# Shows which went on too long **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151 "2010-11-28T05:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/1 "2010-11-28T05:33:00Z")
Smallville; about the time it actually stopped being set in Smallville; though season 9 and now the first part of 10 have saved it somewhat. Friends; after Monica and Chandler’s wedding really ran out of steam and purpose. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/2 "2010-11-28T05:34:31Z")
The Simpsons ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/3 "2010-11-28T05:37:41Z")
I would say (don’t hit me!) _Dr. Who_, several times. I fully believe it is a great show, but it’s ran out of gas many times, and been saved by the fact that it ran on and so eventually got recharged over time. C’est la vie. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/4 "2010-11-28T05:40:55Z")
The Simpsons Law and Order All reality shows ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/5 "2010-11-28T06:01:23Z")
The Office, US The Office, US The Office, US ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/6 "2010-11-28T06:13:47Z")
Just about all successful American shows. (Any current ones that have not yet gone on too long, will do so eventually.) ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/7 "2010-11-28T06:19:18Z")
Love American Style Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Three’s Company ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/8 "2010-11-28T06:45:41Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > The Office, US > The Office, US > The Office, US 🙂 Agreed. I think it’s true that a high proportion of network shows go on too long, simply because the producers know that people will keep watching out of hope or loyalty even after the show starts to go downhill. And as long as people are watching, advertisers will buy time. I’d actually be interested to see if there’s an economic study or model charting TV show revenues against (some measure of) the declining quality of the show. But some clearly try audience patience more than others. Some that come to mind for me are: ER Law and Order (all franchises) CSI (ditto) And, much as i hate to say it because it was, in its prime, one of the best shows ever on television: NYPD Blue I watched NYPD Blue right to the end, and continued to enjoy it, but it could have stopped a couple of seasons earlier without losing anything, and it also would have avoided some of the silly stuff from the last couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/9 "2010-11-28T06:51:46Z")
Had _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ ended in season 5 it would have ended on an extremely high note. The last two seasons include a handful of episodes that manage to save them from oblivion but for me things had peaked in season 5. Odesio ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/10 "2010-11-28T06:58:57Z")
In the last couple years of running, the writing went to hand in a hell basket, then the final blow, Duchovny left the show… The X-Files ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/11 "2010-11-28T06:59:59Z")
The X-files is a classic case of this. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/12 "2010-11-28T07:01:02Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > In the last couple years of running, the writing went to hand in a hell basket, then the final blow, Duchovny left the show.. > > The X-Files Hello, simulpost buddy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/13 "2010-11-28T07:07:29Z")
Gene Rroddenberry’s Andromeda. Should have ended when Wolfe left as head writer Earth: Final Conflict. Should have ended after the first season, when Boon left. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/14 "2010-11-28T07:20:31Z")
_ER_: Should have ended when Dr. Green died. _Roseanne_: Should have ended before they won the lottery . . . or a lot sooner. _All in the Family_: Should have ended when Edith died. _ST:Voyager_: Should have ended before Janeway and Paris turned into giant slugs and mated. (or actually, before the pilot) ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/15 "2010-11-28T07:22:21Z")
More votes for The Simpsons (should have stopped after Season 8) and The X Files (Series finale should have been Mulder finding out what happened to his sister. His motivation thoughout the series was solving the mystery of Samantha’s abduction, so once he knew the truth, what else was there? 2 1/2 seasons of convoluted nonsense) Star Trek - shouldn’t have continued without Roddenberry. We got some real turds like “Spock’s Brain” and “The Way to Eden”, which are ok on a camp level. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/16 "2010-11-28T07:26:04Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > The Simpsons QFT. QF double truth. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/17 "2010-11-28T07:28:42Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman This was only on a year and a half. How long do you think it should have been on? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/18 "2010-11-28T07:33:39Z")
Dennis the Menace. Jay North in little kid style overalls with a slingshot and beard stubble doesn’t make a convincing Dennis. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/19 "2010-11-28T07:42:11Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Dennis the Menace. Jay North in little kid style overalls with a slingshot and beard stubble doesn’t make a convincing Dennis. This reminds me of the “Oh, That Rusty!” skit on SCTV. Martin Short plays just such an overgrown child character. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/20 "2010-11-28T08:08:27Z")
At the latest, I thought MASH should’ve hung it up sometime around when Radar left. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151.md?page=2)