I’ll get laughed out of the thread for this, but Power Rangers. They run for a period of time, then end, then they start over again.
I got curious and did some research. Back in the early 1960s, Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons were mixed into various 15- and 30 minute epsiodes. There were 326 individual cartoons, in about two dozen distinct storylines – each storyline ran anywhere from 4 to 40 cartoons. In the context of this thread, it now seems clear that the producers would make a bunch of cartoons with a closed-end storyline, then wait for the okay to make some more.
Granted, Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons never made up an entire show (they were always mixed in with Mr. Peabody, Fractured Fairy Tales, etc.) but it could be argued that the cartoons were, in effect, a series of telenovelas.
Sure, but not really. Some episodes he crosses off more than one, others he ends up adding things - like “Lost Dad’s Mustang”.
-Joe
Good point. Even before this, Jay Ward and Bill Scott did the same with their earlier series, Crusader Rabbit. These also featured the short plucky hero (Crusader Rabbit) and his tall, dumb companion (Ragland T. “Rags” Tiger), going against their opponents (Dudley Nightshade (a sort of taller version of Snidely Whiplash), Robbin’ Hoodlum, etc.) in multi-part adventures. They did this in the early 1950s, but another series of CR cartoons from the later fifties done by someone else (and these were the ones I grew up on) did the same.
I think they’ve figured out by now that “General Hospital” will end with the heat death of the Universe.
I think this is out of necessity, since most of the battle sequences from the Power Rangers series come from a Japanese TV show. I’m guessing that source show kept changing its format, so the American show has to do the same.
I think the requests have worked- both That’s So Raven and Kim Possible are still in production, despite the fact both shows reached the 65-episode mark. Nickelodeon also had a 65-episode policy for its animated shows (not sure if it still does), but even that wasn’t standard- Doug ran for less (which I think is why Disney ended up obtaining the rights to the characters and producing a new series), and Rugrats started production again a few years after reaching 65.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Finally! Finally after having been awed and cowed by the massed brainpower of this place, finally I can have my moment of triumph!
A show that was planned to only run a certain length by the creators?
What is The Young Riders for 100, Alex? 
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry, long day. I’ll go take my medication and play Star Wars Legos now.
Are you responding to the clue or picking the next category? (I’ll give you a free pass on the fact that Jeopardy no longer has $100 clues.)
Arrrgh, even in my ultimate victory I am crushed and defeated!
Tha makers of Life on Mars have gone on the record saying they know when and how the show’s going to end. I think they have a bit more freedom as Brits-- their shows tend to end on high notes (i.e. The Office) instead of being squeezed until they’ve run out of any shred of creativity just because they’re popular.
If I remember correctly, the anime Mahoromatic not only knew exactly when it was going to end, it displayed a timer once in a while that let you knew how long it would be until the main character ran out of batteries and died.