Does anyone know what one of or the first show that had a huge season opener or finale episode that are basically a common staple nowadays? It's strange to see how mildly and normally shows used to start and end a season compared to now, where people die, disappear, have huge weddings, have babies...not to mention the damn cliffhangers.

I think "THE FUGITIVE" was the first one to have a finale, in 1967.

they didn't have big series finales in the early TV days because they though it would hurt the syndication value

As far as season premieres and season finales (not talking about final episodes), I think "Cheers." It's the earliest I can think of. Because all the shows I think of from the 1950s and 60s, they just opened and ended each season with regular episodes. And with "M*A*S*H" they did a few hour long premieres, but two of those were to introduce a new character.

So, yeah, I'm gonna go with "Cheers" 1982-1993.

Of course, I'm talking strictly sitcoms. I have no clue when I add in all the different genres.

Overall The Fugitive had the first big series finale. As far as sitcoms the one that comes to mine first was The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I remember it was a big event in 1977.

As far as season premieres and season finales (not talking about final episodes), I think "Cheers." It's the earliest I can think of. Because all the shows I think of from the 1950s and 60s, they just opened and ended each season with regular episodes. And with "M*A*S*H" they did a few hour long premieres, but two of those were to introduce a new character.

So, yeah, I'm gonna go with "Cheers" 1982-1993.

Of course, I'm talking strictly sitcoms. I have no clue when I add in all the different genres.
"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" had a finale; in 1966. As far as I know; that was the only sitcom that did; until the mid-70s when "THE ODD COUPLE" had one. ("I DREAM OF JEANNIE" was going to; in 1971 but it's a long story as to why they didn't. I forget all the details; but it had to do with the show being pre-empted a lot in it's last season for coverage of the Apollo 13 crisis)

"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" had a finale; in 1966. As far as I know; that was the only sitcom that did; until the mid-70s when "THE ODD COUPLE" had one.

That's true. I was talking strictly about shows that had big season premieres and finales. Like "Cheers" had the big season 1 finale of Sam and Diane finally kissing and the second season opened with them deciding to date. And then the season two finale saw Diane leaving, after a break up with Sam. The season three premiere was about Diane coming back and so on.

As far as series finales go, "The Odd Couple" is one of my favorites. It didn't need to be an hour long event. It wrapped up the series in the half-hour format.

And from what I understand, people blamed the big finale for "The Fugitive" as a reason why it didn't do well in reruns and so they didn't do finales again. That's until The Odd Couple and then The Mary Tyler Moore Show. After that, I believe it became a normal thing. Especially with the success of the final "M*A*S*H."

it's not true that networks didn't do finales after "THE FUGITIVE". I remember a show called "NICHOLS" that starred James Garner; had one, about 1970 or 71.

it's not true that networks didn't do finales after "THE FUGITIVE". I remember a show called "NICHOLS" that starred James Garner; had one, about 1970 or 71.

Well then in general they didn't do them. I mean not like the 1980s, 90s and today.

I'm pretty sure "Soap" was the first sitcom to end its season with a cliffhanger (which eventually becamea staple in both sitcoms and dramas), in its 1977-1978 season finale. I remember that being a big deal at the time.

I'm pretty sure "Soap" was the first sitcom to end its season with a cliffhanger (which eventually becamea staple in both sitcoms and dramas), in its 1977-1978 season finale. I remember that being a big deal at the time.

YES! "Soap", I forgot about that.

YES! "Soap", I forgot about that.

I was actually surprised no one mentioned it before :D

I was actually surprised no one mentioned it before :D

The funny thing is as I was watching every episode of "Soap" on DVD last year, I was even thinking that this was probably the first show like this. "Friends" owes a lot to "Soap" using the episodic technique. "Friends" wasn't always 'to be continued' like "Soap", but it might as well have been.

The funny thing is as I was watching every episode of "Soap" on DVD last year, I was even thinking that this was probably the first show like this. "Friends" owes a lot to "Soap" using the episodic technique. "Friends" wasn't always 'to be continued' like "Soap", but it might as well have been.

I always hated how Friends got to be so "soap-like" by the end of its run. I actually enjoyed Friends in it's early years, but it became too much for me when everytime you watched a new episode, everyone was hooking up with each other-LOL. But, that's way too off the subject.

From what I've heard, the "Who Shot J.R" finale on Dallas was actually based on the season 1 finale of Soap. So, yeah, Soap really did set the boundaries for a lot of shows.