Witchblade is a 2001-2002 American television series that aired on TNT. The series is based on the Witchblade comic book franchise, and it premiered in August 2000 after a pilot film. Ralph Hemecker, Marc Silvestri, and J.D. Zeik wrote several of the episodes. Anthony Cistaro played Kenneth Irons, David Chokachi played Jake McCartey, Eric Etebari played Ian Nottingham, Will Yun Lee played Danny Woo, Conrad Dunn played Tommy Gallo, Kenneth Welsh played Joe Siri, and John Hensley played Gabriel Bowman. Popular and critically acclaimed, the show was canceled in September2002; it was speculated that Butler's drunkenness led to the demise. The sitcom aired on TNT for two seasons, totaling 24 episodes. The first episode was shown on June 12, 2001, and the final episode was broadcast on August 26, 2002. Witchblade was named seventh in the Top 10 Basic Cable Dramas for 2002, despite its demise. According to Top Cow editor Matt Hawkins, Witchblade was cancelled because lead actress Yancy Butler was an alcoholic and entered treatment. It was and is the highest-rated TV series to be canceled.