agree or disagree: The penultimate season is usually the weakest?

[Dean Winchester]

I was reading an article about the final season of Scrubs, and the creator was talking about last season, saying that most long-running shows usually bottom out during the second to last season, with the last season being a bit better since they know the end is near and work harder at it. When I come to think about it, there is a lot of truth to it.

Some shows I agree with the creator of Scrubs on: (6 or more season shows)
Sex And The City (season 5 was also cut really short to accomidate SJP's pregnancy, but for the eight episodes we got, the show seemed like it was forcing itself to be hip again)
Friends (I loved TOW The Sharks, but that was about it for season 9)
Seinfeld (season 8 was still excellent, but I do think it was the most lacking season)
Diff'rent Strokes (neither 7 or 8 were that hot, but season 8 was more watchable IMO)
Good Times (Esther Rolle wasn't even in season 5, doesn't that say all you need to know?)
The Golden Girls (while I love the entire run, I do think season 6 was the show feeling somewhat tired, and there were way too many episodes with Miles)
Charmed (the last two seasons were both pretty bad, but season 8 at least felt like the show was trying again, season 7 was complete autopilot)
Family Ties (I love Courteney Cox but there was too much of her in season 6, season 7 knew the end was near and the quality picked up big time once more)
The Cosby Show (the show went to hell in season 7 with the addition of Cousin Pam and with the loss of Denise and with Vanessa only appearing in maybe four episodes, season 8 wasn't exactly the best but it felt like The Cosby Show again for the most part and was a somewhat decent sendoff season)
Melrose Place (3/4 of the original cast vacated by the end of the previous season and none of the new characters stuck in season 6, but the final season had more of the feel of what Melrose was supposed to be)

Shows I disagree with:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (I thought season 6 was a high point of the show and was as good as seasons 2 and 3)
The Facts Of Life (I thought Cloris gave the show an energy boost and probably gave the show the strength to go one year longer than it would've otherwise)
Roseanne (Season 8 wasn't the best, but it was a strong rebound from the weak season 7)

[friendsfan77]

As for The Facts of Life, I kinda prefer Mrs. Garrett more over Beverly Ann, however, it was fun seeing the girls be grown up and independent. That part was really enjoyable.

Friends -- I only liked one episode from season 9... that was the Thanksgiving show. I remember being disappointed for pretty much that entire season, especially the premiere.

[waichingliu81]

it varies with different shows, the longer they last, the more likely there will be a series finale to wrap things up. however, it has been proven with many shows that the last season tends to be something of a letdown. they aren't as good as the earlier seasons, the standard of writing has deteriorated and thus all the great qualities and things that made it worth watching in the first place, are non-existent and virtually gone

[Dr. John Becker]

I think Cheers was a good example of this. Season 10 was the weakest, IMO but Season 11 was much better.

[EmoJoe]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

Charmed (the last two seasons were both pretty bad, but season 8 at least felt like the show was trying again, season 7 was complete autopilot)

actually, i disagree, i thought Season 7 was decent while Season 8 was a complete waste of time, save the finale.

anyway, i think a lot of times, that holds true. in Whos the Boss, Season 7 was terrible, but Season 8 was a little better because Tony and Angela started dating. the same for Boy Meets World, Season 6 was boring and had no really good plotlines, but Season 7 is IMO one of the show's best.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by Joe®

actually, i disagree, i thought Season 7 was decent while Season 8 was a complete waste of time, save the finale.

Yes, I hated the addition of Billie. Nothing against Kaley Cuoco but she just wasn't a good fit for that program. The last few episodes were better than all of 7 and 8 to that point put together though IMO. I just wished that Shannen would've come back for a one time appearence, enough time had elapsed that I think they would've been "ready" to see Prue again, and then the ultimate slap in the face was at the end when Prue's picture wasn't even on the wall

[Buffyboy323]

I agree about Boy Meets World, Friends, Sex and The City, Diff'rent Strokes, Charmed, and Melrose Place.

All In The Family (Season 8, though still a great show, was one of the weakest years they did. The 9th season was a breath of fresh air).

Family Matters (The 8th season wasn't too good, but I really enjoyed the 9th. Laura's crush on Steve was great, and something they should have done 2 years earlier).

Dawson's Creek (The 5th season was the weakest, while the 6th and final season was one of the best).

Shows that didn't have 6 seasons:

Alias (Thanks to the brilliant heads at ABC, almost all of the first half of season 4 was self contained. The show wasn't designed to be that way. The second half of season 4 was well done, but the 5th season was twice as good).

The OC (I don't think so, but almost any OC fan and critic will tell you that season 3 was the worst and season 4 was the best).

[catlover79]

Bewitched is one show that could've called it quits after Season 5, when Dick York became incapacitated. Not only did Elizabeth Montgomery have no chemistry with Dick Sargent, but the storylines had already been done to death and was stale.

Roseanne, Home Improvement, Mad About You and Family Matters all should have ended 1-2 seasons before they did. Especially Roseanne - that final seasons was PURE PAIN!!