# 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:** 2
**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, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/21 "2010-11-28T08:34:39Z")
While I did not watch the show & have no opinion on it, it’s somewhat notorious that _Happy Days_ lasted seven seasons _after_ there was a literal jumping of the shark. ---
**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, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/22 "2010-11-28T09:05:25Z")
When Henry died. Would have been perfect as an ending for M_A_S\*H. All they need is an announcement of the ceasefire right at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/23 "2010-11-28T10:56:51Z")
Both “Soap” and “Desperate Housewives” should have stopped after one year. You can only do parody for so long. “Chico and the Man” after Chico blew his brains out. ---
**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, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/24 "2010-11-28T11:41:46Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Hello, simulpost buddy. 😃 Hey! ~shakes hands with the **Baron** ~ 🙂 ---
**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, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/25 "2010-11-28T11:43:15Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > This was only on a year and a half. How long do you think it should have been on? Um. Never? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/26 "2010-11-28T12:53:31Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > The Office, US > The Office, US > The Office, US And alas, even when Steve Carell leaves they will keep trying to milk it. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/27 "2010-11-28T12:59:09Z")
Heroes should have ended after the first season. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/28 "2010-11-28T13:07:18Z")
Millenium should have ended after season two. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/29 "2010-11-28T13:16:01Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Just about all successful American shows. (Any current ones that have not yet gone on too long, will do so eventually.) Not really. I think Battlestar Galactica and a few other shows, like Babylon 5, ended on their own terms. I know, B5 kind of stretched it in season 5, but this was due to impending cancellation in S4. Heck, LOST actually wrapped up quicker than some would have expected I think there are plenty of American shows that ended without going on too long. > [@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 Oh, yeah. I’ll be the 10th or so to mention this; it is the classic case. > [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > Heroes should have ended after the first season. Really? I think it should have maintained its quality better and run for 4 or 5 seasons. I thought this was about shows that went on too long, not shows that tanked after starting strong. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/30 "2010-11-28T13:50:01Z")
That 70’s Show should have stopped at the end of season 7. ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/31 "2010-11-28T14:13:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > _ER_: Should have ended when Dr. Green died. Og yes. That was when I stopped watching. You know you’re doing it wrong when everyone from the original cast has left the show. ---
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/32 "2010-11-28T14:49:53Z")
90210 became pretty unrecognisable. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/33 "2010-11-28T15:35:32Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > Og yes. That was when I stopped watching. You know you’re doing it wrong when everyone from the original cast has left the show. I can’t entirely agree with that sentiment; the original L&O still worked for a good long while after the last orginal cast member, Chris Noth, left. (Steven Hill was not in the series premiere). But you’re right in the case of ER. The episode after Greene’s death, when Carter reassures a new medical student in a parallel fashion to the way Green reassured him in the series premiere, was an ideal place to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/34 "2010-11-28T16:56:04Z")
It was only on 3 years, but _Veronica Mars_ got much worse after season 1, then fell off the cliff after season 2. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/35 "2010-11-28T18:10:31Z")
_Moonlighting_ should have quite before the guy with the broken collarbone was rollingo n the floor with the pregnant woman. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/36 "2010-11-28T18:29:52Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > While I did not watch the show & have no opinion on it, it’s somewhat notorious that _Happy Days_ lasted seven seasons _after_ there was a literal jumping of the shark. And the show had metaphorically jumped the shark long before it literally jumped the shark. The first two or three seasons were actually quite good. The show should have ended while: 1. Arnold still owned Arnold’s (Screw Al) 2. The producers still cared about the 1950s setting – before the actors quit their 50s haircuts and grew out their hair 3. Joanie was nothing but Richie’s bratty little sister 4. Fonzie’s only known relative was Spike (Screw Chachi) 5. The show’s theme song was still “Rock Around the Clock” (When looking at old episodes, this is actually how you can tell whether it will be a good one. If it starts with “Rock Around the Clock,” stay tuned. If it starts with “Sunday, Monday happy days…” switch channels in preemptive disgust.) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/37 "2010-11-28T18:34:46Z")
Oh yeah and **The Andy Griffith Show** should have ended when Barney left town, with the last black-and-white episode. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/38 "2010-11-28T20:25:18Z")
How about West Wing? They should have wrapped it up after Sorkin left the show. The magic in the show was always in the writing. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/39 "2010-11-28T20:31:31Z")
Rugrats. Six Feet Under (but tied up nicely at the end). I hate to say this, but I think House has seen better days. The new med student is awesome, so I’m hoping she’ll save the show. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151/40 "2010-11-28T20:38:12Z")
Simpsons Six Feet Under Flintstones Every 80s sitcom that went past five seasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-which-went-on-too-long/562151.md?page=3)