TV shows that lasted longer than they should

[J Dog]

This thread isn't devoted to shows that people believed "jumped the shark", but rather shows that just simply lasted longer than they had to, regardless of anything happening around it.

The number one show on my list is "According to Jim", which is still on despite talks of it ending every season.

[Huh?]

Here is my list off the top of my head:

The X-Files
The Sopranos
The Simpsons
Friends
Law & Order
ER
American Idol
Survivor
Big Brother

[kalorama]

Most of them.

[Your Imaginary Pal]

24
Priosnbreak
Saved by the Bell
A Different World
(When the core characters of a show revolve around a 4 year school setting, anything beyond that is just overkill to me, unless you're following the story of the staff, or really ineffective students)

[Tom-El]

Wow, there are so many...

Knight Rider
Manimal
The Man from Atlantis
Rules of Engagement
The A Team
Sea Quest DSV

That's all for now... I'm sure I'll think of more soon.

Fun thread!

Tom

[Toku King]

Simpsons(sorry, I love them, but the movie is the final curtain for me. It ended way too well to continue it)
That 70s Show(no mention at all? Really?)
Pokemon
Digimon
Shinzo
Power Rangers(END IT!!!!!)

[kalorama]

The Man from Atlantis

Didn't the Man From Atlantis only last 1 season?

[Huh?]

Didn't the Man From Atlantis only last 1 season?It's "Man From Atlantis," no "the" and yes, it only lasted 17 episodes, but there were 4 made for tv movies prior to the first and only season.

[The Zapper]

That 70s Show(no mention at all? Really?)


We agree on something! Mark this day on your calender.

[Agent_Torpor]

Any show currently in syndication:

That 70s Show,
2 and a Half Men
According to Jim
Everyone Loves Raymond.

All utter gobshite.

[LtMarvel]

Wrong answer for this thread:

The Simpsons

[ZT4]

The Simpsons: It's argued it will always have it's moments, but when it's an infinite cash machine, it has to . Even The Flintstones aged (despite the later shows not being as popular), but their legacy had long been established as a household name before they did so. The Simpsons has acheived that ten fold, it's time to take small risks. If they die by that risk, they can end it's run with nothing to fiscly worry about


24: What started off as cutting-edge, and maintaining a day-long goal, became a complete charicture of itself. Throwing in corrupt Presidents and evil family members, Bauer became the "wild card" of American defense rather than the troubled agent with family and personal drug problems who had to balance crucial decisions. Season seven's revival of Tony Almeda officially threw it into Bobby Ewing territory.

Digimon Tamers actually should have been the entire series.

Someone brought up obscure hit Shinzo...yeah, that timeline storyline got way too confounding...the unofficial third season is something I've tried tracking down though.

[Michael P]

The Simpsons should have died before I left college.

[Black Atom]

The Simpsons is getting really close to having more bad seasons than good.

[EZMOHR]

The Simpsons is getting really close to having more bad seasons than good.

Very, very true. I have watched episodes in the last 4 years that very honestly did not have one funny moment in them. Sometimes, you've got to know when to fold them. And while the movie was alright, it was nothing like the first 7 years of the show. It was funny when you compare it to the episodes of the last 7 years.

As for all time favorite shows of mine, got to agree with The X-Files. The last two season for sure....man those were just bad, awful, bad, awful (Not enough words to say how bad.) And for a once great show, the series finale is one of the biggest letdowns in TV history.

That being said, I'm such a sucker for The X-Files, I will be first in line for the movie.

[Jared]

[B]24: What started off as cutting-edge, and maintaining a day-long goal, became a complete charicture of itself. Throwing in corrupt Presidents and evil family members, Bauer became the "wild card" of American defense rather than the troubled agent with family and personal drug problems who had to balance crucial decisions. Season seven's revival of Tony Almeda officially threw it into Bobby Ewing territory.


I'm willing to withhold judgement on Tony's return until we actually see how it plays out. I was pissed with how he was killed off, so I'm already somewhat inclined to let this slide.

[GozertheGozarian]

Lost. How can anyone still watch after such a fast descent into WTF territory?

[StoneGold]

This would be much easier if it was TV shows that didn't run too long.

[Agent_Torpor]

Wrong answer for this thread:

The Simpsons

The worst Simpsons episode is still more watchable than the best "Will & Grace".

[Johnny_Luck]

Power Rangers(END IT!!!!!)

There are serious talks that this new season is the last live action season they plan to do in America, though that isn't stopping them from coming up with the idea for an animated PR series.

[Croaker]

According to Jim (Jesus, how is this show still on and even in syndication!?)
George Lopez
Drew Carrey Show
The Cosby Show (they should have gone out on top and strong, instead they added Raven Simone)
Friends (went a season or two too long)
ER (Oh please let it die already!)
Big Brother
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Probably a ton of others, just too many to think of all at once I think.

[4thHorseman]

Seinfeld

Don't care what anyone says, this has been a show I've never laughed at. Possibly the dumbest show I've ever seen.

[Legato]

Lost. How can anyone still watch after such a fast descent into WTF territory?

Really, unless you managed to watch it from the beginning one wouldn't know what the heck is going on when your completly new to the show.

[Magneto_X]

Charmed
Smallville
The Simpsons
Pokemon
ER
Survivor

[Legato]

There are serious talks that this new season is the last live action season they plan to do in America, though that isn't stopping them from coming up with the idea for an animated PR series.

Power Rangers should have ended with Power Rangers In Space. The finale of that season would have been the perfect curtain call of the entire Power Ranger series.

I would also want to add South Park on the list also.

[Magneto_X]

Power Rangers should have ended with Power Rangers In Space. The finale of that season would have been the perfect curtain call of the entire Power Ranger series.


It still has life in it past that. I enjoyed SPD and MF.

I agree PRIS finale would have been a perfect end for the series.

[Legato]

Charmed
Smallville
The Simpsons
Pokemon
ER
Survivor

IMO Charmed stopped being good when Shannon's character left the show and they add another Charmed sister to the cast. Sure it was beginning to become interesting again when Cole came into the picture but when he left the show gradually started to suck.

Speaking of Smallville I hear that Michael Rosenbaum may be leaving this season. He seems to be the one redeeming quality of the show and is the only reason why I still managed to continue watching so I hope that isnt the case.


After six seasons Clark is still in Smallville and haven't reached any progress into becoming Superman.

[Legato]

It still has life in it past that. I enjoyed SPD and MF.

I agree PRIS finale would have been a perfect end for the series.

Dont get me wrong I enjoyed some of the Post-PRIS series myself. Mostly SPD and Dino Thunder.

Just that if I really wanted to end the whole series then I would have ended it with PRIS.

[Chiasm]

Lost. How can anyone still watch after such a fast descent into WTF territory?

I recently watched the first three seasons on DVD in preparation for season IV. I was amazed about how sucky the 1st season was compared to how great it is now. Especially amazed because at the time I thought season I rocked. Which it still does but the show has only gotten much much better.

[SnowTrooper]

I recently watched the first three seasons on DVD in preparation for season IV. I was amazed about how sucky the 1st season was compared to how great it is now. Especially amazed because at the time I thought season I rocked. Which it still does but the show has only gotten much much better.

The show has been great during its whole run. It gets better but it gets alot more complicated at the same time.

[Magneto_X]

IMO Charmed stopped being good when Shannon's character left the show and they add another Charmed sister to the cast. Sure it was beginning to become interesting again when Cole came into the picture but when he left the show gradually started to suck.


I agree.

Legato:

Enjoyed Dino Thunder, too.

[Howard Allan]

The only show that ended it right on time and in a perfect fashion was MASH.

[Julusnc]

Lost
Prison Break
ER
Deep Space Nine
Voyager
Sliders
Stragate DSG
X-Files
Law and Order
CSI
Nightline
David Letterman
Jay Leno
Alias

[Julusnc]

The only show that ended it right on time and in a perfect fashion was MASH.

and I would add Barney Miller

[Legato]

Family Guy
Smallville
7th Heaven
Malcom In The Middle
Roseanne: It fell apart during that season when they won the lottery

[twilight]

Scooby-Doo.

How many episodes can you write around the formula "go to place - meet person - run around - pull mask off ghost/monster/alien - ghost/monster/alien is revealed to be the person you met earlier in the episode"?

-Twi

[lonewolf23k]

Buffy. It really should've ended with Season 5. Buffy's sacrifice was the perfect closer.

[Deep_Sleeper]

I'm gonna go with the X-Files. Loved the show at it's peak, which was around season 5 or 6, IMO. Then it kind of rolled downhill.

[Descartes_Lives]

Law and Order needs to end unless someone completely rehauls it.
CSI has gotten way too outlandish for me.
King of the Hill
Grey's Anatomy. After the third season ended, it started to be terrible.


I watched Smallville for the first time in years the other day, and I thought it was a little sad that for the most part, I could have watched the series opener and then gone right to this episode with very few in between to form a coherent storyline. It looks like Clark hasn't developed his character at all, and he's still not becoming the Man of Steel. How many times does he have to run into other people with abilities to realize that maybe this world needs some protecting?

Des.

[The Zapper]

Mike Judge actually wanted King of the Hill to end, but Fox threw enough money at him for him to continue. I only bring it up because Fox has such a history of canceling shows instead of keeping them.

[Legato]

Buffy. It really should've ended with Season 5. Buffy's sacrifice was the perfect closer.

Agreed, it would have given Joss an excuse to use that Faith spin-off he intended to create.

[Mangaman]

According to Jim is the ultimate answer to this question, no other need apply.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The only show that ended it right on time and in a perfect fashion was MASH.

Nah....much as I love M.A.S.H , the show over stayed by about 2 to 3 seasons. When Alda came on as Executive Producer and decided that each week should be an anti-war message and that Hawkeye should stop the boozing as much. It killed that aspect of the show...that Hawkeye drank and partied to escape the horrors of war.

It should have left in 1980.


Drew Carey also failed to the problem of staying too long. The show was great from 1995-2000. But the moment the series let Kate go and left Drew as an even bigger loser...ya kinda felt pity for the character.


Family Matters is another show that stayed too long. By the end Urkel was pretty silly as a grown man who did that act. It was good when he was a kid. But by the time he became a grown man the show had seen better days. Most of the supporting players like Waldo Faldo , Aunt Rachel and all had been allowed to leave...

[the goddamn batman]

Drew Carey also failed to the problem of staying too long. The show was great from 1995-2000. But the moment the series let Kate go and left Drew as an even bigger loser...ya kinda felt pity for the character.

If a show has to reinvent itself... it's over.

God, glad I never really watched that show (had to Wiki it).

[Jimmy Starburst]

Ally McBeal. The final season just nearly completely revised the character/cast list, opened up a bunch of new storylines, and ended without any closure. These TV people need to know when to say when.

A TV show that ended before its time was Carnivale. Damn you, HBO! I need answers!

[Johnny_Luck]

IMO Charmed stopped being good when Shannon's character left the show and they add another Charmed sister to the cast. Sure it was beginning to become interesting again when Cole came into the picture but when he left the show gradually started to suck.
.

Shannon moments in that show sucked and when she left it saved it from being mediocre at best all the time. Rose Mcgowen not only better looking, better at acting, but her character added so much more.

I saw that the show really didn't start to go downhill per say until Chris showed up and then that is when it went down the tube. Though season 7 was a redeemable season in between horrid stuff.

Overall though the major reason to watch that show was seeing Holly marie combs be awesome.

Buffy. It really should've ended with Season 5. Buffy's sacrifice was the perfect closer.

Nah it wasn't.

Season 5 was iffy at best and season 4 even the creators admitted was horrible and filled with writing and creative mistakes. Season 6 was fun and season 7 is the third best season only after 3, then 2. Season 7 had great bad guys, great character moments and overall had a way better ending then season 5 did.

Plus we would have missed out on Andrew and especially the awesomeness that is Kennedy compared to the annoyingly overrated and dry/dull Tara. Oh and can anyone say Caleb and super Scythe?


Agreed, it would have given Joss an excuse to use that Faith spin-off he intended to create.

That would have rocked, but Eliza didn't want to do it at the time and still doesn't. So even if it ended the faith show would not have happened.

Though we are getting Dollhouse with Dushku/Joss combo coming soon.


I really would have to say the obvious being ER has run its course a long time ago.

[Wenatchee the Hatchet]

Carnivale wouldn't be a candidate for a show that went on too long, though. :) The very little of it I saw was pretty intriguing.

Drew Carey was one of those shows where just by being on the air it seemed to go on too long.

[Siddon]

Millenuim which was an okay show(Season 1) - then a great show(Season 2) - then a bad show (Season 3)

Homicide had a terrible final season

Smallville stopped being good after Season 1

Soprano's was unwatchable for two seasons before giving us a great final half/season

In defense of other shows

Lost gets a bad rap (mostly due to some poor casting choices) but Micheal Emmerson has completly taken over that show.

[Knightmare10880]

Roseanne: It fell apart during that season when they won the lottery

I agree, the first part of that season was great, Dan survived the heart attack then they won the lottery and showed us this culture change for this "blue collar" family that had to struggle all the time finally having more then enough money to give their kids the life they always wanted to. Plus those first few episodes of the season also showcased that even though they were know rich they still had alot of serious problems(some even caused by becoming rich) I think that the problem was that it shouldn't have been a full season they should have just ended it around December and placed somethin else in it's place come Febuary.

And I hate that ending to the series finale when they reveal that this entire last season was all a story that Roseanne had been writing about, and that Dan had died. I was enjoying it up to that pointe, because it was giving all the characters a nice send off and showing that they were all at a better place than when they started off at the begining of the series.

[Davideaux]

Bionic Woman (2007)

[ZT4]

There are serious talks that this new season is the last live action season they plan to do in America, though that isn't stopping them from coming up with the idea for an animated PR series.

I've heard new rumours that PR could be moving to Canada and continue the live-action format, but judging from the 2008 Tokusatsu, it'll look extremely dopier than usual.

[Oblivion87]

Lost gets a bad rap (mostly due to some poor casting choices) but Micheal Emmerson has completly taken over that show.

Actually he and Terry O'Quinn have taken over in my view.

While I don't think LOST is past its prime, I do feel that they spent too much time dancing around in seasons 2 and 3 instead of answering questions, and I'm not happy with whole flash forward thing there doing now.

[Toku King]

It still has life in it past that. I enjoyed SPD and MF.

I thought both of those series were terrible.
I didn't like PRIS, but hey, it would've been a good ending to it all at least.
I did like "Time Force", "Dino Thunder" and "Lost Galaxy", however.

[LtMarvel]

The Simpsons and Lost don't belong on anyone's list for this thread. I know there's more life in the Simpsons because they've come up with 100+ issues of the comic book, many of which are just as good as the show (Homer gets motorized wheel chair; Homer gets ostrich farm in his back yard...). Fox does not have a show as good as the Simsons to replace it.

Lost is near its peak right now.

[Johnny_Luck]

I thought both of those series were terrible.
I didn't like PRIS, but hey, it would've been a good ending to it all at least.
I did like "Time Force", "Dino Thunder" and "Lost Galaxy", however.

All three of those not PRIS listed there sucked hard. Even more so Time Force and Lost Galaxy

Honestly PRIS was the good good season

[Toku King]

MMPR's the best Power Ranger series, and always be. Not only did it start it all, but the fun factor, characters, action, and acting(yes, I'm serious) is the best to date.

[Legato]

Bionic Woman (2007)

Not a tv show that you hate thread.

[Agent_Torpor]

Law and Order needs to end unless someone completely rehauls it.
CSI has gotten way too outlandish for me.
King of the Hill
Grey's Anatomy. After the third season ended, it started to be terrible.


I watched Smallville for the first time in years the other day, and I thought it was a little sad that for the most part, I could have watched the series opener and then gone right to this episode with very few in between to form a coherent storyline. It looks like Clark hasn't developed his character at all, and he's still not becoming the Man of Steel. How many times does he have to run into other people with abilities to realize that maybe this world needs some protecting?

Des.

Law & Order is what it is, a self-contained story that works awesomely in syndication. It will never change, nor will it have to. There's no serialization, no need to pick up back story, there's a revolving group of guest actors that work in tandem with a core group of regulars, it's just great hour-long drama television.

And Grey' Anatomy "started" to get bad? When was it ever NOT weepy, estrogen-fueled chick fantasy/melodrama?

[Agent_Torpor]

Not a tv show that you hate thread.

To be fair, the writers' strike probably killed whatever minimal buzz the show had. Bye bye, Jamie Summers.

[frankiedetroit]

Nah....much as I love M.A.S.H , the show over stayed by about 2 to 3 seasons. When Alda came on as Executive Producer and decided that each week should be an anti-war message and that Hawkeye should stop the boozing as much. It killed that aspect of the show...that Hawkeye drank and partied to escape the horrors of war.

It should have left in 1980.

Agreed with M*A*S*H, and I was a nut for that show until the end. For the ultimate in quality, the show should've ended with Col. Blake's death. I liked Col. Potter and B.J., and since they were knew, it was OK for them to play far second fiddle to Hawkeye (which Wayne Rogers hated doing). The show definitely should've called it quits when Radar left in '79.

But I also agree it had a great ending. Goodbye.

Three other shows that stayed too long: Happy Days—anything after they went to a live studio audience and Fonzie saved the day every week—it had jumped the shark before he jumped the shark; Three's Company —OK, maybe I'm judging fluff too hard, but once Janet and Jack couldn't be in the same room as Chrissy, there's no sense bringing in Chrissy's cousin to move things along. Just end it—and Martin. Once Martin Lawrence started sexual harassing Tischa Campbell, it was time to call it quits.

A show that ended prematurely: Soap.

[Omega Alpha]

That's 70's Show: By the time it ended, they should have been in the 80's already, it was 79 for almost 3 years! Plus, after Kelso and Eric left, why continue with it?

Grey's Anatomy: Is there any character on the show (except for the old guy) that still hasn't slept with or at least had several moments of great sexual tension with at least 3 other characters? Really, about time to end it.


And Lost? Please, the show is as interesting as ever. In the beginning of season 3, I would agree, but around the time BKV begun to work on it, the series is fantastic. I would say even that is better than ever.

If a show has to reinvent itself... it's over.


Except, of course, when the reinvention of the show is sucessful and works very well, like it happened with The West Wing when it begun to focus on the presidential race and primaries, and more recently on House (even though the re-invention was unncessary, actually).

[Magneto_X]

A TV show that ended before its time was Carnivale. Damn you, HBO! I need answers!

It would be cool if the creators continue the story in either comic or novel form.

[Magneto_X]

Overall though the major reason to watch that show was seeing Holly marie combs be awesome.

Holly is the primary reason I even watched that awful show. lol


Though we are getting Dollhouse with Dushku/Joss combo coming soon.


Looking forward to that.

[Magneto_X]

I didn't like PRIS, but hey, it would've been a good ending to it all at least.


What sold me on the series was Circuit Astonema. The Rangers were pretty lame and forgettable. She owned that show every time she was on screen.

The Psycho Rangers rocked, too.


I did like "Time Force", "Dino Thunder" and "Lost Galaxy", however.

Agreed.

*character limit*

[Legato]

Holly is the primary reason I even watched that awful show. lol


Her and Leo were the main reasons why I continued watching until the end.

[GozertheGozarian]

Her and Leo were the main reasons why I continued watching until the end.
They're why I can't watch the show. Quite a few of the later episodes focused almost completely on them and made everyone else sidekicks.

[Johnny_Luck]

Leo was an annoying Pain in the butt, though Chris was worse.

However Piper was awesome as was Page, Phoebe was cool for the first 4 or so seasons before coming an pain and horribly written.

[ZT4]

Honestly PRIS was the good good season

PRIS is a powerful season, but it's often made automatically "perfect" because it had Zordon and familiar faces in it. Lost Galaxy and Time Force are far superior seasons, but because there distanced from the nostalgia and stand on their own for the most part, there not "sheilded" by nostalgia and continuity, just vauge traces of it.

One irritation I have is that fans select "Once a Ranger" as the best episode of Operation Overdrive, when it's clearly an anniversary wankathon, and there not fairly judging the season objectivly. I'm not saying Overdrive is worth beans, but "Things Not Said" is it's best episode on it's own merits.

[Johnny_Luck]

I rather poke my eyes out then try and watch Time force or Lost Galaxy they are that bad. I really cannot see how they appeal to anyone.

and No PRIS was awesome for Ashley, Cassie, Silver Ranger, Psycho Rangers and Astonema(sp)

I don't base a whole season off what happens in the last 2 minutes of the finale.

[ZT4]

I rather poke my eyes out then try and watch Time force or Lost Galaxy they are that bad. I really cannot see how they appeal to anyone.

Themes of redemption, life, death, racism, that odd nick and nack

Not even IS had Jhad Stingwingers

[drwho]

i havent watched an episode of simpsons in like 6 yrs but it must still be getting ratings plus what other tv show besides soaps on other networks can they claim has been running as long.

[Weapon Ick]

I just finished the third season of Weeds. When I saw the last episode I thought it was the end of the series. A lot of threads got tied up. Also the setting for the show was pretty much eliminated. It was a very nice emotionally poignant ending.

I was very suprised to learn that a fourth season is in the works. I hope it will be awesome. The way season 3 ended was just so perfect it seems like overkill to continue the story.

[GrifterWC]

All In the Family also stayed on longer than it should have. The show lost the Jefferson's then the show lost the rest of it's charm when Mike and Gloria moved to California and left the show. After that they decide to add that annoying girl Stephanie and kill off Edith.

[marshal99]

A TV show that ended before its time was Carnivale. Damn you, HBO! I need answers!

I would agree , awesome show but i thought the ending serve well as a finale.

[vazel]

I would agree , awesome show but i thought the ending serve well as a finale.Uh, no it didn't. That show was left criminally hanging.

[Cyke]

As far as Power Rangers is concerned, I agree about Space, but if the show had ended on Wild Force, I wouldn't mind. Perhaps have its finale and then show Forever Red as an epilogue to the entire series focusing on Tommy, Jason, and the Reds, just like how 'epilogue' for JLU was how it was supposed to end, focusing on the Bat-history.

Then again, my favorite PR series of all time is Ninja Storm and we wouldn't haev gotten that. But if PR ended right after NS, it wouldn't be fitting as a finale, I admit. And as good as Dino Thunder is, having Tommy be one of the first and one of the last rangers makes the show seem shallow and empty, a shell of what it used to be.

[hugh45]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Starburst View Post
A TV show that ended before its time was Carnivale. Damn you, HBO! I need answers!

It would be cool if the creators continue the story in either comic or novel form.

I think HBO is hurting now because they axed some their shows too early
like Rome/Dead Wood. Now AMC is starting to catch w/them.

[vazel]

edit: nvm.

[stealthwise]

That 70s Show definitely should have finished one season sooner. The previous season's closer with Eric leaving for Africa was absolutely perfect, and they had to ruin all that by going one more year with an irritating new cast member, pointless sitcom plots, and horrible guest stars.

Terrible dog shite.

[Toku King]

That 70s Show definitely should have finished one season sooner. The previous season's closer with Eric leaving for Africa was absolutely perfect, and they had to ruin all that by going one more year with an irritating new cast member, pointless sitcom plots, and horrible guest stars.

Terrible dog shite.

And they hooked up Fez and Jackie.
Fez and Jackie, dude!

[BoosterBronze]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Starburst View Post
A TV show that ended before its time was Carnivale. Damn you, HBO! I need answers!



I think HBO is hurting now because they axed some their shows too early
like Rome/Dead Wood. Now AMC is starting to catch w/them.

I think Carnivale was cancelled becasue:

a) there was a copywright suit against it from some novelist who claimed it ripped him off.

b) episodes were extremely expensive to produce.

[stealthwise]

I think Carnivale was cancelled becasue:

a) there was a copywright suit against it from some novelist who claimed it ripped him off.

b) episodes were extremely expensive to produce.

a) appears to be false because the show was already cancelled by the time that the lawsuit was filed. The expenses ($4 million or more per episode), along with low ratings, appears to be the reason for cancellation.

[marshal99]

Uh, no it didn't. That show was left criminally hanging.

Like many horror movie , the ending just leaves open the possiblities of a sequel but the showdown for which the show has led up to for 2 seasons did happened and ended satisfactory. (at least for me)
Of course , there's not accounting for the ending that Sofie (i think that was her name) turned bad and was going to resurrect the demonic pastor when it ended.

[EZMOHR]

You know what I never got about Carnivale....the acting always was so superb from EVERYONE involved, but the show always felt like it should have been like 80x's better than the finished product. One of the ultimate most dissapointing shows I ever watched.

[marshal99]

I don't know , one thing that strikes me about Carnivale is how it plays out so much like a stephen king novel like the stand. It takes its time to unfold - the side of the heroes and villains with plenty of grey area , it takes its time to tell the story with plenty of twists and turns like a typical king novel , leading up slowly to a showdown.

It is more of a maxi-series or a mini-series than an actual ongoing series as the way it unfolds is methodical.

[stealthwise]

I don't know , one thing that strikes me about Carnivale is how it plays out so much like a stephen king novel like the stand. It takes its time to unfold - the side of the heroes and villains with plenty of grey area , it takes its time to tell the story with plenty of twists and turns like a typical king novel , leading up slowly to a showdown.

It is more of a maxi-series or a mini-series than an actual ongoing series as the way it unfolds is methodical.

Yep. Methodical, aka decompressed television, seems to be the way that a ton of these recent shows, like Carnivale, Lost, Heroes, seem to be unfolding. Unfortunately, it kind of drives me nuts, and I end up losing interest within three or four episodes.

[StoneGold]

Yep. Methodical, aka decompressed television, seems to be the way that a ton of these recent shows, like Carnivale, Lost, Heroes, seem to be unfolding.

Are you kidding? The first season of Heroes was one of the most densely plotted pieces of episodic television ever. Every few episodes they spilled the beans on everything.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Lost. How can anyone still watch after such a fast descent into WTF territory?what he said...

[EZMOHR]

what he said...

Tish, I love you and all your posts, but damn if you are so wrong about this show. :)

[Just a Shadow]

Diff'rent Strokes -- It should have ended before Phil married that lady with the little redheaded son.

As for a show that ended before it's time, I'd go with My So Called Life.

[marshal99]

As for a show that ended before it's time, I'd go with My So Called Life.

Another one - Life as we know it , ended way before its time.

[DDM]

The Facts of Life should have been cancelled when Edna's Edibles burned down. The show started to show its age when the youngest one learned how to drive & go to college. It got worse when Cloris Leechman took over as the maternal figure when the girls clearly did not need one anymore; furthermore, with the addition of Mackenzie Atin & the George Clooney characters. Even in 1984 or 1985, the show still was at a high point. By 1988, Facts of Life just got stale with age. I didn't like Blair buying the school. In retrospect, this looked like a possible new out to extend Facts of Life with a whole new set of girls...

[Patient Boy]

Another one - Life as we know it , ended way before its time.

Oh I really liked that one. Sure it was a teen drama, but it definitely deserved at least another season.

[Knightmare10880]

The Facts of Life should have been cancelled when Edna's Edibles burned down. The show started to show its age when the youngest one learned how to drive & go to college. It got worse when Cloris Leechman took over as the maternal figure when the girls clearly did not need one anymore; furthermore, with the addition of Mackenzie Atin & the George Clooney characters. Even in 1984 or 1985, the show still was at a high point. By 1988, Facts of Life just got stale with age. I didn't like Blair buying the school. In retrospect, this looked like a possible new out to extend Facts of Life with a whole new set of girls...


That was the plan, I can't remember what the new series was supposed to have been called but it would have featured Lisa Whecal(sp) as Blair taking on the role that Mrs Garrett had with her and the other girls.

It's odd the early seasons are not as tied to the 80's as the later seasons are. That might be why they are shown more often in sydication.

[Agent_Torpor]

Diff'rent Strokes -- It should have ended before Phil married that lady with the little redheaded son.

As for a show that ended before it's time, I'd go with My So Called Life.

That show should have ended earlier, if only to spare the world the toolsack known as Jared Leto.

And as for Diff'rent Strokes, SAM (the little redheaded brat) and Dixie Carter joining the household was the ultimate "KILL SHOW NOW" moment. At that point, Arnold was no longer the adorable little wiseacre, he was the short, creepy old dude that just wasn't aging properly.

[Legato]

All In the Family also stayed on longer than it should have. The show lost the Jefferson's then the show lost the rest of it's charm when Mike and Gloria moved to California and left the show. After that they decide to add that annoying girl Stephanie and kill off Edith.

I think it should have ended when Mike and Gloria moved to California. Dont remember much about that episode but I believe it kinda brought some proper closure to Mike and Archie as they were actually showing signs of getting along with one another.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I think it should have ended when Mike and Gloria moved to California. Dont remember much about that episode but I believe it kinda brought some proper closure to Mike and Archie as they were actually showing signs of getting along with one another.

The show should have ended when Stapleton wanted out in 1979. They should have ended it there.

[Knightmare10880]

The show should have ended when Stapleton wanted out in 1979. They should have ended it there.

What he said, the series really lost something without Edith.