What was the First Series to Have an Actual Series Finale? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 05-08-2004, 04:31 PM

I know The Odd Couple ended in 1975 with "Felix Remarries." I can't think of any earlier sitcom where they knew it was the last episode and had a plot to end the series.

Does anyone know of any earlier sitcom that had a final episode plot?

I know The Fugitive had a big finale, but I'm talking about sitcoms. I know I used the word "Series" in the title, but it was a mistake.

barwars · 05-08-2004, 04:36 PM

The Dick Van Dyke Show did with Rob starting to write a TV show about his life.

Adamantium · 05-08-2004, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
The Dick Van Dyke Show did with Rob starting to write a TV show about his life.

I thought about that one, but I believe it's the second to last episode. I suppose it would still count in a way, I just wish that were the final episode.

barwars · 05-08-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
I thought about that one, but I believe it's the second to last episode. I suppose it would still count in a way, I just wish that were the final episode.

it is the finale.
the show was always intended to run for 5 seasons.... and thats how it ends.

barwars · 05-08-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
it is the finale.
the show was always intended to run for 5 seasons.... and thats how it ends.

5 Seasons.... most shows are their best in the first 5 seasons.

First 5 seasons of The Andy Griffith Show -- Don Knotts was there and he WAS the show.

First 5 seasons of The Dick Van Dyke Show -- never had a chance to jump, it was perfect & unchanged throughout the entire run

First 5 seasons of Frasier -- won Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series EVERY year

First 5 season of Cheers -- the Diane years (arguably the best)

First 5 seasons of The Cosby Show -- unanimously(sp?) the best.

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 05:40 PM

I never got the impression that that Dick Van Dyke episode with the Gunslinger was meant to wrap everything up the way that series finales do today, but I could be mistaken.

I can't think of any sitcom before Odd Couple that had the kind of series finale that we know of today. One reason is that the old shows usually had stand alone episodes that except for perhaps a character having a baby or a marriage could be broadcast in random order within a given season. Therefore, when they ended they just ended. No one was too concerned about viewers looking at reruns years later in syndication and following story arcs etc.

As for the 5 year theory it is my understanding that most people who sign on to do tv shows sign 5 year contracts, meaning that this is considered the average lifespan of a successful show. If the show runs longer the stars can renegotiate for huge sums of money and the behind the scenes issues very often affect for the worse what ends up on screen. I can't think of anything that ran more than 5 years that was actually superior in its later years than it was in its first 5, though some hold up pretty well after 5.

Dean Winchester · 05-08-2004, 06:42 PM

didn't Andy Griffith get married and leave Mayberry on the final Andy Griffith?

barwars · 05-08-2004, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
didn't Andy Griffith get married and leave Mayberry on the final Andy Griffith?

Im not sure, The Andy Griffith Show is unwatchable once Don Knotts leaves IMO.

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
didn't Andy Griffith get married and leave Mayberry on the final Andy Griffith?

Actually Andy married in the first episode of Mayberry RFD. He even showed up in about 6 episodes of that spinoff. Don Knotts was in the wedding episode too and considering that Ken Berry was in a few AGS episodes it is like the two shows were seemlessly linked together.

Mr. Television · 05-08-2004, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
didn't Andy Griffith get married and leave Mayberry on the final Andy Griffith?

They got married but it wasn't on the Andy Griffith Show. They got married on the first episode of Mayberry RFD.

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
Im not sure, The Andy Griffith Show is unwatchable once Don Knotts leaves IMO.

This was never my favorite series, but it's true. The color episodes are good to put on if you're having trouble sleeping.

As a child I don't ever recall the color episodes even being syndicated. When I saw one I was surprised. When I actually sat down and watched one straight through I coudn't understand how this could have ran 3 whole years more and even be the top rated show in its last season. It is incredibly BORING. Don Knotts rules.

Dean Winchester · 05-08-2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
This was never my favorite series, but it's true. The color episodes are good to put on if you're having trouble sleeping.

As a child I don't ever recall the color episodes even being syndicated. When I saw one I was surprised. When I actually sat down and watched one straight through I coudn't understand how this could have ran 3 whole years more and even be the top rated show in its last season. It is incredibly BORING. Don Knotts rules.

Andy Griffith was probably considered "comfort food" in the latter seasons, since that was around the time the Vietnam war started, etc... I know after 9-11, shows like Friends and Raymond improved on the previous seasons ratings because they had become "Comfort Food"

barwars · 05-08-2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
This was never my favorite series, but it's true. The color episodes are good to put on if you're having trouble sleeping.

As a child I don't ever recall the color episodes even being syndicated. When I saw one I was surprised. When I actually sat down and watched one straight through I coudn't understand how this could have ran 3 whole years more and even be the top rated show in its last season. It is incredibly BORING. Don Knotts rules.

I agree, Don Knotts made the show.
The side characters were enjoyable, but he was the only part of the core cast (Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, and Barney) that had really any comedy in him.

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
Andy Griffith was probably considered "comfort food" in the latter seasons, since that was around the time the Vietnam war started, etc... I know after 9-11, shows like Friends and Raymond improved on the previous seasons ratings because they had become "Comfort Food"

You're not the first to have come to this conclusion and I think you're dead on correct! After seeing Vietnam, civil rights marches and the hippies on the nightly news people probably wanted to escape into AGS and shows like it. In the late 60s virtually all the sitcoms were escapist humor.

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
I agree, Don Knotts made the show.
The side characters were enjoyable, but he was the only part of the core cast (Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, and Barney) that had really any comedy in him.

Your right. Don Knotts was naturally funny and sharply in contrast with the others. Actually I saw the Danny Thomas Show episode that spun off AGS and they toned Andy down for the series. He was portrayed as being very wily and conniving in the pilot and Don Knotts wasn't in it.

05-08-2004, 04:31 PM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	What was the First Sitcom to Have an Actual Series Finale? I know The Odd Couple ended in 1975 with "Felix Remarries." I can't think of any earlier sitcom where they knew it was the last episode and had a plot to end the series. Does anyone know of any earlier sitcom that had a final episode plot? I know The Fugitive had a big finale, but I'm talking about sitcoms. I know I used the word "Series" in the title, but it was a mistake.

05-08-2004, 04:36 PM	#2
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	The Dick Van Dyke Show did with Rob starting to write a TV show about his life.

05-08-2004, 05:40 PM	#6
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I never got the impression that that Dick Van Dyke episode with the Gunslinger was meant to wrap everything up the way that series finales do today, but I could be mistaken. I can't think of any sitcom before Odd Couple that had the kind of series finale that we know of today. One reason is that the old shows usually had stand alone episodes that except for perhaps a character having a baby or a marriage could be broadcast in random order within a given season. Therefore, when they ended they just ended. No one was too concerned about viewers looking at reruns years later in syndication and following story arcs etc. As for the 5 year theory it is my understanding that most people who sign on to do tv shows sign 5 year contracts, meaning that this is considered the average lifespan of a successful show. If the show runs longer the stars can renegotiate for huge sums of money and the behind the scenes issues very often affect for the worse what ends up on screen. I can't think of anything that ran more than 5 years that was actually superior in its later years than it was in its first 5, though some hold up pretty well after 5.

05-08-2004, 06:42 PM	#7
Dean Winchester Member Forum Star Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	didn't Andy Griffith get married and leave Mayberry on the final Andy Griffith?