Best and Worst Series Finales [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Joker85

11-14-2004, 07:13 PM

Excellent topic. Series finales always seem to be either really good, or really bad, with more tending to lead towards the latter. I guess the writers find it hard to wrap up a series but so many of them are so disappointing.

Favorites:
Cheers: The best example of a series finale. It is emotional without being sad, and in the end it's just another episode. Nothing is really tied up character wise. Sure some get new jobs/promotions, but noone leaves in that episode or anything like that. Yet even without sending everyone their seperate ways, it bookends the series so well. Just a brilliant piece of writing.

The Golden Girls: Sad, sweet, and very well done. Strong writing here and an excellent sendoff to my favorite show.

Frasier: Not quite up to Cheers but still very well done. A fitting farewell to the character.

Empty Nest: With the return of Barbara and both Carol and Laverne finally getting married and Harry leaving for Vermont, it was the perfect way to tie up this series. Everyone finally left the nest.

Friends: Not particularly orginal, but extremely well done and a touching end to the show. The final scene is especially well handled.

Boy Meets World: not exactly the best finale, but probably has the best final scene of any finale with the possible exception of Cheers.

Mama's Family: Naomi finally gives birth, the baby is named after Mama, Vicki Lawrence has a touching speech at the end, and the final moments on the show are of the family arguing. What more could you want?

Least Favorites:
Seinfield: Ug, there was just so much wrong with this finale it's too hard to think of one specific thing. Though for a show "About Nothing" it was clever to have them be sent to jail for doing nothing. Still, it was basically just a clip show and a poorly handled finale.

The Cosby Show: Boring, dull, too many characters...basically the problem that had plagued the show it's last 3 seasons. And I HATED the ending where he and Claire walked off the set and out the studio door. That just...bugged me. Not sure why.

Three's Company: Never try to end a sitcom while at the same time trying to set up the spinoff. It doesn't work!

Designing Women: The show had gotten pretty bad by the time it ended and the finale just reflects that. Without Jean Smart and Delta Burke the show was lost.

robyrob

11-14-2004, 07:37 PM

Favs:

Newhart - what can I say
Happy Days - ALMOST the whole gang together again

Worst:

can't think of any, other than the non-existent Married with Children finale due to the speedy unannounced cancellation :(

Little

11-14-2004, 07:39 PM

Best- Newhart , M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore
Worst- Cheers, Seinfeld, Moonlighting

slackermonkey

11-14-2004, 07:48 PM

You thought "Cheers" was worst? Why?

Brian

11-14-2004, 08:24 PM

Seinfeld had the most disappointing series finale. It could have been done a lot better.

The best:

Barney Miller
Newhart
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Odd Couple
MASH (possibly the best of the bunch)
Happy Days

TJL

11-14-2004, 08:43 PM

Okay, at the risk of sounding biased, "M*A*S*H" is the best example of a series finale.

The worst? The most recent one I can think of is "The Drew Carey Show." It's too bad ABC never let Drew and company have a proper sendoff, instead of just just showing some final episodes (filmed over a year ago) that had some "finale" type plot points.

tvfan0101

11-14-2004, 09:01 PM

The M*A*S*H series finale is an incredible piece of television. One of the best. I also thought The Mary Tyler Moore Show had a good finale. I honestly did not think the finale for Seinfeld was that awful. Although, to be honest, it is the only episode I have seen all the way through, so I guess I cannot judge it in comparison to the rest of the series.

The Drew Carey Show was treated horribly by ABC and I have yet to see the finale, but I cannot imagine it is that terrific. The series was thrown into such a state of flux in the last two seasons, plot-wise, production-wise, broadcast-wise, etc, etc.

Anyone remember the final episode of I Married Dora? Now that is one memorable finale - for the handful of people who saw it.

EmoJoe

11-14-2004, 09:25 PM

Best:
Boy Meets World. Touching and heartwarming, and a good way to sum up the series. What every series finale should be like.

Whos the Boss? was also great, EXTRMELEY sad though. :crying: Its a great episode, though :)

Worst:
Full House. Didnt even sum up the series, just an episode about Michelle falling off her horse. Maybe it would work as a season finale, but NOT a series finale. Facts of Life was dreadful, too. It basically wa sjust the pilot of the spin-off that never happened.

TJL

11-14-2004, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by tvobscurities

Anyone remember the final episode of I Married Dora? Now that is one memorable finale - for the handful of people who saw it.

Yes, bad show, good finale.
Well, the last minute of the finale was good.

;)

Joker85

11-14-2004, 11:40 PM

Yeah the Full House finale wasn't all that great, but they were rushed into that. The final scene itself was touching, and it was good to see Steve back. And I've never seen the Who's the Boss finale, but I heard it was good.

Others I forgot to mention:
Fresh Prince: Forced finale, excellent final scene. Very, VERY sad.
The Nanny: pretty good sendoff, even though the show should have ended a year earlier.

Kristen

11-14-2004, 11:49 PM

Best:
Golden Girls
Mary Tyler Moore
Wings
The Nanny (Though I'm not really much of a Niles/CC fan)
Who's the Boss? (That final scene is just "awww!" lol)

Riff

11-15-2004, 08:01 AM

Originally posted by TJL
The worst? The most recent one I can think of is "The Drew Carey Show." It's too bad ABC never let Drew and company have a proper sendoff, instead of just just showing some final episodes (filmed over a year ago) that had some "finale" type plot points.

This is silly. ABC didn't stop the "DCS" producers from doing a finale, and everybody on that show knew season 9 was the end before they even started work on it. Had the new brass not been stuck with a ridiculous 3-year renewal that some bozo ABC exec agreed to in 2001, they wouldn't have even gotten a 9th season.

And the finale was quite final, IMO.

Now, "Alf" -- that show just got screwed. At least they got to do "Project: Alf" and tie up some things, but the Tanners were gone... and so was the magic. I can't remember if it was Brandon Tartikoff or Warren Littlefield who was trying to kill the show, but towards the end of season 4, somebody started moving it all over the place, and I knew they wanted to get rid of it. (NBC dumped all their family sitcoms that season, and replaced them with shows that did worse.)

Dragonflies

11-15-2004, 02:31 PM

Best: Boy Meets World, with the exception of M*A*S*H it has to be one of the best series finale's ever. Stayed true to the series, and had the saddest ending :( Showed the right amount of clips, didn't overdo it, and when Feeny says "I love you all, class dismissed" was so sad :(

M*A*S*H I loved it, one of the best

Who's the Boss? was great

Wings was great

The Nanny was great too

Growing Pains was great, but could have been better :)

Cheers was good

Worst: Full House, didn't get a true ending, cause of the last minute cancellation

Step by Step love the show, but no series finale.

Cosby Show's was terrible, disappointing for such a great show as it was at one point.

Seinfeld, disappointing

Roseanne's finale wasn't all that good

Brent88

11-15-2004, 02:48 PM

Good-I can't name one
Bad-Family Matters(Was meant to be a Season finale), Full House(same, although it WAS re-written when it was learned it would be a series finale and Roseanne's completely sucked.

Superstar

11-15-2004, 03:21 PM

Best:

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch- A great ending to the show, tied up alot of loose ends and Sabrina and Harvey finally got together

Worst:

Boy Meets World: Another clip show:rolleyes:

barwars

11-15-2004, 03:36 PM

BEST:

Cheers -- Far and away, without competition, the greatest series finale of all time. Everything about it was perfect. Diane returning for only this one time made it all the more special. The "meaning of life" scene is one of the best series, and "We're Closed" is the saddest final line of any show ever.

Frasier -- I wasn't entirely fond of Charlotte, but I found the final twist to be both surprising and welcomed.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show -- The final scene at WJM is great. The tissue huddle is probably one of the most remembered scenes from any show ever.

Newhart -- AMAZING. Having it all be a dream of Bob Hartley's (from The Bob Newhart Show) was probably the most inventive ideas ever.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air -- Very funny final scene, and the fact that the Jeffersons bought the house made it all the more enjoyable. (Nice cameo from Arnold Jackson and Mr. Drummond too)

WORST:
Seinfeld
Shows that didn't have true finales.

NEITHER BEST NOR WORST:

Boy Meets World -- It felt very forced. It was done at the wrong time. The show should've either ended with high school graduation or college graduation. The final scene with Mr. Feeny is nice, but I hated that it was filled with clips.

The Drew Carey Show -- the people at the show knew it was the finale, and they planned it like that. It was ABC's problem for not promoting it. I really liked the final scene with Drew playing pool in the backyard in the rain. The second to last episode however would have made a better finale, the fact that Drew and Mimi were returning to where it all began tied the series up much better than the baby being born.

Friends -- would have been a complete bore if not for one redeeming moment that made it good. The final scene, after leaving the apartment, someone mentions they should go get some coffee. Chandler's reaction -- "where?"

EmoJoe

11-15-2004, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by Superstar

Boy Meets World: Another clip show:rolleyes: No offense, but just because you dont like the show doesnt mean you have to hate every last bit of it. Every thread you have something bad to say about Boy Meets World. It seems your just coming to some of these threads to just say bad things about a show you dont like anymore. I mean I gotta admit, I despise Roseanne, but it was funny at times! :lol:

snl75

11-15-2004, 10:07 PM

best mash newhart happy days cheers worst night court and i know its not a sitcom but l the la law finale was really bad

mstewart

11-16-2004, 02:11 AM

Best:
Alice - Good to see the title character finally pursuing her dream of becoming a singer which she was on her way to L.A. to do before her car broke down. That was how Alice ended in Phoenix working at a greasy spoon joint.

Family Ties - Alex leaving for a job for New York and Elyse taking it hard. Meredith Baxter Birney and Michael J. Fox's showdown in Alex's room over him leaving was a powerful scene between those two. It was quite gravitating.

The Bob Newhart Show - The Hartley's move to Oregon as they say goodbye to their friends was tearful. The cast singing Oklahoma was classic.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Everything went full circle. The whole cast was together.

One Day At A Time - When we all first was introduced to Ann Romano she was a newly divorced woman who was on her own for the first time in her life, two teenage daughters, and no job skills whatsoever. In time she grew more confidant, went out to the workforce, became an account executive, and owning her own agency with a partner. Through the various boyfriends she had during the show she found love and got married again. Plus she raised her girls in the process. At the end she ended up running an advertising agency in London. The only sad thing about that was MacKenzie Phillips was not there because she came back on the show only to go back on drugs again. You saw the downward spiral before your eyes by her appearance.

Three's Company - Great finale with Janet getting married and Jack finally finding his true love. I still say him and Janet should had got together and married. I did not like how the finale was a setup for the spinoff.

Happy Days - Great that Joanie and Chachi got married along with Richie and MaryBeth coming home for the festivities. Too bad Potsie nor Ralph were not there.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Good to see Rhoda and Phyllis back for the last show. I love Mary, Rhoda and Phyllis together. Those three made good comedy together.

Worse:
Cheers, Full House, Sanford and Son, The Cosby Show and Grow ing Pains.

slackermonkey

11-16-2004, 02:48 AM

C'mon guys, it's no fun if some of you don't tell why you hated some finales. Then we don't get to make fun of you for having bad taste (I am, of course, kidding).

Superstar

11-16-2004, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
No offense, but just because you dont like the show doesnt mean you have to hate every last bit of it. Every thread you have something bad to say about Boy Meets World. It seems your just coming to some of these threads to just say bad things about a show you dont like anymore. I mean I gotta admit, I despise Roseanne, but it was funny at times! :lol:

I can see what you mean, I didn't say Boy Meets World just because I dont like it. I said BMW becuase I really don't like clip shows. I can gaurantee you that if That's So Raven did a clip show, I'd hate that too. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm coming to every thread to say something bad about it, I'll try not to do it in the future

barwars

11-16-2004, 04:35 PM

Originally posted by Superstar
I can see what you mean, I didn't say Boy Meets World just because I dont like it. I said BMW becuase I really don't like clip shows. I can gaurantee you that if That's So Raven did a clip show, I'd hate that too. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm coming to every thread to say something bad about it, I'll try not to do it in the future

I agree with you.... I would be PISSED OFF if my favorite show ended with a clip show.

snl75

11-16-2004, 04:55 PM

i don remember but didnt taxi end with a clip show?

Tarlek

11-16-2004, 05:44 PM

best - Newhart, The Wonder Years, The Mary Tyler Moore Show...
worst - Three's Company, Roseanne, Alf, and um, can't think right now. Any other thing which seems forced/hints at a spin-off/feels too conclusive. Or shows that fizzle out and never recieve a final episode.
I like to have shows end with the feeling that after we stop watching, life still goes on for the characters in a productive manner.

slackermonkey

11-16-2004, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by snl75
i don remember but didnt taxi end with a clip show?

Yeah, but I don't think it was intended to air as the last episode. There was another episode that aired a week or two before that I think was supposed to serve as a series finale in case the show got canceled.

EmoJoe

11-16-2004, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Superstar
I can see what you mean, I didn't say Boy Meets World just because I dont like it. I said BMW becuase I really don't like clip shows. I can gaurantee you that if That's So Raven did a clip show, I'd hate that too. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm coming to every thread to say something bad about it, I'll try not to do it in the future OK I just wanted to pointed that out..at least WTB? didnt end with a clip show :D ;)

snl75

11-17-2004, 12:38 AM

Originally posted by slackermonkey
Yeah, but I don't think it was intended to air as the last episode. There was another episode that aired a week or two before that I think was supposed to serve as a series finale in case the show got canceled. thank ypu for clearing that up for me slackermonkey

James

11-17-2004, 01:50 AM

I've said it before, I'll say it again, but the worst series finale was, by far, that of The Wonder Years, if you want to call it that. How did I hate it? Let me count the ways:

1. Kevin losing his car at gambling when he wanted to buy that resort where Winnie was working

2. Kevin and Winnie NOT marrying

3. We don't see the gang graduate (just one more season would have made this good, with a solid basis for a finale, or perhaps a HUGE SENDOFF, perhaps with the announcement of K&W marrying years later)

In response to the post about Married ... with Children not having a finale at the beginning of the thread, at least Fox let it run something like 260 episodes, while ABC got rid of TWY after only 114. :mad:

Moonlight Lady

11-17-2004, 12:06 PM

Best

M*A*S*H--Very good.

Mary Tyler Moore--I liked that they brough Rhoda and Phyllis back
for the final episode.

Newhart--I loved it when he woke up as Bob Hartley and the entire series was a dream.

Worst:

All In The Family -- That was pathetic.
Soap--WTF? They end the series with a cliffhanger.
Cosby Show--Blegh!

Superstar

11-17-2004, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
OK I just wanted to pointed that out..at least WTB? didnt end with a clip show :D ;)

=)

dawsongirl

11-18-2004, 02:42 AM

Originally posted by tvobscurities
Anyone remember the final episode of I Married Dora? Now that is one memorable finale - for the handful of people who saw it.

I remember reading about it. :lol: Sounded funny.

dawsongirl

11-18-2004, 02:48 AM

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
Whos the Boss? was also great, EXTRMELEY sad though. :crying: Its a great episode, though :)

Worst:
Full House. Didnt even sum up the series, just an episode about Michelle falling off her horse. Maybe it would work as a season finale, but NOT a series finale. Facts of Life was dreadful, too. It basically wa sjust the pilot of the spin-off that never happened.

I think the FH one was pretty good for them not knowing whether they were going off or not. Kinda had that series finale vibe. But the one about them selling the house and moving...that would have worked better.

I've only seen part 3 of the WTB finale, but what I saw was good. Only thing I didn't like were the "We're all hickish farm people" stereotypes of Iowans.

dawsongirl

11-18-2004, 03:01 AM

I've seen so many finales, but can't remember half of them. :lol: Let's see...

I just saw the Wings finale today and it made me cry. If they make me cry, they're good.

The Nanny made me cry too.

I hate it when any show ends with a regular episode. So many of my favs have done that.

Futurama had a great finale. Left you really mad at Fox for canning it. :lol:

Miss Golden

11-18-2004, 03:45 AM

Best - Cosby Show

Worst - Seinfeld

JulieSomoski

11-18-2004, 01:40 PM

i really cant choose a favorite.

Full House wasn't as bad as you might think. True it was a last minute cancellation, but it did sum up one main thing in the show. They were one big happy family.

EmoJoe

11-18-2004, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by dawsongirl
I think the FH one was pretty good for them not knowing whether they were going off or not. Kinda had that series finale vibe. But the one about them selling the house and moving...that would have worked better.

I've only seen part 3 of the WTB finale, but what I saw was good. Only thing I didn't like were the "We're all hickish farm people" stereotypes of Iowans. :nod: IMO FH should have ended after 7 seasons. The 8th season was OK, but every episode was about Michelle.

EmoJoe

11-18-2004, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by roseanne88-97
i really cant choose a favorite.

Full House wasn't as bad as you might think. True it was a last minute cancellation, but it did sum up one main thing in the show. They were one big happy family. Maybe it did slightly. It was a good episode, but it just didnt work as a series finale. The series finale is supposed to be an episode that sums up the whole series. What would have been good is either stop at 7 seasons (although I hated the 7th season, too) and change the one where they were gonna sell the house, and make them actually sell the house, or switch the 7th and 8th season finales around, and make them sell the house.

dawsongirl

11-18-2004, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
:nod: IMO FH should have ended after 7 seasons. The 8th season was OK, but every episode was about Michelle.

It was. Nauseating.

dawsongirl

11-18-2004, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
Maybe it did slightly. It was a good episode, but it just didnt work as a series finale. The series finale is supposed to be an episode that sums up the whole series. What would have been good is either stop at 7 seasons (although I hated the 7th season, too) and change the one where they were gonna sell the house, and make them actually sell the house, or switch the 7th and 8th season finales around, and make them sell the house.

Apparently they couldn't be a big happy family if they lived in other houses. Which is crap. Because really, after awhile, you just had to wonder why all those people were living there anyway. The girls didn't need babysitters anymore.

JamisonCollins

11-21-2004, 10:32 PM

Well I think the Newhart finale was the best and for worst it had to be Dallas.

snl75

11-22-2004, 03:05 AM

i sort of know what you mean about the dallas finale but i have to admit i wasant too supperised when the deval came and got jr.

JamisonCollins

11-22-2004, 10:01 AM

I also didn't really care for the M*A*S*H finale or Seinfeld.

Prince Lancelot

11-27-2004, 02:45 AM

Best Series Finals - Mary Tyler Moore, Happy Days, and The Wonder Years.

Worst Series Finals - Laverne & Shirley, Bewitched, and The Brady Bunch,

Petrie Malone

11-27-2004, 10:43 AM

Best-
Mary Tyler Moore
Cheers
M*A*S*H
Newhart
Fraiser
The Dick Van Dyke Show

Worst-
I Love Lucy
Friends
Shows that never really had finales

OK-
Seinfeld

theshark8777

12-01-2004, 09:34 PM

offtopic: offtopic:

I like that avatar twist of kate, what was that from, Santa Claus is comin to town?

tylerjjj

12-04-2004, 01:28 PM

WORST is Seinfeld, FH, OK is The Cosby Show BEST is Cheers. I thought Roseanne's was good when you compare it with rest of the 9th season.

EmoJoe

12-04-2004, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Petrie Malone

Worst-
I Love Lucy
Friends
Shows that never really had finales

Friends had a finale.

db108108

12-04-2004, 03:20 PM

I really like Roseanne's finale just because it didn't go out with a whimper, but with a bang by turning the whole series on its head. I just wish the episode would have been funnier overall.

slackermonkey

12-04-2004, 04:29 PM

I guess no one wants to explain why they picked their choices. :(

rossnrach4ever

04-08-2005, 01:41 AM

Worst had to be seinfeld's ...a series finale of a show is supposed to be touching and evoke emotions...there were no emotions at all.

Best MASH ....that had to be one of the emotion packed and visual finales of tv. Every one of your senses was awakened...with the chinese musicians and Hawkeye's insanity....the final days of the war and the emotional farewell and the most stirring sight were the rocks on the ground...good bye

Friends....most emotional...we all knew that chandler and monica were moving...but up until almost the end ...we weren't ready for the most romantic reconccilations in tv history....comedy mixed with drama with the ride to the airport and the emotional scene in the terminal. then the symbol of moving on...the keys and taking the newborn Bing children out of the apartment....

Sex and the City.....love again...Carrie and Big.....Miranda finally realizes what family is about....Charlotte's prayers are answered and Samantha finally finds love....

~*Emma*~

04-09-2005, 04:57 AM

I don't know if this really counts as a season finale, but what about Michael J. Fox's last episode of Spin City (I mean c'mon, that was basically the end right there :p ) It was so touching and it tied all the loose ends up. Me and my mum (and I think even my dad) were crying.

Friends was a good one. So was M*A*S*H. I hated the Seinfield finale, but one really clever part was the last conversation. It was the first conversation George and Jerry ever had (in the pilot) "That shirt button is in the wrong place"...etc. I thought that was pretty clever.

Stuck In The '70's

04-09-2005, 12:46 PM