tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post2497256690658876450..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Leaving on a high note?Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51414167114711310182010-05-22T01:52:25.405-04:002010-05-22T01:52:25.405-04:00Anonymous said...
That '70s Show. It abso...Anonymous said...<br /><br /> That '70s Show. It absolutely should not have gone on that least year without Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher. But, frankly, it probably should have ended after about 4 seasons. After that it just wasn't that funny anymore. <br /><br />Reply: should've ended after the pilot. Quite possibly the most overrated mediocrity I have ever seen. Basically three (lame) jokes repackaged every episode. Laugh tracks sounding when NO joke was even made (yes, I understood the context). Had to withstand a marathon of it my relatives were watching. Blecch!Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-64890420751483506282009-06-27T04:19:01.391-04:002009-06-27T04:19:01.391-04:00Veronica Mars, at the end of season 2. Those first...Veronica Mars, at the end of season 2. Those first two seasons were awesome, the third was mostly a big yawn. I blame the writing and the casting. Whoever thinks Julie Gonzalo can act is crazy. Also, less Wallace, more Mac? That was stupid. And the whole appeal of Veronica Mars was that it was a show about a high school girl with a big twist. That made it interesting. Season 3 was just the average teenage show. :Sj.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-83275117731639476442009-06-01T14:30:15.914-04:002009-06-01T14:30:15.914-04:00Despite the domino theory that could strange the W...Despite the domino theory that could strange the Wire in its cradle, I'd end Homicide, probably at the end of the Luther Mahoney storyline. *Definitely* before they brought his sister in.Rob S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07331286524477806963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18708802422717436122009-06-01T03:20:29.177-04:002009-06-01T03:20:29.177-04:00While the last couple of seasons of Homicide were ...While the last couple of seasons of Homicide were painful (watch the panel discussion included on the dvd set to learn how NBC basically ordered them to butcher the show), season six is when David Simon became a producer and learned how to run a show.<br /><br />If you consider Homicide Seasons Six and Seven as Spring Training for the Wire, they are more than worth it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02704659130897390425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50488608773393710272009-05-31T19:39:31.139-04:002009-05-31T19:39:31.139-04:00I may be the only person on the planet who found s...<i>I may be the only person on the planet who found season 11 of Cheers to be its most entertaining! </i><br /><br />Nope, there are at least two of us.<br /><br />David- your mention of the BW/Color switch brings back a classic that jumped bigtime: Andy Griffith. They either should've ended it when Barney left, or given him what he wanted to stay. More likely the former.Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76482726175758993072009-05-31T08:58:24.497-04:002009-05-31T08:58:24.497-04:00You could tell that "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." was ...You could tell that "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." was a goner from the first color episode of the second season.Memo2Selfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15697112440087568681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31519406922795902312009-05-31T05:00:09.128-04:002009-05-31T05:00:09.128-04:00Interesting topic.
I might go Twin Peaks, by cond...Interesting topic.<br /><br />I might go Twin Peaks, by condensing or just cutting a bunch of episodes from the second season (because I dug how it ended).<br /><br />But I really just wanted to say that Jon Seda was pretty good on Homicide. Cut Falsone some slack.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03510199509675051525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38613710697358153402009-05-31T01:27:51.069-04:002009-05-31T01:27:51.069-04:00Great Topic
Ending Buffy with the 5th season fina...Great Topic<br /><br />Ending Buffy with the 5th season finale would have been perfect.<br /><br />Star Trek TNG should've ended with the 5th season, it was consistently good through seasons 3-5 and the 5th ended on a hot streak of about 10 great eps in a row, then sixth season came along, Michael Piller's attention was on DS9 (which I would keep for all seven seasons) and we got one stinker after another, monsters in the transporter, the crew turned into kids, the holodeck overrun by Datas, just stupid, they pulled their act together in the second half of S6 somewhat, but when Season 7 rolled around it was even worse!<br /><br />Agree with poster who said end Babylon 5 at the end of season 4.<br /><br />Cosby Show should've ended with season 5, that was the last year before Olivia and then cousin Pam.<br /><br />I may be the only person on the planet who found season 11 of Cheers to be its most entertaining! Much better than those Robert Colcord seasons.<br /><br />Whoever said here Seinfeld should've ended with The Betrayal is a genious - that ending is probably one of my favourite moments of the series.<br /><br />90210 should've ended with the fifth season, yes fourth season was a high watermark for the show but it sets up probably the best storyline with Dylan relapsing to alcoholism, but after the fifth season we very quickly see the departures of Jim, Cindy, Andrea, and finally Dylan - that pretty much turns the show from a teen drama to Melrose Place IIH E Pennypackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06976111802591827611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80320797713469628892009-05-30T20:50:31.825-04:002009-05-30T20:50:31.825-04:00I only own the first season of The O.C. on DVD bec...I only own the first season of The O.C. on DVD because in my mind the show ended with Seth sailing off into the distance, Ryan going back with Theresa, Summer and Marissa heartbroken and Kirsten sobbing her heart out. All to 'Hallelujah'. The first season was incredibly funny and had everyone talking about it. Although I kept watching, it never felt like the same show after that.Joannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17710816448292085842009-05-30T20:10:54.033-04:002009-05-30T20:10:54.033-04:00Maxed Out, word to your post.
I've never been dev...Maxed Out, word to your post.<br /><br />I've never been devoted to a show like I was to Alias and there was still a lot to like about it in later seasons (and a lot to complain about as well). But, nothing could ever beat the perfection of Seasons 1 and 2. It should have ended there.Gaylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38312675385120294842009-05-30T13:37:46.132-04:002009-05-30T13:37:46.132-04:00Here's the problem with messing with the time/spac...Here's the problem with messing with the time/space continuum - there are unintended consequences. Namely, if you cut Homicide off after 3-4 seasons, David Simon never joins the show as a regular writer/producer (seasons 5-7); then he never gets the opportunity to turn The Corner into a miniseries; and then Bubbles and Omar are never born! Look what you have done, Alan!<br /><br />If we're going tempt fate anyway, I'd cut short the life of Dragnet, preventing the 1960s rebirth. Hopefully then people would remember the show as the gritty noir-ish 1950s version, instead of the comically square Friday-battles-hippies version seen on TV Land.Jason Mittellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375428916312710022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67078846828843482012009-05-30T03:08:46.602-04:002009-05-30T03:08:46.602-04:00I'd have ended 'Sopranos' with the first season an...I'd have ended 'Sopranos' with the first season and with Tony actually smothering his mother. Each season after was a series of diminishing returns.<br /><br />I haven't seen it mentioned here, but I may have ended 'Picket Fences' with the departure of David Kelley. It just seemed to fly off the rails that last season.Toby O'Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999037844031101965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68176032695811894582009-05-30T02:58:30.200-04:002009-05-30T02:58:30.200-04:00Very interesting question.
I couldn't agree more ...Very interesting question.<br /><br />I couldn't agree more about what the-herkmeister said about The West Wing. I even think that the best seasons are the last two, and overall I prefered the era of John Wells (a very rare point of view I know ^^)<br /><br />For answering the question, I'd say:<br />Buffy: end of season 5.<br />Alias: end of season 2<br />BSG: end of season 2 or end of the 410.<br />MillenniuM: end of season 2 (even if I didn't enjoy the show as mush as other people)<br />Twin Peaks: end of the 209.<br />The Wire: end of season 3 (but I'm not complaining about the two others seasons ^^)<br />The Sopranos: end of the 601.<br /><br />When series that I like are canceled and finished on a cliffhanger, I'm often mad but for other shows that would have been much better :DPhantomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38830622525268911502009-05-29T20:37:22.738-04:002009-05-29T20:37:22.738-04:00I think Dexter is only going to go downhill. How ...I think Dexter is only going to go downhill. How much longer can they keep it up before they start cranking stunt episodes? I don't want to see "Dexter, The Musical."<br /><br />I also would end Angel before the Wolfram & Hart stuff got overplayed.<br /><br />And I would cancel BSG right after they find the first Earth.Boricua in Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408201125366918838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12461594463604346892009-05-29T16:24:24.164-04:002009-05-29T16:24:24.164-04:00Coming late to this one, I had my answer thought o...Coming late to this one, I had my answer thought out, but after reading everyone else's I've realized there's a lot of consensus about which shows got bad and I have no new ones to add. On the other hand, it's surprising to see how much people's opinions differ on where the bad parts are. <br /><br />I agree with people who said Prison Break, Heroes, and Alias needed to end sooner, but those are shows I just gave up watching, so I'm going to focus on shows I loved enought to stay with through the bad times.<br /><br />I'm with the many who hated Buffy S7 (despite being a girl, I did not think there was a powerful message there). On the other hand, there was enough good in S 4-6 that I'd keep those three.<br /><br />On the other hand, reading everyone's comments convinced me that Gilmore Girls should have ended after S3, despite there being much I love in the remaining seasons. I'd give those up to prevent the destruction of Rory's character and the introduction of Luke's daughter and ex. However, I don't think David Rosenthal deserves any blame; he did a great job with S7 considering the disastrous mess the Palladinos had made in the preceding seasons.<br /><br />I think West Wing should have ended when Sorkin left and thoroughly disagree with those who think S7 was better than those that came before. S7 destroyed all remnants of the Sorkinesque good fellowship and uplifting patriotism.<br /><br />I'd get rid of S2 of Sports Night so as not to have to watch Dana make Casey date other people.<br /><br />Some people may have quit watching Frasier (it got bad for a while there) and missed how great it was again in its last couple seasons. I wouldn't give those up.<br /><br />Moonlighting (as someone else already said) should have ended after S2.<br /><br />And while I agree that Veronica Mars was never again as good as S1, there's much to like in the other two seasons, and I loved the finale.<br /><br />All in all, I'd generally rather watch a show get less good (absent any horrible character destruction) that mourn its being cut off while I love it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51741881988935875252009-05-29T16:08:13.652-04:002009-05-29T16:08:13.652-04:00Good call, @DHC. That line's a heartbreaker.Good call, @DHC. That line's a heartbreaker.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-11977461812397722732009-05-29T11:35:12.183-04:002009-05-29T11:35:12.183-04:00"It's not just about Buffy saving the world. It's ..."It's not just about Buffy saving the world. It's about her teaching others and sharing the power."<br /><br />That was the season <B>three</B> finale. In the series finale, all of the normal people helpfully leave town and the world is saved not because Buffy defies tradition and shares her knowledge and skills with normal people, but because of a bunch of mystically destined people are given special powers that no one else can have.Matter-Eater Ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582100232490047227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6004108286135185912009-05-29T11:00:41.231-04:002009-05-29T11:00:41.231-04:00Karen - speaking of dark, Buffy stabbing Angel led...Karen - speaking of dark, Buffy stabbing Angel led to one of the best noir lines on TV. "I told him I loved him, then I killed him" Absolutely perfect darkness.<br /><br />The problem I have with this whole thing is if any of these shows ended earlier, there exists at least one (and usually more than that) classic episode that would never have been. I will gratefully sit through Seasons 8-10 of Buffy dross to see something like Once More With Feeling again.<br /><br />As for a show that ended right on time, my vote goes with Brisco County. Incredibly underated (which I think by law goes with practically anything Bruce Campbell does) and straight out fun. I just watched it with my kids who got a kick out of it. YOu can see the network meddling in the later episodes and I don't think it would have been as good had it gone on. One season was just right there.DHCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29541249738156812922009-05-29T10:20:34.892-04:002009-05-29T10:20:34.892-04:00The US Office at the season three finale. Perfect ...The US Office at the season three finale. Perfect ending to the series. It's still amusing, but it used to be so much more.<br /><br />Also Rescue Me after just one season. It's had its ups and downs since but nothing I couldn't live without, and that year's easily still the best.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00882832581314241811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88213220996108902622009-05-29T09:44:00.625-04:002009-05-29T09:44:00.625-04:00buffys death at the end of season 5 didnt trigger ...<I>buffys death at the end of season 5 didnt trigger a new slayer because faith was still alive. so the mythology was still in tact.</I>That was my point exactly, Chris. But throughout the ENTIRE Potentials story arc, the show maintained that Buffy's death would trigger one of them to become Slayer. Impossible. Only Faith's death could have done so.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22391077800054722222009-05-29T07:16:12.551-04:002009-05-29T07:16:12.551-04:00People.
People.
People.
Buffy should have ended...People.<br /><br />People.<br /><br />People.<br /><br />Buffy should have ended after season six. Season seven was all right, but the plot was way too muddled. As a bonus, the season six closer would have made a pretty dandy series finale if push came to shove.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10538651542043518746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27928018784280526902009-05-29T06:32:04.567-04:002009-05-29T06:32:04.567-04:00buffys death at the end of season 5 didnt trigger ...buffys death at the end of season 5 didnt trigger a new slayer because faith was still alive. so the mythology was still in tact. personally season 6 was my second favorite season after 2. If the show jumped the shark at all it was the beginning of season 4 when the incrediblyannoying dawn showed up.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00407771520206562186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-77708327426704629892009-05-29T05:31:23.940-04:002009-05-29T05:31:23.940-04:00The West Wing, after Aaron Sorkin left and the cha...The West Wing, after Aaron Sorkin left and the characters started falling apart. I don't understand how in the business of television shows the creation can go on without the creator. For me it's kinda like an author's book series going on without her. <br /><br />Also I don't understand the Buffy and Simpsons, and Wire comments. <br /><br />The Simpsons have been consistent throughout all their seasons. Not all episodes are as good but that was true for the earlier years too, and in every season there's a few episodes that are just so good. Like last year's "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind," and "That '90s Show." Those were awesome.<br /><br />The Wire, season 5 is what brings everything together and makes the show beyond great, showing you all sides of the show's world. That's what makes the show complete.<br /><br />And Buffy. I loved the show's ending and how it brings the whole mythology full circle to the beginning. "In every generation..." and turns it on its head. But maybe you have to be a girl to get the full power of the statement. It's not just about Buffy saving the world. It's about her teaching others and sharing the power.<br /><br />:)J.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71769468214123431712009-05-29T04:48:19.921-04:002009-05-29T04:48:19.921-04:00If we can suggest future questions, how about seri...If we can suggest future questions, how about series that started with weak/bad seasons, that went on to be great shows?<br /><br />Didn't both Cheers and Seinfeld begin weakly?Eldritchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247921343535184791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87280113730977878382009-05-29T03:03:42.796-04:002009-05-29T03:03:42.796-04:00I'd have ended "Six Feet Under" after the 2nd seas...I'd have ended "Six Feet Under" after the 2nd season with Nate going under for surgery. Not that the rest of the show was awful, but I'd remember it much more fondly after those incredibly strong first two seasons.<br /><br />I'd have ended "The West Wing" with Aaron Sorkin's last episode. The show and characters never felt quite the same after that point.<br /><br />I think I'd have ended "Weeds" after the fires in season 3 that burned down the housing community. Having Nancy get away from pot dealing and get into trafficking seemed like a bizarre choice that changed the show too much from what I'd come to like (and didn't seem to make much sense for her personally). Although, admittedly, it's tough sacrificing the 4th season if only because we'd be losing Kevin Nealon's noose scene in the season 4 finale (with that hilarious note to his ex-wife that started out like the old guy's suicide note from Shawshank Redemption).<br /><br />I think I'd have ended "NYPD Blue" after the first season without Sorenson. Ideally, I'd have had them end it immediately after Sorenson disappeared, but I think that would have meant they wouldn't have come back right after 9-11, which would have made me sad. So I wish they'd had one season with Andy breaking in another young partner, just to show life goes on, and let it end there.<br /><br />I wish they'd have ended "Friends" after the wedding in London. Ross says Rachel's name, Chandler hooks up with Monica -- boom! That's pretty much where the show ends up six years later anyway. I know the show was wildly successful, so there's no way they'd have ever killed it off at that point. But I'd remember that show so much more fondly if that's where they ended it.J.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11999053649820732449noreply@blogger.com