I've Noticed most people here tend to Prefer the early seasons of shows Claiming They "Jump The Shark" In Later years. However, I Usualy tend to like the later seasons of shows MORE Than i do early seasons. Of Course they're are exceptions, But for the most part i find Later seasons of shows to be better because the Characters are more Evolved and You Basically get this feeling Like you've Known them for years.

Normally when i watch A Show In Reruns I Get used to the way things are, Then the last episode airs and we go back to the begining And everything has to start over. Another thing about that is alot of Characters arent fully Evolved Yet and the writers Havent Found the "Spark" For them Until later on. Like i said though, There Are exceptions And Im Not saying i dont like early seasons of shows, I Just prefer Middle or Later Seasons. Does anyone else feel this way?

Of my favorite shows I like the following:

The latter seasons of Mama's Family
The latter seasons of Cheers
The latter seasons of Growing Pains
The early seasons of Family Ties (of course I really love all seasons)

I think it mostly depends on the show in question and the specific reasoning. For example, I like the latter Cheers because of the new characters of Rebecca, Frasier, and Lilith. I like Mama's Family because it had new characters and was so much better.

Originally posted by FamilyTiesGOP
Of my favorite shows I like the following:

The latter seasons of Mama's Family
The latter seasons of Cheers
The latter seasons of Growing Pains
The early seasons of Family Ties (of course I really love all seasons)

I think it mostly depends on the show in question and the specific reasoning. For example, I like the latter Cheers because of the new characters of Rebecca, Frasier, and Lilith. I like Mama's Family because it had new characters and was so much better.

Thats Another Good Point, New Characters. Some of the best TV Characters On A TV Show May not Even Be on It in the Begining.

Chachi on Happy Days, Mr. Furley on Threes Company, Antonio On Wings, Woody & Frasier On Cheers, Etc.

I agree with you Chad (I thought I was the only person who felt this way). Even if a show's quality is better in the earlier seasons, there is something about watching the later years where they have gotten into a certain groove and they are not as raw as when they were first starting out. Also for shows with continuity watching the later seasons gives me the satisfaction of seeing how the whole thing turns out in the end.

I like the later episodes of these shows:

Roseanne- I know a lot of people despise year 9, but I can overlook the nonsense plots. I like the stories when the girls are older and have boyfriends/married etc

Sister Sister- if they have curly hair and hats (years 1-3) I'm bored, straight hair (years 4-6) more watchable)

A Different World- gets better with each season

Get Smart- haven't seen much of year 5 but 4 is better than 3, 3 better than 2, 2 better than 1, and 1 is good!

Family Matters- quality is better in the earlier shows, but the last year with the strange Steve/Laura romance is fascinating to watch for its weirdness

One show whose last season I've never seen but would really like to is My Three Sons.

I agree with FamilyTiesGOP, Mama's Family was better in the later seasons. I agree with james anthony on Family Matters My picks are:

A Different World
The Cosby Show
The Facts of Life

It all depends on the show.

I Love Lucy is better at the beginning. I Dream of Jeannie is better at the end. Hogan's Heroes, The Nanny, and Futurama are good all the way thru.

using my favorite shows that ran 6 or more seasons.

With Buffy (7 seasons), I think the absolute peak was seasons 2-3, but I also think it had a creative renaissance in season 6, however it was a fluke and it went out with an awful season 7

with Friends (10 seasons), I think the middle years (seasons 4-6) were the golden era of the series, but season 1 was also great. But the last 4 seasons went from almost unwatchable (season 7) to merely okay (seasons 8 and 10)

with South Park (8 seasons and counting). The show was always funny, but it got better and better. Season 4 was when the show became "great" and became more topical, and Matt and Trey began using the cartoon to really make their stands. I love the way it satirizes both sides during an argument, it's not afraid to bash both Republicans and Democrats at once and tells YOU to make the choice. Yet the first few seasons weren't that deep, just hilarious shocking comedy.

with Roseanne (9 seasons), I think the middle years (4-6) were the golden years, but seasons 1-3 were better than 7-9.

with Charmed (6 seasons and counting), the show really lost it's greatness in season 4 when Rose McGowan came in and replaced Shannen Doherty. I'm not a big Shannen fan, but I think once Prue was killed off at the end of season 3, the show became a farce, but it's still more watchable than reality tv. Rose is decent, but the writing of the show sucks

with The Facts Of Life (9 seasons), much like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I think the absolute peak of the series was seasons 2 and 3, but however hit a renaissance in season 8 (much like Charlotte Rae left the show this season, Anthony Head left Buffy that season) then crashed back down to earth in the final season.

with Sex And The City (6 seasons), 2 and 3 were once again the best of the show. When Darren Star stepped down and gave Michael Patrick King the job of head writer on the show in season 4, the show became too much of a dramatic soap opera and it lost the edge it had the first 3 seasons.

My favorite season of Cheers is the last one.

The last few Seasons on Sienfeld were great because the show moved faster and had more interesting plots.

when Married with Children brought in No Ma'am and got better IMO

Originally posted by Ant-Lox
The last few Seasons on Sienfeld were great because the show moved faster and had more interesting plots.

I agree.
Although I love Seinfeld from start to finish.

NewsRadio was best in seasons 1,2 & 4. Season 3 was good too, but it just doesn't have anything special going on that made it great. And of course, season 5 was after Phil Hartman died, alot of the humor left with him. It didn't turn into M*A*S*H or anything, it's just the writing wasn't as funny as it had been.

Friends was best in it's early seasons (1-4).

M*A*S*H was best in it's early seasons (1-5)

Cheers was best in it's early seasons (1-5)

Happy Days was best in it's early years, however, I enjoy watching the later years more.

Wings was best in it's early years. However, season 6 is my favorite.

I think Chad's theory pertains to the "Star Trek" series as well.

"Next Generation" started to really get good in the later seasons when they did some of their finest episodes.

Ditto for "DS9" and "Voyager."

Here are the shows that were best in its early seasons but got bad in their final seasons due to running out of ideas and/or in family shows the kids have grown up:

The Cosby Show - The first three seasons were priceless, especially the second season and the pilot episode, but after the fifth season the show was steadily going downhill especially with the addition of Olivia and Pam.

Family Ties - The first four seasons were very good, especially the first two with the Keaton's more as a family, but seasons five and six were bad and you can see Meredith Baxter Birney's role in that show diminishing. The final season was good and it went out on top. You saw more stories featuring Meredith. I only wish that the show could had shown more of Steven and Elyse's relationship. Their marriage was like what Rob and Laura Petrie's was in the 60s. It was realistic and more of a partnership.

Cheers - The first three seasons were priceless with witty, classic and intelligent dialogue. The Sam and Diane love-hate relationship grew very tired to watch. The plug should had been pulled after Shelley Long left because the character of Sam Malone after Diane left became dumber and too much of a male whore. Surprise he did not get some kind of sexual disease the way Sam slept around.

Bewitched - It was a great show during its first five seasons. The last two seasons the show got tired and you can tell Liz Montgomery lost interest in doing the show especially during the final season. She had a pissed off look about her in her performance as Samantha.

Kate & Allie - The final season was horrible with Allie marrying that sportscaster and the show featuring Allie as a married woman. That did not work That was a show that stayed on too long and could went out on top.

Alice - The seasons with Jolene were not good nor entertaining to watch. After the Flo seasons the show was not as good. It could had kept that same level with Belle. From what I understand Linda Lavin felt threatened by both Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd because they outshined her and she did not like it. The final two seasons of Alice was very uninteresting and painful to watch. You can tell that show ran its course.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
It all depends on the show.

I Love Lucy is better at the beginning. I Dream of Jeannie is better at the end.

I completely disagree with not only one, but both.
I Love Lucy was good all through the seasons. However, I think the first season is not up as par with the other five seasons.
I Dream of Jeannie, IMO, reached it's peak during the 2nd season and then gradually declined. Tony marrying Jeannie was a total blow to the show afterwards which should have been the final episode of the series.

Oh yeah, it doesn't all depend on the show, it also depends of the person who's watching it. ;)

Originally posted by LucyFan
I completely disagree with not only one, but both.
I Love Lucy was good all through the seasons. However, I think the first season is not up as par with the other five seasons.
I Dream of Jeannie, IMO, reached it's peak during the 2nd season and then gradually declined. Tony marrying Jeannie was a total blow to the show afterwards which should have been the final episode of the series.

Oh yeah, it doesn't all depend on the show, it also depends of the person who's watching it. ;)

I never liked the move to Connecticut. There were some good eps, but the one aspect of ILL I've always liked the most was Lucy and Ricky's relationship, and it seemed to sour in the last season.

And I'm in the minority of people that liked it when Tony and Jeannie got married. :lol: Sure, the lack of sexual tension killed the show, but I still liked it.

Leave it to Beaver- I liked season 5 and 6 the most because it seemed more real and I can relate ti it better.

Originally posted by Chad Doody
I've Noticed most people here tend to Prefer the early seasons of shows Claiming They "Jump The Shark" In Later years. However, I Usualy tend to like the later seasons of shows MORE Than i do early seasons. Of Course they're are exceptions, But for the most part i find Later seasons of shows to be better because the Characters are more Evolved and You Basically get this feeling Like you've Known them for years.

Normally when i watch A Show In Reruns I Get used to the way things are, Then the last episode airs and we go back to the begining And everything has to start over. Another thing about that is alot of Characters arent fully Evolved Yet and the writers Havent Found the "Spark" For them Until later on. Like i said though, There Are exceptions And Im Not saying i dont like early seasons of shows, I Just prefer Middle or Later Seasons. Does anyone else feel this way?

Oh I'm the same way, I tend to love the later seasons of shows alot more too :)

I love season 7 of Boy Meets World, but alot of people don't, that's my fav. season of the show :)

Same with Wings, I loved the later seasons alot better, now with Cheers, I don't like the Rebecca years very much, same with Bewitched, I didn't like the Darrin#2 years at all :(

Originally posted by TJL
I think Chad's theory pertains to the "Star Trek" series as well.

"Next Generation" started to really get good in the later seasons when they did some of their finest episodes.

Ditto for "DS9" and "Voyager."

Yep, Next Gen. is my fav. Star Trek series, I just don't care much for the early seasons, they really had the finest episodes in the later years. :)

Originally posted by Topanga
same with Bewitched, I didn't like the Darrin#2 years at all :(

Me Either. Thats one of the few shows I Actually Do think got worse in its later seasons.

Its not that Dick Sargent was a bad actor...But Dick York WAS Darrin, And Sargent wasnt anything like him. Plus All the Vacations and Remakes of Early Episodes Werent very entertaining.

One of my favorite shows Barney Miller had two very bad first two seasons; the show (in my opinion) did not start to get good til the 3rd season...

In the later years, usually, if the show has kids they are all older.
Lots of new characters and changes are added.

In later seasons, many things were added, so maybe thats why many people dont like later seasons.

For me, It depends on the show. I think the first couple of seasons of The Cosby Show are the best. To me, once the origional kids started growing up and they brought on all those additional characters, the show got boring.

On the other hand, I greatly prefer the later seasons of Cheers, with Rebecca instead of Diane.

I've Noticed most people here tend to Prefer the early seasons of shows Claiming They "Jump The Shark" In Later years. However, I Usualy tend to like the later seasons of shows MORE Than i do early seasons. Of Course they're are exceptions, But for the most part i find Later seasons of shows to be better because the Characters are more Evolved and You Basically get this feeling Like you've Known them for years.

ITA, IDJ hit it's stride in season 3 and maintained it throughout, NewsRadio was at its best starting in season 2, but especially in seasons 3 & 4, Frasier just got better and better until climaxing around 2001, but it was still pretty good after that. I didn't even start watching "Wings" until '94, around the time "Casey" was introduced.

On a slightly-off note, many people feel that shows should go out while on top. I have always hated to see my favorite shows end, regardless of quality decline. For example, the final seasons of Frasier may not have been as brilliant to some of its earlier seasons but i'd take off-seasons of a brilliant shows than on-seasons of inferior shows. I like to see every drop out of the show's creativity wringed out, for as long as possible. I enjoyed the later years of Frasier just as much as the earlier years. Also, the longer the showe goes on, the more of the characters lives you get to follow, I am glad that Frasier gave us a chance to see Daphne & Niles find each other and start a family and Martin & Frasier finding love again. Same thing with Get Smart, the show wasn't the same in season 5 but at the same time it was very fullfilling to see the romance that was building to during the first three seasons.