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Favorite TV series finale?
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Posted by: vman

Per Angie's suggestion -- What was your favorite TV series finale? Seinfeld, Cheers, Friends, MASH, Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore? For some reason, the one that sticks most in mind and I still have positive feelings about years later is Mad About You.

Posted by: JFriday

Newhart. They final twist cracked me up.

Posted by: serumgard

Cheers and L.A. Law for the pure nostalgia of it - if I remember correctly, neither show really saw any massive change, but instead celebrated their runs.

I'll be the first to say Friends just because it's the first show I can remember having to see every episode from its first season to its last on first-run television. It was sad to see it go.

Posted by: TivoGeezer

If I could rank them:

1. MASH
2. Newhart
3. Friends
4. MTM
5. Cheers
6. Seinfeld

Posted by: Langree

The Finale that sticks in my mind is MASH. Most other shows I can't recall how they ended.

Ones I didn't care for:

Buffy
Quantum Leap
OZ

Posted by: BLeonard

Both Newhart and Mary Tyler Moore come to mind as memorable final episodes. While I watched Cheers regularly I can't even remember how it ended. The only thing that sticks in my mind was the night of the finale they were on one of the late night talk shows live from a bar and everyone was drunk and making a fool of themselves.

And Coach had a good final episode with a surprise ending that crossed with Newhart.

My favorite TV show of all time is St. Elsewhere. I'm not sure I found their "It was all a dream" final episode very satisfying but I guess it prevents the 20 year later reunion where you get depressed because everyone looks so old and others are dead.

Posted by: Demandred

The only ones I can remember are Seinfeld and The Golden Girls. The rest must not have been very good, else I would remember them, right?

Posted by: DougF

Star Trek: The Next Generation is my all-time favorite. I still haven't seen the DS9 finale. I missed it both times it aired in '99. Hoping to pick up the DVDs soon so I can finally watch it. The Voyager finale was decent, but nothing special.

Mad About You was really good. I didn't like the last two or three seasons as much as the previous, but the finale was excellent.

Cheers and Seinfeld were two of my favorite shows ever. As for the finales, I was disappointed in Cheers at first. I thought for so long that Sam and Diane belonged together. Since then, I've realized that they were just too different and shouldn't be together.

I really liked the Seinfeld finale the first time I saw it. I haven't liked later viewings in syndication, probably because it was cut so much. I'd like to see it as it originally aired again. I know I recorded it on VHS, but I can't find it now.

Posted by: keithcarl

I hated the Seinfeld final episode.

My favorite is the Twin Peaks finale. I was so mad at the time, but now I realize it couldn't have ended any other way.

They should start writing the Simpson's and West Wing final epsidoes now, so they can both go out with a bang.

Posted by: classicsat

I remeber on the last cheers, Sam revealed he wore a hairpice. At the time, there were rumors about Ted Danson also wearing a rug.

Posted by: BLeonard

I'm a big fan of Seinfeld but found the final episode to be stupid.

(and please don't start working on the Simpsons final episode. Please let that show go on forever. It is the best written comedy on television and is consistently funny)

Posted by: serumgard

quote:
Originally posted by classicsat
I remeber on the last cheers, Sam revealed he wore a hairpice. At the time, there were rumors about Ted Danson also wearing a rug.

That was actually on the second-to-last episode, and he only revealed it to Carla when he found out she was sleeping with the guy who owned the posh restaurant upstairs (sorry, I can't remember his name). They did reference it in the finale, however, when Sam says to Diane over the phone, "Hair's thicker than ever."

Posted by: doom1701

Star Trek:TNG is probably my favorite, although there wasn't really that much "final" about it (hence the 4 movies afterwards).

I loved the Newhart ending. Not much in the ep, but the last minute or two was great.

I've seen the Mash finale once. If I were a fan of the show (I like it, but won't go out of my way to see it), it'd probably be my favorite finale.

Sienfeld sucked big time. Buffy was so-so.

Posted by: MacThor

My favorite that comes to mind is Sports Night, if only for this line:

"Any network that can't make money on Sports Night shouldn't be in the money making business."

Posted by: DougF

quote:
Originally posted by serumgard
That was actually on the second-to-last episode, and he only revealed it to Carla when he found out she was sleeping with the guy who owned the posh restaurant upstairs (sorry, I can't remember his name). They did reference it in the finale, however, when Sam says to Diane over the phone, "Hair's thicker than ever."

Actually, it was the fourth to last episode. The second-to-last is the one where Sam goes to the sex addiction group.

According to tvtome.com, the hairpiece ep. was the last one actually produced. The finale was taped earlier to accomodate Shelley Long's schedule.

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servle...-66/epid-14341/

Posted by: JPinAZ

I've always thought the very end of Cheers was appropriate. Everybody goes home, leaving Sam in the bar to clean up. Somebody knocks on the door & Sam turns around & says, "Sorry, we're closed."

Posted by: SparkleMotion

quote:
Originally posted by doom1701
Star Trek:TNG is probably my favorite, although there wasn't really that much "final" about it (hence the 4 movies afterwards).

Wasn't it the final full-length appearance of the Enterprise-D from beginning to end? ;)

Posted by: rtype

quote:
Originally posted by TivoGeezer

6. Seinfeld

Worst finale ever.

Posted by: YCantAngieRead

I'd probably say MASH...there aren't very many finales I even remember, for some reason, but a couple that I disliked: Roseanne, I love the show more than life but its finale sucked-Wings...

I'm actually hoping Frasier might make the best finale list-it's always been sort of a classier show and I have high hopes for it.

(Thanks, vman, I was tired of starting threads that alluded to the Friends finale. :D)

Posted by: jradosh

For being unique... Seinfeld

If you like tons of sap and smaltz... M*A*S*H

Posted by: HTH

Blake's 7 for being the first ending of that type I'd seen.

Forever Knight for the most powerful of the type.

Not Farscape because I refuse to accept that as the last episode.

Posted by: midas

The Fugitive

Posted by: Directv&TivoGuy

If I had to rank em :

1. Mad About You
2. Cheers
3. Seinfeld
4. MASH
5. Friends - Has to be the worst finale I have ever seen. So predictable.

Posted by: oski87

Newhart, of course ('....and, there were these three woodsmen...' 'no more japanese food'...), and Trek:TNG.
'Friends' finale great only because=no more Friends...

Big Dissapointments:

Babylon 5 (I know I'm in the minority here among fans, but I thought it was a big letdown)
Deep Space 9. Enough with the lounge singer already!! Most of the last season was so good, too.
Cheers-- I found it boring

Posted by: oski87

quote:
Originally posted by midas
The Fugitive

Old geezer :D

Posted by: justapixel

Newhart, no doubt.

Posted by: midas

quote:
Originally posted by oski87
Old geezer :D

Yep!!! But let me tell you how big it was. We had people in California that we knew that called us before it came on in their time zone to ask us what happened. And back then long distance phone calls were really expensive.

Posted by: YCantAngieRead

The one finale I really remember is the St. Elsewhere finale and being ticked off that it was all a dream. Which just goes to show I watched too much TV even back then, when I was in my early teens. I should have seen this coming. :)

Posted by: scooterboy

I'd have to say

1) MTM
2) Newhart
3) MASH
4) Friends
5) ST-TNG
6) Cheers

The Cheers finale was so-so. Seinfeld is one of my favorite shows, but the finale doesn't even make the list. It was a silly contrived plot whose only purpose was to parade as many of guest stars on camera as possible. They could have done so much better.

Posted by: appleye1

quote:
Originally posted by jradosh
For being unique... Seinfeld

I agree. I saw it again the other night and it did what it had to do to wrap that series up perfectly. I think it was the best finale I've seen and was, for the most part, typical Seinfeld.

quote:
Originally posted by scooterboy
Seinfeld is one of my favorite shows, but the finale doesn't even make the list. It was a silly contrived plot whose only purpose was to parade as many of guest stars on camera as possible. They could have done so much better.

Hmmm... I thought the "parade" of "guest stars" was what made the episode great. And if you think it was great to see the all of the past guest stars, then the plot was perfect for that purpose and neither silly nor contrived. I just disagree I guess.

I'm open to the idea that there may have been a better way to end it. I would challenge the folks who think it wasn't good to give me a brief synopsis of the finale show they would have written! :D

Posted by: Peter000

MST3K. I don't know if it was my favorite series finale, but it's one of my all-time favorite TV shows and the last minute or so left me laughing and choked up at the same time... Mike and the Bots finally escape the torture of being forced to watch bad movies... and what do they do when they get home? Sit on the couch in front of the TV wisecracking during a bad movie. And the movie was from a 1st season episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

I also loved the schmaltz of the Mash finale.

Don't remember MTM, or Cheers, or some of the other's mentioned. I was never a big Seinfeld fan, and the finale didn't do anything for me.

Friends was classic Friends. A little less jokey than usual, but the jokes were pretty dead on when they did do them. It'd be interesting to do a "Friends reunion" every 10 years or so. Only they'd have to do it RIGHT. Same writers, and NO previous show clips. :)

It's cool when a TV show can actually DO a finale, and not be summarily canceled so they don't get a chance.

Posted by: jfjellstad

quote:
Originally posted by oski87
Babylon 5 (I know I'm in the minority here among fans, but I thought it was a big letdown)

Whai, you didn't like the Babylon 5 final? Granted the last season wasn't that good, but the final I thought was excellent. Showing were everybody ended up. Heck, it was good enough for DS9 to copy. From the sci-fi shows, I thought Babylon 5 and ST:TNG had the best finals.

Posted by: bidger

quote:
Originally posted by Peter000
MST3K.

:up: You beat me to it, Peter.

I have to say that after repeated viewings of the "Seinfeld" finale that I agree w/ Mark. I didn't care for it the first time and avoided it like the plague. After seeing it a couple of times in syndication, it grew on me and I warmed to it.

Posted by: scooterboy

quote:
Originally posted by appleye1
I'm open to the idea that there may have been a better way to end it. I would challenge the folks who think it wasn't good to give me a brief synopsis of the finale show they would have written! :D

Here's a quick one off the top of my head:

The episode starts out normally, with the gang wasting time discussing something close to nothing. In a group revelation, they all realize that they really love their lives just exactly the way they are. That's when everything changes.

Kramer's "make your own pizza pie" idea is picked up by a major pizza chain and he's going to be paid massive amounts of money to supervise the implementation nationally. He'll be leaving NY the next day.

In an atypically touching (for Seinfeld) moment, Puddy tells Elaine that he can't live without her. Previously thinking she'd be just fine as a single person, she realizes that she really does want to marry and she does indeed love Puddy. He proposes, she accepts, he points to his back and says "Eight Ball!", and she tells him that the jacket has to go. They decide to leave for Vegas the next day.

A horrible accident happens to the latest NBC exec that passed on Jerry and George's show, and her replacement picks it up again. J & G are going to Hollywood to make their "show about nothing". They're to jet out to LaLa Land the next day.

The gang reconvenes in Jerry's apartment to share their respective news. They simultaneously realize that this is it - their lives are going in different directions and it will never be the same as it was.

They come together in a teary group hug and, still hugging, shuffle over to the counter to reach a box of tissues (a la MTM finale). Jerry says tearfully "I just want you guy to know that I love you all dearl..."

Scene abruptly changes to Jerry bolting up in bed, horrified at the schmaltzy dream he was having. His wife awakens, turns on the nightstand lamp and rolls over to ask him what's wrong. It's Suzanne Pleshette.

He describes his dream about 3 kookie friends with whom he had a multitude of mundane experiences. She wearily tells him to go back to sleep, rolls back over, and turns out the light.

A few beats of dark silence, then Jerry's voice: "you know, you should wear more sweaters..."

The End.

Posted by: YCantAngieRead

I actually remembered something last night: best totally unexpected and superfluous and yet still really cool musical appearance in a finale-Elvis Costello in the finale of 3rd Rock From The Sun.

Posted by: kc2jib

Mine are

1. Friends
2. Boy Meets World
3. M*A*S*H

Posted by: jimborst

Newhart has to be the best, MTM was good and ST:TNG was a great ending, how could you not like as Picard sits down to play poker with his officers "I should have done this long ago".

How about "The Others" series finale (although at the time no one knew) all the people in the show appeared to die.

Posted by: SparkleMotion

I'm a little surprised that "Newhart" hasn't gone to DVD yet.

Posted by: SnakeEyes

quote:
Originally posted by Langree
The Finale that sticks in my mind is MASH. Most other shows I can't recall how they ended.

Ones I didn't care for:

Buffy
Quantum Leap
OZ

Quantum Leap never had a finale.. it got cancelled after production was over for the season :/

Posted by: HTH

quote:
Originally posted by YCantAngieRead
The one finale I really remember is the St. Elsewhere finale and being ticked off that it was all a dream. Which just goes to show I watched too much TV even back then, when I was in my early teens. I should have seen this coming. :)

If you paid attention to the crossovers, the end of Frasier shouldn't be too surprising either.

That is, if they remembered the crossover.

Posted by: HTH

quote:
Originally posted by SnakeEyes
Quantum Leap never had a finale.. it got cancelled after production was over for the season :/

What about the "never returned home" card?

But then there's this, which I'm about to drop from my signature.

Posted by: aadam101

I have to say Dawson's Creek. I've never cried so hard in my life.

Posted by: BLeonard

Does anyone remember the last episode of "Coach" - there was a crossover with the much mentioned here "Newhart"

Posted by: mask2343

Seinfeld:
Best one ever. The fact that so many people hate it makes it that much better. The show was about nothing, what did you WANT to happen?

edit: Just read scooterboy's final Seinfeld episode. No offense, but it stinks and is very un-Seinfeld. NO SOUP FOR YOU! :D

Posted by: Video-Idiot

quote:
Originally posted by YCantAngieRead
The one finale I really remember is the St. Elsewhere finale and being ticked off that it was all a dream.

Perhaps you missed the point? Maybe they were saying TV this good has to be a dream. :D

Posted by: DreadPirateRob

EVen though I was a big Seinfeld fan, I thought the finale was so-so. It may have been innovative and unique, but that doesn't mean it didn't also suck.

I thought (as I posted in that thread) that the Friends finale was fitting and appropriate. I also liked portion of the Buffy finale. The Cheers finale was also very appropriate. I barely remember the MASH finale, but what I remember about it sucked (and I loved watching that show in syndication when I was a kid).

Posted by: ccwf

I actually hosted a little viewing party for the last episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, the enormous fallacy underlying a key plot point, unfortunately, prevents this episode from being near the top of my list of favorite finales.

I thought the Cheers ending was appropriate but mostly remarkable because it was the end of a great series and not for the episode itself.

I think the best, going out in a blaze of glory series finale goes to Lexx.

Overall best finale that I can think of right now goes to Forever Knight, which was a culmination of the philosophical hand-wringing that permeated the end of that show.

Posted by: chroma601

The Prisoner. Mindbending! Each of us is our own number one.

And while we're here, there was one show that I wished _had_ an ending: Twin Peaks.

Posted by: DougF

quote:
Originally posted by ccwf
I actually hosted a little viewing party for the last episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, the enormous fallacy underlying a key plot point, unfortunately, prevents this episode from being near the top of my list of favorite finales.

What is the plot problem in "All Good Things..."?

Posted by: ccwf

quote:
Originally posted by Frozen Solid
What is the plot problem in "All Good Things..."?

the missing anomaly

[I know: I should stop picking on Trek for their inconsistencies with temporal mechanics.]

Posted by: ord

My favs....

Wonder Years (I wanted Winnie & Kevin to get together :( )

Roseanne. Last season sucked. Roseanne knew it sucked. She made it all go away and went back to what was good about that show.

Seinfeld. They WERE bad people! The concept was a little cheesy, but it was a fitting end to a great show.

Newhart. Enough has already been said about this one.

Posted by: LoadStar

quote:
Originally posted by Frozen Solid
What is the plot problem in "All Good Things..."?

Well... the biggest plot hole that I saw was that the anomaly grew as it went backward in time, starting when the Pasteur blew up and going backward in time from that point.

Yet, to advance the storyline, they had the anomaly visible in the future when the Enterprise went back to the neutral zone - AFTER the pasteur blew up. If the anomaly grew as it went back, there should've been nothing there when the Enterprise went back.

Anyway, as for the Quantum Leap series finale - it was actually to be a season finale. Bellisario was told after the episode was in the can that the series was cancelled. They then made minor changes to the episode after it was in the can in order to turn it into a series finale, such as adding the "Dr. Sam Becket never returned home" card, and looping some of the dialog to change what some of the characters said. It served OK as a series finale though.

Posted by: jennifer

Ok - I'm sappy and schmaltzy.

One of my favorite series finales also happened to be the first one I ever remember seeing - Happy Days.