Time to Go?
Preparing for that final curtain
Knowing when to leave, and then executing that exit strategy with dignity and creative energy intact, is possibly the toughest task in all of TV. (
Everybody Loves Raymond pulled it off better than most.) In the year ahead, quite a few longtime faves are heading toward the finish line, even if some — like the fading
West Wing — have yet to make it official. Here's my take on how these swan songs are playing out. While watching them, I also started wondering which ones are most likely to live on in spin-offs and which are best suited for nostalgic reunions somewhere down the road.
The West Wing
Sundays, 8 pm/ET, NBC
Season: 7
Showing its age? By definition, a lame duck is no spring chicken. Moving this once-majestic show to Sunday was a death blow, but the Bartlet gang had already grown stale. The campaign episodes pitting Vinick (Alan Alda) against Santos (Jimmy Smits) have the old spirit, but once the prez passes the torch, it’s over.
Spin-off? Impeach the very thought.
Reunion? Ditto.
Alias
Returns in spring to ABC
Season: 5
Showing its age? Syd is showing, all right, but with baby. This flashy spy caper is still great fun, though it’s starting to repeat itself — Prophet 5 the new Covenant? And as new agents take the spotlight while Syd’s on the sidelines and Vaughn plays dead, it really is time to go out with a bang.
Spin-off? A long shot, but the bad guys could carry it.
Reunion? On the big screen would be nice.
Will & Grace
Thursdays, 8 pm/ET (in January), NBC
Season: 8
Showing its age? Sad but true. Even this season’s guest stars (Jason Biggs?) lack oomph. Like champagne left open, there are glimmers of the old fizz and bite, but the aftertaste is sour and flat. Still, Will and Jack’s friendship has grown lately beyond bitchy quips. There’s hope this faded classic can go out with pride.
Spin-off? Puh-leeze!
Reunion? If The Golden Girls can do it…
That '70s Show
Wednesdays, 8 pm/ET, Fox
Season: 8
Showing its age? More than most. Eric (Topher Grace) is away in Africa. Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) is in Chicago. Those left behind in Wisconsin don’t merely suffer from empty-nest syndrome, they’ve got empty-show disease. Whatever they’re still smoking, the show is no longer on a high.
Spin-off? Doubtful. That '80s Show was a dud.
Reunion? If only to check out the hairdos.
7th Heaven
Mondays, 8 pm/ET, WB
Season: 10
Showing its age? Yes, as any old-fashioned family drama does. Even good-for-you things must come to an end, and once the Camden kids graduated from growing pains to labor pains, some of the early charm was lost. (And not everyone’s acting has matured over time.) Still, there’s a big appetite for comfort food like this.
Spin-off? Likely.
Reunion? Isn’t that what families do?
