Shows that ran too long - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JohnMcMillin · 02-26-2001, 04:12 AM

there've been many threads about sitcoms that were cancelled before given the chance to shine, ok. So what about the shows (mainly sitcoms) that ran past their expiration date?

JohnMcMillin · 02-26-2001, 04:21 AM

Married With Children (by about 4 seasons)

Murphy Brown (was the hippest show during the Bush Sr. administration, but the show dropped big-time around 93-94, and never recovered, yet ran until 1998)

Roseanne (last 2 seasons hurt the shows image immensely)

Third Rock From The Sun (is going off in May, should've gone off 3 years ago)

Happy Days (was a great show, should've "spun off" to another show ala All In The Family/Archie Bunkers Place when Richie and Ralph left in 1980 instead of retaining the Happy Days moniker)

Cosby Show (this show either went off too soon or went off too late depending on the person. The show should've gone out in style before they added Cousin Pam. Nobody liked her, and she killed the ratings and everything)

Beverly Hills 90210 (you knew the show was on a little too long when the main characters were old enough to have kids who could've played high school students like they were at first)

Dallas and Knots Landing.... both shows dropped off the radar around 85-86, Dallas ran until 91, and Knots Landing didn't go off until 93.

Family Matters (Urkel was in his 20's when the show went off, 'nuff said)

there are exceptions. Cheers, Golden Girls, Mash, Facts Of Life (sorry, Beverly Ann's episodes were so underrated) and Seinfeld among others went off at the right time as opposed to either cutting off at it's peak or going off after the show had become a shadow of it's former self.

TJ · 02-26-2001, 06:37 AM

All in the Family should have definitely ended and not gone on to Archie Bunker's Place - I almost feels it tarnishes AITF's image a bit.

Alice probably went on a few extra seasons that it should have.

The Facts of Life probably should have ended with a true finale at the end of season 8. I liked Beverly Ann but they should have brought her in earlier if they thought Charlotte Rae was ready to leave.

although not a sitcom, Little House on the Prairie went on a season or two long..

Laverne & Shirley probably didn't need that last Shirley-less season.

I'd give up the last season of Diff'rent Strokes if they were given a good 2 part series finale on NBC..

factsoflife · 02-26-2001, 07:33 PM

i think that fraser has been on a bit to long..

full house was on about five years to long.. i think this show should have ended before the olsen twins went through puberty.

fresh prince of bel air was on way too long.

moesha.. she should've went away in about 1997.

the simpsons.. should have been cancled years ago.

JohnMcMillin · 02-26-2001, 09:36 PM

TJ, I agree about both Facts and Diff'rent Strokes.

I liked the last season, but the final episode of season eight had a much better "final episode" feel than the final episode we got.

With Diff'rent Strokes, I don't remember the final season much, but I do feel like they should've let it go out with a bang instead of giving ABC the rights and treating the show like crap and killing it.

Cokies · 02-26-2001, 10:31 PM

I agree with TJ and John about the final episode of season eight of the 'facts' would of been just fine as a series finale.
And Seinfeld ended right where it should have.

------------------
"It was just like Saturday Night Fever, only it was a Friday."

Brett Ferino · 02-27-2001, 05:15 PM

Night Court was on too long. I think probobly the show should have been cancelled in 1989 when Rhinehold Weege left the show. Because a show should be cancelled if a producer leaves...

cp · 02-27-2001, 05:17 PM

Archie Bunkers Place should never of been cancelled. It could of ran throughout the 80s into the 90s. They could of gotten back to more All in the Family type episodes maybe even get Gloria back to do some episodes. Perhaps Archie could of remarried again.

cp · 02-27-2001, 05:19 PM

Thw Waltons seris was over when John Walton left the seris in the last season. Just didnt seem the same anymore.

The Married with Children spinoff "Top of the Heap" should of ended after the first episode.
MWC should of ended in the 4th season.

[This message has been edited by cp (edited 02-27-2001).]

03-05-2001, 05:06 PM

Family Matters - Since when does a normal, run of the mill family sitcom turn into a show about a nerd who invents crazy things? They might as well have just cancelled Family Matters after about two seasons, and given Urkel his own Saturday Morning cartoon where he could clone himself, alter his personality at will, and travel through time.

Full House - The episode where Stephanie drove a car into the kitchen may have been the low point in tv sitcom history. I actually considered selling my tv after seeing that garbage. Needless to say, this show should have never gone into produciton.

Baywatch - It's not a sitcom, well some people probably watch it to laugh at it, but it needs to end. You know a show is utter crap when the most creative thing the writers have done in the past 10 years is move the cast to Hawaii and give them yellow swimsuits instead of red swimsuits. Are they just hanging around to do another "special" episode about midgets? Just tape an episode from a Pamela Anderson season, and you've seen all you really need see from this show.

Night Court - The last season was hideous. Dan going soft and guest appearances by Gilbert Goddfried left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Gimme a Break - The New York episodes were boring, and really not needed. Once Dolph died, they probably should have just ended it.

Designing Women - It was a good show at first, but once Delta left, the show was just became unwatchable, even before all the other cast changes.

Roseanne - This show definitely lasted a couple of years too long.

Home Improvement - Never liked this show, and never found it funny.

JohnMcMillin · 03-06-2001, 02:37 AM

I totally agree about Family Matters, I enjoyed the first season best, in which Urkel wasn't even in 75% of the episodes. How many times did they have "Stefan Urquelle" come out? the first time it was funny, but when 90% of the episodes had that junk...

factsoflife · 03-06-2001, 03:20 PM

another show that lasted way to long.. Melrose place. The first season was crap.. but the last season was even worse.

Chocoholic · 04-20-2001, 08:17 PM

Wings should have ended after Joe and Helen's wedding. I still love it though.

factsoflife · 04-20-2001, 08:45 PM

Even one season of suddenly suasan was too long... Party of five should have been canned in like season three or four, not seven. I thin Seventh heaven has been on WAY to long. and to this day it still urkes me that chicago hope lasted as long as it did.

factsoflife · 04-20-2001, 08:46 PM

I think it is time for Oprah to retire, her show is so boring and reduntant now, as well as Jerry springer and jenny jones and ricki lake.

02-26-2001, 04:12 AM	#1
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	Shows that ran too long there've been many threads about sitcoms that were cancelled before given the chance to shine, ok. So what about the shows (mainly sitcoms) that ran past their expiration date?

03-05-2001, 05:06 PM	#10
Landofrapeandhoney Guest Posts: n/a	Family Matters - Since when does a normal, run of the mill family sitcom turn into a show about a nerd who invents crazy things? They might as well have just cancelled Family Matters after about two seasons, and given Urkel his own Saturday Morning cartoon where he could clone himself, alter his personality at will, and travel through time. Full House - The episode where Stephanie drove a car into the kitchen may have been the low point in tv sitcom history. I actually considered selling my tv after seeing that garbage. Needless to say, this show should have never gone into produciton. Baywatch - It's not a sitcom, well some people probably watch it to laugh at it, but it needs to end. You know a show is utter crap when the most creative thing the writers have done in the past 10 years is move the cast to Hawaii and give them yellow swimsuits instead of red swimsuits. Are they just hanging around to do another "special" episode about midgets? Just tape an episode from a Pamela Anderson season, and you've seen all you really need see from this show. Night Court - The last season was hideous. Dan going soft and guest appearances by Gilbert Goddfried left a really bad taste in my mouth. Gimme a Break - The New York episodes were boring, and really not needed. Once Dolph died, they probably should have just ended it. Designing Women - It was a good show at first, but once Delta left, the show was just became unwatchable, even before all the other cast changes. Roseanne - This show definitely lasted a couple of years too long. Home Improvement - Never liked this show, and never found it funny.
Landofrapeandhoney Guest Posts: n/a

02-26-2001, 04:21 AM	#2
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	Married With Children (by about 4 seasons) Murphy Brown (was the hippest show during the Bush Sr. administration, but the show dropped big-time around 93-94, and never recovered, yet ran until 1998) Roseanne (last 2 seasons hurt the shows image immensely) Third Rock From The Sun (is going off in May, should've gone off 3 years ago) Happy Days (was a great show, should've "spun off" to another show ala All In The Family/Archie Bunkers Place when Richie and Ralph left in 1980 instead of retaining the Happy Days moniker) Cosby Show (this show either went off too soon or went off too late depending on the person. The show should've gone out in style before they added Cousin Pam. Nobody liked her, and she killed the ratings and everything) Beverly Hills 90210 (you knew the show was on a little too long when the main characters were old enough to have kids who could've played high school students like they were at first) Dallas and Knots Landing.... both shows dropped off the radar around 85-86, Dallas ran until 91, and Knots Landing didn't go off until 93. Family Matters (Urkel was in his 20's when the show went off, 'nuff said) there are exceptions. Cheers, Golden Girls, Mash, Facts Of Life (sorry, Beverly Ann's episodes were so underrated) and Seinfeld among others went off at the right time as opposed to either cutting off at it's peak or going off after the show had become a shadow of it's former self.

02-26-2001, 06:37 AM	#3
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,656	All in the Family should have definitely ended and not gone on to Archie Bunker's Place - I almost feels it tarnishes AITF's image a bit. Alice probably went on a few extra seasons that it should have. The Facts of Life probably should have ended with a true finale at the end of season 8. I liked Beverly Ann but they should have brought her in earlier if they thought Charlotte Rae was ready to leave. although not a sitcom, Little House on the Prairie went on a season or two long.. Laverne & Shirley probably didn't need that last Shirley-less season. I'd give up the last season of Diff'rent Strokes if they were given a good 2 part series finale on NBC..

02-26-2001, 07:33 PM	#4
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	i think that fraser has been on a bit to long.. full house was on about five years to long.. i think this show should have ended before the olsen twins went through puberty. fresh prince of bel air was on way too long. moesha.. she should've went away in about 1997. the simpsons.. should have been cancled years ago.

02-26-2001, 09:36 PM	#5
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	TJ, I agree about both Facts and Diff'rent Strokes. I liked the last season, but the final episode of season eight had a much better "final episode" feel than the final episode we got. With Diff'rent Strokes, I don't remember the final season much, but I do feel like they should've let it go out with a bang instead of giving ABC the rights and treating the show like crap and killing it.

02-26-2001, 10:31 PM	#6
Cokies Head Goonie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2000 Location: Benicia, CA USA Posts: 1,719	I agree with TJ and John about the final episode of season eight of the 'facts' would of been just fine as a series finale. And Seinfeld ended right where it should have. ------------------ "It was just like Saturday Night Fever, only it was a Friday."

02-27-2001, 05:15 PM	#7
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	Night Court was on too long. I think probobly the show should have been cancelled in 1989 when Rhinehold Weege left the show. Because a show should be cancelled if a producer leaves...

02-27-2001, 05:17 PM	#8
cp Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 10, 2000 Location: MN Posts: 359	Archie Bunkers Place should never of been cancelled. It could of ran throughout the 80s into the 90s. They could of gotten back to more All in the Family type episodes maybe even get Gloria back to do some episodes. Perhaps Archie could of remarried again.

02-27-2001, 05:19 PM	#9
cp Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 10, 2000 Location: MN Posts: 359	Thw Waltons seris was over when John Walton left the seris in the last season. Just didnt seem the same anymore. The Married with Children spinoff "Top of the Heap" should of ended after the first episode. MWC should of ended in the 4th season. [This message has been edited by cp (edited 02-27-2001).]

03-06-2001, 02:37 AM	#11
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	I totally agree about Family Matters, I enjoyed the first season best, in which Urkel wasn't even in 75% of the episodes. How many times did they have "Stefan Urquelle" come out? the first time it was funny, but when 90% of the episodes had that junk...

03-06-2001, 03:20 PM	#12
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	another show that lasted way to long.. Melrose place. The first season was crap.. but the last season was even worse.

04-20-2001, 08:17 PM	#13
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Wings should have ended after Joe and Helen's wedding. I still love it though.

04-20-2001, 08:45 PM	#14
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	Even one season of suddenly suasan was too long... Party of five should have been canned in like season three or four, not seven. I thin Seventh heaven has been on WAY to long. and to this day it still urkes me that chicago hope lasted as long as it did.

04-20-2001, 08:46 PM	#15
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	I think it is time for Oprah to retire, her show is so boring and reduntant now, as well as Jerry springer and jenny jones and ricki lake.