Shows that over stayed their welcome
 

With ER coming to an end, I've been thinking of other shows that were on for just a bit too long. Shows that were great for awhile, but then got stale and overstayed their welcome. This is a list of some of the shows I think stayed too long:

• ER
• Charmed
• Law and Order (although I've never watched it, but come on it has so many spin-offs and has been on for years)
• Friends
• Facts of Life (some people may argue the first season was a season too long)
• Family Ties
• Brady Bunch
• Bewitched
• Cosby Show

and a lot more, but I don't want to list them all. I'll leave some to other people or there wouldn't be a discussion.

Usually, the point you know a show has been on for too long is when story lines begin repeating or a new character is brought in to breath new life into it.

Feel free to argue if you disagree with my choices. I enjoy a nice back and forth banter.

Fucking Smallville. We're on, what, like season 9? Let the man fly and call it a day. The series was supposed to be maybe 5 seasons, and they've already ruined the DC universe in a way that not even Electra could.

I'm starting to think 24 is overstaying it's welcome, too. I get that it's established a very insane alternate reality that Republicans think we live in, but the suspension of belief can only help so much. It's devolved into a self-parody.

Sopranos. "See? It's a guido seeing a shrink! And he has family issues just like us! Tony's just like you if you never grew up!" Yawn.

Crossfire started a good series but developed into a perfect example of why MSM news can't work. By the time it was finally canceled, the show was simply a joke.

Have you ever logged onto reddit to see like 12 youtube videos of gross misconduct, assault, and battery by the police? COPS refused to tell the whole story. It was always the brave young cop doing his or her duty and taking care of the drunk asshole, spinning some shallow, bullshit philosophy about "life on the street".

Inside the Actors Studio is really fun, but at the same time how many times can we see James Lipton ego-stroking a really shitty actor? I remember the episode where he interviewed Jennifer Lopez. I'm sure she's a master of the "craft". :rolleyes:

Scrubs. First few seasons it was a comedy that included medical drama and a few daydreams by a naive doctor. Suddenly, the guy is daydreaming about buying a fake testicle with a built in heater for his buddy that saves him during an ice fishing drop, from which he returns with burn marks on his face...

Murphy Brown.
I watched that show religiously every Monday night but once she had her baby, they should have ended it. That episode had to be one of maybe two of the funniest episodes ever on tv and it sank like a rock afterwards.

Those are great examples, I didn't even think that Smallville was still on the air.

I love the Sopranos, but the last season was one that could have better been left off. That makes me remember Roseanne. It stayed at least one season too long. I still can't figure out why they had the whole last season as a dream or whatever. It was odd.

Scrubs is also a show that I enjoyed for the first couple of seasons, but I agree that it did lose its charm after that.

Murphy Brown was good, but it did go downhill after the baby. They followed one of the rules of trying to save a show, but causing it to suffer to the end.

All in the family stayed too long. After Mike and Gloria moved, the show should have ended.
Laverne and Shirley should have ended before moving to LA
Facts of Life should have ended before moving to the store.

Smallville was the first one that came to mind for me as well. Shouldn't he have moved to Metropolis already?!

That 70's Show. The fact they thought they still had a show worth watching after Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher left baffles me...

Saturday Night Live - About 95% of it is just painful to watch anymore. Probably should have ended a decade ago.

Any DeGrassi fans here?
The original show from the seventies/ eighties is brilliant.
The series of shows with the kids of the kids from the original show in high school is also great.
Now they seem lost, with those kids moving on to college, and a new set of young ones.
Why not wait another 15 years until Manny, Emma, Jimmy etc. have kids and then start up all over again?

Sorry I am with you on almost all of them but Law and Order, I still love that show.

My Name Is Earl. it was a good concept but went too weak very fast. the 2nd or 3rd season was a complete write off... bleh.

I agree on Scrubs. It's so repetitive that they even make jokes about how it sucks ON THE SHOW!

He did. Many seasons ago. And they still call it Smallville. Because they think it has brand recognition. Which it doesn't. :expressionless:
The digital shorts are okay. Is that the 5%?

BTW, CSI's been around for a very long time, but I don't watch it. Is it as redundant as I think it is?

I never could get into that show. I just can't believe how it continues to be original and entertaining when it has some many spin-offs and has been on for many years. They must have discovered the magic formula.

I have watched a lot of Degrassi in the past. It's amusing and totally goes there. ;)

Mexican, I also noticed that with Earl. I blame the writer's strike. Ever since they came back, the show has been different. The characters changed and the show lost its edginess. I still watch it because I keep hoping it can get back on track, but it's looking bleak.

The Simpsons. I quit watching years ago because the episodes just weren't that funny anymore.

It's been said, but ugh, ER is by far the biggest one that should have been off the air a long time ago. Scrubs is second, not. funny. anymore. Friends is third worst, it became a soap opera.

Stargate SG-1. Should have ended at around season 7 or 8 at the latest when they ended the Gwa'ould (sp?) threat.

Buffy-after the third time or so she dies, maybe they should have thought about ending it :P

Simpsons-its hard to say but..it should have ended awhile ago, same with family guy and king of the hill

Goa'uld. And you're right, as interesting as it was to have a counterpart to the ancients, it really threw off the mythology of the show. And Ba'al became sort of a joke after the retaking of Chulak.

Happy Days. If only there were some way to figure out when that show jumped the shark....

Two And a Half Men - I've seen a few minutes of this and, there's nothing funny about it. Charlyy Sean was the same guy I saw him in Spin City.
How I Met Your Mother - Save for Barney, the entire cast suck. Meet the bitch already.
Since we're talking about Law and Order, why not CSI? Do we really need to have one for every city?
7th Heaven

I know I'm risking a visit from Captain Obvious (and going blind from the flash), but you'll notice that every one of the shows listed, and likely any others that will be added, are or were popular.

Because of how many shows end up failing, networks are going to take established shows and beat them until the horse turns to glue just from the force and number of blows and is completely absorbed into the ground. That's the sad fact.

Just like how through life you will watch loved ones decline until they are gone, one must go through the same process with the shows we love unless they die a premature death.

I fully expect to go through this with House and Burn Notice, and am seeing the warning signs already with Law and Order: SVU.

Such is the fate of the television aficionado.

I think Breaking Bad is preparing to overstay its welcome. With one exception, the episodes in the second season so far have been really dragged out, and could easily be compressed into 2 episodes.

The 2 I watch (NY & LV), are alot like House in that they are very redundant on the surface, but the characters keep it interesting.

at least a decade ago

Designing Women...loved loved loved it, but when Delta Burke left, it should have gone off the air
Joanie loves Chachi....should never have even had ONE episode
Head of the Class....should have been over when Howard Hessman left

SNL: I disagree, I really like the current cast. They aren't the best cast ever or anything but they are definitely better than the average cast. Then again, it has always been the thing for people to talk shit about the current cast and say that the previous casts have been so much better. The show is unique in that every five or so years the cast/writers turn over enough so that it is like a gradual reset.

SG1: Absolutely. The last season was so painful to watch that I couldn't finish it. I have about two episodes left to watch and the two movies but I can't bring my to watch them. I feel like after all the years I watched it I owe it to myself to finish it but it just got so bad.

Charmed: That was always a bad show. I don't know why I ever watched it but I did for a while.

ER: Way overstayed

Hey now, she only died twice (not counting alternate realities). Once in season one and once in season five.

Buffy wasnt long enough in my opinion!!

MASH

Gilligans Island

Neighbours

Days of Our Lives.

One Tree Hill.

The OC

I'm a soap Hater!! :lol:

I know why you watched it as it's the same reason I watched it: Alyssa Milano. I'd watch Alyssa Milano doing her taxes.

Also Rose McGowan and Shanon Doherty.

Simpsons should have stopped when Conan left.

American Idol should have stopped after the pilot.

Awww I still like Scrubs! Guess I'm the only one. :P
Then again, I only started watching in a year ago, took a couple days to catch up.
The first couple episodes of the current season with Courtney Cox were not necessary. I didn't like them at all. But it got back to its old funny once she left.
I didn't like that chunk of J.D. and his baby's mom. It was very out of character, didn't quite feel right. I also went from loving Elliot, to loving it when she wasn't on screen. Her funniest moment these last few seasons was the "ham baby" incident. :D
But besides that: Yay for Scrubs!

I really don't watch cable TV anymore, haven't for a couple years. So I hear about the good shows from friends, then rent/borrow the DVD's if it sounds good enough.
For example, I've been nagged enough to consider renting season 1 of Heroes. I hear its great.

I have to agree on ER. I watched it constantly for about two years, around the time Carter's grandma died, and Dr. Greene died. Dr. Greene was my fave, so when he was gone, it was game over for me. I have no idea what's going on now on that show. :P

Smallville is still on?! I watched the first season way back when, and I was fed up near the end. I can't believe its still going!

The only show I can add to the mix is Nip/Tuck. The first three seasons were cool, the last couple were really farked. I lost interest in season 4.

I also disagree about the Simpsons. Yes for a couple years it wasn't as funny, but its funny again. The new episodes are just as hilarious as the movie. :)

I might think up more. I feel like I'm missing one I can't name.

yeah I forgot about Nip/Tuck. It was good for a while, then it went so far off the deep end..that's it's lost any sort of quality for me

I watched a few episodes, couldn't get over how fucking annoying Marco was. And I don't think he was supposed to be annoying.

I was thinking My Name Is Earl but someone beat me to it. But the 80's may have been the peak of the sitcom that would never die - Night Court, Family Ties, Webster, Different Strokes, Cheers. They all ran their course & required new blood to resurrect the show.

xerxys...dont you fucking dare say neighbours overstayed its welcome!

ive never watched an episode in my life..and as an aussie, thats rare! ..... and Home and Away can join 'em too

Saved By The Bell and all of its descendants.

Seriously? This was a great program, and it only had three seasons. Unfortunately, it was cancelled at the last minute due to the unhappiness of a network president's wife. She wanted Gunsmoke on at a different time.

Roy Hinkley, you were the best.

LA Law - once Roz fell down the elevator shaft, they should have wrapped production.
The Brady Bunch - Cousin Oliver. 'Nuf said.
Married With Children - or "let's make sure David Faustino can retire after this since he'll never work again".

I'm going to say "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". The first season was a whole lot of fun, and you cared about the target guy and what was happening in their life. Even the reunion show was fun to see if they kept up with the changes. But soon the show became simply about the 5, not about the guy of the week. There it failed.

I found the show to foster stereotypes, which bothered me. I remember talking with gay friends about the show, and they were really torn because while they wanted gay exposure they also didn't want to be portrayed as shallow flamers that are only interested in fabulous clothing and interior design. Those cliches keep gay culture at arms length, preventing people from really developing a more complete understanding. Without understanding there can never be acceptance.

Don't get me wrong, I actually learned a bit when I did watch the show, but it seemed to come at a high price. Didn't Bravo also do that reality dating show where a gay man had to figure out if the men he was courting were gay or straight? Yeesh.

/tangent

I think the problem is that most shows the things that attracted you get overplayed to keep you so they get stale. Then there are shows that become such staples and money makers for the network they don't let them end until the stars say enough or they have gotten so bad the audience can no longer tolerate them... like M*A*S*H, All In the Family, the Jeffersons, Cheers, Night Court, Drew Carey, Roseanne, Home Improvement, Friends, Seinfeld, Fresh Prince, Cosby, Hill Street Blues, Knots Landing, Dallas, and the list goes on. Part of this is syndication... the more shows you have the more money you'll make showing the reruns on Nick at nite, tvland, tbs and other places.

Another problem is no matter how bad the show gets there are those who are so used to watching it and love it that they don't want to see it end and fight to keep it alive. There are shows here listed in my post and others that I absolutely loved and hated when they went off and missed.... but watching them in reruns I am like wow, I watched this tripe. And others that bring back fond memories or are still as funny today but you can see why they ended.

I love Monk and would watch it for years to come... but I am also very accepting of the fact and in some ways happy that this coming season will be it's last one. House is the same way (although they haven't announced it's ending and may not be)... although both could change a little and keep going longer... but would that change be something good? I doubt it, for some it would be great only because they love the show no matter what, for others it would be jumping the shark.

There's an old adage that shows, producers and even the viewers would benefit if it were used more often..... leave the audience wanting more.

I don't know about not long enough, I think seven seasons was pretty much perfect. The thing, pun intended, is where do you go from here? I mean she faced off against a god in season five, six was a combo of comedic duo/close ally, and seven was the first evil. What do you do next?

I just wish Angel hadn't been cut off early.

The running of Wolfram and Hart for the last season was a bad idea. Sure, it ended up in an interesting place, eventually... and then they ended with a cliffhanger ending... ugh... honestly, the show was never the same without Doyle.

Ok then...spike should have gotten a show of his own then...Angel got one so should Spike lol lobbing him off as a ghost on Angel wasnt enough for me

It's Tommy Chong man.... Worth every puff! :thumbsup:

Hey...Hey...Hey!!:mad:
Alyson's on that show. She's the only reason that I watch it.

I watched a biography show on The Facts of Life yesterday and realized just how much I missed that show, although not as much as Little House on the Prarie

Hmmm...as corny as that show was...it was good wholesome quality television. Something lacking in todays lineup. 99% garbage. But, even little House, I think, went on for far too long.

The Waltons was another very good, very quality show that went on for far too long.

Twin Peaks.

It blew my mind when it first it aired but should have contained itself to the first season. I remember being so pissed when the finale was revealed as a cliff-hanger.

I think shows overstay their welcome because people would rather keep watching a show that isn't what it used to be than get invested in a new show that the network will just cancel after 4 episodes.

Hot chicks, worst acting ever.

American Idol shouldn't have even done a pilot. Same with Dancing with the Stars.

The ending for Angel bugged me at first but it kind of when with the idea that the fight never ends for him and in that way it worked.

The Real World

The first few seasons were ground breaking: Pedro's death, race issues, all the conflicts - great stuff. It's current iteration is nothing more than purposefully mismatched kids with far too much alcohol and a lack of self-control. Ughh, someone at MTV shoud've pulled the plug on The Real World a long time ago.

I think that the spinoffs of Law & Order were actually much better than the original. A lot of shows should have only been one season shows. Heroes comes to mind. Season 2 was okay until the writer's strike but season 3 sucks so bad.

I would tend to agree that Buffy had run its course. I really like seasons 5 and 6 (though they're far from perfect) but 7 has a lot of problems and feels, from start to finish, like end the of the series. I haven't read the comics at all, so maybe they make something of it, but I don't really care. They were TV shows and they ended as TV shows, as far as I'm concerned. My primary lament about the end of Buffy is how abruptly and pointlessly Spoiler: Anya dies. He also should have kept alive Jonathan in season 7 instead of Andrew. He had way more history with the show and I fucking hated every whiny minute of Andrew.

I cannot disagree more with this. I loved them running W&H, especially after how angsty the end of season 4 got. Jasmine was cool and all, but yeesh. Connor's storyline never really gripped me either. I think the true tragedy of the end of Angel was 1) not getting more Spike and 2) not getting all the intensely creepy and interesting stuff out about Wesley and Fred/Ilyria. The commentary on those episodes gives you some great ideas about where that storyline could have gone and man would it have been cool.

Doyle did exactly what he was supposed to do and while he was a nice flavor character, he was going the same direction as Angel. Replacing him with Wes (and everything that happened with Wes thereafter) made for a much better story. Also, it goes perhaps without saying (if morbidly) that if Doyle had stuck around, he would've made a sudden and unsatisfying exit.

New characters don't always signal the decline of a TV show.

Look at M.A.S.H. - BJ replaced Trapper John - that worked.
Charles replaced Frank Burns - that worked
Colonel Potter replaced Colonel Blake - that worked.

I can agree about E.R., though - it became such a revolving door of characters that it couldn't hold my interest any longer.

Kelly C - you and I would require two separate living rooms - your list includes most of my favorites!
I was wondering when BOR was going to chime in on How I Met Your Mother!

Conversely, it's a shame that Life on Mars never got a chance to develop at all - it was my favorite show (having been a teenager in 1973 probably had something to do with that - loved the music!)

Agreed. After Season 1, I was pumped for Season 2... an excitement that soon turned to confusion and disappointment. The plot holes quickly started piling up as the writers tried to cover up all the super powers they were handing out left and right.

"Ok, so this guy... he has all the powers. All of them."
"Then why doesn't he just clear everything up and end the conflict?"
"Well, uh... he doesn't like to use them... so now he lost them all, problem solved."

I wouldn't say any of them actually "worked". Made the best of the situation sure but BJ is no Trapper, Charles is no Frank and Potter is definetly no Colonel Blake.

Even though it's one of my favorite shows of all time and I've actually seen every episode.

Beverly Hills 90210



How many times can Kelly get shot or hit by a car in one season?

The music was great. I rediscovered some songs that I haven't heard in a long time. I loved this show, and I hated the way they ended it. Oh well.

Well, to each his own, I guess. They were all well-developed, individual characters, IMO.

Funny thing is, the TV series M.A.S.H. would be my answer to a "Have you ever been really, really wrong about something?" thread.

I loved the movie, and when I found out they were bringing it to TV with only one of the actors from the movie (Gary Burghoff), I thought it was one of the worst ideas in television history. Then again, at the time I didn't have the terrible decisions made over the past 35 years to weigh in my decision. In any case, you could say I was very wrong about its chance of success. 251 episodes in 11 seasons? Not too shabby.

Funny - it was a few choice quotes from Barney that drew me into the show, but my surprise at finding a more than just decent supporting cast is what kept me interested. If it weren't for them, I would've grown tired of Barney's over-the-top stuff by now.

I dunno, regarding How I met Your Mother, they seem to have improved the writing per character (never thought that was gonna happen but they WERE just befor 3 and A Half Men which I think is hilarious. - making the best of a few really good comedians. And yeah, goofing on Canadians is kinda sick fun! I found that Barney is kinda perfect, in an imperfect New York story. And he makes me laugh out loud - which is huge for me & TV comedy. Perhaps it's because of all the Barnies I've known in Dallas and San Fransisco! I'm really glad it's still there. Love to watch and eat in front of the TV with them!

The fact that Life on Mars died is a real shame!!! Several of my old high school friends and I loved that (esp. the tunes & characterizations!) and I do feel it needed time to "set" as they say in LaLaLand... i.e. Hollywood.

No wonder everyone's in a huge depression - ever since the writers strike just a very few years ago. God save us from Reality Shows!! Um, or rather "Reality Blows" as we say at my house.

Smallville started to get a bit wacky after the first few seasons, but its actually gotten more interesting. I have a feeling he will never put on superman tights though.

Reality show is a misnomer. There's nothing more fake. However, when a show that connected with its audience like M.A.S.H. left the air, its farewell was heartfelt. That's substantial.

The term 'show' has troubled me for a while now.
I do recognize a few 'american films that would qualify for one of
Mr. Wonkas, golden tickets. ( tickets for what, I won't hazard an inkling of a speculation.)

The most terrible show that overstayed its welcome:
Was the thirteen days my husband's brother, parked his 40 ft. mobile home. uhh, on our lawn.
His wife who clung dearly to her inner scabrous conditions;
would only venture forth from her self sequesterings, if her inner scabrous condition,
cooperated enough to manifest itself on her face, ( the platinum presentation)

When The 'Condition', would appear on her arms, she'd gleefully do a little jig,
roll up her sleeves and prepare for a day of....

I saw her, once in the bathroom. She was using foundation, and a variety of eyeshadow coloring within her lines, to enhance her Condition.

Fuck a bunch of television.
Read a book and let the magic of envisioning inside your brain happen.
This welcome mat is always there for you and me.

Prison Break: Its a 2 season concept.
Smallville: Should have ended after 4 seasons. I mean really, if you found out you can fly, wouldn't you spend every minute of every day trying to fly again?

I have a bit more tolerance for talk shows and sitcoms that go on for a long time, but some dramas need to learn that just because your concept is good, doesn't mean it should be milked until its ratings become poor. Plan a story with a arc set to play out over a set amount of episodes, and be done with it. Then start being creative and invent something new.

For me it's The Office.

They have run out of plotlines and it has become terribly boring.

All reality shows especially those dealing with kids or babies. Why are people so interested in watching other peoples lives I really don't know. The worst has to be Big Brother. Watching people sitting around strategizing (scratches head).

Was it just me, or did anyone else have to force themselves to make it all of the way to the end of the Scrubs finale? I think the writers mailed it in from their retirement villas.
Of course, you could say they've been doing that all season.

I watched the british version of this from start to finish. They only did 2 seasons (of six episodes), wrapped up the story and disappeared. This is the way to do TV - don't worry about next year, just get your whole story done and get out (as someone above said 'leaving the viewer wanting more').

I did enjoy the end of the episode but yes: the entire season was shit. They kept introducing new and new characters!! please stop doing that!
And JD wouldn't leave the hospital like that. I was disappointed with that part.

Blasphemy! Not on the J-Lo part but the ITAS part. It remains one of the most interesting programs on television.

" My Name is Earl" needs to go Bye Bye too. The first 3 or 4 episodes in the very beginning showed a little promise.

But now, E-Gawd! It's lame.

I would nominate American Idol and any of the 45 seasons of Survivor. I feel my IQ dropping just seeing that Justin guy that badly needs a haircut discuss the show.
Perhaps if they did "Survivor: the Ghetto" with a bunch of completely spoiled rich kids it might start to get my interest. Of course last I knew that Richard Hatch?? fellow won.

Heroes? I love the show but damn, it's much like an abusive relationship. Incredibly hot and sexy cast, You know it's going to cocktease you all season long and then just let you down.

Scrubs should have ended after season 5, and the news that they are actually picking it up for next season, probably with those stupid interns, sucks.


But, for me, no show has fallen more precipitously than Breaking Bad. Holly crap, what an awful season finale. It's like for half the season they did everything thinking that the show would end in 2 seasons, and all of the sudden they were extended but didn't know what to do to stretch the plot. That Jane character was a waste, its amazing how the whole cancer thing has become pretty much irrelevant, and they just glossed over some key points of the show.

American Chopper.

Back when they were a small operation and it was just the Teutels, Vinnie, and Rick, it was a fun, creative, and different show. And every bike was unique and representative of its client.

Now with seemingly hundreds of employees, huge new mega-acre showroom, and production bikes, it's just an hour-long commercial about a corporation churning out mediocre products with little individuality. Their custom bikes have become production bikes - there's very little customization done to make the bikes unique because time is money. Although I agree they're a great American success story, I no longer care about the Teutuls - they've been too affected by all the money they've made.

Like most celebrities, they got a lucky break - it's the only thing that distinguishes them from hundreds of other custom bike builders with equal or greater talent who will never enjoy the same success.

How dare you!! This is great hangover material where I get to learn about life lessons. Where else do I learn something absolutely vital to my survival as a moral human in a mere 30 minutes?

---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 PM ----------

Okay I guess I will be the only person to say this: Lost

Yea I said it, Lost has overstayed its welcome. Bloody good show, but they are really stretching for ideas. They really need to wrap this up in a way that does not just piss people off. After saying this I must also say that I have not started season 5 yet, I am waiting for it to come out on Blu Ray. And yes I will keep watching it until the end, I just hope it gets here someday.

I'm friends with Adamo. I'll pass it on haha.

Strong disagree on that one. Season 3 was a bit low, but now things are coming together. Of course, if you haven't seen 5 yet, you have no idea what is coming. :expressionless: Of course, the ending of Season 6 won't please everyone, but I'm expecting a solid and legit. ending.

Just noticed how absurd law and order: criminal intent has become. Vincent Donofrio's character used to be the lovable weirdo that could get into people's head to decipher what happened, but now he is just a freaking genius that knows everything about everything. I just watched a recent rerun after a few months of not watching any: in a single episode, he was able to identify a typewriter by make and model by looking at a piece of the tape, he was able to identify precisely what type of tile was being used in a construction by seeing a particular type of nail on the floor, and, best of all, he was able to tell that a French guy spoke Chinese by talking to him in English for five minutes, was able to identify that the person spoke Chinese with an accent from a different country by hearing him say the name of a Chinese restaurant, and from that was able to pinpoint the name of the prison the guy was jailed in...

Top Gear - The latest series is just not that good - shame as I love tht show.
Wish Angel had not ended so soon - still ife in that, and also Farscape finished too early.

I agree with Friends.

It is the prime example of overstaying a welcome. It stayed too long, and now, through "invasive" reruns, it just won't go away after the party's been over for a while now.

I never really liked the show. Sure I've had some cheap laughs watching about 5 minutes of an episode, but a whole multi-season series of that?

And out of a six-member ensemble cast, why is only one (Ross) remotely interesting?