, who said that NBC "mishandled it badly".

So while NBC was responsible for destroying 3rd Rock From The Sun, it seems the cast is open for them to revive it and try and make things right. Whether that actually happens or not remains to be seen.

Next: The Is The Real Reason Why Tim Allen's 'Home Improvement Was Canceled