well, there's always talk about shows that stayed a year or two to the party too long, and others that left before they truly had time to run their course, but how about the shows that ended their runs at the right time?

Some I can think of:
Seinfeld. It was on nine years but it still had enough fuel in the tank that it could've run another year or two but instead Jerry pulled out at the right moment since he knew the quality was slowly declining, but ended it before it ran on autopilot and became comfort food.

Sex And The City. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted when promoting the final season that she wanted to wrap when the fans would miss it instead of it getting stale (and it was going downhill in the last two years anyways). And luckily, she has kept her word that ending it in the sixth season would make it a lot easier to keep the door open to revisit the show in the future, and now they are making a movie 3 1/2 years later.

The Golden Girls. Seasons 5-7 were downhill from the first four seasons but it was still a quality show until the end. Bea Arthur knew that seven years was enough and ending the show in season 7 was respectful to the series, because Golden Palace proved that the time had passed.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I think there were a few seasons left in the tank if Joss and Sarah wanted to do it, but ending after season seven was probably the right thing to do, because even though season 7 wasn't so hot, it was still good enough that the fans would've loved a season 8, but Joss and Sarah both knew when it was time to bow out instead of running the show into the ground.

Family Ties. The show was declining but I still think another season or two could've been cranked out, but everyone involved knew that season 7 was as good of a time as any to bow out, and also Gary David Goldberg knew that a show as defining to the 1980's as Family Ties should go out with the 80's instead of lasting until 1990 or 1991.

what are some other shows that had relatively long runs that you felt went off at precisely the right moment, not too early and not too late

Gimmie a Break!

Webster

The Flintstones

Mr. Belvedere

Martin


None of these shows seem to wear out their welcome, they ended at the right time.

well, there's always talk about shows that stayed a year or two to the party too long, and others that left before they truly had time to run their course, but how about the shows that ended their runs at the right time?

Some I can think of:
Seinfeld. It was on nine years but it still had enough fuel in the tank that it could've run another year or two but instead Jerry pulled out at the right moment since he knew the quality was slowly declining, but ended it before it ran on autopilot and became comfort food.

Sex And The City. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted when promoting the final season that she wanted to wrap when the fans would miss it instead of it getting stale (and it was going downhill in the last two years anyways). And luckily, she has kept her word that ending it in the sixth season would make it a lot easier to keep the door open to revisit the show in the future, and now they are making a movie 3 1/2 years later.

The Golden Girls. Seasons 5-7 were downhill from the first four seasons but it was still a quality show until the end. Bea Arthur knew that seven years was enough and ending the show in season 7 was respectful to the series, because Golden Palace proved that the time had passed.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I think there were a few seasons left in the tank if Joss and Sarah wanted to do it, but ending after season seven was probably the right thing to do, because even though season 7 wasn't so hot, it was still good enough that the fans would've loved a season 8, but Joss and Sarah both knew when it was time to bow out instead of running the show into the ground.

Family Ties. The show was declining but I still think another season or two could've been cranked out, but everyone involved knew that season 7 was as good of a time as any to bow out, and also Gary David Goldberg knew that a show as defining to the 1980's as Family Ties should go out with the 80's instead of lasting until 1990 or 1991.

what are some other shows that had relatively long runs that you felt went off at precisely the right moment, not too early and not too late
I Think Family Ties Ratings Went Down Because NBC Took It Away From It Thursday Night Lead In The Cosby Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Home Improvement

^ Personally, I think Home Improvement stayed on about 1-2 seasons too long. Here are shows I think ended right at the top of their game:

Barney Miller
Bob Newhart Show
Newhart
WKRP
Mary Tyler Moore Show
Dick Van Dyke Show
Family

Frasier

Reba

The Cosby Show - some may say it went a year too long, but I believe it ended at the perfect time. Another season would have put the show out of the top 20, plus we probably would have got a new character added to the show (maybe Pam's long lost sister?)-LOL

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BOB NEWHART SHOW
NEWHART
SIENFELD
BARNEY MILLER

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW
THE BOB NEWHART SHOW
NEWHART
SIENFELD
BARNEY MILLER


Agree with everything, and "FRIENDS"

Agree with everything, and "FRIENDS"

I don't know. I think MTM could have lasted another season. Sure, ratings were dipping a bit, but the show still had some energy left by 1977.

Reba
While I do think the CW should have given them a full final season, I do think that Reba ended at the good time.

Perfect Strangers
Maude
Golden Girls
Dick Van Dyke Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Family Ties
Family

Adam-12

Sitcoms

All In The Family - I do agree with a lot of people who thought the last 2 seasons weren't as great as the earlier ones, but I thought they still were good. The show (not counting Archie Bunker's Place) ended at a decent time, IMO.

Boy Meets World

Murphy Brown - This is another show that I know some people felt it should have ended a few years earlier (I guess because some didn't care for the baby or cancer story lines, or Miles' exit). I think the last season especially was decent. It ended at the right time.

Reba - The last season wasn't all that great. They did pretty much everything
they could with the characters. It was the right time to say goodbye.

Saved By The Bell: The New Class

The Wonder Years - The decade was changing and so was the show. They stopped at the right time.

Saved By The Bell - I enjoyed seeing them in college. One season of that was enough.

Dramas

Alias

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - It wasn't so much that the show was showing it's age - I just didn't care for a lot of the stories that last season.

Dawson's Creek - I was pleasantly surprised by the last season. I'm glad it ended when it did. If they came back for another yearor two, they would have just been dragging it out - not in a good way either.

Felicity - We followed her journey through College. I'm glad it ended with the Graduation. I didn't care to see Felicity and company in Grad School, having babies, etc.

Gilmore Girls - Perfect ending at a perfect time.

Roswell

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The show was at it's best when it ended.

Star Trek: Voyager

Xena: Warrior Princess

Seinfeld ended at the prefect time. I think one more season of the characters basically becoming more deminted would not be good.

Frasier, I think it ended well, they took those characters to so many places, it was good to see them settle them down. I also love the way it ended with Frasier trying out a new city.

The Cosby Show - some may say it went a year too long, but I believe it ended at the perfect time. Another season would have put the show out of the top 20, plus we probably would have got a new character added to the show (maybe Pam's long lost sister?)-LOL
I really don't think they would have brought in another new character. Pam has never been a popular character, even though I like her, and I think that was clear right away, so they would probably not do anything like that again. But I would have liked a few more seasons, just because I would have loved to see Rudy as a teenager. But really, Bill Cosby thought it was a good moment to stop the show, and I think he knew what he was doing.