TV series that went on (or a going on) too long

[Shakermaker]

Tony Starks said:

Lost has got to be the winner here, started off great. Then it seemed like the studio took over the story due to its popularity and tried to squeeze as much money out of it as possible. Then the writers strike killed it. And after how many seasons of them saying they're not in purgatory, they were.

I'd love to know what the original, unmolested story was.

And why is it, ever since the writers strike its acceptable to have 'mid season breaks' in everything?

I'm sure I read an article/interview with some of the writers who eventually admitted that they just made it up most of the time

[rambo19]

Only fools and horses.

[droopsnoot]

Tony Starks said:

And why is it, ever since the writers strike its acceptable to have 'mid season breaks' in everything?

Maybe that's what they were striking for, sounds a bit better than calling it "half term".

FunkyNige said:

Heroes - I remember series 1 being good but pretty crap after that

Yes, good one - I gave up on that when they introduced a character that could make itself look exactly like one of the others. Very much a "Dallas shower" moment, if it looks like the storyline is getting out of hand you can just reverse it and say it was the other one, pretending to be someone else.

[Jazoli]

The Simpsons, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Silent Witness and Top Gear to name a few, the soaps are utter dross, Coronation street has its moments but they all are drivel for the masses,Eastenders is especially bad, full of shouty Z list 'celebrities' most of the household are addicted to them but I cannot understand why

[Crush]

Oh and that Hollyoaks rubbish. I find it hard to understand how unbelievable yet dull storylines involving people shouting at each other can be so popular.

[DuckAvenger]

My Family, Frasier, Friends.

[165gt]

zygalski said:

Also, and I know this goes against the grain, but The Sopranos. This could have been reduced by 2 or 3 seasons' worth of episodes. I found quite a few episodes involved spats between minor characters who I didn't really care about or never heard of again. Also, they killed Tony's mum off way too early. She was fantastic.

The actress who played his mother died, hence her being written out...a great character though!

[DSLiverpool]

The obvious ultra winner is ..... Big Brother - we got 2-3 series out of it then fame hungry wannabe cock sockets took over

[Iva Barchetta]

Good call,that really is the thread winner.

Channel 4 knew it was time but 5 took it on instead.

[AlexRS2782]

Iva Barchetta said:

Good call,that really is the thread winner.

Channel 4 knew it was time but 5 took it on instead.

Yeah, we have bloody Richard Desmond to thank for that. When he was the owner of C5 he bought the rights to it as he wanted to use the z list celebrity version to boost sales of the newspaper (Express) & magazines (think OK, Now, etc) that he owns as they all thrive on celeb gossip

When he sold C5 in 2014 everyone hoped C5 would drop it, but unfortunately not

[nicanary]

Dixon of Dock Green.

[anonymous-user]

I really love it but I fear that NCIS may be going a little too long.

[Alex]

24

[Iva Barchetta]

techiedave said:

I really love it but I fear that NCIS may be going a little too long.

They've tried freshen ups with 2 spin offs,LA and New Orleans.

The same but different.

[strummerville]

Iva Barchetta said:

Coronation Street.....

Yep.

[Cotty]

DuckAvenger said:

My Family

I don't know anyone who even watched that.

[Aphex]

Tony Starks said:

And after how many seasons of them saying they're not in purgatory, they were.

Not quite right but I do remember reading that they originally planned for 3 seasons and due to popularity had to stretch it out.

[jet_noise]

grumbledoak said:

I just popped in to say that, but you beat me to it. It went on so long that most probably don't realize that the first two series were both original and funny.


(You would have to be quite old now to remember Secret Army, which 'Allo 'Allo was the comedy riposte to)

Rang a bell with me "Fairly Secret Army". Reggie Perrin spinoff. Not that it went on too long at all, just reminiscing,

as you were,
Jet

[MG CHRIS]

Orchid1 said:

"Not Going Out"

I don't know a single person who has ever watched it, I think I watched 5 seconds of an episode a few years ago and that was enough for me. I don't know who keeps re-newing it.

No way love not going out.

[bingybongy]

sjg said:

Sons of Anarchy all got very silly for the last few seasons.

Just the last few?
The series in Ireland was toss and it was all silly.
I watched every episode though.