Can any current show ever break the top 10 'most-watched' series finales?

[ToxicAdam]

Interesting question posed when someone was discussing the finale of Sopranos and how big a number it would pop. I know Sex and the City did pretty well (10+ million), I'm thinking the Sopranos will end up around 12-13 million.

I looked up the top series finales of all time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-watched_television_episodes#Most_watched_Series_Finales) and I was pretty amazed at the results. MASH had **105** million people watching the finale. The next big shocker was Magnum PI clocking in at 51 million people.

Rank/Show/Number of Viewers(in millions)/Date/Network
1 M*A*S*H 105.9 February 28, 1983 CBS 2 Cheers 80.4 May 20, 1993 NBC
3 Seinfeld 76.3 May 14, 1998 NBC
4 Friends 52.5 May 6, 2004 NBC
5 Magnum, P.I. 50.7[11] May 1, 1988 CBS
6 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 50.0 May 22, 1992 NBC
7 The Cosby Show 44.4 April 30, 1992 NBC
8 All in the Family 40.2[11] April 8, 1979 CBS
9 Family Ties 36.3 May 14, 1989 NBC
10 Home Improvement 35.5 May 25, 1999 ABC

11 Dallas 33.3 May 3, 1991 CBS
12 Everybody Loves Raymond 32.9 May 16, 2005 CBS
13 Gunsmoke 30.9[11] March 31, 1975 CBS
14 The Fugitive 30.0[12] August 29, 1967 ABC
15 Newhart 29.5 May 21, 1990 CBS
16 Golden Girls 27.2 May 7, 1992 NBC
17 Frasier 25.2 May 13, 2004 NBC
18 Night Court 24.6 May 13, 1992 NBC
19 Full House 24.3 May 23, 1995 ABC
20 St. Elsewhere 22.5[11] May 25, 1988 NBC

Do you think any current show can break the top ten when they have their series finale? I was thinking Lost could pop a huge number (40 million?) ... only because it is going to end in a few years and the nature of it's plotline. I can't imagine shows like Grey's Anatomy or CSI having that much interest when they have finally run their course. Especially nowadays with so much entertainment competing for our attention.

[CajoleJuice]

Nah, I can't see it happening. The biggest show on television is American Idol, and that's going to be on until it is completely run into the ground. I can't see any current show getting 35 million for its last episode.

[Flannel Boy]

I expect some TV show on Telemundo or Univision to pull 200 million by 2040. 

[Madrun Badrun]

The first time hardcore porn is shown at prime time on a big network it will pull half the country into watching it. 

[$till LegendaryU2K]

 Mash lol.

[Himu]

I have a feeling Simpsons series finale will be on there somewhere. No matter what you think of the Simpsons now, everyone would watch it because we'd want to see how it goes out.

[$till LegendaryU2K]

I have a feeling Simpsons series finale will be on there somewhere. No matter what you think of the Simpsons now, everyone would watch it because we'd want to see how it goes out.

Not everyone, i stop watching the show after they made fun of Moses and Noah's ark.

And yes i am serious. So while you watching that show, i will be watching re-runs of the xfiles on sci-fi.

[thekavorka]

Friends in the top 5 and home improvement in the top 10 is sad

[Himu]

Friends in the top 5 and home improvement in the top 10 is sad

Oh god. When Friends ended I thought I was going to kill myself from the media hype.

[Vizzys]

Friends in the top 5 and home improvement in the top 10 is sad

I think mash being #1 is much worse

[Himu]

Fucking MASH's theme song gives me nightmares.

[xnikki118x]

Aw Full House, I remember crying when that aired. I'm surprised Seinfeld is up there so high, and I'm surprised The Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson wasn't higher.

[CajoleJuice]

Surprised that Seinfeld is so high? I think Seinfeld is the only show to be #1 in Nielsen ratings in its last season. It really is the greatest show of all-fucking-time. And I actually like the finale, unlike most people.

[Vizzys]

what sane person hates seinfeld?

I have met none

[Fresh Prince]

How can people hate MASH?

[xnikki118x]

I don't hate Seinfeld, I actually like it, but I never really knew anyone else who liked it so I guess I was biased against it thinking that it wouldn't be rated so high.

M*A*S*H is awesome.

[thekavorka]

Surprised that Seinfeld is so high? I think Seinfeld is the only show to be #1 in Nielsen ratings in its last season. It really is the greatest show of all-fucking-time. And I actually like the finale, unlike most people.

AMEN

I remember watching the Full House series finale when it aired and was thinking "wtf" the whole time. Michelle gets amnesia and has to try to regain her memory. I can't believe so many people watched that shit.

And Cheers was #2 apparently. I'm surprised at that since I thought there was a decline in quality as the show went on. On the other hand, after season 2 or 3, Seinfeld was consistently good throughout.

And Alf is #22...

[Himu]

what sane person hates seinfeld?

I have met none

Black people don't like Seinfield. I'm one of these people.

[Ichirou]

Fucking MASH's theme song gives me nightmares.

If I hear the theme song, I actually have a physical reaction to it and get nauseous.  That's how much I hate it.

[CajoleJuice]

I don't hate Seinfeld, I actually like it, but I never really knew anyone else who liked it so I guess I was biased against it thinking that it wouldn't be rated so high.

Where the fuck do you live?

I live on Long Island, so it might be skewed, but Jesus Christ, EVERYONE loves Seinfeld. Of course, I know like zero black people.

[Cheebs]

and I'm surprised The Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson wasn't higher.

late night by definition makes it harder to get as many viewers as prime time.

And Cajole EVERYONE does love Seinfeld in America. It is easily the most popular sitcom in our day and age. Every person from most age groups know the show very well.

[CajoleJuice]

But nikki just said she doesn't know anyone who likes it! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?!?!?

[Mupepe]

black people do hate seinfeld.  they don't "get it."  everything in seinfeld is about white america's culture, that's why.

[CajoleJuice]

Maybe nikki is only friends with black people? Is Ecrofirt really black?

[Cheebs]

But regardless, due to MASSIVE re-runs and so on every agre group even past the show's ending have been exposed to Seinfeld and thus love it. It is probably the most universally praised sitcom there is.

But, Mupepe, sitcom's at their core (outside black aimed sitcoms like those on WB or those TGIF ones like family matters) are very very very white comedy. Not just Seinfeld. Friends & Everybody Loves Raymond are very "white" shows. Fuck, what is more white than Fraiser?

[Himu]

But regardless, due to MASSIVE re-runs and so on every agre group even past the show's ending have been exposed to Seinfeld and thus love it. It is probably the most universally praised sitcom there is.

But, Mupepe, sitcom's at their core (outside black aimed sitcoms like those on WB or those TGIF ones like family matters) are very very very white comedy. Not just Seinfeld. Friends & Everybody Loves Raymond are very "white" shows. Fuck, what is more white than Fraiser?

I love The Office, and stuff. Some characters on Everybody Loves Raymond make me lol. But I find that I'm a diverse person. Seinfield, however, I just don't GET AT ALL.

[thekavorka]

I think if you replaced all the characters on Seinfeld with black people but kept all the dialogue and everything the same (except the stuff about judaism obviously), more black people would watch it. There's nothing about Seinfeld thats inherently white. I mean, Family Matters was pretty similar to other white sitcoms except just that the characters were black.

[Himu]

But Family Matters follows things that are family friendly, Seinfield doesn't. When you get into that arena, it's a different matter.

[thekavorka]

But Family Matters follows things that are family friendly, Seinfield doesn't. When you get into that arena, it's a different matter.

I guess that's true. But I've always seen the humor in Seinfeld as pretty universal.

Anecdotal story: My parents both immigrated from India. They don't really participate or care for American "white" culture, but they absolutely love Seinfeld. I just don't think there's anything to get in Seinfeld.



What is there to get?

[Cheebs]

Seinfeld's early-mid 30's single life of dating sort of style and structure to the show is totally white.

The life of single american's in their 30's in the 1990's would not fit black characters at all using the same Seinfeld storylines.

[Flannel Boy]

Seinfeld's early-mid 30's single life of dating sort of style and structure to the show is totally white.

The life of single american's in their 30's in the 1990's would not fit black characters at all using the same Seinfeld storylines.

Right, for one thing by the time he hits his 30's, a single Black male already has three or four children.

[Phoenix Dark]

 

[Mupepe]

Seinfeld's early-mid 30's single life of dating sort of style and structure to the show is totally white.

The life of single american's in their 30's in the 1990's would not fit black characters at all using the same Seinfeld storylines.

you answered your own question that you asked me earlier

friends and shit like that has a story line that tries to make you care about the characters, moments that try to make you emotional, shit like that.  seinfeld does not.  since there's nothing to be emotionally attached to and no characters/situations (with exception to situations that pertain to white dating culture) to relate to, there's nothing for most black people to identify with in the show.

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, seinfeld is largely about the consummately trivial neuroses of the very white, bored and privileged. it's only overwhelmingly funny if you're exposed to those situations and personalities a lot.

[Cheebs]

I hope when I am in my 30's if I am single I get a new girlfriend every week that I can throw away over something trivial then have a brand new one without trying.  Undecided


Wait. I just realized was there ANY black characters on seinfeld that appeared for more than one episode?

[CajoleJuice]

Elaine: Whoa. What is the matter?

Jerry: It's Patty.

Elaine: Jerry, you break up with a girl every week.

Jerry: (Crying) What--what is this salty discharge?

Elaine: Oh my God. You're crying.

Jerry: This is horrible! I care!

[Cheebs]

Elaine: Whoa. What is the matter?

Jerry: It's Patty.

Elaine: Jerry, you break up with a girl every week.

Jerry: (Crying) What--what is this salty discharge?

Elaine: Oh my God. You're crying.

Jerry: This is horrible! I care!

[Vizzys]

what sane person hates seinfeld?

I have met none

Black people don't like Seinfield. I'm one of these people.

I know one that does.

[thekavorka]

yeah, seinfeld is largely about the consummately trivial neuroses of the very white, bored and privileged. it's only overwhelmingly funny if you're exposed to those situations and personalities a lot.

But see, that's the thing. I can only go by personal experience but my family is not exposed to those situations or personalities at all. They have no white friends. Everyone they know (and themselves) had arranged marriages for the most part. Yet they still think the show is the best comedy. I guess they're just weird then.

[thekavorka]

Wait. I just realized was there ANY black characters on seinfeld that appeared for more than one episode?

Jackie Childs

[Van Cruncheon]

well, there's always bored and privileged for the remaining 2/3rds of its demographic appeal