Not my question. From a TV column:


https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2025/10/23/television-q-a-when-did-tv-shows-begin-to-have-proper-finales/stories/202510230004

Q: When did TV series start tying up a story at the end of their run instead of just stopping? Which was the first?

A: Series finales have long been huge audience attractions. The series finale of “The Fugitive,” which wrapped up Richard Kimble’s pursuit of the one-armed man, was the most-watched telecast ever when it aired in 1967. The series finale of “M.A.S.H.” in 1983 now holds the top spot (not counting Super Bowls).

Because of its success, it’s easy to think that “The Fugitive” set the stage for future finales, but there were in fact several before it. The earliest one I have found dates to 1960, when children’s show “Howdy Doody” aired its farewell episode, one famous for the usually silent Clarabell speaking “Goodbye, kids,” at the end. Other notable endings include “Route 66” in 1964, which wrapped up its four-season saga with Tod and Linc ending their cross-country travels after Tod marries. “The Dick Van Dyke Show” ended with clips from old episodes illustrating Rob Petrie’s memoirs, which Alan Brady decided to adapt into a television series.

I should also mention miniseries (also known as limited series), which offer a preplanned ending to their prime-time tales. One early example is the Davy Crockett serial on Walt Disney’s show in 1955; even though Crockett died at the Alamo in the third episode, it was such a hit that two prequel stories aired later that year.

They mention The Fugitive (1967) as having a proper finale so maybe that's the year. It seems like a show like that which has a narrative needs a conclusion, whereas a show like The Flintstones (for example) is mainly made up of stand-alone episodes. Stand-alone episodes could arguably end anywhere and it wouldn't matter. I'm just saying this off the top of my head and it could be wrong or stupid. LOL

endings “The Dick Van Dyke Show” ended with clips from old episodes illustrating Rob Petrie’s memoirs, which Alan Brady decided to adapt into a television series.




The next-to-last episode was also something of a finale - a high-concept thing that included all the recurring cast as well as several behind-the-scenes people. Other notable early sitcom finales have creative ties to DvD: The Odd Couple (1975), MTM (1976), and Bob Newhart Show (1978).

Leave It to Beaver's last episode was a clip show, but it remained ambiguous if it was a finale because the weren't sure if the show would be renewed.

They mention The Fugitive (1967) as having a proper finale so maybe that's the year.

The Dick van Dyke finale was in 1966. It's interesting, because it kind of circles back to Carl Reiner five years before, selling his scripts that formed the basis of DvD

Not my question. From a TV column:


https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2025/10/23/television-q-a-when-did-tv-shows-begin-to-have-proper-finales/stories/202510230004

Q: When did TV series start tying up a story at the end of their run instead of just stopping? Which was the first?

A: Series finales have long been huge audience attractions. The series finale of “The Fugitive,” which wrapped up Richard Kimble’s pursuit of the one-armed man, was the most-watched telecast ever when it aired in 1967. The series finale of “M.A.S.H.” in 1983 now holds the top spot (not counting Super Bowls).

Because of its success, it’s easy to think that “The Fugitive” set the stage for future finales, but there were in fact several before it. The earliest one I have found dates to 1960, when children’s show “Howdy Doody” aired its farewell episode, one famous for the usually silent Clarabell speaking “Goodbye, kids,” at the end. Other notable endings include “Route 66” in 1964, which wrapped up its four-season saga with Tod and Linc ending their cross-country travels after Tod marries. “The Dick Van Dyke Show” ended with clips from old episodes illustrating Rob Petrie’s memoirs, which Alan Brady decided to adapt into a television series.

I should also mention miniseries (also known as limited series), which offer a preplanned ending to their prime-time tales. One early example is the Davy Crockett serial on Walt Disney’s show in 1955; even though Crockett died at the Alamo in the third episode, it was such a hit that two prequel stories aired later that year.

You mentioned Howdy Doody, where Clarabell the clown, silent throughout the show's run finally spoke the last words on the show "Goodbye kids."