TV shows that should be canceled (MSNBC)

[Brian Damage]

ABC
“Lost”
Let’s be honest: The only reason to watch “Lost” any more is to see how it ends, so let’s just end it now and then we can all relax. The show’s producers recently said they were talking to ABC about planning a firm end date for the show, which would help the show’s writers avoid having to create newer and more banal, pseudo-intellectual mysteries. Most importantly, the network needs to stop wasting the talents of its amazing, capable cast. This season, characters were ignored for weeks on end with no real payoff. It’s time for “Lost’s” castaways to find their way home, or not, just as long as they do something.

[Brian Damage]

“24”
Coming off its best season ever, “24” has had its worst season ever. The show has recycled plot lines, and has most recently shifted 180 degrees, dropping one plot and picking up another, which is almost as implausible as all that’s come before it. Worse, Jack Bauer has been more absent than usual this year — and there’s not much left to do to him. Unless the writers can give the series a major reboot, focusing on something other than an impending terrorist attack in Los Angeles, it’s time to pull the batteries out of “24’s” clock.

[Brian Damage]

“The Simpsons”
Saying it’s time for Fox to cancel “The Simpsons” is nothing new; some fans of the show have been suggesting that since the show turned 10 in the late 1990s. Even the show’s cast members, the actors who provide the characters’ voices, have criticized its quality. But the real mark that it’s time for the show to go is that other series have taken its place. Fox’s “Family Guy,” which borrows heavily from “The Simpsons,” speaks more clearly to its audience with witty references and offers zanier, more engaging plots; “South Park” offers instant social satire and commentary. The two shows have followed “The Simpsons’” lead and improved on it. With a full-length feature coming to theaters this summer, now is the perfect time to cancel the aging original.

[Brian Damage]

“ER”
Along with ABC’s “The Bachelor,” “ER” is one of those shows that prompts people to ask, “That show’s still on the air?” Now in its 13th season, the show lost its longest running cast member when Dr. Weaver, played by Laura Innes (who joined the show in season 2), left earlier this season. It is literally not the same show it was when it began, launching the careers of George Clooney and others. Now, “Grey’s Anatomy” has one-upped the show in terms of soap-opera drama, while “CSI” and other procedural shows have done a better job with grossing us out and teaching us in the process. “ER” is just DOA.

[Brian Damage]

“CSI: New York”
One of the three “CSIs” needs to go. CBS greedily cloned its groundbreaking procedural drama not once (Miami) but twice (New York), and diluted its franchise in the process. The Miami version has the still-insufferable David Caruso, while the New York version doesn’t have much to hold on to. And the Las Vegas version has slowly drifted from its original focus on crime solving alone in exchange for an increasing focus on characters’ personal lives. Of these, the New York version seems to be the one that most deserves to be axed, since it has the lowest ratings of the three and the most disposable characters.

[comedyfreak]

I hate to say it myself, but I think it's time for According To Jim to end also. We've already seen shows featuring an adult Kyle.

[Sal]

Here's a few others you might want to add to your list, featured in an article from last Sunday's edition of the Toronto Sun.

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Top 5 Desperate & Lost TV shows

These shows have veered off track - should they be fixed or forgotten?

By KEVIN WILLIAMSON - Sun Media



Committing yourself to a TV series is, I imagine, a lot like having a child.

(That this comparison seems perfectly logical to me explains, as much as anything, why I'm blissfully offspring-free.)

You watch it grow, crawl, stumble and finally walk. You see it mature and develop and realize some of the potential you always suspected it had.

And then, just when you think things are going swimmingly, one day it comes home, tells you it got its girlfriend pregnant and, by the way, doesn't see anything wrong with a career spent as a greeter at Wal-Mart.

Similarly, watching a beloved show go terribly astray isn't easy either.

Case in point: the following are five faltering TV show favourites we'd love to see catch a second wind. Read on and remember that unlike children, you can always find yourself a shiny new series to replace the old one without fear of Social Services or criminal charges.


24

What's wrong: Television's most riveting drama has been victimized by its own success. The writers have buckled under the pressure by rehashing what has come before.

For instance, someone close to Jack, a father or mentor, is involved in the conspiracy of the day. Or the president faces a coup from within, etc.

What we'd do: Even when the plot is lagging, Kiefer Sutherland makes for a gratifying sadistic anti-hero. Our solution? Extract Bauer from Los Angeles -- away from CTU -- and drop him into a fresh, foreign arena.

LAW & ORDER

What's wrong: After literally thousands of hours of episodes -- if you include Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent -- L&O fatigue has finally set in to the bones, with the show languishing in the ratings basement of Friday night.

What we'd do: Scrap the spin-offs and concentrate on making one weekly hour of L&O truly must-see TV.

SCRUBS

What's wrong: Whimsy can wear thin, and Scrubs, now in its sixth season, has lost much of the novelity it enjoyed in its earlier seasons. Still, this is one of those shows that, bounced around mercilessly by NBC, always has been unappreciated.

What we'd do: How about move the show to another network for a final, seventh season? It's a distinct possibility now that star Zach Braff has been locked for Season 7 and ABC, desperate to embolden its stable of comedies, plans to snap it up if NBC decides not to bring it back this fall.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

What's wrong: After a white-hot first season in which Housewives became a phenomenon, it went off the rails in its second year and, despite gaining creatively in its current third season, never recovered its pop-culture mojo.

What we'd do: Teri Hatcher and Co. have jumped the shark -- something no amount of face-lifts nor scripting nips and tucks will correct. Yank the plug already.

LOST

What's wrong: Too many questions, too few answers, inconsistent characters, redundant flashbacks and the now-undeniable realization they are making this up as they go along.

What we'd do: Enough with the piling-up mysteries. If Desmond can see the future, why can't he see no one cares whether Charlie dies? And enough with the narrative inertia. The writers have an annoying habit of seemingly adding depth to characters, only to then hit the reset button. In other words, DO something already.

[Ireneparalegal]

The characters on LOST don't lose weight.

[PrettyinPink55]

24??? I thought that show was doing great?

[catlover79]

It's been an amazing run, but it is truly time to put L&O to rest. IMHO, the heart and soul was knocked out of the franchise with the departure (though he was going to star in the upcoming spinoff) and later passing of Jerry Orbach. Plus, all the shows have a billion episodes combined. With syndication and DVDs (and no songs, so they don't need to worry about licensing), L&O will continue to make billions and billions of dollars for years to come.

ER should have been cancelled years ago. It's all about shock value and violence. I hope never to be a patient at that hospital!!

The Simpsons has been on since 1989, when I was 10 and in 4th grade. Like L&O, it will continue to generate billions in revenue for years and years to come.

Frankly, I'm surprised that these shows have lasted so long!!

[Wings#1ShowPeriod]

I dont agree with the notion that CSI:NY should be canceled, in terms of watchability its beats Miami by miles.. and each season continues to get better.

[Buffyboy323]

Someone needs to remove ER and Lost from those lists. UGH...

*ER is a show that can go on forever, if they play their cards right. And so far, they have been. Seasons 10 and 11 were weak points for the show, where as the first 9 seasons were amazing and flawless (some shows can't even go through 3 flawless seasons *coughs*, Greys Anatomy), but it definately has made a comeback. One of the absolute best, and one of the most successful series in television history. For a show to not leave the top 30 in the ratings for 13 years straight is a great achievement. And not to mention that it`s tied with Cheers as the show that has won more awards than ANY other show, including 117 Emmys!!!. Next year is scheduled to be the last season It sure will be bittersweet, especially with the returns of Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, and Goran Visjic. I can't wait.

*LOST is the best show on tv, IMO. If it`s too complex for people to watch, or they can't wait for answers, they need to just change the channel and stop complaining about it.

*I also don't agree about Law & Order. SVU is the one that should remain on the air, and the others should be let go.

*I don't know about the other shows, since I don't watch any of them.....with the exception of Desperate Housewives. This show used to be great, appointment tv. Now it`s more like must cancel tv! I agree that it hasn't been the same since the 1st season, and it hasn't recovered in 2 years, and most likely won't in the future. Axe this crap and give Marcia Cross her own show!

[Chelsea]

I finally started re-watching ER this season. When I was last watching, Luka and Abby were still the "new folks", now they're the two most senior cast members.

You know, I think I might actually try to type up an article/comment on this later, when I have more time and energy. This is something I really want to discuss.

[waichingliu81]

the simpsons- has become more stale in recent years
ER- one word: boring
scrubs- not that funny anymore
lost- i have never watched this show and never bought into the hype

[friendsfan77]

As much as I love The Simpsons, IMO it's time for it to end.