Wait, hold up. Season 9? That could be trouble.
You see, it turns out that there have been several stalwart series that have lost their way by the ninth go-round. Whether it’s a case of the cast getting ridiculously blonder and slimmer — which is totally what happens to people in real life, right? — or whether an idea has just run its course, it’s sad to see a show you once loved stick around too long. For these shows, eight would have been enough.
Roseanne — Otherwise known as the lottery season, the Conners indulged in a new fantasy scenario every week, drastically butting heads with the groundbreaking show’s heretofore realistic look at working-class life. It was enough to make you think it was all a dream. Oh, wait, it was. Or at least it turned out to be excerpts from Roseanne’s novel about her life, during which she managed to deliver one of the most bummer series finales ever.
Scrubs — Creator Bill Lawrence all but said Season 9 was more about keeping his friends employed than anything else, and it showed. Suddenly converting Sacred Heart into a teaching hospital and subbing in a nondescript blonde for Zach Braff (while still having J.D. make a few halfhearted cameos) just didn’t work.
The Office — OK, I’ve heard this season has actually been pretty decent, but damned if I’m going to watch anymore. That trip to Florida last season was brutal. Bru. Tal.
The Facts of Life — Not even Mrs. Garrett stuck around for this show’s ridiculously tardy swan song. Cloris Leachman climbed aboard, and they even added a spunky kid (Mackenzie Astin) but the taking of the bad had long since surpassed the taking of the good.
American Idol — Reality shows aren’t immune to the Season 9 curse. The ratings juggernaut started to lose its way during this go-round, which was the first one without Paula Abdul, the only one with Ellen DeGeneres, and the last one with Kara DioGuardi and — gasp! — Simon Cowell. Also, the winner was Lee DeWyze, whose subsequent album ranked the lowest in sales of any previous Idol champ, leading RCA to dump him.
Dallas — Bobby Ewing in the shower. It was all a dream, Pamela! ‘Nuff said.
Photo: © 2012 Fox Television. Credit: Ron P. Jaffe
This show has direction and was always going to end with Ted finding his wife and the mother of his children in the final season. I have no doubt at all that the final season will be Legend, wait for it, Dary. I have enjoyed this show so much. I can’t believe that season 9 is coming up. Nine years, unbelievable.
Sometimes, a series does a slide down hill before the ninth season, it jumps the shark at some point