How Do You Prefer Your TV Show Finales? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-01-2011, 01:31 AM

Do you like when a show ends things like having a character move away and makes it seem "final" like The Mary Tyler Moore Show or do you like your finale's to be open ended like say Cheers or Frasier where things don't really drastically change at all.

How do you like to see your favorite shows end?

icecream · 04-01-2011, 02:11 AM

That's news to me. Things definitely changed on the Frasier finale.

old grouch · 04-01-2011, 11:35 AM

Either way, as long as there is some kind of interesting plot twist, like on 'Newhart' where it was all a dream.

James · 04-01-2011, 01:16 PM

I prefer where things don't actually change at all (I hate change in general!), but I prefer it be done with closure and no loose ends.

JamesG · 04-01-2011, 01:45 PM

I really don't like open or ambiguous finales, where it's up to the viewers to guess what happens next.

I want there to be definite closure.

Adamantium · 04-01-2011, 06:40 PM

I want characters to leave and there to be goodbye scenes between them.

Two of my favorite finales are "Boy Meets World" and "Wings." They both had characters up and leaving, which lead to classic goodbye scenes.

Retro4Life · 04-01-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I really don't like open or ambiguous finales, where it's up to the viewers to guess what happens next.

I want there to be definite closure.

Me, too.

I also have to say I prefer positive endings. Not "everybody lived happily ever after" necessarily, where there's no conflict or sacrifice to be made for the happiness, but after several years of caring about characters I want to see them end up in a good place. Watching a show that ends with characters dead or miserable is a huge downer for me, and kind of a kick in the groin from the creators to the viewers.

waichingliu81 · 04-08-2011, 02:24 PM

i prefer them with all loose ends tied up with storylines resolved and a happy ending for the main characters.

it's annoying and may i add infuriating when a show gets cancelled because of flagging ratings and yet we don't get a conclusion to the series. you've watched it from the beginning, you've grown accustomed to and know the characters so well and you want something in the end that says this is what they deserve.

many sitcoms don't get that sadly.

McGillicuddy · 04-08-2011, 04:04 PM

I like when castmembers that had left the show in previous seasons return to be part of the finale, like Rhoda and Phyllis, on TMTMS. They were even included in the final curtain call.

And as far as "final" vs. "open-ended", I guess I prefer finality, though I guess it depends on the series. With M.A.S.H., of course it ended with the end of the war, and a tearful farewell. The nice thing about Cheers open ending, was that the could have (or still could) easily have a scripted reunion special.

Classicshowsgurl15 · 04-08-2011, 04:12 PM

I like them to have closure and know that the characters are going to be okay.

catlover79 · 04-08-2011, 04:28 PM

I prefer all the loose ends being tied up and having a REAL finale, aka TMTMS, Barney Miller, and the series finale of all series finales, Newhart!!!!!

04-01-2011, 01:31 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	How Do You Prefer Your TV Show Finales? Do you like when a show ends things like having a character move away and makes it seem "final" like The Mary Tyler Moore Show or do you like your finale's to be open ended like say Cheers or Frasier where things don't really drastically change at all. How do you like to see your favorite shows end?
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04-01-2011, 02:11 AM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,689	That's news to me. Things definitely changed on the Frasier finale.
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04-08-2011, 04:12 PM	#10
Classicshowsgurl15 Happy Days Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,088	I like them to have closure and know that the characters are going to be okay.
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04-08-2011, 04:28 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I prefer all the loose ends being tied up and having a REAL finale, aka TMTMS, Barney Miller, and the series finale of all series finales, Newhart!!!!!
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04-01-2011, 11:35 AM	#3
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Either way, as long as there is some kind of interesting plot twist, like on 'Newhart' where it was all a dream.

04-01-2011, 01:16 PM	#4
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I prefer where things don't actually change at all (I hate change in general!), but I prefer it be done with closure and no loose ends.

04-01-2011, 01:45 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	I really don't like open or ambiguous finales, where it's up to the viewers to guess what happens next. I want there to be definite closure.

04-01-2011, 06:40 PM	#6
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,825	I want characters to leave and there to be goodbye scenes between them. Two of my favorite finales are "Boy Meets World" and "Wings." They both had characters up and leaving, which lead to classic goodbye scenes.

04-08-2011, 02:24 PM	#8
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	i prefer them with all loose ends tied up with storylines resolved and a happy ending for the main characters. it's annoying and may i add infuriating when a show gets cancelled because of flagging ratings and yet we don't get a conclusion to the series. you've watched it from the beginning, you've grown accustomed to and know the characters so well and you want something in the end that says this is what they deserve. many sitcoms don't get that sadly.

04-08-2011, 04:04 PM	#9
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I like when castmembers that had left the show in previous seasons return to be part of the finale, like Rhoda and Phyllis, on TMTMS. They were even included in the final curtain call. And as far as "final" vs. "open-ended", I guess I prefer finality, though I guess it depends on the series. With M.A.S.H., of course it ended with the end of the war, and a tearful farewell. The nice thing about Cheers open ending, was that the could have (or still could) easily have a scripted reunion special.