The 50 most watched TV series finales
- Updated
Saying good bye is a hard thing. Some well-loved TV shows made their good byes quite memorable.
- Natalie Morin, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Anthony Neste / Contributor
Anyone who has religiously followed a show for years knows the feeling. After seeing characters go through trials and tribulations, seeing them make and break connections, we feel emotionally invested in them. So when the series comes to an end, it feels like you're saying goodbye to friends.
This is why every year, thousands — if not millions — of people tune in to see the final chapter of their favorite shows. But which one had the most people glued to their screens? Using Nielsen viewership data, PrettyFamous, an entertainment site by Graphiq, crunched the numbers to find the most watched TV finales of all time.
Because Nielsen can only show the viewership of television-originated broadcasts, those were the only programs considered (this excludes Netflix and other streaming services' original series). Shows are ranked on their finale's viewership in millions. In the case of a tie, the TV series with the higher Smart Rating was favored. This is a score out of 100 that takes into account a show's IMDb votes, IMDb rating and the amount of Emmy awards it has been nominated for. Descriptions of the shows were provided by Gracenote.
Compiled by Natalie Morin, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 14.6 million
Finale description: Billy Crystal and Garth Brooks guest star.
Date of finale: 02/06/14
Show description: Jay Leno interviews celebrities and hosts musical performances.
Smart Rating: 35.67
Date of premiere: 04/25/92
- Updated
Aaron Spelling Productions / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 14.7 million
Finale description: Alexis threatens to sue Blake for half of the plundered Nazi treasure unless Sable withdraws her lawsuit against Colbyco.
Date of finale: 05/11/89
Show description: Denver residents' lives intertwine.
Smart Rating: 42.02
Date of premiere: 01/12/81
- Updated
Reeves Entertainment Group / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 14.9 million
Finale description: Kate and Allie plan a party at a children's hospital and mixup the checks in the process and go through a comedy of errors to get it all straight.
Date of finale: 05/22/89
Show description: Two divorced women combine resources and families to share a house.
Smart Rating: 54.82
Date of premiere: 03/19/84
- Updated
MGM Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 15 million
Finale description: Gillespie and Forbes have doubts over the seemingly cut-and-dried case of a driver charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Date of finale: 05/16/95
Show description: Investigators tackle difficult cases.
Smart Rating: 70.83
Date of premiere: 03/06/88
- Updated
Columbia Pictures Television / Fox Networkr
Viewership: 15.2 million
Finale description: Gary is restocking the shoe store and donating all the old shoes to Filipino orphans.
Date of finale: 05/05/97
Show description: Al and Peg Bundy tolerate each other while raising children Bud and Kelly.
Smart Rating: 84.92
Date of premiere: 04/05/87
- Updated
Lorimar Productions / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 15.8 million
Finale description: Mary Anne goes into early labor and makes Balki a father; an overdue Jennifer launches a scheme to induce labor.
Date of finale: 08/06/93
Show description: An immigrant from Mypos moves in with his distant cousin.
Smart Rating: 63.87
Date of premiere: 03/25/86
- Updated
Universal Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.1 million
Finale description: Crockett, his protege and a friend (Kiel Martin) investigate a professor for a series of drug-related student deaths.
Date of finale: 06/28/89
Show description: Two detectives work undercover in Miami.
Smart Rating: 84.06
Date of premiere: 09/16/84
- Updated
20th Century Fox Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.1 million
Finale description: A retrospective of the series' 12-year run; hosted by Jimmy Smits.
Date of finale: 03/01/05
Show description: New York City police officers deal with their professional and personal lives.
Smart Rating: 88.74
Date of premiere: 09/21/93
- Updated
Warner Bros. Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.4 million
Finale description: Clips from memorable episodes; interviews with past and present cast members.
Date of finale: 04/02/09
Show description: Doctors labor to save lives in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital.
Smart Rating: 85.38
Date of premiere: 09/19/94
- Updated
Home Box Office / King World Productions
Viewership: 16.404 million
Finale description: Best of Oprah: After 25 years of history-making television, Oprah hosts the "Oprah Winfrey Show" finale.
Date of finale: 05/25/11
Show description: Oprah discusses topics with guests, before a studio audience.
Smart Rating: 34.19
Date of premiere: 09/08/86
- Updated
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 16.5 million
Finale description: After a San Francisco radio station changes its music format from classical to rock, the promoter who engineered the switch dies and Jessica searches for the killer.
Date of finale: 05/19/96
Show description: A mystery novelist solves crimes as she travels.
Smart Rating: 57.74
Date of premiere: 09/30/84
- Updated
Paramount Television
Viewership: 16.6 million
Finale description: The Conners and friends gather when Darlene and David bring home their baby girl.
Date of finale: 05/20/97
Show description: A blue-collar family uses laughter to cope.
Smart Rating: 84.49
Date of premiere: 10/18/88
- Updated
90210 Productions / Fox Network
Viewership: 16.8 million
Finale description: Childhood sweethearts Donna and David (Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green) get married; Kelly (Jennie Garth) must choose between Matt and Dylan (Daniel Cosgrove, Luke Perry); Steve (Ian Ziering) becomes a stay-at-home father.
Date of finale: 05/17/00
Show description: Friends face triumphs and tragedies as young adults.
Smart Rating: 45.1
Date of premiere: 10/04/90
- Updated
Warner Bros. Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 17.5 million
Finale description: Under anesthesia, Murphy dreams she interviews God, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Bette Midler, Alan King, Mike Wallace, Frances Bergen, Robert Pastorelli, Pat Corley.
Date of finale: 05/18/98
Show description: A high-profile reporter provides laughs in the newsroom.
Smart Rating: 85.56
Date of premiere: 11/14/88
- Updated
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 17.9 million
Finale description: The Major gets Casey a Red Ryder air rifle for her 10th birthday, but Polly's liberal bias against guns sends her up the wall.
Date of finale: 04/16/93
Show description: An unlikely romance follows when a liberal newspaper reporter interviews a gruff Marine officer.
Smart Rating: 39.7
Date of premiere: 09/17/89
- Updated
Viacom Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 18.1 million
Finale description: A conniving wife pushes an ambitious businessman (Ed Winter) to expedite his retiring boss's exit.
Date of finale: 05/06/92
Show description: A hard-nosed district attorney and his investigator battle crime.
Smart Rating: 45.09
Date of premiere: 09/26/87
- Updated
NBC / Getty Images
Viewership: 18.2 million
Finale description: Blair becomes headmistress of Eastland School.
Date of finale: 05/07/88
Show description: A housemother guides four girls at a school for young women.
Smart Rating: 50.85
Date of premiere: 08/24/79
- Updated
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 18.6 million
Finale description: Will and Grace make a decision about their future together; Jack continues his never-ending search for love; Karen tries to find happiness in Stan's absence.
Date of finale: 05/18/06
Show description: A gay Manhattan lawyer lives with his gal pal, an interior designer.
Smart Rating: 86.11
Date of premiere: 09/21/98
- Updated
Viacom Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 18.7 million
Finale description: Matlock sidelines plans to attend a class reunion when Cliff is accused of murder.
Date of finale: 05/07/95
Show description: A brilliant attorney takes on tough cases.
Smart Rating: 58.19
Date of premiere: 09/20/86
- Updated
Mozark Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 18.8 million
Finale description: In a parody of "Gone With the Wind," Sugarbakers redecorate a mansion, according to a woman's bad taste.
Date of finale: 05/24/93
Show description: Four women run an interior decorating business in Atlanta.
Smart Rating: 55.27
Date of premiere: 09/26/86
- Updated
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.3 million
Finale description: An escaped mental patient (Tom Skerritt) makes Joe the object of a bizarre hunt.
Date of finale: 01/16/73
Show description: Life on the Ponderosa with the Cartwright clan.
Smart Rating: 66.28
Date of premiere: 09/12/59
- Updated
Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 19.6 million
Finale description: The return of Val and Abby sheds light on the takeover of the Sumner Group. Sumner and Paige are on a plane with a bomb.
Date of finale: 05/13/93
Show description: Gary Ewing escapes Dallas and starts a new life in Southern California.
Smart Rating: 50.43
Date of premiere: 12/20/79
- Updated
TriStar Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.8 million
Finale description: The final episode includes clips from past shows and a glimpse of the future for the Buchmans as told by their child, Mabel.
Date of finale: 05/24/99
Show description: Paul and Jamie Buchman balance family and careers in Manhattan.
Smart Rating: 84.37
Date of premiere: 09/23/92
- Updated
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.9 million
Finale description: As the Banks family prepares to move, Will discourages potential buyers for the house; guest Sherman Hemsley; Isabel Sanford; Marla Gibbs; Conrad Bain; Gary Coleman.
Date of finale: 05/20/96
Show description: An urban youth moves in with rich relatives.
Smart Rating: 84.83
Date of premiere: 09/10/90
- Updated
Columbia Pictures Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 20.5 million
Finale description: Tony (Tony Danza) takes the teaching job in Iowa, while Angela (Judith Light) remains in Connecticut.
Date of finale: 04/25/92
Show description: Widower Tony Micelli is the housekeeper for a female ad executive.
Smart Rating: 47.79
Date of premiere: 09/20/84
- Updated
Universal Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 20.6 million
Finale description: Sam leaps into himself in the middle of a tavern in a coal-mining town filled with familiar faces; Sam gets an opportunity to change Al's life.
Date of finale: 05/05/93
Show description: A psychiatrist travels through time to alter people's futures for the better.
Smart Rating: 84.31
Date of premiere: 03/26/89
- Updated
New World Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 21 million
Finale description: When Kevin heads to the resort where Winnie has her summer job, he gets a surprise.
Date of finale: 05/12/93
Show description: Kevin Arnold grows up in 1960s suburban America.
Smart Rating: 86.34
Date of premiere: 01/31/88
- Updated
MTM Enterprises / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 21.16 million
Finale description: The new owners of WJM evaluate the news operations and decide to fire Mary, Lou and Murray.
Date of finale: 03/19/77
Show description: Producer Mary Richards works at WJM-TV in Minneapolis.
Smart Rating: 89.88
Date of premiere: 09/19/70
- Updated
Alien Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 21.7 million
Finale description: It's a sad day in the Tanner household as ALF announces he's leaving Earth to settle on another planet.
Date of finale: 03/24/90
Show description: An alien life form takes up residence with the suburban Tanner family.
Smart Rating: 73.68
Date of premiere: 09/22/86
- Updated
20th Century Fox Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 22.1 million
Finale description: On his 65th birthday, McKenzie advises the lawyers to seek other employment; Becker asks Halliday to take him to church; Benny and friend buy a race horse.
Date of finale: 05/19/94
Show description: The lives and careers of a group of Los Angeles lawyers.
Smart Rating: 57.81
Date of premiere: 09/15/86
- Updated
Paramount Television
Viewership: 22.3 million
Finale description: MacGyver joins an expedition searching for the lost civilization in the mythical hidden valley of Shangri-La.
Date of finale: 05/21/92
Show description: A resourceful agent undertakes secret missions for the government.
Smart Rating: 82.72
Date of premiere: 09/29/85
- Updated
20th Century Fox Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 22.5 million
Finale description: Third-year surgeons end their residencies; Auschlander tries to keep the hospital open; Griffin places his trust in God; Ehrlich comes back from a soul-searching safari; Ellen is offered a job in Cleveland.
Date of finale: 05/25/88
Show description: Doctors, nurses and staff of St. Eligius Hospital in South Boston treat patients and deal with life.
Smart Rating: 87.37
Date of premiere: 10/26/82
- Updated
Warner Bros. Television
Viewership: 24.3 million
Finale description: After Michelle's accident causes amnesia, the family reminisces to prompt her; D.J. seeks a date for the prom.
Date of finale: 05/23/95
Show description: A widower enlists help to raise his three daughters.
Smart Rating: 59.7
Date of premiere: 09/22/87
- Updated
Touchstone Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 27.2 million
Finale description: Blanche pairs Dorothy with her visiting uncle (Leslie Nielsen), but later regrets her matchmaking.
Date of finale: 05/09/92
Show description: Four older women share a house in Miami Beach.
Smart Rating: 87.47
Date of premiere: 09/14/85
- Updated
Paramount Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 30.5 million
Finale description: Joanie tries to help one of her students who has a problem with drugs.
Date of finale: 09/24/84
Show description: The Cunningham family enjoys life in 1950s Milwaukee.
Smart Rating: 73.18
Date of premiere: 01/15/74
- Updated
Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 30.9 million
Finale description: When Festus accidentally shoots a man in the leg, he takes the man back to his farm only to be used by members of the family.
Date of finale: 03/31/75
Show description: Marshal Matt Dillon maintains law and order in Dodge City.
Smart Rating: 84.03
Date of premiere: 09/10/55
- Updated
Paramount Pictures
Viewership: 31 million
Finale description: Picard (Patrick Stewart) finds himself moving between the present, past and future, possibly as a result of Q's (John de Lancie) interference, but with a desperate mission to repair a space anomaly threatening humanity. With Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner.
Date of finale: 05/23/94
Show description: Voyages of the new Starship Enterprise in the 24th century.
Smart Rating: 85.32
Date of premiere: 09/28/87
- Updated
Worldwide Pants / Columbia Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 32.9 million
Finale description: Interviews with the cast and producers, highlights from past seasons and the last week of production.
Date of finale: 05/16/05
Show description: Sports writer Ray Romano tries to be a good husband, father and son.
Smart Rating: 89.17
Date of premiere: 09/13/96
- Updated
Lorimar Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 33.3 million
Finale description: Series finale. A visiting angel allows characters from the long-running show to view life as if J.R. Ewing had never been born. Guest stars include Linda Gray, Mary Crosby and Ted Shackelford.
Date of finale: 05/03/91
Show description: The oil-rich Ewings endure daily troubles.
Smart Rating: 84.73
Date of premiere: 04/02/78
- Updated
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 33.7 million
Finale description: Frasier and Niles come to the rescue and offer to plan Martin's wedding in a matter of days when he accidentally reserves the wedding hall for the wrong date. Guest stars: Wendie Malick, Anthony LaPaglia, Robbie Coltrane, Richard E. Grant, Laura Linney, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Beals.
Date of finale: 05/13/04
Show description: The psychiatrist helms a radio call-in show in Seattle.
Smart Rating: 91.49
Date of premiere: 09/16/93
- Updated
ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images
Viewership: 35.5 million
Finale description: Tim and Jill decide about their future; Al weds; clips of the show's eight seasons.
Date of finale: 05/25/99
Show description: Tim Taylor hosts a home-improvement program on a Detroit TV station.
Smart Rating: 70.05
Date of premiere: 09/17/91
- Updated
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 36.3 million
Finale description: Emotions run high in the Keaton household as Alex prepares to leave for a prime job with a New York stock brokerage firm.
Date of finale: 05/14/89
Show description: The ideals of parents and teens clash due to their generation gap.
Smart Rating: 84.98
Date of premiere: 09/22/82
- Updated
Bud Yorkin Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 40.2 million
Finale description: Archie keeps Edith so busy that she doesn't get the chance to tell him that work is hazardous to her health.
Date of finale: 04/08/79
Show description: Archie Bunker's bigoted ideas conflict with those of everyone around him.
Smart Rating: 94.05
Date of premiere: 01/12/71
- Updated
Bill Cosby / Nationaln Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 44.4 million
Finale description: After the family attends Theo's graduation and Olivia leaves for Singapore, Cliff and Clair share a quiet moment.
Date of finale: 04/30/92
Show description: An obstetrician and a lawyer raise a family in Brooklyn.
Smart Rating: 85.34
Date of premiere: 09/20/84
- Updated
Carson Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 50 million
Finale description: Johnny Carson did not have any guests on his last show -- this finale was a highlight show with Carson commenting on some of his favorite memories.
Date of finale: 05/22/92
Show description: Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.
Smart Rating: 84.45
Date of premiere: 10/01/62
- Updated
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 50.7 million
Finale description: While visiting family in Virginia, Thomas receives a phone call summoning him to Hawaii to help a former love.
Date of finale: 05/01/88
Show description: Private investigator Thomas Magnum solves crimes in Hawaii.
Smart Rating: 84.48
Date of premiere: 12/11/80
- Updated
Warner Bros. Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 65.9 million
Finale description: The six friends prepare to say goodbye and embark on the next chapters of their lives.
Date of finale: 05/06/04
Show description: Six friends living in New York hang out at a coffee bar.
Smart Rating: 91.82
Date of premiere: 09/22/94
- Updated
Castle Rock Entertainment / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 76.3 million
Finale description: After NBC picks up Jerry and George's sitcom, the four pals are arrested for breaking the good Samaritan law.
Date of finale: 05/14/98
Show description: Friends living in Manhattan obsess over little things.
Smart Rating: 88.91
Date of premiere: 07/05/89
- Updated
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 84.4 million
Finale description: Sam encounters ex-flame Diane Chambers (Shelley Long); Rebecca's romance blossoms; Woody, Cliff and Norm face life changes.
Date of finale: 05/20/93
Show description: Sam Malone, former reliever for the Red Sox, runs a Boston bar where "everybody knows your name."
Smart Rating: 91.49
Date of premiere: 09/30/82
- Updated
20th Century Fox Television
Viewership: 105.9 million
Finale description: As the war ends, Hawkeye has a nervous breakdown; Charles is dismayed when Margaret helps him get a position in Boston; B.J. tries to leave early; Father Mulcahy has a hearing loss; Klinger proposes to Soon Lee.
Date of finale: 02/28/83
Show description: Army surgeons blow off steam between hours of combat surgery.
Smart Rating: 90.86
Date of premiere: 09/17/72
More like this...
- Natalie Morin, PrettyFamous.com
Anthony Neste / Contributor
Anyone who has religiously followed a show for years knows the feeling. After seeing characters go through trials and tribulations, seeing them make and break connections, we feel emotionally invested in them. So when the series comes to an end, it feels like you're saying goodbye to friends.
This is why every year, thousands — if not millions — of people tune in to see the final chapter of their favorite shows. But which one had the most people glued to their screens? Using Nielsen viewership data, PrettyFamous, an entertainment site by Graphiq, crunched the numbers to find the most watched TV finales of all time.
Because Nielsen can only show the viewership of television-originated broadcasts, those were the only programs considered (this excludes Netflix and other streaming services' original series). Shows are ranked on their finale's viewership in millions. In the case of a tie, the TV series with the higher Smart Rating was favored. This is a score out of 100 that takes into account a show's IMDb votes, IMDb rating and the amount of Emmy awards it has been nominated for. Descriptions of the shows were provided by Gracenote.
Compiled by Natalie Morin, PrettyFamous.com
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 14.6 million
Finale description: Billy Crystal and Garth Brooks guest star.
Date of finale: 02/06/14
Show description: Jay Leno interviews celebrities and hosts musical performances.
Smart Rating: 35.67
Date of premiere: 04/25/92
Aaron Spelling Productions / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 14.7 million
Finale description: Alexis threatens to sue Blake for half of the plundered Nazi treasure unless Sable withdraws her lawsuit against Colbyco.
Date of finale: 05/11/89
Show description: Denver residents' lives intertwine.
Smart Rating: 42.02
Date of premiere: 01/12/81
Reeves Entertainment Group / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 14.9 million
Finale description: Kate and Allie plan a party at a children's hospital and mixup the checks in the process and go through a comedy of errors to get it all straight.
Date of finale: 05/22/89
Show description: Two divorced women combine resources and families to share a house.
Smart Rating: 54.82
Date of premiere: 03/19/84
MGM Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 15 million
Finale description: Gillespie and Forbes have doubts over the seemingly cut-and-dried case of a driver charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Date of finale: 05/16/95
Show description: Investigators tackle difficult cases.
Smart Rating: 70.83
Date of premiere: 03/06/88
Columbia Pictures Television / Fox Networkr
Viewership: 15.2 million
Finale description: Gary is restocking the shoe store and donating all the old shoes to Filipino orphans.
Date of finale: 05/05/97
Show description: Al and Peg Bundy tolerate each other while raising children Bud and Kelly.
Smart Rating: 84.92
Date of premiere: 04/05/87
Lorimar Productions / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 15.8 million
Finale description: Mary Anne goes into early labor and makes Balki a father; an overdue Jennifer launches a scheme to induce labor.
Date of finale: 08/06/93
Show description: An immigrant from Mypos moves in with his distant cousin.
Smart Rating: 63.87
Date of premiere: 03/25/86
Universal Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.1 million
Finale description: Crockett, his protege and a friend (Kiel Martin) investigate a professor for a series of drug-related student deaths.
Date of finale: 06/28/89
Show description: Two detectives work undercover in Miami.
Smart Rating: 84.06
Date of premiere: 09/16/84
20th Century Fox Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.1 million
Finale description: A retrospective of the series' 12-year run; hosted by Jimmy Smits.
Date of finale: 03/01/05
Show description: New York City police officers deal with their professional and personal lives.
Smart Rating: 88.74
Date of premiere: 09/21/93
Warner Bros. Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 16.4 million
Finale description: Clips from memorable episodes; interviews with past and present cast members.
Date of finale: 04/02/09
Show description: Doctors labor to save lives in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital.
Smart Rating: 85.38
Date of premiere: 09/19/94
Home Box Office / King World Productions
Viewership: 16.404 million
Finale description: Best of Oprah: After 25 years of history-making television, Oprah hosts the "Oprah Winfrey Show" finale.
Date of finale: 05/25/11
Show description: Oprah discusses topics with guests, before a studio audience.
Smart Rating: 34.19
Date of premiere: 09/08/86
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 16.5 million
Finale description: After a San Francisco radio station changes its music format from classical to rock, the promoter who engineered the switch dies and Jessica searches for the killer.
Date of finale: 05/19/96
Show description: A mystery novelist solves crimes as she travels.
Smart Rating: 57.74
Date of premiere: 09/30/84
Paramount Television
Viewership: 16.6 million
Finale description: The Conners and friends gather when Darlene and David bring home their baby girl.
Date of finale: 05/20/97
Show description: A blue-collar family uses laughter to cope.
Smart Rating: 84.49
Date of premiere: 10/18/88
90210 Productions / Fox Network
Viewership: 16.8 million
Finale description: Childhood sweethearts Donna and David (Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green) get married; Kelly (Jennie Garth) must choose between Matt and Dylan (Daniel Cosgrove, Luke Perry); Steve (Ian Ziering) becomes a stay-at-home father.
Date of finale: 05/17/00
Show description: Friends face triumphs and tragedies as young adults.
Smart Rating: 45.1
Date of premiere: 10/04/90
Warner Bros. Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 17.5 million
Finale description: Under anesthesia, Murphy dreams she interviews God, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Bette Midler, Alan King, Mike Wallace, Frances Bergen, Robert Pastorelli, Pat Corley.
Date of finale: 05/18/98
Show description: A high-profile reporter provides laughs in the newsroom.
Smart Rating: 85.56
Date of premiere: 11/14/88
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 17.9 million
Finale description: The Major gets Casey a Red Ryder air rifle for her 10th birthday, but Polly's liberal bias against guns sends her up the wall.
Date of finale: 04/16/93
Show description: An unlikely romance follows when a liberal newspaper reporter interviews a gruff Marine officer.
Smart Rating: 39.7
Date of premiere: 09/17/89
Viacom Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 18.1 million
Finale description: A conniving wife pushes an ambitious businessman (Ed Winter) to expedite his retiring boss's exit.
Date of finale: 05/06/92
Show description: A hard-nosed district attorney and his investigator battle crime.
Smart Rating: 45.09
Date of premiere: 09/26/87
NBC / Getty Images
Viewership: 18.2 million
Finale description: Blair becomes headmistress of Eastland School.
Date of finale: 05/07/88
Show description: A housemother guides four girls at a school for young women.
Smart Rating: 50.85
Date of premiere: 08/24/79
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 18.6 million
Finale description: Will and Grace make a decision about their future together; Jack continues his never-ending search for love; Karen tries to find happiness in Stan's absence.
Date of finale: 05/18/06
Show description: A gay Manhattan lawyer lives with his gal pal, an interior designer.
Smart Rating: 86.11
Date of premiere: 09/21/98
Viacom Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 18.7 million
Finale description: Matlock sidelines plans to attend a class reunion when Cliff is accused of murder.
Date of finale: 05/07/95
Show description: A brilliant attorney takes on tough cases.
Smart Rating: 58.19
Date of premiere: 09/20/86
Mozark Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 18.8 million
Finale description: In a parody of "Gone With the Wind," Sugarbakers redecorate a mansion, according to a woman's bad taste.
Date of finale: 05/24/93
Show description: Four women run an interior decorating business in Atlanta.
Smart Rating: 55.27
Date of premiere: 09/26/86
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.3 million
Finale description: An escaped mental patient (Tom Skerritt) makes Joe the object of a bizarre hunt.
Date of finale: 01/16/73
Show description: Life on the Ponderosa with the Cartwright clan.
Smart Rating: 66.28
Date of premiere: 09/12/59
Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 19.6 million
Finale description: The return of Val and Abby sheds light on the takeover of the Sumner Group. Sumner and Paige are on a plane with a bomb.
Date of finale: 05/13/93
Show description: Gary Ewing escapes Dallas and starts a new life in Southern California.
Smart Rating: 50.43
Date of premiere: 12/20/79
TriStar Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.8 million
Finale description: The final episode includes clips from past shows and a glimpse of the future for the Buchmans as told by their child, Mabel.
Date of finale: 05/24/99
Show description: Paul and Jamie Buchman balance family and careers in Manhattan.
Smart Rating: 84.37
Date of premiere: 09/23/92
National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 19.9 million
Finale description: As the Banks family prepares to move, Will discourages potential buyers for the house; guest Sherman Hemsley; Isabel Sanford; Marla Gibbs; Conrad Bain; Gary Coleman.
Date of finale: 05/20/96
Show description: An urban youth moves in with rich relatives.
Smart Rating: 84.83
Date of premiere: 09/10/90
Columbia Pictures Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 20.5 million
Finale description: Tony (Tony Danza) takes the teaching job in Iowa, while Angela (Judith Light) remains in Connecticut.
Date of finale: 04/25/92
Show description: Widower Tony Micelli is the housekeeper for a female ad executive.
Smart Rating: 47.79
Date of premiere: 09/20/84
Universal Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 20.6 million
Finale description: Sam leaps into himself in the middle of a tavern in a coal-mining town filled with familiar faces; Sam gets an opportunity to change Al's life.
Date of finale: 05/05/93
Show description: A psychiatrist travels through time to alter people's futures for the better.
Smart Rating: 84.31
Date of premiere: 03/26/89
New World Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 21 million
Finale description: When Kevin heads to the resort where Winnie has her summer job, he gets a surprise.
Date of finale: 05/12/93
Show description: Kevin Arnold grows up in 1960s suburban America.
Smart Rating: 86.34
Date of premiere: 01/31/88
MTM Enterprises / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 21.16 million
Finale description: The new owners of WJM evaluate the news operations and decide to fire Mary, Lou and Murray.
Date of finale: 03/19/77
Show description: Producer Mary Richards works at WJM-TV in Minneapolis.
Smart Rating: 89.88
Date of premiere: 09/19/70
Alien Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 21.7 million
Finale description: It's a sad day in the Tanner household as ALF announces he's leaving Earth to settle on another planet.
Date of finale: 03/24/90
Show description: An alien life form takes up residence with the suburban Tanner family.
Smart Rating: 73.68
Date of premiere: 09/22/86
20th Century Fox Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 22.1 million
Finale description: On his 65th birthday, McKenzie advises the lawyers to seek other employment; Becker asks Halliday to take him to church; Benny and friend buy a race horse.
Date of finale: 05/19/94
Show description: The lives and careers of a group of Los Angeles lawyers.
Smart Rating: 57.81
Date of premiere: 09/15/86
Paramount Television
Viewership: 22.3 million
Finale description: MacGyver joins an expedition searching for the lost civilization in the mythical hidden valley of Shangri-La.
Date of finale: 05/21/92
Show description: A resourceful agent undertakes secret missions for the government.
Smart Rating: 82.72
Date of premiere: 09/29/85
20th Century Fox Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 22.5 million
Finale description: Third-year surgeons end their residencies; Auschlander tries to keep the hospital open; Griffin places his trust in God; Ehrlich comes back from a soul-searching safari; Ellen is offered a job in Cleveland.
Date of finale: 05/25/88
Show description: Doctors, nurses and staff of St. Eligius Hospital in South Boston treat patients and deal with life.
Smart Rating: 87.37
Date of premiere: 10/26/82
Warner Bros. Television
Viewership: 24.3 million
Finale description: After Michelle's accident causes amnesia, the family reminisces to prompt her; D.J. seeks a date for the prom.
Date of finale: 05/23/95
Show description: A widower enlists help to raise his three daughters.
Smart Rating: 59.7
Date of premiere: 09/22/87
Touchstone Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 27.2 million
Finale description: Blanche pairs Dorothy with her visiting uncle (Leslie Nielsen), but later regrets her matchmaking.
Date of finale: 05/09/92
Show description: Four older women share a house in Miami Beach.
Smart Rating: 87.47
Date of premiere: 09/14/85
Paramount Television / American Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 30.5 million
Finale description: Joanie tries to help one of her students who has a problem with drugs.
Date of finale: 09/24/84
Show description: The Cunningham family enjoys life in 1950s Milwaukee.
Smart Rating: 73.18
Date of premiere: 01/15/74
Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 30.9 million
Finale description: When Festus accidentally shoots a man in the leg, he takes the man back to his farm only to be used by members of the family.
Date of finale: 03/31/75
Show description: Marshal Matt Dillon maintains law and order in Dodge City.
Smart Rating: 84.03
Date of premiere: 09/10/55
Paramount Pictures
Viewership: 31 million
Finale description: Picard (Patrick Stewart) finds himself moving between the present, past and future, possibly as a result of Q's (John de Lancie) interference, but with a desperate mission to repair a space anomaly threatening humanity. With Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner.
Date of finale: 05/23/94
Show description: Voyages of the new Starship Enterprise in the 24th century.
Smart Rating: 85.32
Date of premiere: 09/28/87
Worldwide Pants / Columbia Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 32.9 million
Finale description: Interviews with the cast and producers, highlights from past seasons and the last week of production.
Date of finale: 05/16/05
Show description: Sports writer Ray Romano tries to be a good husband, father and son.
Smart Rating: 89.17
Date of premiere: 09/13/96
Lorimar Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 33.3 million
Finale description: Series finale. A visiting angel allows characters from the long-running show to view life as if J.R. Ewing had never been born. Guest stars include Linda Gray, Mary Crosby and Ted Shackelford.
Date of finale: 05/03/91
Show description: The oil-rich Ewings endure daily troubles.
Smart Rating: 84.73
Date of premiere: 04/02/78
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 33.7 million
Finale description: Frasier and Niles come to the rescue and offer to plan Martin's wedding in a matter of days when he accidentally reserves the wedding hall for the wrong date. Guest stars: Wendie Malick, Anthony LaPaglia, Robbie Coltrane, Richard E. Grant, Laura Linney, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Beals.
Date of finale: 05/13/04
Show description: The psychiatrist helms a radio call-in show in Seattle.
Smart Rating: 91.49
Date of premiere: 09/16/93
ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images
Viewership: 35.5 million
Finale description: Tim and Jill decide about their future; Al weds; clips of the show's eight seasons.
Date of finale: 05/25/99
Show description: Tim Taylor hosts a home-improvement program on a Detroit TV station.
Smart Rating: 70.05
Date of premiere: 09/17/91
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 36.3 million
Finale description: Emotions run high in the Keaton household as Alex prepares to leave for a prime job with a New York stock brokerage firm.
Date of finale: 05/14/89
Show description: The ideals of parents and teens clash due to their generation gap.
Smart Rating: 84.98
Date of premiere: 09/22/82
Bud Yorkin Productions / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 40.2 million
Finale description: Archie keeps Edith so busy that she doesn't get the chance to tell him that work is hazardous to her health.
Date of finale: 04/08/79
Show description: Archie Bunker's bigoted ideas conflict with those of everyone around him.
Smart Rating: 94.05
Date of premiere: 01/12/71
Bill Cosby / Nationaln Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 44.4 million
Finale description: After the family attends Theo's graduation and Olivia leaves for Singapore, Cliff and Clair share a quiet moment.
Date of finale: 04/30/92
Show description: An obstetrician and a lawyer raise a family in Brooklyn.
Smart Rating: 85.34
Date of premiere: 09/20/84
Carson Productions / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 50 million
Finale description: Johnny Carson did not have any guests on his last show -- this finale was a highlight show with Carson commenting on some of his favorite memories.
Date of finale: 05/22/92
Show description: Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.
Smart Rating: 84.45
Date of premiere: 10/01/62
Universal Television / Columbia Broadcasting System
Viewership: 50.7 million
Finale description: While visiting family in Virginia, Thomas receives a phone call summoning him to Hawaii to help a former love.
Date of finale: 05/01/88
Show description: Private investigator Thomas Magnum solves crimes in Hawaii.
Smart Rating: 84.48
Date of premiere: 12/11/80
Warner Bros. Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 65.9 million
Finale description: The six friends prepare to say goodbye and embark on the next chapters of their lives.
Date of finale: 05/06/04
Show description: Six friends living in New York hang out at a coffee bar.
Smart Rating: 91.82
Date of premiere: 09/22/94
Castle Rock Entertainment / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 76.3 million
Finale description: After NBC picks up Jerry and George's sitcom, the four pals are arrested for breaking the good Samaritan law.
Date of finale: 05/14/98
Show description: Friends living in Manhattan obsess over little things.
Smart Rating: 88.91
Date of premiere: 07/05/89
Paramount Television / National Broadcasting Company
Viewership: 84.4 million
Finale description: Sam encounters ex-flame Diane Chambers (Shelley Long); Rebecca's romance blossoms; Woody, Cliff and Norm face life changes.
Date of finale: 05/20/93
Show description: Sam Malone, former reliever for the Red Sox, runs a Boston bar where "everybody knows your name."
Smart Rating: 91.49
Date of premiere: 09/30/82
20th Century Fox Television
Viewership: 105.9 million
Finale description: As the war ends, Hawkeye has a nervous breakdown; Charles is dismayed when Margaret helps him get a position in Boston; B.J. tries to leave early; Father Mulcahy has a hearing loss; Klinger proposes to Soon Lee.
Date of finale: 02/28/83
Show description: Army surgeons blow off steam between hours of combat surgery.
Smart Rating: 90.86
Date of premiere: 09/17/72
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