How long ' should ' a t.v. show last ?

POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 14:59
VIEWED: 6576
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AURAPTOR

Saturday, June 3, 2006 8:33 PM

I know, the network weasles will tell us ..as long as it gets good ratings ! But that's not what I mean. We know all too well that some shows never get a chance ( Firefly, Wonderfalls, etc... ) and despite a very loyal, intelligent and tenacious following, they are gone far too quicly.

But clearly there are some shows which do make it for several years, and even some that stick around TOO long.

So, is 5 years the target by which most shows idealy look toward ? Is 10 yrs too much ? Those who are Buffy/Angel fans, are 7 and 5 yrs about what you'd have expected ? Too long ? What do ya think?

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

DOWIE100

Saturday, June 3, 2006 8:38 PM

I would say as long as there are on a creative high, i.e. not repeating themselves or dull.

Firefly would ideally have been 4-8 serie's.

"You can't take the sky from me"

DAVESHAYNE

Saturday, June 3, 2006 8:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
So, is 5 years the target by which most shows idealy look toward ? Is 10 yrs too much ? Those who are Buffy/Angel fans, are 7 and 5 yrs about what you'd have expected ? Too long ? What do ya think?

It depends on the show of course but 5 to 7 years seems like a good average for an otherwise quality show. After that most shows start repeating themselves.

David

"Not completely as well as the series of Firefly..." - From a review of Serenity at amazon.de

ILLYRIAWASHBURNE

Saturday, June 3, 2006 8:43 PM

buffy, in my opinion could have ended a season earlier and i would have been happy. i loved the seventh season and i'm never going to be "happy" it's over, but i do think that buffy went a bit too long. as for angel, i don't think that was long enough. i'm really not sure that one more year would have done it for me either, so i guess it really just depends on the show. i think that 5 years is a good run, and 10 years is quite often too long, but i think as long as a show gets a closing number, it's done well enough.

so as for firefly, wonderfalls, the inside, point pleasant, and all those other shows that were cut WAY too early, it's not fair.

"I looked under twenty and found a pea and you wonder why i'm not sleeping?!?!"

SIMONWHO

Saturday, June 3, 2006 8:54 PM

I think shows that have an arc should know when that arc is going to end and finish it properly. The X-Files went on and on and on and on and on. They should have completely finished the arc in the movie that was after season 5, even if that meant doing something totally radical like starting a global alien invasion that was seen by the public then totally reinvent the show. As it was, they drove lots of people away and ran the franchise into the ground.

The maxim is 'always leave them wanting more' but that should probably have the addendum that they should be screaming at you in the street for more.

JOSSISAGOD

Saturday, June 3, 2006 9:04 PM

I agree with dowie100, as long as it doesn't start repeating itself, usually around five to seven seasons for a Joss Whedon caliber show.

JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

GWENHARKER

Saturday, June 3, 2006 9:17 PM

Most shows, if I remember correctly, have a five year contract with their actors. Then when they resign, It's up to eight season. Of course, it's been awhile so I may be wrong but I remember reading some articles on it.

IMO, if it weren't for Firefly and the network split, Buffy and Angel could've kept on the high track and probably would've lasted another 'good' season. But Firefly happened and the two shows suffered so...

Depending on the content of the show, 5 seasons is a good number and could usually go on for another season.

How Charmed lasted as long as it did, I'll never know.

GIXXER

Saturday, June 3, 2006 11:31 PM

For as long as it is good. As in imaginative, well scripted / acted / directed.

However, for anything with a Live Studio Audience, they should consider pulling the plug when they get the whooping troop of baboons effect simply because a character walks on stage.

I wouldn't call myself extraordinarily discerning, but I'd reserve my cheers for something wortwhile

www.jumptheshark.com offers opinions.

(Yes, I did look at the Firefly entry.)

Some predictable / justified love, but also the hardy perennial gripes are present and correct; too many characters / too western / not enough ray guns / moral objections to Inara.

KANEMAN

Saturday, June 3, 2006 11:34 PM

'till they jump the shark

REGINAROADIE

Sunday, June 4, 2006 12:17 AM

I agree that a show should only last between 5 and 7 years. I know with BUFFY that if they did end it at five with "The Gift", then they would have left on a perfect note. And while seasons 6 and 7 had their moments, you could tell that they were getting a bit long in the tooth. As per ANGEL (Still havn't seen season 5), I know people were up in arms of it ending after 5 years, but I think it was the right choice. I mean, they could have gone on for two more years like BUFFY and drove it into the ground. But apparrantly, they left on a high note that's still ringing out to this day.

As for shows that last ten years or so, yeah you do get some shows that just seem to go on and on. SEVENTH HEAVEN is the thing that pops into my mind immediately. They do the wholesome family act thing for like ten years, they say they're finished...and then they turn around and say "We're still not done yet." It's like going to a six hour play, you see them bow and do the curtain call, and then they do like a half hour sketch to entertain you when all you want to do is go to the bathroom, get a smoke, get a drink and go home.

But in some cases, there are shows that actually seem to get better as they go along. My example for this is SOUTH PARK. This and their last season (seasons 10 and 9) are IMHO, their best seasons yet. They've finally hit on the perfect formula for their episodes, and are at the top of their game. They've found that perfect blend of social and political satire, jaw dropping "Oh my God, I can't believe I'm actually seeing this" humor and truthful characterizations of their kids. And the last season of FRASIER was pretty satisfying in that you saw these characters for the last ten years and their series long arch come to an end.

So yeah, I think that 5 to 7 years should be the length of any series, but if they touch into something great, then their 9th or 10 could end up being their best seasons. I guess it's a matter of "have we explored this world and these characters long enough?" I think with a show like LOST, I think maybe they should end on a high note before they make the mythology of the show even more confusing and frustrate people to the point where they just don't give a damn and just want them to be rescued. You can only do so many flashbacks and whatever before you exhaust your avenue's of storytelling.

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"There's only one "Return" ok, and it ain't "of the King", it's "of the Jedi."

"Maybe we should start calling your friend 'Padme' because he loves 'Mannequin Skywalker' so much, Right? (imitating robot) Danger...danger...my name is Anakin...my shitty acting is ruining saga."

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