***SPOILER ALERT*** (see bottom of page)
There are few things filled with more disappointment and anticipation than when a popular TV show decides to call it quits. After all, fans nearly regard the characters of their favorite shows as friends and family. Successful shows often run for the better part of a decade, and they become ingrained in our lives and daily routines. Finales in particular are able to gather crowds, the M*A*S*H finale is still the most watched broadcast in American history (of course M*A*S*H wasn't only well done and incredibly popular, but it had the advantage of limited competition because few homes had cable at that point, and the big 3 networks still ruled the day). Everyone wants to know "how it ends", whatever "it" might be. Finales can create quite a buzz, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, and Lost all made big news and water cooler chatter when they came to their end. There is usually a big finally every few years or so, and there is a built up to the main event. But this year there is an inordinate number of fan favorites and critically acclaimed programs that are winding down.
For some reason 2011 will be the end point for 4 shows that in one way or another have shaped television and pop culture over their run. This summer is the last season for The Closer, Weeds, Rescue Me, and Entourage. DVRs across America are going to have plenty of free space with these massively popular shows leaving a huge vacuum behind.
TNTs The Closer is the most popular show in cable history. Ok, there are a few qualifiers in that statement. It had the "top-rated premier episode ever for any scripted series on basic cable", drawing 7.03 million viewers. And the second season premiere had the largest premiere audience (8.28 million viewers) for a scripted cable series. It is the most viewed scripted series of all time.
There are a few reasons for this. First of all it is well scripted, supremely acted, and gritty without being grotesque. It is a police drama based on the lead characters ability to see through and get even the sliest of criminals to confess to seemingly unsolvable crimes. There are those who believe it to be statement of feminist ideals, based on the strength and cunning of the main character Brenda Leigh Johnson holding her own in a male dominated field. But people don't usually watch TV to make statements. People watch what they like, and Deputy Chief Johnson is exceedingly likable (unless you are the focus of her interrogation). In fact the entire Major Crimes Division is filled with an array of great characters played by a strong cast. The show is versatile and fun and keeps fans coming back week after week.
But there is another less obvious reason for its success. The Closer benefited from some significant technological and cultural changes. First off it followed pioneers like ER and The Sopranos, the former proving that TV air time could be used for more than just time filler and real great things could be done on television, and the latter showing that movie quality weekly programing would drive viewership even on subscription cable. Another major change that aided The Closer was in the cable box itself. The Digital Video Recorder (or DVR) opened up hours, days, and months that previously were a programming wasteland. Prior to DVR technology the summer months were left to Baseball and re-runs, and nobody really questioned it, after all viewers were all out doing something outside or on vacation. And while you could tape your favorite show on a VCR, it was nothing close to the ease of pushing a few buttons on a remote and set up entire series recordings. Plus the DVR was easier for the cable company to track to better understand ratings.
The Closer is not only a smart and entertaining show, but it was one of the first programs on basic cable to take advantage of a new horizon and firmly planted itself as the best show of the summer. That bold decision paid off. It might have been a big fish in a little summer time slot pond, but with its initial success it showed that even this little old scripted basic cable drama could be a big fish in any pond. So, we solute you Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, and Major Crimes Division, you will be missed.
Another show with a strong female lead that has had a successful run and a fanatical following is Weeds. The fate of the program is not yet completely sealed, and there appear to be recent hints that Showtime might be rethinking early reports that this would be the final year. The decision will not be a light one since Weeds is routinely the highest viewed program on the network. In fact the 4th season premiere was the highest ever viewership with 1.3 million, aided by the shift of the premiere from August in the first 3 seasons to June, taking advantage of the summer months much like The Closer.
Weeds is also interesting because it reinvents itself nearly every season. The initial concept of Nancy Botwin, a widowed soccer mom (played by golden globe winning Mary-Louise Parker) who turns to a life of drug dealing to make ends meet became untenable. She was either going to get caught eventually, or she was going to have a nice little business that never had any problems, neither of which make real compelling television. So, like a phoenix from the ashes (quite literally after Nancy burns down the entire fictional town of Agrestic, CA at the end of season 3) Weeds is reinvented season after season. In a way it is the first show to spin-off of itself every year. The characters are the same, and it maintains the same sardonic wit, but typical constructs of when and where are not only sidestepped but often defiantly cast off as superfluous. As long as Nancy is selling pot to keep the Botwin clan afloat the rest of the particulars don't matter. This season might be the last chance to prove that they can make that work. So even though Weeds might go up in smoke, we put our lighters in the air in hopes of an encore.
Speaking of smoke, Rescue Me on FX, Dennis Leary's homage to post 9/11 New York City Firefighters is also finishing its 7 season run. While its viewership numbers are not as eye popping as some other shows (4.1 million for its debut episode ranks #8 for basic cable premiers), it is a gem of a program that pulls no punches and treats many of today's scariest issues with brutal honesty, respect, and humor. Many people might be turned off by its rampant alcohol abuse, sex, foul language, violence, and general disregard for anything resembling sophistication, but Rescue Me has real heart, soul, and five alarm comedy. It is irreverent, unabashed, and some might consider it crass, but it is important. More important than some are willing to give it credit for.
These dark discussions need to happen, it helps us be self aware. It is nice to know that some writers out there don't want to be our friend. They want to make us laugh, and cry, but most of all think. And some thoughts are just unpleasant, that doesn't mean we shouldn't allow our minds to face them. While Rescue Me might not leave as deep a void in terms of fans, it is just as important as any of the shows on this list. Appropriately the series finale is the Wednesday before the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It promises to be an emotional ending, but it shouldn't be too hard for us to put our trust in the hands of Ladder 62.
Probably the most popular of the shows that is coming to an end this season is Entourage. The semi-biographical story of an A-list movie star and his hangers-on. The show, that is loosely based on Mark Wahlberg and his crew, gained immense popularity right off the bat, capitalizing on the cushy HBO Sunday night time slot, and a hipper than thou outlook. Its popularity is not so based in a thoughtful script, or dealing with taboos and issues of the day, it is just cool. Guilty pleasure cool. I'd like to live like that for one week cool. Cool people, cool cars, cool hobbies, cool clothes, cool trips, cool reservations at cool restaurants, cool, cool, cool. Ah, the life of young Hollywood. Whatever the attraction the show is a phenomenon, and it will leave a big wake. But we shouldn't feel too bad for HBO, they are a factory that churns out fantastic programing year in and year out. But it is sad to see the career of young Vinnie Chase cut short in the prime of his life... Does anyone know if Vinnie is 27?**
One last note: Mad Men just signed on for its final 3 years... Which means that it doesn't exactly fit this list, but the clock is ticking on Don Draper too.
***be careful, if you haven't ever seen these shows certain elements of the shows are discussed openly
**I know nothing of the finale of Entourage and have no reason to think that the writers would kill Vinnie off to end the series
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