Who's to Blame For 'Taxi's' Lack Of A Final Episode? NBC? ABC? The Writers?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-20-2012, 11:11 PM

I am not quite sure myself, but was Taxi blindsided by the cancellation? Sure once, shame on you, but twice??? Shame on me! Who's to blame in your opinion?

catlover79 · 06-21-2012, 02:25 AM

I'll go out on a limb and say all three.

TVFactFan · 06-21-2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I am not quite sure myself, but was Taxi blindsided by the cancellation? Sure once, shame on you, but twice??? Shame on me! Who's to blame in your opinion?

Didn't the show switch networks? I'm thinking maybe the show was doing so bad that it was no need for a finale

catlover79 · 06-21-2012, 02:46 AM

Yeah, Taxi ran on ABC from 1978-1982, at which point it got cancelled. NBC picked up the show for the 1982-83 season, and it didn't fare any better in the ratings. So I blame both networks for denying the stellar cast and crew of Taxi the chance to do a REAL series finale, and for the writers/producers for not having such an episode written that they could've shot and aired later (at least, not that I know of).

ajgenard · 06-21-2012, 05:51 AM

It's quite possible that much of Taxi's original production staff had already left by the time NBC picked it up. During that final season the Charles brothers had already moved on to Cheers and I'd be willing to bet that many other crew members had gone to other shows as well. The same thing happened during the final season of The Bob Newhart Show after CBS convinced him to do one more year. So with a mixed staff and abysmal ratings, it's a wonder they managed a complete season of Taxi let alone a finale (which I don't think was even a standard for sitcoms quite yet). At any rate it's a damn shame. This show definitely deserved some kind of closure.

Mr. Television · 06-21-2012, 08:22 AM

I remember when Judd Hirsch won best actor at the Emmy Awards that year. He blasted NBC for cancelling Taxi. lol

TVFactFan · 06-21-2012, 03:56 PM

But you don't normally see a sitcom with only 5 seasons have a finale. The closest one was Bob Newhart and his show had 6 seasons

TVFactFan · 06-21-2012, 03:57 PM

Oh I forgot Martin in 1997 but that was a Forced finale because of the issues between the two stars

catlover79 · 06-22-2012, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgenard

It's quite possible that much of Taxi's original production staff had already left by the time NBC picked it up. During that final season the Charles brothers had already moved on to Cheers and I'd be willing to bet that many other crew members had gone to other shows as well. The same thing happened during the final season of The Bob Newhart Show after CBS convinced him to do one more year. So with a mixed staff and abysmal ratings, it's a wonder they managed a complete season of Taxi let alone a finale (which I don't think was even a standard for sitcoms quite yet). At any rate it's a damn shame. This show definitely deserved some kind of closure.

You bring up some good points - I'd forgotten about the Charles brothers going over to Cheers at that point. Thanks!!

catlover79 · 06-22-2012, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I remember when Judd Hirsch won best actor at the Emmy Awards that year. He blasted NBC for cancelling Taxi. lol

Good for him!!

Adamantium · 06-22-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

But you don't normally see a sitcom with only 5 seasons have a finale. The closest one was Bob Newhart and his show had 6 seasons

I'd say the closest one was "The Odd Couple" with five seasons. I don't know if it was promoted as the big serie finale at the time, but it's plot ended the show (Felix remarrying Gloria and moving out of Oscar's apartment finally).

Skywalker · 07-09-2012, 03:35 PM

It's hard for me to blame NBC. They gave them a chance and the ratings were even worse. They had Danny DeVito promoting it saying "Same time, better network." so they didn't even change the timeslot. I blame the producers/writers, for not paying attention to declining ratings and not preparing a series finale.

Mr. Television · 07-10-2012, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywalker

It's hard for me to blame NBC. They gave them a chance and the ratings were even worse. They had Danny DeVito promoting it saying "Same time, better network." so they didn't even change the timeslot. I blame the producers/writers, for not paying attention to declining ratings and not preparing a series finale.

Yea I agree. Everybody knew the show was going to get cancelled with ratings that low. Didn't they have a best of...clip show as the final episode in syndication? I think it aired as a special originally.

catlover79 · 07-10-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Yea I agree. Everybody knew the show was going to get cancelled with ratings that low. Didn't they have a best of...clip show as the final episode in syndication? I think it aired as a special originally.

I think they did, but I'm not positive.

Skywalker · 07-10-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Yea I agree. Everybody knew the show was going to get cancelled with ratings that low. Didn't they have a best of...clip show as the final episode in syndication? I think it aired as a special originally.

Yeah, they were the last episodes produced so they always aired last whenever I saw them. I know it originally aired as a one hour special in late March 1983, but they still had 7 episodes left to air. I don't think they even knew they were canceled at that point. The last episode to air was Simka's Monthlies in June.

06-20-2012, 11:11 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Who's to Blame For 'Taxi's' Lack Of A Final Episode? NBC? ABC? The Writers?? I am not quite sure myself, but was Taxi blindsided by the cancellation? Sure once, shame on you, but twice??? Shame on me! Who's to blame in your opinion?
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06-21-2012, 02:25 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I'll go out on a limb and say all three.
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06-21-2012, 08:22 AM	#6
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	I remember when Judd Hirsch won best actor at the Emmy Awards that year. He blasted NBC for cancelling Taxi. lol
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06-21-2012, 02:46 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Yeah, Taxi ran on ABC from 1978-1982, at which point it got cancelled. NBC picked up the show for the 1982-83 season, and it didn't fare any better in the ratings. So I blame both networks for denying the stellar cast and crew of Taxi the chance to do a REAL series finale, and for the writers/producers for not having such an episode written that they could've shot and aired later (at least, not that I know of).

06-21-2012, 05:51 AM	#5
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	It's quite possible that much of Taxi's original production staff had already left by the time NBC picked it up. During that final season the Charles brothers had already moved on to Cheers and I'd be willing to bet that many other crew members had gone to other shows as well. The same thing happened during the final season of The Bob Newhart Show after CBS convinced him to do one more year. So with a mixed staff and abysmal ratings, it's a wonder they managed a complete season of Taxi let alone a finale (which I don't think was even a standard for sitcoms quite yet). At any rate it's a damn shame. This show definitely deserved some kind of closure.

06-21-2012, 03:56 PM	#7
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,008	But you don't normally see a sitcom with only 5 seasons have a finale. The closest one was Bob Newhart and his show had 6 seasons

06-21-2012, 03:57 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,008	Oh I forgot Martin in 1997 but that was a Forced finale because of the issues between the two stars

07-09-2012, 03:35 PM	#12
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	It's hard for me to blame NBC. They gave them a chance and the ratings were even worse. They had Danny DeVito promoting it saying "Same time, better network." so they didn't even change the timeslot. I blame the producers/writers, for not paying attention to declining ratings and not preparing a series finale.