28 TV shows that went on way too long — sorry

Gabbi ShawJun 27, 2020, 23:07 IST

Meredith is the only person left standing — it's time to end "Grey's."ABC

Sometimes, your favorite show gets canceled before its time. Other shows go out on a high note and provide fans with closure.
These 28 shows are not that. In fact, they should have ended way before their networks finally pulled the plug.
There's no reason that "The Office" should have had two more seasons without Michael Scott.

Some long-running television shows remain great for a very long time, while others are allowed to end gracefully, or are canceled before they get terrible.

These 28 shows are not examples of that.

The much more common ending to a show is that it lasts way too long, quality declines, stars leave, and storylines become wildly unrealistic. Whether it's Fonzie literally jumping the shark on "Happy Days," or half the original characters of "Once Upon A Time" leaving the show, the following 28 shows definitely overstayed their welcome.

"The Big Bang Theory" mercifully pulled the plug after 12 seasons, and approximately one million "Bazingas."

"The Big Bang Theory." Warner Bros.

"The West Wing" should have ended when creator Aaron Sorkin left the show.

"The West Wing." NBC

When the main characters of "Scrubs" left the show after season 8, it should've been a sign that it was time to end it.

"Scrubs." Getty Images

By the time "Friends" reached its 10th season, it became clear that the writers were running out of ideas.

"Friends." NBC

"Pretty Little Liars" should have ended when they revealed the identity of "A" in season 2 — the show inexplicably lasted another five seasons.

"Pretty Little Liars." Freeform

"The Vampire Diaries" probably should have called it quits after the show's star Nina Dobrev left in season 6 — it finally ended two years later.

"The Vampire Diaries." The CW

"One Tree Hill" would have been great if it had said goodbye after high school graduation.

"One Tree Hill." The CW

"Scandal" became increasingly ridiculous and soapy as time went on, before finally ending in 2018.

"Scandal." ABC

A 17th season of "Grey's Anatomy" has been ordered — but it has overstayed its welcome.

"Grey's Anatomy." Buena Vista Television

"Once Upon A Time" tried to continue on after ditching six of its main characters, but it would have made more sense to pull the plug.

"Once Upon A Time." ABC

Even Seth MacFarlane, creator of "Family Guy," believes that the show should have ended after its seventh season — and it's been renewed for a 19th season.

"Family Guy." Fox

"Glee" was always kind of a mess, but it really started to go off the rails when some of the original characters graduated high school.

"Glee." Fox

The first season of "Gossip Girl" was a perfect season of high school dramedy — it was all downhill from there.

"Gossip Girl." Charles Sykes/AP

"Gilmore Girls" had a weirdly dark season 6, and wasn't able to course-correct in season 7 after creator Amy Sherman Palladino left. The Netflix revival wasn't exactly well-received by fans either.

"Gilmore Girls." Netflix

"Gilmore Girls" had a weirdly dark season 6, and wasn't able to course-correct in season 7 after creator Amy Sherman Palladino left. The Netflix revival wasn't exactly well-received by fans either.

The innovative premise of "24" quickly got old — it definitely didn't need eight seasons, a TV movie, a reboot, and a spin-off.

"24." Fox / YouTube

"Smallville" took an excruciating 10 seasons for Clark Kent to finally become Superman.

"Smallville." Warner Bros.

"That '70s Show" took eight seasons to depict 3 1/2 years: May 1976 to December 1979. The show also never recovered from the departures of stars Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher.

"That '70s Show." FOX

"That '70s Show" took eight seasons to depict 3 1/2 years: May 1976 to December 1979. The show also never recovered from the departures of stars Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher.

Later seasons of "The Office" were never able to recapture the magic of the first few seasons — especially after the departure of Steve Carell.

"The Office." "The Office"/NBC

"Happy Days" originated the term "jumping the shark" — a name for what happens when a TV show has to resort to ridiculous stunts in order to drum up publicity.

"Happy Days." Happy Days / YouTube screencap

It's borderline impossible to find someone who watched "Weeds" all the way until the end, when it became way too dark to enjoy.

"Weeds." Showtime

"True Blood" went downhill after it was revealed that Sookie was a fairy. She described it best when she found out the news: "I'm a fairy? How f-----g lame."

"True Blood." HBO/YouTube screencap

The series finale of "How I Met Your Mother" has been one of the most divisive in history, but the truth is the show lost its spark way before that.

"How I Met Your Mother." Richard Cartwright/Fox

"Dexter" became more frustrating as time went on, and nothing bad ever happened to the titular serial killer with a code.

"Dexter." Randy Tepper / Showtime

"Modern Family" ended this year after its eleventh season, finally.

"Modern Family." 20th Television

"Desperate Housewives" became harder to stomach over the years.

"Desperate Housewives." ABC

Not even Ashton Kutcher could save "Two and a Half Men."

"Two and a Half Men." CBS

"Supernatural" is finally ending after 15 seasons on The CW.

"Supernatural." Diyah Pera/The CW

Sometimes, when a show's will-they-or-won't-they couple finally does, the show loses its spark. Just ask "Castle" fans.

"Castle." ABC

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28 TV shows that went on way too long — sorry

"The Big Bang Theory" mercifully pulled the plug after 12 seasons, and approximately one million "Bazingas."

"The West Wing" should have ended when creator Aaron Sorkin left the show.

When the main characters of "Scrubs" left the show after season 8, it should've been a sign that it was time to end it.

By the time "Friends" reached its 10th season, it became clear that the writers were running out of ideas.

"Pretty Little Liars" should have ended when they revealed the identity of "A" in season 2 — the show inexplicably lasted another five seasons.

"The Vampire Diaries" probably should have called it quits after the show's star Nina Dobrev left in season 6 — it finally ended two years later.

"One Tree Hill" would have been great if it had said goodbye after high school graduation.

"Scandal" became increasingly ridiculous and soapy as time went on, before finally ending in 2018.

A 17th season of "Grey's Anatomy" has been ordered — but it has overstayed its welcome.

"Once Upon A Time" tried to continue on after ditching six of its main characters, but it would have made more sense to pull the plug.

Even Seth MacFarlane, creator of "Family Guy," believes that the show should have ended after its seventh season — and it's been renewed for a 19th season.

"Glee" was always kind of a mess, but it really started to go off the rails when some of the original characters graduated high school.

The first season of "Gossip Girl" was a perfect season of high school dramedy — it was all downhill from there.

"Gilmore Girls" had a weirdly dark season 6, and wasn't able to course-correct in season 7 after creator Amy Sherman Palladino left. The Netflix revival wasn't exactly well-received by fans either.

The innovative premise of "24" quickly got old — it definitely didn't need eight seasons, a TV movie, a reboot, and a spin-off.

"Smallville" took an excruciating 10 seasons for Clark Kent to finally become Superman.

"That '70s Show" took eight seasons to depict 3 1/2 years: May 1976 to December 1979. The show also never recovered from the departures of stars Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher.

Later seasons of "The Office" were never able to recapture the magic of the first few seasons — especially after the departure of Steve Carell.

"Happy Days" originated the term "jumping the shark" — a name for what happens when a TV show has to resort to ridiculous stunts in order to drum up publicity.

It's borderline impossible to find someone who watched "Weeds" all the way until the end, when it became way too dark to enjoy.

"True Blood" went downhill after it was revealed that Sookie was a fairy. She described it best when she found out the news: "I'm a fairy? How f-----g lame."

The series finale of "How I Met Your Mother" has been one of the most divisive in history, but the truth is the show lost its spark way before that.

"Dexter" became more frustrating as time went on, and nothing bad ever happened to the titular serial killer with a code.

"Modern Family" ended this year after its eleventh season, finally.

"Desperate Housewives" became harder to stomach over the years.

Not even Ashton Kutcher could save "Two and a Half Men."

"Supernatural" is finally ending after 15 seasons on The CW.

Sometimes, when a show's will-they-or-won't-they couple finally does, the show loses its spark. Just ask "Castle" fans.