Top 10 TV Shows That Lasted Too Long
For this list, we'll be looking at television series that outstayed their welcomes and would have been more fondly remembered had they tightened up the story. We're not saying that these shows are necessarily bad, as some of them had respectable and popular runs, even until the end - just that they may have ran a little long and lessened in quality as a result. We're only including scripted shows though, so game, talk, and reality shows, as well as soap operas are excluded.
#10: “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
Top 20 Jokes Only Adults Will Get in SpongeBob SquarePants
Once a children’s show hits it big, you can guarantee that it won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Such is the case with “SpongeBob SquarePants,” which has been going strong since 1999. Yeah, just let that sink in for a moment. Its longevity is no surprise – it has become Nickelodeon’s highest-rated series, and it has spawned a mega franchise that has generated over $13 billion in revenue. However, this has come to the detriment of the show’s quality. Many fans agree that the earlier seasons are far superior (and more meme-able), and many argue that the show’s popularity plummeted after the release of the movie and the departure of showrunner Stephen Hillenburg.
#9: “Modern Family” (2009-)
Top 10 Underappreciated Modern Family Episodes
“Modern Family” was arguably the best network show of the 2009-10 television season. It’s first season was universally lauded, and no one was surprised when it won its first Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. And while no one is calling the show bad by any means, the quality has undoubtedly dropped in recent years. Viewers also began to jump ship sometime around Season 7, and while it is still relatively popular, it doesn’t bring in the viewers or the accolades it once did. The co-creators stated in early 2018 that they planned to end the show after its tenth season, but that same summer, it was being reported that ABC was discussing season 11.
#8: “Smallville” (2001-11)
Top 10 Best Lois & Clark Moments on Smallville
“Smallville” had a fantastic premise. We got to watch Clark Kent grow up in Smallville, Kansas, and its first four seasons portrayed Clark’s life in high school. It was a nice blend of character work involving a young Superman-to-be and traditional high school drama (it was on The WB after all). But then it just kept going. And going. And going. By the end of its run ten years later, the show had produced 217 episodes, and the fans had long stopped caring about Clark’s journey. Many agree that it should have ended after Clark’s graduation from high school, believing the later seasons to be too bloated and lore-heavy. Talk about a cash grab.
#7: “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
Top 10 Most Heartbreaking Grey's Anatomy Moments
Along with police procedurals, shows about hospitals and doctors have been a mainstay on network television for decades. And “Grey’s Anatomy” is an easy standout in the overcrowded genre. It has received numerous accolades and helped launch the careers of various stars, including Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey. It was all the rage in the mid-2000s, as it was a ratings juggernaut and routinely appeared on critics’ best-of lists. But in the age of prestige cable television and Netflix, few seem to care about network medical dramas anymore. And when you consider the constantly-changing cast, it’s easy to see why “Grey’s Anatomy” is a shell of its former self.
#6: “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-17)
Top 10 Unanswered Pretty Little Liars Questions
“Pretty Little Liars” was never a major critical success, as many critics called its mystery and teen-based drama eye-rolling and predictable. However, it was quite popular, especially within the social media-obsessed teenage demographic, prompting Freeform to produce seven seasons and 160 episodes. We challenge anyone to sustain a mystery-based series for over one hundred hours of story. The later seasons were harshly criticized for pandering to social media rather than telling a coherent story, and the show just became… weirder the more it went on. Add to that the horrible pacing and nonsensical storylines, and you have a show that really should have ended after just a season or two.
#5: “The Walking Dead” (2010-)
Top 20 Best Negan Moments from The Walking Dead
Alright “Walking Dead,” you’ve had your time in the spotlight. Time to call it quits. “The Walking Dead” was immensely popular during its first six or so seasons, often breaking cable ratings records. But the more it’s gone on, the more predictable and formulaic it has become. Find sanctuary, face trouble, find sanctuary, face trouble, find sanctuary, face trouble. Walking through the woods when... SUDDEN ZOMBIE ATTACK! It’s also been the source of some immense criticism in later seasons, including its manipulative storytelling and cheap production design. Viewers are quickly tuning out, critics aren’t caring anymore, and actors (including main star Andrew Lincoln) are jumping off like fleas. The show title is just ironic now.
#4: “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
Top 10 Amazing TV Shows That Slowly Died
We may get some flak for this, but come on. Did this show REALLY need over two hundred episodes? Fans and critics started to become a little jaded sometime around Season 5, when it was clear that the show was losing its narrative momentum and resorting to cheap jokes. The later seasons were especially criticized for being tired and trite. Even Jason Segel was criticizing the show way back in 2010, insulting its predictable, sitcom-y jokes and stating that he had nothing more to offer as Marshall. If this show just tightened the story and cut a season or three, it could have been one of the all-time great sitcoms.
#3: “Two and a Half Men” (2003-15)
Top 10 Shows That Ran Out of Ideas
We didn’t think this show would ever end. The early seasons of “Two and a Half Men” were quite decent, but two major things happened that significantly detracted from the show – the firing of Charlie Sheen and the aging of Angus T. Jones. Many fans agree that the character of Jake became less funny and more obnoxious as he got older, and Charlie Sheen’s departure was a major turning point for the show. And not in a good way. The show should have left the airwaves with Charlie Sheen, because let’s be honest, he was the only reason most were watching anyway.
#2: “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-)
The Big Bang Theory VS Young Sheldon
“The Big Bang Theory” is another Chuck Lorre creation that has lasted for far too long. That said, episodes are still averaging nearly 20 million viewers, so what do we know? They’re clearly doing something right. “The Big Bang Theory” has produced over 250 episodes and has been going strong for over ten years, although it was announced that the show’s twelfth season will finally be its last. We can’t really blame its longevity – it makes tons of money for the network, the crew, and especially the cast, and it’s clearly still enjoyed by millions of people. That said, we think 250+ episodes is more than enough for a simple sitcom. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. -“ER” (1994-2009) - “Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-) -“Dexter” (2006-13)
#1: “The Simpsons” (1989-)
Top 10 Times The Simpsons Infiltrated Invaded Other Shows
Yep, it’s “The Simpsons.” How could it not be? By this point, “The Simpsons’” longevity has become a bit of a joke. As of 2018, the show has produced a staggering thirty seasons and over 640 episodes, making it the country’s longest-running scripted TV show. Many people agree that the show’s golden age was its first ten or so seasons and that the quality has dramatically staggered throughout the proceeding twenty years. The humor went from relatable and satiric to overly zany and ridiculous, similar to shows like “Family Guy.” While it may now be a parody and shadow of its former self, the influence and legacy of “The Simpsons” cannot be denied.
0
0
flagged