Can a Show's Producers Decide/Request that No Series Finale Be Produced?

[James28]

SitcomsOnline users, can the producers of a veteran TV show request to its network that there not be a proper, official "series finale" episode be produced? Under that scenario, the final season of that veteran TV show would not be billed/promoted as "The Final Season" or anything, and instead, that veteran TV show would wrap up every one of its storylines throughout its entire last year and quietly end its run with a regular episode, rather than waiting until the very last episode to wrap up said storylines. Have there been any long-running series that decided to take such an approach?

[Charley Knox]

Originally Posted by James28

SitcomsOnline users, can the producers of a veteran TV show request to its network that there not be a proper, official "series finale" episode be produced? Under that scenario, the final season of that veteran TV show would not be billed/promoted as "The Final Season" or anything, and instead, that veteran TV show would wrap up every one of its storylines throughout its entire last year and quietly end its run with a regular episode, rather than waiting until the very last episode to wrap up said storylines. Have there been any long-running series that decided to take such an approach?

Marlo Thomas requested her character not marry Don on the last episode of That Girl, even though the main
storyline of the last season was centered around their character's engagement. That one dumb idea/suggestion of hers, is probably why the show has had a real lack of success in syndication. I mean it's not like she was being forced to marry him in real life.

The last episode of That Girl, could and should have been an hour long wedding event. This is something I always wanted to vent about, but could never find the proper forum topic to let it all out.

*edit* Even worse, the last episode ends up being a clip show."Stuck in an elevator, Donald and Ann reminisce about their last five years together as we see the last of "That Girl!" Note: This final episode of "That Girl" features clips from past episodes. "(Wikipedia)

[bmasters9]

Originally Posted by James28

Have there been any long-running series that decided to take such an approach?

I think The Streets of San Francisco did, in the final go of that ABC police procedural (the Richard Hatch season); last episode in 1977 was just a normal episode.

[James28]

Originally Posted by bmasters9

I think The Streets of San Francisco did, in the final go of that ABC police procedural (the Richard Hatch season); last episode in 1977 was just a normal episode.

I don't think The Streets of San Francisco had a pre-announed ending like The Mary Tyler Moore Show did that same season. Just the typical old-school long-runner ratings decline leading to an outright cancellation/forcing out of new episodes by its network.