The audience notices when television series producers try to squeeze too much juice out of the rind. The law of diminishing returns? More like the law of diminishing re-runs!
Some television shows should have quit while they were ahead. Too often, that's just not how Hollywood works.
1. The Walking Dead
The rare zombie show that receives high critical praise, The Walking Dead eventually became a dead show walking thanks to repetitive plot points, bizarre characters, and increasingly belief-defying storylines. Nearly every Walking Dead fan will give you a similar evaluation: Great, but 11 seasons was far too much.
2. Grey's Anatomy
Nineteen seasons! That's how long Dr. Meredith Grey and her band of merry physicians have remained on the air. Many marriages have grown stale after 19 years. How could a television show expect to capture the viewers' imaginations for darn near two decades (and counting)?
2. Grey's Anatomy
There's only so much to do in a hospital, but you don't let go when you've got the coveted 20-to-70-year-old female viewer demographic in a stranglehold. We're going to need a doctor over here!
3. That 70's Show
Eight seasons is hardly overdoing it for a comedy show as popular as That '70s Show. Unfortunately, however, the show went downhill quickly once Topher Grace's Eric and Ashton Kutcher's Kelso became increasingly sparse (both actors were increasingly pursuing film roles).
4. Two and a Half Men
Remember when Charlie Sheen was a bona fide television star? America loved them some Charlie Sheen, along with his cast members on Two and a Half Men. After Sheen revealed himself to be a raving lunatic, the show proceeded for four more seasons with Ashton Kutcher in Sheen's place.
4. Two and a Half Men
Kutcher is entertaining enough, but he's not a 1-for-1 replacement for Charlie Sheen. And thus, Two and a Half Men slowly fizzled and faded away.
5. The Simpsons
Arguably the best-animated comedy series of all time, The Simpsons has become a parody of itself. Still a plump cash cow after nearly 40 seasons on the air, the comedy aspect of The Simpsons has been lacking for years. Aye, Kurumba, let The Simpsons be d'oh-ver already.
6. Arrested Development
Loyal fans of Arrested Development will attest that the original show ended far too early. As a result, the cult classic never got the expected ratings of a Fox primetime comedy and was canceled after three seasons.
6. Arrested Development
But the two rebooted seasons that aired almost a decade after the original's cancellation fell flat. Many feel that three seasons of can't-miss comedy was plenty.
7. Riverdale
Slated to end after seven seasons, Riverdale is a hip twist on Archie Comics. With that pitch, it's a miracle that Riverdale made it on the air for one episode.
7. Riverdale
But after attracting a sizable, youthful audience, the Riverdale creators have discovered the fickle nature of a young audience. As teen viewers get older, Riverdale stays the same age. Unfortunately, that's not a good thing.
8. The Big Bang Theory
How much Sheldon is too much Sheldon? Some might say one season is too much, Sheldon. So, The Big Bang Theory's twelve-season run (with inexplicable popularity throughout) is overkill. Although, considering CBS immediately unleashed Young Sheldon on viewers, did The Big Bang Theory ever really end?
9. Glee
The quirky Glee was like karaoke night on primetime television. A show many avoided like the plague was absolutely must-watch TV for a large population segment. But even hardcore Glee fans will admit that Satisfaction or Vague Feeling of Content would have been more appropriate show titles as the seasons wore on.
10. Roseanne
The Roseanne reboot ended unceremoniously, which may obscure the similarly ungraceful final seasons of the original show. One critic notes that the show became increasingly un-Roseanne-like as writers clawed for new storylines, including infidelity and the Conners winning the lottery.
This thread inspired this post.
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