Cancelled or that the show just ended? I mean how can we use the word cancelled after a 11 year run? Seems like its more accurate to say the show just ended because the network felt it was on the air for a decade and the time was right to end it

When I think of cancelled I think of a show that didn't reach 5 seasons. Not a show that lasted 11 seasons. Do you agree?

By the way, I'm referring to the Jeffersons

Cancelled or that the show just ended? I mean how can we use the word cancelled after a 11 year run? Seems like its more accurate to say the show just ended because the network felt it was on the air for a decade and the time was right to end it

When I think of cancelled I think of a show that didn't reach 5 seasons. Not a show that lasted 11 seasons. Do you agree?

By the way, I'm referring to the Jeffersons

I think that "ended" is the proper word for shows like The Jeffersons, Dallas, Knots Landing, Perry Mason, and similar long-runners.

Well The Jeffersons & MWC were cancelled. You can tell by how the cast reacted. Both should have tried to end the show properly. They were given hints that they weren't coming back.

Well The Jeffersons & MWC were cancelled. You can tell by how the cast reacted.

So, what you're saying is, no matter if it ran for 20 years, if it ended, the cast would still treat it as if it were cancelled? Doesn't sound right to me.

So, what you're saying is, no matter if it ran for 20 years, if it ended, the cast would still treat it as if it were cancelled? Doesn't sound right to me.
What difference does it make if it's 20 years or five years? If the show's cancelled then it's cancelled. Most shows agree to end on it's own long before that though.

I kjust can't ook at it as a cancellation because of the long riun. To me it was more like.."There was no more to be done" since the show did its job for the network.

after 11 years you think the jeffersons or any show would have a proper ending if it wasn't cancelled.

I know it's not a sitcom but take Law and Order for example. It ran 20 years and The producer tried like crazy to get it picked up by another network. He didn't and the show had no concluding episode. It just ended.

after 11 years you think the jeffersons or any show would have a proper ending if it wasn't cancelled.
The Jeffersons were living in denial because everyone knew that show was dead. The same thing happened with Alice that same year but they were smart enough to film a final episode. I had stopped watching both shows by then but I did tune into Alice to see the final episode. I would have done the same thing for The Jeffersons if they had one.

In my opinion on this matter, a show is cancelled when the network decides they don't want that show anymore. If it comes from the network then it's cancelled. If the people making the show decide to end it, then it's a show that ended. "The Jeffersons" was cancelled not because they were done making episodes but because the network no longer wanted the show. The fact that they didn't get to do a finale episode, which they wanted to do, is proof that the show was "cancelled" instead of simply "ended."

None of this takes away from "The Jeffersons." It had an impressive run - longer than most sitcoms out there. But in the end, the show was cancelled instead of being allowed to end on its own. That decision is unfair all around. It's unfair to the fans for not getting to have closure. It's unfair to the actors for not getting to put on a finale and know that the last one they're shooting is the last one forever. And it's unfair even to the network, who could have promoted a big finale for the series and brought in some bigger ratings than they probably got not doing that.

In my opinion on this matter, a show is cancelled when the network decides they don't want that show anymore. If it comes from the network then it's cancelled. If the people making the show decide to end it, then it's a show that ended. "The Jeffersons" was cancelled not because they were done making episodes but because the network no longer wanted the show. The fact that they didn't get to do a finale episode, which they wanted to do, is proof that the show was "cancelled" instead of simply "ended."

None of this takes away from "The Jeffersons." It had an impressive run - longer than most sitcoms out there. But in the end, the show was cancelled instead of being allowed to end on its own. That decision is unfair all around. It's unfair to the fans for not getting to have closure. It's unfair to the actors for not getting to put on a finale and know that the last one they're shooting is the last one forever. And it's unfair even to the network, who could have promoted a big finale for the series and brought in some bigger ratings than they probably got not doing that.


The show really didn't need a finale. I mean they were already on top of the world with 7 cleaning stores so not sure what kind of closure could have been done

The show really didn't need a finale. I mean they were already on top of the world with 7 cleaning stores so not sure what kind of closure could have been done

Me neither but in 1993, the cast of "The Jeffersons" did a live show in Detroit. Here's the link to the article...

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,306248,00.html

and here's what the cast said about WHY they decided to take part in the live show...

So why did the others decide to re-create their sitcom on the boards?

Reason No. 1: no finale. ''They snatched the rug from under us while we were on hiatus,'' Sanford recalls of The Jeffersons' cancellation. Adds Roker: ''We had no closure.''

Reason No. 2: no respect. ''When a show is popular, sometimes the industry dismisses it,'' Cover laments and Hemsley agrees: ''Maybe part of this is giving ourselves the recognition.''

Some of this info was from an article from the Los Angeles Times, “’Jeffersons’ Out Of Cbs Lineup”, May 08, 1985

It was stated in the article that the cancellation of The Jeffersons came as no surprise, because its ratings and viewership had fallen badly. The show fell to 59th place among the 96 prime-time series which aired during the 1984-85 TV season, down from 19th place during the 1983-84 season (its 10th). Plus, Marla Gibbs, who played Florence the maid on The Jeffersons, was going to move on to a new sitcom, 227, over at NBC the following season (1985-86). Also, Alice, another CBS sitcom which ended during the 1984-85 season, did have a series-concluding episode, which aired in March of 1985.

Some of this info was from an article from the Los Angeles Times, “’Jeffersons’ Out Of Cbs Lineup”, May 08, 1985

It was stated in the article that the cancellation of The Jeffersons came as no surprise, because its ratings and viewership had fallen badly. The show fell to 59th place among the 96 prime-time series which aired during the 1984-85 TV season, down from 19th place during the 1983-84 season (its 10th). Plus, Marla Gibbs, who played Florence the maid on The Jeffersons, was going to move on to a new sitcom, 227, over at NBC the following season (1985-86). Also, Alice, another CBS sitcom which ended during the 1984-85 season, did have a series-concluding episode, which aired in March of 1985.
Exactly and that's right, Marla Gibbs had filmed the pilot for 227 that spring too. I supposed if The Jeffersons did get picked up she would have been obligated to stay on the Jeffersons. The Jeffersons' fate was sealed when it was moved opposite The A-Team.

Exactly and that's right, Marla Gibbs had filmed the pilot for 227 that spring too. I supposed if The Jeffersons did get picked up she would have been obligated to stay on the Jeffersons. The Jeffersons' fate was sealed when it was moved opposite The A-Team.



So the A-team knocked off Three's Company and the Jeffersons

So the A-team knocked off Three's Company and the Jeffersons
And Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley and Alice. lol

I wish that some shows did have a proper finale...it meant that it's finished and everyone in the cast moved-on.

A cancelled show is when the networks decides it's time to end the show. A show has ended when the cast and crew have decided they no longer want to make the show. When a show is ending the whole cast and crew know well ahead of time that this is the last season. Cancelled shows tend not to know the show is ended till at the last minute.

A cancelled show is when the networks decides it's time to end the show. A show has ended when the cast and crew have decided they no longer want to make the show. When a show is ending the whole cast and crew know well ahead of time that this is the last season. Cancelled shows tend not to know the show is ended till at the last minute.
Which is why it's always great when "on the bubble" shows film an alternate season/series finale. Even when rushed, I still appreciate a farewell episode over a regular episode. The Jeffersons, Married...With Children, Laverne & Shirley, Full House, Family Matters, 8 Simple Rules, and many others, deserved proper finales. After years of watching those shows, the networks owed the audience that much.

The Jeffersons were under the impression they were being picked up for another season. The network canceled it. I remember reading they were told they were coming back and found out from the TV news that they were axed.

Which is why it's always great when "on the bubble" shows film an alternate season/series finale. Even when rushed, I still appreciate a farewell episode over a regular episode. The Jeffersons, Married...With Children, Laverne & Shirley, Full House, Family Matters, 8 Simple Rules, and many others, deserved proper finales. After years of watching those shows, the networks owed the audience that much.

The Jeffersons were under the impression they were being picked up for another season. The network canceled it. I remember reading they were told they were coming back and found out from the TV news that they were axed.

The network, knowing they weren't going to pick up The Jeffersons for a 12th year, really should have used the 2-part "Sayonara" episodes from the 11th season as a series finale. Those 2 episodes brought back Lionel and Jenny after they'd been gone for several years. And even though the couple was divorcing, the story emphasized that the Jeffersons and Willises would all remain one big family despite the split. Would have served as a decent ending.

But that would mean the network still cared enough about the remaining viewers to think in terms of a finale, which they obviously didn't.

Technically every show that ends is "cancelled". But I think the distinction is whether a show is given notice that it's ending/ends on some sort of its own accords, or whether it's simply not brought back the next season despite there being no prior announcement.

I mean, Law & Order ran for 20 years but it was certainly "cancelled" because everyone expected it to come back the next year.

Technically every show that ends is "cancelled". But I think the distinction is whether a show is given notice that it's ending/ends on some sort of its own accords, or whether it's simply not brought back the next season despite there being no prior announcement.

I mean, Law & Order ran for 20 years but it was certainly "cancelled" because everyone expected it to come back the next year.


When a show last double digit years I don't think you can use cancelled. 10 or more years and it has to be another term

Um, would "laid off" be an appropriate term?

When a show last double digit years I don't think you can use cancelled. 10 or more years and it has to be another term

Think what you want. You're wrong. If it's canceled, the word to use is "canceled".

If the cast and producers want to end a show, imo it wouldn't be the same if the network just canceled it due to low ratings or whatever.

If the cast and producers want to end a show, imo it wouldn't be the same if the network just canceled it due to low ratings or whatever.
I agree. I remember when Cheers ended. It was Ted Danson and the producer's decision to end the series. It was still ranked in the top 10. No way was that show cancelled.

Look at M.A.S.H. It ended 11 years on a high note. The finale was and is still one of the highest rated programs in history. That was an amazing episode and still rewatchable 31 years later.

Look at M.A.S.H. It ended 11 years on a high note. The finale was and is still one of the highest rated programs in history. That was an amazing episode and still rewatchable 31 years later.

Yes and that was the people who made the show's decision to end it. Unlike "The Jeffersons," "Married...with Children" and "The Beverly Hillbillies" which were all cancelled because the network cancelled those series when they were all willing to make more episodes.

"The Office" is another example of a long-running show that ended because the cast and showrunner decided it was time to go, so they had a farewell season and a proper series finale.

And don't forget Happy Days ran 11 seasons as well. I don't know who's decision it was to cancel it. They changed the theme that season probably thinking it would go on longer.

And even now, Two and a Half Men is getting ready for a 12th season and they said it would be the last season even though it still seems to be going strong.

And don't forget Happy Days ran 11 seasons as well. I don't know who's decision it was to cancel it. They changed the theme that season probably thinking it would go on longer.

And even now, Two and a Half Men is getting ready for a 12th season and they said it would be the last season even though it still seems to be going strong.
Well Happy Days was different. The network was going to cancel it. They even pulled the show halfway into the season. The cast and Producers decided to make a final episode which ABC did promote quite well. It was brought back a few weeks before the final to promote it and the final aired as a one hour episode. ABC didn't air all of the HD episodes during the season though and they burned off the other episodes during the summer of 1984.

Well Happy Days was different. The network was going to cancel it. They even pulled the show halfway into the season. The cast and Producers decided to make a final episode which ABC did promote quite well. It was brought back a few weeks before the final to promote it and the final aired as a one hour episode. ABC didn't air all of the HD episodes during the season though and they burned off the other episodes during the summer of 1984.
A couple of others that were going to get cancelled and still filmed a final were A different World and Just Shoot Me. Both were taken off the air during the season but the network did bring them back to air the final. They ended up having unaired episodes that weren't seen until they went into syndication.

The network, knowing they weren't going to pick up The Jeffersons for a 12th year, really should have used the 2-part "Sayonara" episodes from the 11th season as a series finale. Those 2 episodes brought back Lionel and Jenny after they'd been gone for several years. And even though the couple was divorcing, the story emphasized that the Jeffersons and Willises would all remain one big family despite the split. Would have served as a decent ending.

But that would mean the network still cared enough about the remaining viewers to think in terms of a finale, which they obviously didn't.
that really would've been the best way to end it - had they known that the network was going to cancel it.

Um, would "laid off" be an appropriate term?

Send off would be the appropriate term

I agree. I remember when Cheers ended. It was Ted Danson and the producer's decision to end the series. It was still ranked in the top 10. No way was that show cancelled.
At that point it's typically kind of a mutual decision, because shows get more expensive as they age since the cast typically demands more money (NBC couldn't keep paying the Friends cast over a million an episode even if the show was getting 40 million viewers every week). It's why even the biggest sitcoms rarely go far past the 10 year mark (and why animated shows can run for years and years).

I do think calling a show like that "cancelled" is a little weird though. "Ended" is usually the proper term. But I disagree that EVERY long-running show gets that distinction - I still think Law & Order is the best example because that certainly felt like a cancellation. Everyone, including the people working on it, were shocked when it ended.

So the A-team knocked off Three's Company and the Jeffersons

Actually Riptide was the show that knocked off Three's Company, as both shows were on 9-10 ET. A-Team was on 8-9 ET and knocked off Happy Days & Just Our Luck. Laverne & Shirley were already gone a year earlier, most likely because Cindy Williams was barely on the show that last season.

I guess we can call them all cancelled. Either cancelled by the networks or the people who make it. Either way one group decided that it was time to end.

I guess we can call them all cancelled. Either cancelled by the networks or the people who make it. Either way one group decided that it was time to end.


show came to an end

Actually Riptide was the show that knocked off Three's Company, as both shows were on 9-10 ET. A-Team was on 8-9 ET and knocked off Happy Days & Just Our Luck. Laverne & Shirley were already gone a year earlier, most likely because Cindy Williams was barely on the show that last season.
The A-Team killed Three's a Crowd.

Looked at the bonus features of the #1 release of L.A. Law from Shout!, and in the interviews, Corbin Bernsen said that L.A. Law was cancelled by NBC in 1994, IIRC; it did not end on its own.

At that point it's typically kind of a mutual decision, because shows get more expensive as they age since the cast typically demands more money (NBC couldn't keep paying the Friends cast over a million an episode even if the show was getting 40 million viewers every week). It's why even the biggest sitcoms rarely go far past the 10 year mark (and why animated shows can run for years and years).

Are those 10+-year-old animated “floating timeline” shows really all that cheap? They often have to overtake every other great scripted TV shows. All of The Simpsons’s main voice cast is past the age of 50 and outside of the 18-49 target demographic. Plus, the target demo audience wants to watch nothing but cartoons.

The body actors make more than voice-only actors (or VOAs). The VOAs are often past the age of 50, and I often have to whine about them being too old and undesirable. Also, VOAs never get to appear on talk shows or (on camera) in commercials. And they aren’t willing to move on to other projects and would rather pass away while still on the job. Plus, the production of just one episode of an animated show is way too long.

While some of them have changed the face of entertainment, these animated shows always have to put on-camera body actors out of work, thereby making them look like bums.

The only VOA I know to work outside of an animated series is Mila Kunish from Family Guy. She has done movies while still doing the voice of Meg Griffin. Seth tried to do the same thing with A 10000 ways to Die in the West and we know how that turned out. He doesn't have what it takes to make it as an actor.

I wouldn't think of Seth MacFarlane's on-camera acting on A Million Ways to Die in the West as "making it", per se; I would think of it as more of, giving it a shot/"experimenting"/trying his hand with it.

Are those 10+-year-old animated “floating timeline” shows really all that cheap? They often have to overtake every other great scripted TV shows. All of The Simpsons’s main voice cast is past the age of 50 and outside of the 18-49 target demographic. Plus, the target demo audience wants to watch nothing but cartoons.

The body actors make more than voice-only actors (or VOAs). The VOAs are often past the age of 50, and I often have to whine about them being too old and undesirable. Also, VOAs never get to appear on talk shows or (on camera) in commercials. And they aren’t willing to move on to other projects and would rather pass away while still on the job. Plus, the production of just one episode of an animated show is way too long.

While some of them have changed the face of entertainment, these animated shows always have to put on-camera body actors out of work, thereby making them look like bums.
so... why do you have to whine about the actors being too old and undesirable? it's not like you can tell how old they are just by looking at the animations they voice. I fail to see how their age is relevant, especially when it has absolutely no bearing on the characters they play or the audience they are geared towards.

Lots of voice actors do talk shows and commercials or other acting - look at Dan Castellaneta - he has done tons of other things; including live action, talk shows AND commercials.

Why do you care how long the production schedule is for any show in particular? They aren't necessarily longer for animated shows - South Park manages to create its episodes in about 1 week now - from start to finish.

Animated shows don't put actors out of work, they might put cameramen and grips and what not out of work, but not actors - you can blame your reality shows for THAT.

^^The voice-only actors are "old and undesirable" because they never get to appear in an on-camera acting role, period. On-camera acting work is for the "beautiful" and physically attractive, and the VOAs are too ugly to do on-camera acting work.

Marcia Wallace actually passed away (from cancer) last October while still active on The Simpsons as Edna Krabappel.

And the production time of one episode of an animated show can take as much as nine months.

Folks always asking me "why do your care?", I'm just "keeping my friends close and my enemies closer".

There have been actors who have worked voice overs. Kathleen Turner was the voice of Jessica Rabbit is a great example. There have been beautiful people who can do voice overs.

Interesting thread, yeah the way I see it is if a show abruptly ends without a proper finale even if it's been on for years I call that being cancelled.

It kind of like being a a job for 10 years and the company closed down


So that is how I consider a show on the air for 11 years, "Just ended" ran out of ideas.


OR


Production Closure LOL

Solomon, The Jeffersons was canceled. CBS pulled the plug. LOL. Much like the show the overseers of the Jeffersons produced Married With Children which was also canceled. Ed O'Neil found out from a couple at a restaurant/bar. He found out from them and bought them a drink and chatted with them. When a show is not renewed (especially if cast and crew don't get notice) it is safe to say the show is canceled.

Solomon, The Jeffersons was canceled. CBS pulled the plug. LOL. Much like the show the overseers of the Jeffersons produced Married With Children which was also canceled. Ed O'Neil found out from a couple at a restaurant/bar. He found out from them and bought them a drink and chatted with them. When a show is not renewed (especially if cast and crew don't get notice) it is safe to say the show is canceled.


Production Closure

Production Closure

"Sean Saves The World" shut down production(production closure) according to news reports because it was "Canceled"
Nah. The Jeffersons was canned(canceled).;)

"Sean Saves The World" shut down production(production closure) according to news reports because it was "Canceled"
Nah. The Jeffersons was canned(canceled).;)


Script Ideas Exhaustion? LOL

Script Ideas Exhaustion? LOL
That leads up to "cancelation". The Jeffersons was canceled.

That leads up to "cancelation". The Jeffersons was canceled.


it still has to be another word because cancelled is putting the Jeffersons in the same category as

Good Times
Baby I'm Back
Sanford
What's Happening
Welcome Back Kotter


And all those shows didn't even reach 6 years

it still has to be another word because cancelled is putting the Jeffersons in the same category as

Good Times
Baby I'm Back
Sanford
What's Happening
Welcome Back Kotter


And all those shows didn't even reach 6 yearsGood Times reached 6 years. The others reached 1 or 4 years.

Good Times reached 6 years. The others reached 1 or 4 years.


6 seasons, 5 years

Three choices: Cancelled, Canceled or can-saul'd.

Three choices: Cancelled, Canceled or can-saul'd.


4. Show Ended

4. Show Ended
5. shuffled off to Buffalo.

I think that if you ask the network or the producers/stars involved, unless they were told in advance and got the chance to do a final episode with a proper ending, I think it was canceled. Which in no way takes away from the show's success, it just means that networks are full of heartless, penny-pinching jerks, which should surprise no one.