The Real Reason 'Kung Fu' was Cancelled

Remember that scene in Pulp Fiction when Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta are sitting at the diner and Jackson explains his life dream? He Said that he wants to just walk the earth like Caine's character in Kung Fu - to walk from place to place, meeting different people and getting into all kinds of adventures.

Kung Fu undeniably had an impact on Quentin Tarantino who even incorporated various themes from the hit 1970s show into his martial-arts inspired feature film, Kill Bill.

For example, Bill himself was played by David Carradine who was the star of Kung Fu. He even sported the same look, flute and all, as his iconic transient wanderer Kwai Chang Caine. Pai Mei, Kill Bill's master also conjured up the memory of Caine's trainer, Master Po. The similarities abound.

Kung Fu had far-reaching influence. When it premiered in 1972, it was one of the very first martial arts-themed shows to find success in American popular culture. It didn't hurt that the series was basically a western set in the old wild west in the mid 19th century.

Kung Fu was a triumphant piece of television history. The series brought the martial arts into our living rooms while telling the story of Kwai Chang Caine - a young Shaolin monk who travels to the American Old West, equipped with his spiritual sensibilities and values and his knowledge of the martial arts. Throughout his journey, he is on the pursuit of his brother Danny Caine.

In the Pilot episode, Caine's mentor, Master Po, is brutally murdered. Caine avenges this death by killing his mentor’s assassin who happens to be the nephew of the Emperor. Following this unfolding of events, Caine is forced to flee to America to avoid certain death.

The show broke ground. It inspired many spin-offs including Kung Fu: The Next Generation and The Legend Continues. In 2021 a reboot series is set to premiere on the CW. So be on the lookout for that.

This video will show you 10 little known facts about the series that became a cultural phenomenon. IT turns out, that the show enjoyed good ratings for its entire run. So find out why the show was ultimately canceled.
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[MrBlack-zehw]

As a 14 year old in 1972 It was by far, my favorite TV show. I would wait all week in anticipation
for the next episode. The pilot, as I recall, debuted February 1972 and had very high ratings. Watching it 48 years later brings back wonderful memories of my teenage years.

[veganath]

I remember as a kid watching Kung Fu and being spellbound not only by the action but the life lessons woven into the stories. One scene that has stuck with me was during a time as a kid I felt alone, Grasshopper the child was in tears & lamented to Master Poh how lonely he felt being new to the monastery. Master Poh said to *_"Grasshopper tell me what do you hear?"_* Grasshopper remained silent for some seconds listening & replied *_"I hear birds, crickets, the wind in the trees"_* Master Poh replied *_"How is it you feel so lonely..."_* Still today that scene is profoundly comforting, something ALL kids should be able to access especially during all this isolation from other humans in recent times. Kung Fu had a way of profoundly nurturing peoples mental health especially for the kids who viewed it. RIP David!!

[AudioFanMan]

8 years old when the series started, discovered it at about 10. It rocked my world. The entire story captivated me.. moved to a tough neighborhood, started Karate but honestly fell in love with the cultures and traditions of all of it. Moved back to my childhood home, rejoined karate. I literally breated ate and drank marital atrts. My student call me Sensi infront if there students, in there dojo. I may not have ascended to heights some may imagine, but rose far above for myself. This series, Bruce, and my sensi created the man i am today. 40 years later, i owe every bit of my tenacity and drive to a vision given to me by great people who could speak the language of passion.

[Tarkus]

When I was a kid I couldnt wait for Kung Fu to play on the tv I was awe struck, bloody amazing for the time

[felixvega]

As a teen, Kung Fu played a powerful influence towards my becoming interested in martial arts. David Carradine’s role of being a soft spoken and gentle man inspired me to fully grasp the true power of the yin yang philosophy!

[peterreddin]

David Carridine played the gentle and peaceful monk so well. He was awesome at portraying Caine. This is what makes Kung Fu the series outstanding. What other actor could of done this so well. Today there are so many actors who can fight and be tough on screen, with spectacular fight scenes, but still they cannot play a kind and gentle being . . I have trained in Kung Fu for 15 years now and the true meaning of Kung Fu is to find inner peace in oneself, to be humble, this is what Carridine portrayed so brilliantly.

[philosophicallyspeaking]

Kung Fu wasn't cancelled, it was one of the first ever TV shows to survive and elect to finish, having achieved what it set out to do.

[Scorch]

David Carradine said he was “relieved” when Kung Fu ended after its third season. The problem was that Carradine was in 99 percent of the scenes in every episode. It was exhausting for him. Kung Fu, as great as it was, had no “sub-plot” which meant that Carradine had very few breaks during the filming of each episode.

[eyesopen]

There were so many good things about the show that people missed. The moral lessons, the etiquette lessons, the cultural and spiritual aspects. The martial arts part of the show was the hook, but the real show was much more, bring on the new, i cant wait.

[donsmeltzer]

Master Po WASN’T Caine’s father. He was his teacher.

[harleygirllife]

Kung Fu will never be replaced by a new reboot. For those of us lucky enough to be weekly viewers of the original show( I was in grammar school & watched it with my Dad all the time). Nothing can take it’s place or be better than Kane the original

[allenbeaulieu]

Kung Fu was the best. I watched it religiously. David Carradine was perfect for the lead. As it was mentioned, he took the role to heart and actually lived the role. That is dedication. Of everything that has played on television in my 65 years of life, this show touched my soul. I thank all who participated in the series. It was and is the best.

[jessemelendez]

Kung Fu the original series was such a good show. I couldn't get enough of it. I was a big fan of master Po, and the Abbott

[radamespera]

Hi. Enjoyed watching your mini-doc on my series. As the person who originated the role of "Grasshopper" (the Young Caine) in the majority of the flashback Shaolin temple scenes, I would like to both praise and substantiate a key claim your video contains and take the liberty of correcting an error.

Besides the one which others already jumped on in abundance, Master Po was Kwai Chang Caine's teacher and never referred to him otherwise.

I am grateful for your effort to put to rest the Bruce Lee "urban myth" which posits him as the originator of the concept of the show. You're correct that he did not and that Ed Spielman is the creator, having written the pilot movie years earlier.

The most important correction I can offer is about how and why the show was canceled. You've repeated the "official story" which Warner Bros needed to put out in order to save the value of the property, which was oddly held from syndication (re-runs) for a whopping six years, unprecedented for any hit series, which typically find their way to another channel immediately.

Not "Kung Fu". Certainly David's "injuries" didn't cause that. No, the rating suddenly dropped and the network (ABC) had to pull the plug because of a highly publicized screw up by Mr. Carradine.

A veteran of many trips, he dropped acid one night at his hippie pad in Laurel Canyon and went on a mini-rampage, at one point breaking into a neighbor's house, cutting himself on the glass-paned door he busted through and leaving his blood all over a piano he was inspired to play there.

The police found him curled up in a fetal position at his indoor/outdoor "tree house" and hauled him into the Hollywood Precinct.

This immediately made national news and those folks throughout the Midwest with Nielsen Ratings boxes attached to their TV started changing the channel once they heard the story. The show was challenging enough as it was and this tipped the scale.

So yes, as you reported, David did pull the plug on the show, in the only way he knew how, since the TV and studio execs weren't about to stop production on their biggest hit at the time.

It took six long years for the story to die down enough that the 3-1/2 season series could be sold to syndication. But that also allowed a whole younger generation to discover it for themselves, too. So it kind of worked out in a somewhat fortuitous manner, culturally speaking.

Well, that's the real story, from the horse's mouth. Thanks for letting me tell it.

[patrickpeden]

I'm so sad that David Carradine is the one who stop the show. Kung-fu was my teacher in life. I learned so much about living from the show. When I was young, I watched it for the fighting part. As I got older, I watched it for the spiritual part. I cried when I stopped watching it. Every once in a while, I watch parts of it on my phone. What a wonderful show. David was the perfect actor for it.

[markturpin]

As a kid I totally LOVED Kung Fu the original series...Quai Chang Caine was so awesome because all of his riches were inside of him. He made me consider the idea that I truly could survive my lousy childhood with peace and calm... all the punching and kicking didn't hurt any either!

[Ephesians-xtxc]

This was a truly great series with good actors, stories, and beautiful life lessons in humility, patience and love. One of a kind show, very well done.

[mistamarvelous]

Hollywood will never learn. Leave certain shows along. Kung Fu is a classic and should be left alone.

[joemacinnis]

Nothing will beat the original series! It was my favorite series growing up

[agalah]

The famous James Hong appeared in Kung Fu many times in different outfits, but his unique voice always gave him away. It was fitting that he did the voice of Kung Fu Panda's father in the noodle shop. then again in Everything Everywhere.
At 94 and after 456 movie credits, James Hong is still working in the industry.