Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons?

Joe Washington · January 21 2010, 05:26 AM

A six-season show that ended with a satyisfying bang than a disappointing whimper. Because I've noticed that the number of shows with good six-year runs are a lot fewer in number than the number of shows with good five-year runs or lesser. Do you think that's true? And if yes, why do you think that's the case?

StarshipDefiant · January 21 2010, 06:39 AM

Joe Washington wrote:

A six-season show that ended with a satyisfying bang than a disappointing whimper. Because I've noticed that the number of shows with good six-year runs are a lot fewer in number than the number of shows with good five-year runs or lesser. Do you think that's true? And if yes, why do you think that's the case?

Ultimately, I think a wide range of reasons is, that it can be hard to carry out a multi season arc/story (if there is one) past four to five seasons and still keep it interesting and ending it with a "bang" as you say. There can be a wide range of reasons, ranging from writers of a particular series only able to do so much, to network/studio limitations, etc... Not to mention unexpected obsticals, actors leaving, staff changing, etc... I've come to find that by year six, most everyone involved (if not earlier by a season or two) are ready to move on, thereby the work can suffer.

That's just my take on it, so in short...I couldn't really think of a six season successful series, no.

MEATLOAFr · January 21 2010, 06:40 AM

Simpsons?

EnterpriseF · January 21 2010, 06:59 AM

Gunsmoke?

Rageforthemachine · January 21 2010, 07:08 AM

The Shield did, and added one more season for good measure.

Harvey · January 21 2010, 07:15 AM

Curb Your Enthusiasm. And I hear season seven is great, too.

JonathonWally · January 21 2010, 07:32 AM

Cheers?

sidious618 · January 21 2010, 07:34 AM

Are you saying a show that ended after six seasons or a show that had at least six successful seasons?

Hermiod · January 21 2010, 07:54 AM

Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Sparky · January 21 2010, 08:52 AM

Doctor Who

Jax · January 21 2010, 09:17 AM

LOST

soon to be

Aragorn · January 21 2010, 10:07 AM

Are you talking about shows that ran for six or more years that were consistently good for each and every year? Which would rule out something like 24.

Mallet · January 21 2010, 10:09 AM

I believe it can sometime be a matter of contracts with the studio producing the series.

My understanding is that most show runners start with a 1 year contract, which can then be extended in two year increments by the studio depending on the shows ratings and popularity. So season 3,5 & 7 can often end with a major change up behind the scenes with can then lead to good shows going downhill in either season 4 or 6 (and maybe 8, but most shows never make it that far). the actors are usually on different contract lengths which is why they sometimes leave part way through later seasons, or have to stay on even after the original shows creators have moved on. The same goes with writers who usually only have 1 year contracts, so over the course of a series a lot of the original writers might be eventually let go so you are left with people writing the show that wern't on it at the beginning.

I also feel that 5 years is probably the most time you can expect a a show creator/runner to maintain a decent amount of interest and enthusiasm for the shows storylines, characters, concepts, setting, etc... These people are artists (usually writers that have moved up the Hollywood chain) and five years is a long time to be focused on one set of characters.

Supernatural is a show facing this dilemma at the end of this season. the shows creator's contract is up so he is leaving (after 5 seasons), but the main actors are all still contracted out for at least one more season, so if the studio/network decide to do another season, they will have to get a new show runner to pick up the reigns and take things in his own direction. Whether this is good or bad depends on what he decides to do with the show.

LitmusDragon · January 21 2010, 11:39 PM

X-Files. I didn't start to lose interest till season 7.

TNG, DS9, VOY

Law and Order, Cheers, Frasier, Seinfeld, Simpsons

Warp Coil · January 21 2010, 11:45 PM

As others have mentioned, TNG and DS9 ran for seven pretty successful seasons and went out on top. Lost is about to begin its sixth and final year - and while I can't read the future, I dare say it'll be very good. Also, the success of a series can be subjective. I, personally, think Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven successful seasons. Others may disagree and argue that it should have ended after season five, but I was very happy with the way things turned out.

January 21 2010, 05:26 AM	#1
Joe Washington Fleet Captain Location: Providence, Rhode Island, United States	Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? A six-season show that ended with a satyisfying bang than a disappointing whimper. Because I've noticed that the number of shows with good six-year runs are a lot fewer in number than the number of shows with good five-year runs or lesser. Do you think that's true? And if yes, why do you think that's the case?

January 21 2010, 06:40 AM	#3
MEATLOAFr Lieutenant Junior Grade Location: Nebraska, yes people here know how to use computers... and combines	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Simpsons?

January 21 2010, 06:59 AM	#4
EnterpriseF Commander Location: 5th level of Hades	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Gunsmoke? __________________ "I'm a Niner and proud to be one. Deal with it" Stewey for Mod 2005

January 21 2010, 07:08 AM	#5
Rageforthemachine Rear Admiral	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? The Shield did, and added one more season for good measure.

January 21 2010, 07:15 AM	#6
Harvey Admiral	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Curb Your Enthusiasm. And I hear season seven is great, too. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

January 21 2010, 07:32 AM	#7
JonathonWally Admiral Location: It's Hard To Be Modest When You're As Good As I Am	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Cheers? __________________ Living vicariously through myself I like JonathanWally's secret topic races. It's silly and kind of subversive---kind of like him!-auntiehill I Aim To Misbehave Are you hearin me, like I'm hearin you?

January 21 2010, 07:34 AM	#8
sidious618 Admiral Location: New York, US	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Are you saying a show that ended after six seasons or a show that had at least six successful seasons? __________________ We've met before, haven't we?

January 21 2010, 07:54 AM	#9
Hermiod Admiral	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Star Trek: The Next Generation.

January 21 2010, 08:52 AM	#10
Sparky Commodore Location: Calgary, Alberta. Canuckistan	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Doctor Who __________________ January 2, 1955 - January 23, 2012. Love you Dad. Keep pedalling towards those planes.

January 21 2010, 09:17 AM	#11
Jax Admiral Location: The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? LOST soon to be __________________ TheHunger Games (B-) American Reunion (B) Milk (B-) The Insider (B+) The Rainmaker (B-) God Bless America (B-) It's Kind of a Funny Story (B-) Iron Man 3 (B+) Star Trek Into Darkness (A-) Jerry Maguire (B-)

January 21 2010, 10:07 AM	#12
Aragorn Admiral	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? Are you talking about shows that ran for six or more years that were consistently good for each and every year? Which would rule out something like 24.

January 21 2010, 10:09 AM	#13
Mallet Fleet Captain Location: Vancouver	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? I believe it can sometime be a matter of contracts with the studio producing the series. My understanding is that most show runners start with a 1 year contract, which can then be extended in two year increments by the studio depending on the shows ratings and popularity. So season 3,5 & 7 can often end with a major change up behind the scenes with can then lead to good shows going downhill in either season 4 or 6 (and maybe 8, but most shows never make it that far). the actors are usually on different contract lengths which is why they sometimes leave part way through later seasons, or have to stay on even after the original shows creators have moved on. The same goes with writers who usually only have 1 year contracts, so over the course of a series a lot of the original writers might be eventually let go so you are left with people writing the show that wern't on it at the beginning. I also feel that 5 years is probably the most time you can expect a a show creator/runner to maintain a decent amount of interest and enthusiasm for the shows storylines, characters, concepts, setting, etc... These people are artists (usually writers that have moved up the Hollywood chain) and five years is a long time to be focused on one set of characters. Supernatural is a show facing this dilemma at the end of this season. the shows creator's contract is up so he is leaving (after 5 seasons), but the main actors are all still contracted out for at least one more season, so if the studio/network decide to do another season, they will have to get a new show runner to pick up the reigns and take things in his own direction. Whether this is good or bad depends on what he decides to do with the show. __________________ "Everyone's always in favor of saving Hitler's brain. But when you put it in the body of a great white shark, ooohh! Suddenly you've gone too far!"

January 21 2010, 11:39 PM	#14
LitmusDragon Commodore Location: The Barmuda Triangle	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? X-Files. I didn't start to lose interest till season 7. TNG, DS9, VOY Law and Order, Cheers, Frasier, Seinfeld, Simpsons

January 21 2010, 11:45 PM	#15
Warp Coil Rear Admiral Location: MD, USA	Re: Has there ever been a show with six successful seasons? As others have mentioned, TNG and DS9 ran for seven pretty successful seasons and went out on top. Lost is about to begin its sixth and final year - and while I can't read the future, I dare say it'll be very good. Also, the success of a series can be subjective. I, personally, think Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven successful seasons. Others may disagree and argue that it should have ended after season five, but I was very happy with the way things turned out. __________________ "I managed to find Uno and Checkers, and also parts of Battleship and most of the pieces of Candy Land, which I figure, I can mix together to create a fabulous new game, CandyShipBattleLand. War never tasted so good." - Lorelai Gilmore