Best series finales

Through the glory of Netflix and http://www.tv-links.co.uk, I recently became hooked on "Six Feet Under." I had seen some people here on SportsJournalists.com talk about how great the first couple of seasons were and I agree. I actually thoroughly enjoyed all five seasons. Even when the characters were totally unlikeable, the show was entertaining.
This morning, I watched the series finale and I was blown away. It tied up all the loose ends and the last montage (with Sia's "Breathe Me" playing in the background) showing the fate of all the main characters was completely satisfying. Too often, a series finale leaves you with questions you know you'll never get answered. For me, it was one of the most satisfying finales I've ever seen.

I was trying to think of other shows that went out with such satisfying endings and I'm stumped. Being an avid TV watcher, I wanted to throw that question out there to the SJ masses because I know there will be some good ones that I'm just not thinking of.

 

MASH and Cheers seem to come to mind. And Newhart was just classic.

I liked the last Friends as well.

 

I guess the polar opposite would be the "Seinfeld" finale. Talk about a letdown.

 

Newhart

 

Agreed on Newhart. Having Suzanne Pleshette laying next to Bob when he woke up was classic.

 

It might not merit a lot of mention because it was recent, but I thought West Wing's was very, very well done.

 

I also thought Seinfeld's finale was a letdown. Cheers was good, Newhart was outstanding and West Wing was decent but demanded more. I was wondering if there was ever a finale for Taxi.

 

I'll echo West Wing, the last half of the last season of that show made up for lackluster last couple seasons.

Even shows I loved I can;t remember too many finales. Guess they just wore out their welcome. Like The Cosby Show, loved it but it went too long and had no memorable finale.

 

I agree in the fact that I was wanting more -- Santos' inauguration speech, what was in Bartlett's letter, a little more on the staff transition -- but thought they did the best in the time they had. It should have been two hours, and I doubt that it would have felt drawn out.

The scenes with Lily Tomlin's character giving her secretary successor a pep talk as she stares into the Oval Office in awe, and the fade-to-black scene -- "What are you thinking about?" "Tomorrow." -- were priceless.

 

Good ones:
1. Cheers
2. Newhart
3. The Wonder Years

I'm indifferent on The Cosby Show and Friends.

Bad ones:
1. Roseanne
2. Seinfeld
3. Dawson's Creek

 

M.A.S.H. has to be the all-time best.
And don't forget Johnny Carson's exit from the Tonight Show. No bull, no sappy teary stuff, just the right words; simple and to the point. And he kept his word.
Both were the end of an era in TV that will never be recaptured.

 

Oh, the Wonder Years I forgot about that one. That was good.