We've got a lot of threads here about shows 'jumping the shark", and having bad final seasons...can anyone think of any shows that had a good final season, maybe even better than some of the previous ones?

I'm having some trouble myself. It seems like shows are like living things; they start slow and the first part of their lives is spent trying to find a real identity, then in the middle portion of their lives they get it together and are strong and productive, then in the final years they become a bit faded and weaker.

Hmm...if memory serves The Odd Couple had a good last year, and the Mary Tyler Moore show was in top form too. I know a lot of people don't agree with me, but I think the last year of MASH was a very strong one. Other than that, I don't have much. :(

Many won't agree, but Boy Meets World is one off the top of my head. Same goes for my opinion on the final season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Also Friends, Everwood, and Seinfeld.

I agree with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and let me add Barney Miller to the list.

I'll add the Dick Van Dyke Show to the list. They went out on top!

Everybody Loves Raymond- the addition of Amy's family was nice.

Many won't agree, but Boy Meets World is one off the top of my head. Same goes for my opinion on the final season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Also Friends, Everwood, and Seinfeld.

I love the final season of Boy Meets World. I think there are two different kinds of Boy Meets World fans. Those who think the early years were the best. You know, the years with Minkus, weird Topanga, Mr. Turner, Mr. Williams, Harley Keiner, Joey the Rat, Frankie the Enforcer, etc. Then there are those who think the later years are the best, with characters like Jack, Angela, Rachel, etc. I'm one who prefers the later years, though any season of this show is a good one, in my opinion.

I love the final season of Boy Meets World. I think there are two different kinds of Boy Meets World fans. Those who think the early years were the best. You know, the years with Minkus, weird Topanga, Mr. Turner, Mr. Williams, Harley Keiner, Joey the Rat, Frankie the Enforcer, etc. Then there are those who think the later years are the best, with characters like Jack, Angela, Rachel, etc. I'm one who prefers the later years, though any season of this show is a good one, in my opinion.

Yeah, I agree about their being this sort of separation between fans.

It's one of my favorite shows so I'd say I'm a fan of the entire run but if I had to single out what I think to be the best seasons of BMW it would no doubt be seasons 1-4. I'd say 3 is the best, 2nd best is season 2, 3rd best is season 4 and 4th best is season 1, then season 5, 6, and 7 progressively get a little bit worse.

The show wasn't the same in college and with Jack and Rachel. Not to say I didn't like those seasons but it just wasn't the same. It became very Cory and Topanga trying to plan a wedding instead of Cory and Shawn.

I do agree that "The Mary Tyler Moore" and "Dick Van Dyke show" had very good final seasons,as already mentioned.--I'll add "The Rifleman" which had a very good final season,matter of fact it would have been great if the show ran a few extra years because it is such a unique classic.--Another show that had a good final season in my opinion,even though some may disagree is "The Brady Bunch",it was still very entertaining during its last season.---And of course there's "Leave it To Beaver",whose final season was great.Matter of fact, Leave it To Beaver may be the only show that NEVER had a bad episode during its entire run.

I definitely agree about Mary Tyler Moore. I think the writers and actors really knew the characters well by then, and it showed. And I know I might be in the minority, but I would also add Frasier to the list. I really liked seeing Niles and Daphne's relationship change as they got ready to have a child. And it was nice that they managed to wrap everything up at the end, too.

- Kristen

The Mary Tyler Moore Show seems to be a rare example of the last seasons being better than the first few seasons.

I agree with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and let me add Barney Miller to the list.

Almost included BM. Didn't dislike the last year, and thought it was generally a strong year, but...on the spectrum of quality seasons, it was kind of an average one for me. Very low key.

I'll add the Dick Van Dyke Show to the list. They went out on top!

Haven't seen the DVDS as often as some of the others, but my memory of it is that yes, most of the seasons were pretty much of the same quality. I didn't see any noticeable drop during the last year. Good call.

I'm having a hard time coming up with one show whose final season was the BEST one but a few that I think had good ones were already mentioned: Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke Show