# TV shows that lived past their expiration date **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126 "2005-07-19T12:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/21 "2005-07-20T00:19:02Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > People who say things should be taken out and shot should be taken out and shot.) The people who are responsible for taking out and shooting the people who say things should be taken out and shot, should be taken out and shot. Stranger This message has been completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute. Yeeehaaa! ---
**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:** [July 20, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/22 "2005-07-20T00:23:51Z")
_West Wing_ has had a couple of seasons that seemed forced. I enjoyed this past season. And I think the show can continue _IF_ Jimmy Smits loses to Alan Alda. Otherwise, we’re going over the same ground. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/23 "2005-07-20T00:57:48Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Ok, I’m a complete idiot too, then. Well, knowing the problem is half of solving it, they say. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/24 "2005-07-20T01:08:14Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Cool, I’m a complete idiot **and** I’m beyond redemption Don’t forget insane. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/25 "2005-07-20T01:47:28Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Don’t forget insane. His three characters are that he’s an idiot, beyond redemption, and insane! …With an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope! I’ll come in again. The moment Adam Corrolla and Jimmy Kimmel left The Man Show, it tanked. The other two guys just didn’t have what made the chauvinism of the show funny. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/26 "2005-07-20T01:50:45Z")
> [@BayleDomon](#): > > His three characters are that he’s an idiot, beyond redemption, and insane! …With an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope! Gr. Characteristics. I’ll come in again…again. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/27 "2005-07-20T02:22:42Z")
I think she’s wrong about Seinfeld. It’s the only sitcom I ever watched and I loved it. It was appointment TV. Up until about season 7, that is, when it started getting really uneven. Oh, sure, it had its moments after that, most notably “The Soup Nazi” of season 7 and “The Betrayal” of season 8. On the other hand, the entire season 9 except “The Abstinence” was painful. And the finale was embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/28 "2005-07-20T02:36:54Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I agree with most of the ones above. I’ll add: > > **QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY** - the first few episodes were great, I love Carson, by season two it was out of steam and by season three it was on fire by the side of the road. Pull the tube, it’s done. Let Kyan get on to his porn career, Ted to restaurant reviewing, Thom to private practice, Carson to greatness and Jai to making eye contact. I would have agreed with this except I’ve seen some really good episodes lately. Tonight is glurgy crap, but last week’s makeover of the nudist was great. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/29 "2005-07-20T03:04:11Z")
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned “The X-Files.” For its first few seasons it was a terrific show, with a great pair of cops hunting down the Monster of the Week. Duchovny was perfectly cast, and Anderson was beautiful and well cast as well. Once the alien conspiracy thing really swung into gear, the show started sucking, and the sucking got worse every year as they had to keep coming up with reasons not to answer the central question; Aliens or No Aliens? By season 6 it sucked so hard it almost sucked the entire galaxy into a singularity of suck. Poor Chris Carter really had absolutely no idea where the story was going but he had to keep putting something out there every week, and it quickly became an embarassing parody of itself. I am concerned that this is where “Lost” is heading, and quick, but they still have time to avoid this fate. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/30 "2005-07-20T03:57:03Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > She has Lost on there after one freaking season? What a complete idiot. It smacks of a columnist saying to herself, “Hmm … is anyone going to talk about this column if I don’t throw a curveball? Making 10 sensible choices is for SQUARES.” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/31 "2005-07-20T04:08:59Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I can’t believe nobody has mentioned “The X-Files.” Me neither. [Oh wait](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6383784&postcount=12). ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/32 "2005-07-20T07:24:49Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > The pe_ **ple wh** _ are resp_ **nsible f** _r taking _ **ut and sh** __ting the pe_ **ple wh** \* say things sh_ **uld be taken ut and sht, sh** _uld be taken _ **ut and sh** _t. > > Stranger > > This message has been completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute. Yeeehaaa! This message has been shot by The Shootist! ---
**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:** [July 20, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/33 "2005-07-20T08:16:46Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Sorry, but News Radio bit the dust after the unfortunate death of Phil Hartman. Jon Lovitz sucks anyway, but he made that amazing show completely unwatchable. Some of the funniest episodes were shown after the death of Phil Hartman. The whole Johnny Johnson evil business man arc with Jimmy James because tried as D.B. Cooper was just plain funny. News Radio didn’t live past it’s expiration date. Dave: “But you’re evil!” Johnny Johnson: “That’s no excuse for poor sportsmanship.” Marc ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/34 "2005-07-20T11:12:59Z")
These are dated, but… The Carol Burnett Show The Brady Bunch–I believe that cousin Oliver is the original shark Cosby Show-again with the cute kid–sure sign the show is in its death throes. Family Ties–another cute kid! Gack! MASH, sadly–one of the best shows ever. I can’t believe noone here has mentioned: ER–it was hokey and incredibly unreal in its first few seasons–but now? Pure fantasy-I cannot watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Domokun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Domokun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domokun)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/35 "2005-07-20T11:29:51Z")
**The Simpsons** is no longer better than 99% of the crap on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/36 "2005-07-20T12:35:49Z")
Count me among those who think **Buffy** went past its expiration date, that date being the end of season 5. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/37 "2005-07-20T12:58:39Z")
\*Frasier \* should have stopped when Niles and Daphne married. About half the jokes were lost after that. _Moonlighting_ should have stopped when David and Maddy got together. Actually, they shouldn’t have got togrther at all. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/38 "2005-07-20T15:08:41Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > You think everything from S4 on in Buffy was “forced”? Truly, you are beyond redemption. While the series didn’t reach its true low point until Season 5 (with Dawn’s introduction and the robotic Buffy), this season turned the series from “a nice girl and her friends, fighting the undead and just trying to make it” to “Hey! Let’s throw in _another_ completely-out-of-nowhere plot twist that barely makes sense.” The main evidence is Riley’s transformation from “nice guy that Buffy met” to “secret government agent”, and Willow becoming a lesbian despite seriously crushing on Xander and Oz during the first several seasons. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/39 "2005-07-20T15:22:10Z")
> [@MGibson](#): > > X-Files lived about 4-5 years past it’s expiration date. Once you figured out that Chris Carter could not, or would not, resolve the alien conspiracy it just wasn’t worth watching. This was actually the reason I never got ‘into’ that show, despite many of my friends doing so. Somehow, even from the beginning, I could smell a non-bibled series that was never going to actually have resolution, or, as I sometimes call it, ‘Gilligan’s Island writing’. (“You know, the episode where they -almost- make it off the island, then don’t!”) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126/40 "2005-07-20T16:16:28Z")
> [@MGibson](#): > > X-Files lived about 4-5 years past it’s expiration date. Once you figured out that Chris Carter could not, or would not, resolve the alien conspiracy it just wasn’t worth watching. Every so often, Chris Carter painted himself into a corner and cut a hole through the wall to escape. Sometimes he took out a load-bearing element in the process. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-lived-past-their-expiration-date/313126.md?page=3)