# Any Tv shows start knowing exactly when they would end? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502 "2006-09-13T04:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/1 "2006-09-13T04:54:57Z")
Are there any tv shows, short of tv-miniseries, that start with a set number of shows? I’ve always wondered this. Did anyone ever start a tv series knowing exactly how many seasons it would last? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/2 "2006-09-13T05:10:11Z")
Babylon 5 ---
**Author:** ![2lazy2pee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/4bbf92/32.png) [@2lazy2pee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2lazy2pee)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/3 "2006-09-13T05:12:08Z")
That seems hard to do, unless the creators plan it from the start to only last one season. And I doubt any network would buy such a program. Most networks and producers hope for their shows to last at least 100 episodes, so there will be enough to syndicate and make a profit on. This would be around four seasons for those network shows that produce around 24 episodes a season. It could take longer for those cable shows that only produce about 13 or 14 episodes per season. Whether a show lasts beyond one season would largely have to do with ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/4 "2006-09-13T05:27:30Z")
Wasn’t “Desperate Housewives” written as a one-season show originally? ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/5 "2006-09-13T05:44:11Z")
Obviously, “24”. Of course those original twenty-four hours now span several seasons and twenty-four hour periods. ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/6 "2006-09-13T05:48:47Z")
“Lost”? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/7 "2006-09-13T05:53:29Z")
Telenovelas. If you get the other new network (not CW, but the other one) their two new shows “Desire” and “Fashion House” are telenovela style. They’re exactly so many episodes long, and then they will end. Possibly this season’s “Big Day” is only planned for 24 episodes (“24” but with Bridezilla instead of the Chinese government. And no Jack). It might not last 2. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/8 "2006-09-13T05:57:40Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] If you get the other new network (not CW, but the other one) [/QUOTE] [MyNetwork TV](http://www.mynetworktv.com/), consisting mostly of former UPN affiliates. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/9 "2006-09-13T07:14:22Z")
Babylon 5 was the big one mentioned already, originally envisioned as having 5 seasons, with the bones of the plot planned out ahead of time and the meat written on later. Lots of Anime series are produced with plots written to last one season (such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I tend to doubt was pitching for a second season). Can’t say that I can think of many American series written in this fashion though. How about you guys on the other side of the pond? ---
**Author:** ![Bobalude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bobalude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobalude)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/10 "2006-09-13T07:41:51Z")
A lot of Japanese TV series are produced to run a specific number of episodes (I’ve seen often 8-12 episodes for one story/plot) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/11 "2006-09-13T08:38:44Z")
[QUOTE=DataZak] “Lost”? [/QUOTE] No way. They’re going to milk that one for as long as they possibly can, until people get tired of it, and then it’ll end in a completely unsatisfying way, making millions feel like idiots for wasting all their time. (yet I still watch it) ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/12 "2006-09-13T11:26:07Z")
I think I heard that the creator of “the sopranos” felt that the storyline should only run for five seasons, no matter how much of a cash cow it was. (Has it gone longer at this point?) I’m not sure if that was a conviction held from the start, or figured out a few years in. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/13 "2006-09-13T11:39:17Z")
**The Prisoner** , back in the 1960s, only had a certain number of shows, and Patrick McGoohan knew how he wanted to end it. I think he’s still the only one who knows how it ends. It seems clear to me that the Zucker-Zucker-Abrahams show **Police Squad** was only intended to have a run of six shows. If nothing else, the running gag of listed _everyone_ who had ben sent to Stateville Prison in the previous episodes at the end of each one would have gotten way too long after more than six. I think they only felt confident of enough material for half a dozen shows (and could maybe onlty convince network execs of their ability to make that many), and didn’t try to push it. Of course, there’s no storty arc in that and no definite end, which is just as well, since it left the door open for the “Naked Gun” movies. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/14 "2006-09-13T11:58:18Z")
The UK series of “The Office” was only ever intended to have a max. of 2 series. The creators followed the example of “Fawlty Towers” which finished after 12 shows (two series) - and felt that it was always better to go out on top. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/15 "2006-09-13T12:32:55Z")
Wasn’t “Prison Break” suppose to run only one season. It’s called “Prison Break” so after they break out of prison, isn’t that it? I’m delighted they extended it. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/16 "2006-09-13T13:07:23Z")
Doogie Howser, m.d. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/17 "2006-09-13T13:09:03Z")
quincy me, threes copany, hot l baltimore, sanford arms, et al. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/18 "2006-09-13T13:42:22Z")
**Buffy the Vampire Slayer** had season-long story arcs, and the story arc in season two was clearly set up during season one. I seem to recall the main arc in season three was set up by things in season two. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/19 "2006-09-13T13:55:45Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] It seems clear to me that the Zucker-Zucker-Abrahams show **Police Squad** was only intended to have a run of six shows. If nothing else, the running gag of listed _everyone_ who had ben sent to Stateville Prison in the previous episodes at the end of each one would have gotten way too long after more than six. I think they only felt confident of enough material for half a dozen shows (and could maybe onlty convince network execs of their ability to make that many), and didn’t try to push it. Of course, there’s no storty arc in that and no definite end, which is just as well, since it left the door open for the “Naked Gun” movies. [/QUOTE] I disagree. I don’t have a cite, but if memory serves Z-Z-A would’ve gladly kept the show on for as long as ABC would let them. Low ratings and ABC’s impatience killed the show, not a preordained plan to only produce 6 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502/20 "2006-09-13T13:55:56Z")
Most people don’t realize it but _The Simpsons_ is slowly tracing out an overall story arc that will serve as a metaphor for the rise and fall of western civilization with individual episodes symbolically commenting on key historical events. The 27th season will make this clear and wrap up the series. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-tv-shows-start-knowing-exactly-when-they-would-end/372502.md?page=2)