Why Some Great TV Shows Spoiled Their Legacies by Staying on Too Long

TV history is replete with examples of shows that, despite initial success and critical acclaim, ultimately ruined their legacies by stretching on for far too many seasons. These series, while once beloved, faltered in their later years, succumbing to overproduction or loss of key creative figures. This essay explores several examples, including Beverly Hills 90210, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons, and delves into the reasons behind their decline.

The Decline of Beverly Hills 90210

Beverly Hills 90210 originally ran for 10 seasons, but it’s widely accepted that the quality dramatically dropped after the seventh or eighth season. The final two seasons, seasons 9 and 10, were marred by absurd plot lines that harked back to daytime soap operas. By this point, the series had become a shell of its former self, with new characters like Gina and Matt introduced to replace those who had left, without really improving the overall narrative. Many fans, including myself, can barely recall the last two seasons, as they lack the charm or cohesion of the earlier episodes. The series, in essence, lost its soul and became a shadow of its former brilliance.

The Unfulfilling End of Seinfeld

Another example is Seinfeld. While I personally didn’t resonate with the show, it clearly struck a chord with a massive audience. The character arcs, though often questionable, attracted millions of viewers. However, the final season, much like the years preceding it, offered more of the same—Kramer’s antics and George’s questionable behavior (including the infamous George killed his fiancé! joke). The finale was an unfortunate culmination of everything that made the show less enjoyable in its later seasons, with characters seemingly being sent to jail in a haphazard attempt at a satisfying conclusion.

The Never-Ending Story: The Simpsons and South Park

Both The Simpsons and South Park are notable for their unexpectedly long lifespans. While The Simpsons boasts an impressive 35 seasons, the humor that once captivated audiences has in many ways become adolescent and crass. The show has lost some of its edge and wit, relying too heavily on over-the-top humor that may resonate with younger viewers but fails to entertain the more discerning adult audience. Similarly, South Park lost its allure after the "PC Babies" and "Member Berries" episodes. While the first five to six seasons were exceptional, the show’s evolution into more politically charged and sometimes controversial territory led to a decline in quality and originality.

Sequels and Continuation without Key Creators

Several shows have been left feeling hollow after important creators have left the fold. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrine is one such example. After its initial success, the show was relaunched twice, each time with diminished quality as the key creator, Leonard Rossiter, had left the project. Similarly, Smallville continued long past the departure of creators Eric Gores and Brian Miller, losing its artistic integrity and becoming a relic of a bygone era.

Restraint and Freshness

Other shows managed to keep their quality and even reinvigorate themselves through strategic content changes. JAG, despite its eventual decline, initially managed to maintain its high standard by diversifying plot lines. Gunsmoke is another example of a show that continued out of inertia rather than creative necessity, ultimately losing its appeal and relevancy. NCIS and Seinfeld straddled the line of staying relevant by incorporating new cast members and fresh storylines, but ultimately found themselves trapped by the lingering presence of Mark Harmon and Jerry Seinfeld, respectively.

Classic Shows that Outlived Their Prime

Finally, it’s worth mentioning Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which was a fantastic show in its early seasons. In its later years, however, the show’s creator, Irwin Allen, oversaw a decline into excessively campy monster-of-the-week stories. Episodes like the Heat Monster, the Lobster Man, and the Rock People were far from the espionage and mystery that had made the series a hit.

Conclusion

These examples illustrate the often-tenuous nature of long-running series. While it’s difficult to come to a premature end of a beloved show, overstaying one’s welcome can result in disappointing outcomes. It’s a reminder that in the world of television, as in any art form, timely execution and restraint can be just as important as the initial spark of creativity. Whether it’s a matter of creative burnout, shifting audience demographics, or an inability to reinvent a beloved series, the key to a lasting legacy often lies in knowing when to step away and let the audience and actors move on to new and exciting endeavors.