What show do you think had the Most Disappointing Series Finale?

[Adamantium]

I agree with HUNG UP. A series finale should be the end of the story. If the characters all stay together, then I know there are more stories to tell that I'm gonna miss out on.

That's why I loved "The Odd Couple" finale. Because Felix remarries Gloria and moves out of Oscar's apartment. Both of those were things wanted by the characters since the beginning. And I don't wonder what Felix and Oscar are up to at that apartment? or I wonder if Felix ever got Gloria back?


So not counting just regular episodes (because they aren't finales in my opinion, just the last episode):

Roseanne - I think it's a good episode, but the ending has screwed up the reruns for me. I'm confused about what's the book and what was real for the characters. Oddly enough, I loved the first part of the episode, where it was just the family all together at the house. Then Roseanne had to ruin it with her long monologue.

Everybody Loves Raymond - First of all, it was a good episode. I liked that they didn't go in for a big hour long finale like most popular shows do these days. However, even though it was the final episode (and they knew it) it seemed more like a regular episode. So based on that, I've put this episode in the list. There was no finale plot to the episode. I really wanted to see someone move away or make some life changing decision.

Sliders - By this point, only Rembrandt was left from the original cast. Their timer was broken, so they couldn't slide to another world. A seer, who had predicted all of the past events (such as Arturo being killed) predicted that the next slide would bring instant death. The sliders found a way to open up a wormhole, but it was damaged. Only one person could slide through it. Rembrandt said his goodbyes to everyone and jumped into the vortex, headed for his home world (which was invaded by the evil ape-like race, Kromaggs). After he slide, the seer died of a heart attack so they don't know what happened to Rembrandt and neither do we. There was talk about a reunion movie, but nothing has happened and the show ended in 2000.

Ellen - (In a Way) - It's a funny episode, but it's more like a funny special. It's not a regular episode with the group, but a fake look back at Ellen's career. Going back to her vaudeville act in the 1920's to her sitcom "Ellen" beginning in like 1959 to the present day where she had come out as a lesbian. Like I say, it's a funny, funny episode. However, it wasn't an episode with the characters that much. Of course, by the fifth season, I can't picture what the finale could have been about. All the big things in Ellen's life have already happened (she's gay, she left the apartment for a home, she left Buy the Book, she got a girlfriend).

[Adamantium]

As for the "Seinfeld" finale. I think it sounded good. The idea of ALL the past guest stars coming back and putting the four characters on trial and then sending them all to jail. It sounds great. But I think it just might have been a bit too big for this show about nothing. Nonetheless, I liked the episode and was surprised to hear all the negative response the next day and on.

I remember one kid at school said "They should have killed them all off. That would have made it a real finale."

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by TVAdam

I agree with HUNG UP. A series finale should be the end of the story. If the characters all stay together, then I know there are more stories to tell that I'm gonna miss out on.

exactly, I think this is a reason why a lot of people are still crossing their fingers for Cheers (okay, Frasier had left, but it's not as if Sam had decided to close the bar) and Seinfeld (since the four of them ended up in prison together) to come back, because the way those shows ended, it was in a way that there was still the door open to other episodes. Hell, from the day after Sex And The City's last episode aired, people have been asking Sarah Jessica Parker to do a reunion, because the show ended in such a way that there could be more episodes if they ever decide they want to do it.

Who knows that maybe Dorothy became a widow and she, Rose, Blanche and Sophia moved back together, but the way the show ended was great, having Dorothy move increased the emotional factor for the ending, similar to the last episode of Family Ties, do you think Alex leaving would've been quite as sad if he was just moving out of the house and getting an apartment 10 minutes away? no... but Alex accepting a job offer in NYC and moving definately gave the show closure.

[mstewart]

Cheers - Sam and Diane should had married.

Alice - Alice and Travis should had married as well as she finally reached her dream of becoming a singer.

Sanford and Son - NBC knew that the 1976-77 season was going to be the last one and they should had either Fred and Donna marrying off as well as Lamont getting back together with Janet and getting married. Lamont and Janet was a good couple and the chemistry between them was there.

The Cosby Show - It looked more like a regular episode. Cosby should had let go of his personal issue with Lisa Bonet and let her come back for the finale.

Three's Company - It would had been nice if the show could had put their personal issues with Suzanne Somers aside and let her come back for one last time to see Janet married Philip (only wishing it was Jack). The Roper's should had been invited back as well.

Bewitched - Since Liz Montgomery pulled the plug for the show it would had been nice to wrap up the show instead of the lame remake of a previous episode.

Family Ties - Was not impressed with the final episode.

Too Close for Comfort/The Ted Knight Show - They should had a finale paying tribute to Ted Knight. I knew the show would not been good if they tried to continue on without Ted Knight. There were reports that Nancy Dussault, Ted's TV wife Muriel Rush, wanted to do a show to pay tribute to Ted but the studio nixed the idea.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by mstewart

The Cosby Show - It looked more like a regular episode. Cosby should had let go of his personal issue with Lisa Bonet and let her come back for the finale.

well, Lisa might not have not wanted to reunited for the finale, she is the one who turned down offers to do the reunion on "Vibe" in 1997 and the 2002 special.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by mstewart

Cheers - Sam and Diane should had married.

Too Close for Comfort/The Ted Knight Show - They should had a finale paying tribute to Ted Knight. I knew the show would not been good if they tried to continue on without Ted Knight. There were reports that Nancy Dussault, Ted's TV wife Muriel Rush, wanted to do a show to pay tribute to Ted but the studio nixed the idea.

I think Cheers had a perfect finale. There were some indications of change (Frasier and Lilith separated and Woody going into politics), but by and large, it was business as usual. Even Sam Malone realized that marrying Diane would have been a big mistake. Whatever happened, he always had the bar.

As for The Ted Knight Show - by the time Ted Knight sadly and abruptly passed away, the show was in first-run syndication, which was a new thing for sitcoms at that time. All of the actors took pay cuts to continue the show, because they didn't have network money being thrown at them. Perhaps that's why they didn't do a tribute to Ted Knight. Just a guess.

[angelbluez]

Caroline in the City
Family Matters
The Cosby Show
Gimme A Break

[friendsfan77]

Originally Posted by TVAdam

Everybody Loves Raymond - First of all, it was a good episode. I liked that they didn't go in for a big hour long finale like most popular shows do these days. However, even though it was the final episode (and they knew it) it seemed more like a regular episode. So based on that, I've put this episode in the list. There was no finale plot to the episode. I really wanted to see someone move away or make some life changing decision.

Wasn't there an episode where Frank and Marie moved? If so, they should have saved that for the actual finale.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

Wasn't there an episode where Frank and Marie moved? If so, they should have saved that for the actual finale.

It was actually the final season's premiere. They moved to a retirement community and essentially gave their house to Robert & Amy. The fun part was when Frank and Marie returned and had to move in with newlyweds Robert & Amy.

I think the most disappointing coverage of a series finale was the one given to Frasier a couple of years back. It was going off the air the same time as Friends, which got all the magazine covers & TV coverage.

However, Frasier's finale was better written, touching and well-done, wheras the Friends finale was a disappointment. It wasn't terrible, but it could have been a lot better.

[treky]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It was actually the final season's premiere. They moved to a retirement community and essentially gave their house to Robert & Amy. The fun part was when Frank and Marie returned and had to move in with newlyweds Robert & Amy.

I think the most disappointing coverage of a series finale was the one given to Frasier a couple of years back. It was going off the air the same time as Friends, which got all the magazine covers & TV coverage.

However, Frasier's finale was better written, touching and well-done, wheras the Friends finale was a disappointment. It wasn't terrible, but it could have been a lot better.

speaking of "Frasier" I remember seeing Kelsey Grammar on with Jay Leno one night about a week or something, before the "Frasier" finale. He was talking about it, & saying that he was scheduled to be interviewed on the "Today" show. His publicist suggested, and he agreed, it would be good to also have on James Arness (Matt Dillion on "Gunsmoke") since he's the only other actor who played the same character for years, or something like that ("Gunsmoke" ran 20 years; Kelsey played Frasier for 9 years on "Cheers" then 11 years on "Frasier"). James Arness called and said he couldn't make it; but before he hung up he said "Oh, by the way, tell Kelsey Grammar ***** you!" (he was only kidding, of course!)

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by barwars

Actually, Frasier & Lilith were back together again by the series finale. Then somewhere between the events of the finale and the pilot of Frasier, they got divorced.

That's right. I now remember Frasier commenting on how he was going home to Lilith. I always liked them as a couple...comedy gold.

[comedyfreak]

Full House
Friends- Felt too rushed
Dallas
Dynasty

[snl 70s show fan]

Originally Posted by treky

1. MASH
2. Roseanne
3. The Mary Tyler Moore show (I know a LOT of people disagree about that one, but-hey-that's the way I feel about it. Sorry!)
4. Taxi

i thought i was the only on who felt that way about the mary tyler moore fiinale i thought it was a funny ep but nowhere near as good as some people say it was

[APPLEI]

Originally Posted by mstewart

Three's Company - It would had been nice if the show could had put their personal issues with Suzanne Somers aside and let her come back for one last time to see Janet married Philip (only wishing it was Jack). The Roper's should had been invited back as well.

i agree with that!
i would have loved to have seen suzanne somers and the ropers at janet and philips wedding.

but as far as the worst final for a tv series ROSEANNE.
a terrible final episode for a terrible final season.

[friendsfan77]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

It's a shame viewers didn' t see them go Central Perk for the Last Time

On an NBC special they said they were going to have a Central Perk scene at the very end but the writers couldnt come up with anything.