TV shows that were / are needlessly dragged on despite being "over."

[Dash87]

Two and a Half Men

The Simpsons

Family Guy

[PoliticAverse]

1. Any show in which a small child was added to the cast... n/t

[Populist_Prole]

15. 100 percent correct

If a couple on a sit-com "has a baby", you know it's to revive lagging interest.

[OmahaBlueDog]

17. "Mad About You" leaps to mind in that category

I remember Bob Newhart talking about how he and Susanne Pleshette absolutely refused to let a baby be added to the "Bob Newhart Show"

[AngryOldDem]

23. What...you didn't take to Cousin Oliver joining The Brady Bunch?

[Morning Dew]

65. Oh, yeah. Goes back as least as far as My Three Sons

when they added the new Mrs. Douglas and her child Dodie.

Blecchhhh.

[treestar]

71. LOL

Back in the day that applied to The Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family.

[sharp_stick]

2. How I met your mother

started off as a fun and interesting concept but now they're just beating a dead horse.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

55. I don't really follow the show

but I have watched it off and on, and the whole "Meeting The Mother" part of it was always by far the least interesting part. The other characters are so much better.

[Blue_Tires]

3. SportsCenter

[Initech]

4. Dexter should have been over a while ago.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

82. +1

[Arugula Latte]

5. Of course the classic example is "Happy Days" --

where we get the term "jump the shark."

[JonLP24]

6. The thing about that show

Is that was a popular episode and the series was more popular after that episode.

[A HERETIC I AM]

74. Yup. Ran another seven years after that and 160 some odd episodes. n/t

[cyberswede]

58. OMG - the leather jacket with swim trunks!

(full disclosure: I loved Happy Days when it was on, and the earliest episodes are still funny)

[Liberalynn]

7. Know I am Going to Get Booed For this Probably

but I am going to say NCIS.

Especially since they can't seem to keep a strong female presence.

Sure they have ABBY and I think she is great but she is perennially child like.

All the women who portray strong adult female characters end up leaving the show for one reason or another.

[AngryOldDem]

9. You won't get booed as bad as I probably will...see post below. n/t

[Sherman A1]

25. Agreed

My wife loves the show and I sorta watch it as I pass through the room sometimes, but it has overstayed it's welcome. I would add SVU to the list and as I try to watch a few of the ones on USA such as Covert Affairs, Burn Notice and White Collar (really like the short season format concepts on those or I did) I am seeing the same basic plot devices over and over and over again as the series run on too long. What starts out as something fresh with new young actors devolves into the overcoming the failed relationship with the main character's father and the continuous re-do of the overarching (often unknown) evil character(s).

That and of course way, way too many commercials that disrupt the show and make them hard to follow.

[Liberalynn]

33. That's a good point about the overused plot lines.

They all basically just copy one another.

[csziggy]

46. I've been watching old Perry Mason shows from the 50s

A lot of the plot lines you see on today's shows were on that old series back then - and Ramond Chandler probably stole them from older stories before then.

What I realized from watching Perry Mason and Rockford Files is how much soap opera type crap gets put into modern shows that have nothing to do with the plot of the week. Character development is all well and good but if I wanted a lot of that, I could actually watch soap operas!

Give me a good, tight plot that fills the hour NOT 1/3 backstory and less real plot.

[Sherman A1]

47. Similar to what I have been doing

We have picked up some old series on Dvd's such as Ripcord, Highway Patrol, Mannix, I Spy, Have Gun Will Travel, Studio One and Checkmate. I think we have a season or two of Perry Mason as well, but have yet to get to it. Sometimes the video quality drops off, but as you say the stories are much better. Some character development certainly, but overall they kept that to a minimum.

[Samantha]

73. I watch Perry Mason on ME (Memorable Entertainment) - they show it twice a day

and I try to catch it at either 10:00 or 11:30. I really loved this show when it originally aired, and it is refreshing to have the opportunity to see it again. Raymond Burr was a truly amazing actor -- he really got into that part.

The other thing that is very noticeable is the fashion sported by both women and men. Some of the outfits worn by the women look extremely well made, sharply cut and beautiful patterns. It's sad to look at those outfits and then turn around and see the low-quality fashion peddled today.

Sam

[csziggy]

75. Yes - I love the ME TV programming!

I DVR Perry Mason and Mission Impossible.

You're right about the women's fashions, too. What I like is that their clothes are so stylish without being sexual. So many of women's clothing today seems to be exhibitionist rather than flattering. Della Street's suits are flattering but very professional.

[Samantha]

80. Her wardrobe is both impeccable but appropriate -- and flattering as you say

It would be great to be able to walk into a store and find outfits like hers. Those days are gone unless one is pretty rich or has a custom taylor.

And the hairdo's -- most of them really flatter the female's face shape and is not just a cookie-cutter trend of the moment.

Sam

[frogmarch]

60. Cote de Pablo (Zeva)

wanted equal pay with that of her scene partner, Michael Weatherly, but she didn't get it, so she quit.

[Bertha Venation]

63. If true -- good for her. n/t

[AngryOldDem]

8. As much as I hate to say it, "MASH".

At some point -- I would say around 1979 or 1980 -- it lost its edge and just got too preachy and sanctimonious -- and boring. When I see the episodes from later on in the series, I am astounded at how poor everything is -- from the plot lines, characters, and (sorry) writing and at times, acting. As an example, look how much Hawkeye and Margaret are watered down as the show goes on. And Klinger. It's like the show couldn't decide if it wanted to be a comedy or a drama, or a morality tale, or....and it suffered in the end.

I consider the series finale to be one of the bigger TV disappointments ever -- right up there with "St. Elsewhere," another show that slowly began to stink the longer it went on.

As always, YMMV.

[Liberalynn]

10. I can see some of your points about Mash

and I completely agree about St. Elsewhere. When it started out I loved that show but that ending was just stupid. JMHO too.

[OmahaBlueDog]

16. M*A*S*H* was my first thought as well

They should have stopped after season 6. The last 2-3 seasons are virtually unwatchable, IMO.

[AngryOldDem]

22. Painfully unwatchable.

I don't know why they insisted on going on, when it was obvious that the show had run its course. As funny (and at times brilliant) as it was in its early years, most of that was undone in the course of two or three seasons.

TV producers should take a tip from "The West Wing" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (to name two) that knew when to quit, and did so gracefully.

[PoliticAverse]

20. Which they dragged on even more by 'AfterMASH'. n/t

[mucifer]

32. What was Major Houlijan doing with Farrah hair in the 1950s??

They just ceased to care. Yeah, that show got very stale. How many episodes did they do about the weather and / or not having something in Korea they wanted?

[edbermac]

56. Agree on MASH, everyone got way too noble the last few seasons.

Even Klinger stopped wearing dresses and turned into a good guy.

[AngryOldDem]

64. Exactly!

"MASH"'s appeal -- beginning with the movie -- was always the antiestablishment theme, and how those in authority were often fools. Look at the early seasons of the show. You had Frank and Hot Lips (and I have NO problem with that name because it was another jab at how those "in charge" often didn't live what they preached); Colonel Flagg (one of the most hilarious characters ever on TV, IMO); and all the other generals and brass who came across as complete idiots. Even Klinger and his dresses sent the message about how basically idiotic war is.

But the show lost its way sometime during the years I mentioned above, and I'm not sure why it happened. It seemed as if everyone set out on a self-serving hell-bent mission to show us how bad war is. The result: An unfunny, plodding half-hour of sanctimony. About the only episodes from that time that were truly funny were the ones involving practical jokes, and those really didn't concern the war. Ironic.

The last, really good episode that I remember was when Col. Potter got the bottle of wine as the last survivor from his WWI tontine. That was some powerful acting and writing, reminiscent of the good old days.

Sorry to go on. But it kind of pisses me off, because the show was a staple of my late childhood into young adulthood - I was in 6th grade when it started and a college senior when it ended, and I hated to see such a show slide so far downhill. It did it's best work sending an anti-war message when it didn't try so damn hard to send an anti-war message.

[Chan790]

11. At this point, Sons of Anarchy.

Any notion or premise of narrative arc has been lost at this point because they make no progress towards denouement. There is no sense of wrapping-up towards the larger cross-season narrative, instead tacking more into not resolving anything. We're getting up into X-Files territory at this point in terms on false-progress and lack of resolution.

If Kurt Sutter can't bring this to resolution, it might be time for FX to do it for him by telling him he has 1 season after the current one before they pull the plug.

[PoliticAverse]

21. A general problem seems to be someone comes up with an idea for a show that would last about

one or two seasons, then it gets popular so they decide to drag it out as long as possible.

[Roland99]

28. I'd love to see networks come up with shows that really did just last 1-2 seasons...despite success.

Shows like The River or Missing.

They were/could have been easily wrapped up in one season.

[Kaleva]

45. Some involved in British tv do that.

"The decision by Cleese and Booth to quit before a third series has often been lauded, as it ensured the show's successful status wouldn't be weakened with later, lower-quality work. Subsequently, it has inspired the makers of other shows to do likewise. Most notably, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant refused to make a third series of either The Office or Extras, citing Fawlty Towers' short lifespan. Rik Mayall, Ben Elton and Lise Mayer, the writers behind The Young Ones, which also ran for only two series (each with six episodes), used this explanation too. Elton also took the decision to end his next sitcom, Filthy Rich & Catflap, after only one series, despite its popularity. Victoria Wood also indicated this influenced her decision to limit dinnerladies to just 16 episodes over two series."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

48. Like HBO's Rome

I liked it. Too bad about the Fall of the Roman Empire and all that.

[Roland99]

67. Don't have cable/satellite so I have to go off what's on network TV

and no time to look up cable shows off Netflix.

[First Speaker]

12. The X-Files

...the basic mysteries of the series were dragged out for far too long, and when they finally came, it was too much of an anticlimax, especially Mulder's sister. And I'll gladly concede that Robert patrick is a better actor than David Duchovny--but it was Duchovny's show, and continuing the series without him was absurd. It went on at least two years too long, and lost all its mojo.

[hibbing]

13. True Blood

I think it peaked a few years ago and this season's ending with adding yet another element is just a bit much. It was campy fun, but I liked some of the earlier seasons a lot better.

Peace

[Tuesday Afternoon]

81. +1

[Marie Marie]

14. May I add to the list:

Every moronic reality show featuring halfwits that no one with a brain cares anything about. And yet, they keep making them because they are cheaper than actually creating and writing something entertaining.

[Sherman A1]

41. Agreed

and yet the Reality Shows are indeed scripted.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

57. I would add to that all those singing audition shows

Because what the world really needs is more manufactured corporate pop. No matter how good the singer the songs are still crap.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. Scooby Doo

The first couple of years with just the kids and Scooby were OK, but then they started featuring guest celebrities, and the introduction of Scrappy Doo really screwed the pooch.

[Dash87]

29. "Guest celebrities" = the sign of a doomed, stale show.

[sakabatou]

19. Heroes & House

[B Calm]

24. THE DOME!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

49. +1. And, it's been done before ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio-Dome

[charlie and algernon]

26. No one's metioned The Office yet?

It should have ended with Michael's last episode. Instead it dragged on for two painful seasons afterward.

[Roland99]

27. You beat me to it. It should have ended a year or two *before* Michael's departure.

[Dash87]

30. Agreed. I stopped watching it after 4 seasons.

I'm glad to see they finally stopped beating the skeletonized horse.

[mucifer]

31. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The last 2 seasons in my opinion.

I think there is a limit to how many episodes you can write for tv.

Carl Reiner stopped The Dick Van Dyke Show at just the right time. He felt it was gonna get stale if he kept it going and I think that show is hilarious and I can't tell which episodes are new and which ones are old just by watching them. (Unless Ritchie is in them).

[sarge43]

34. Another sign the show is going to take a run at the shark.

The hero and heroine finally do the nasty and declare their love. It's soap opera time and it's all about them.

Bones definitely there. Castle well on the way.

[Dash87]

35. Bones was originally in the OP, but I didn't think it was fair b/c I'm not a regular watcher.

[Sherman A1]

40. Bones & Castle both

belong on the list of hanging around too long with overused plot devices (character or characters with Father issues and overarching evil bad guy used over and over again) as I mentioned in my post above. They are essentially the same show along with many more of them.

[sarge43]

53. I've watched it faithfully until the last season. Now it's not even trying.

I could even put up with every freaking time someone screaming like a demented banshee at the sight of a messed up body. Says the former EMT, people will gag, blow their lunch, faint, gasp, turn/run away, even give a short scream. They don't scream long enough to pass time until the commercial.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

62. The only reason I ever watched a few episodes of Bones

was because of Michaela Conlin. I liked her character and I thought she was funny and interesting ... and pretty beautiful. The main relationship between Bones and the guy who used to play Angel on Buffy was one I couldn't stomach. To me, they just weren't very interesting or likable.

[nolabear]

36. The O'Reilly Report.

[RobinA]

37. Twin Peaks

one and a half great seasons.

[uriel1972]

38. *Checks the exit for quick getaway*

The entire Star Trek Franchise.

[Mosby]

39. mash

Er

House

Rosanne

Friends

Cosby show

All in the family

[Jamaal510]

42. LockUp,

Spongebob, Pokemon (the TV show), Fairly Oddparents, Chuck Todd, Maury, Divorce Court, 106 and Park, and Meet the Press.

[Auggie]

43. Andy Griffith/Mayberry, My Three Sons, Beverly Hills 90210 ...

to name a few not already mentioned

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

44. I thought Married, With Children was one of the funniest and most daring sitcoms for its time

but towards the end it seemed like the writers just ran out of funny and outrageous ideas. When I spent some time in France in the late 1990s and they were running re-runs on French TV, it was just as funny in French.

I've never been a fan of Survivor and I think I've probably seen less than a total of five minutes of that show in its entire history (I'm extremely allergic to "reality tv&quot but I saw some recent ads about new episodes and I'm wondering if fans of that show are thinking that it too has gone on a bit too long. I don't see how such a show, based upon its limited premise, could stay fresh for very long, even to its fans.

[JonLP24]

50. The Power Rangers

Seriously, Power Rangers in Space? Power Rangers Lost Galaxy?

Not that I actually watched those series.

[Recursion]

51. "Family Guy" applies to every joke, not just the whole series

Also, SVU comes to mind.

[Smarmie Doofus]

52. All in the Family

Archie evolved from the shocking ( as in "groundbreaking for tv&quot and contemptible... though very funny... bigot into a standard-issue sit-com prototype: cranky but lovable curmudgeon.

BOOORRRR-ing.

[AngryOldDem]

54. And one more example of a show adding a kid to keep it going.

That show should have ended with Edith's death. Mike and Gloria could have come back (although they were divorced) and the funeral would have been a really nice and poignant way to bring the series full circle.

I wish producers would realize that it's much better to end a long-running series -- especially a well-done, long-running series -- when it's still pretty much at the top of its game. There should come a time when the realization hits that there really isn't much more that can be accomplished, and rather than running it into the ground and tarnishing its legacy, the show should just wrap up loose ends and call it a day.

Loyal viewers, I think, will appreciate that much respect shown both to them and to the show. As a "MASH" fan, I know I would have.

[Smarmie Doofus]

76. It's really hard for production people ( and actors, for that matter) to walk away from...

>>>I wish producers would realize that it's much better to end a long-running series -- especially a well-done, long-running series -- when it's still pretty much at the top of its game. There should come a time when the realization hits that there really isn't much more that can be accomplished, and rather than running it into the ground and tarnishing its legacy, the show should just wrap up loose ends and call it a day.>>>>>>

... a project that's still making money despite the fact that it's lost it's artistic edge and vision. Money is money and everyone has rent to pay , etc.

It's just human nature. Alas.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

59. I'll probably get flamed for this but: Buffy The Vampire Slayer

I know, I know, it's a sacred cow of modern television. I thought it was good for the first three season, more or less, but by the end of season three it was already veering away from adventure and into teen soap opera territory, and that trend only got worse in the following seasons. Add to that, that the writers lost all interest in any of the characters that had no superpowers and they got sidelined more and more. I watched seasons four and five hoping it would get better and then gave up.

Another show that I liked was "Chuck", for the first two seasons. Then he got the Intersect 2.0 installed and became Mr. Superspy, which completely screwed up the premise of the show. Suddenly he was able to call up any ability that the writers needed him to have... Plus they wrote Anna Wu off the show, I never forgave them for that.

[mucifer]

72. I agree. Buffy should have at least ended after the 4th season.

[frogmarch]

61. The Mentalist

I liked it the first season it was on, but I didn't after that. I don't make a point of watching it, but when someone else in the house watches it, I sometimes do too.

The phantom character "Red John" annoys the hell out of me. So does Patrick Jane, the mentalist. If I knew someone like that character in real life, I'd want to punch him.

[B Calm]

66. The O'Reilly Factor

[davidpdx]

68. The best example out there currently is CSI Las Vegas

That show jumped the shark a long time ago. The has been actors that have joined the cast are an insult to the series. After Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) left they should have wrapped it up. Yet at the same time they canceled CSI Miami.

The other one that I think ran its course if Community. While I like the show, it really should have been wrapped up after the forth season. Maybe with Dan Harmon coming back they can bring the show back to what it used to be.

The major networks are run by a bunch of nitwits that deserve to have a sharp pencil stuck up their noses.

[Jenoch]

69. I agree with those who said any show that added a kid stayed on the air too long.

That list includes My Three Sons, Growing Pains, and of course, The Brady Bunch. I have always had a question about The Brady Bunch...why did they have a live in housekeeper/cook? Why couldn't the mom get off her dead ass and do something?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

70. After watching the season premier of "Big Bang Theory"...

I'm almost ready to add it to the list. Howard, Raj and the estrogen/breasts angle was just stupid -- cheap laughs a la Two and a Half Men (which should have ended at least 3 years ago).

Seinfeld is another one.

[TexasTowelie]

77. Dancing With the Stars

Look how many D-listers are on the program now.

[ZombieHorde]

78. Heroes.

The first season was awesome, but it was all downhill from there.

[Va Lefty]

79. Cheers

I thought it really limped along the last 2-3 years, but had strong numbers (ratings). Remember reading Ted Danson talking about Cheers and he said he wanted to end the show earlier but he was friends with cast members and they begged him to keep coming back not wanting to lose a lucrative gig.