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'Seinfeld' not alone among sitcoms bowing out
April 5, 1998
Web posted at: 6:19 p.m. EDT (2219 GMT)From Correspondent Sherri Sylvester
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- No matter how sad viewers may be to see it go, few have tried to argue that "Seinfeld" chose a bad time to take its leave. Its send-off is likely to rival those for "M*A*S*H" and "Cheers," with huge ratings, costly commercial time and lots of yada yadas from critics. Other shows that will depart this season, though once popular, are expected to make less noise as they close the door.
"No one wants to stick around and watch your ratings go down, and their ratings have never been better," said senior Entertainment Weekly writer Joe Flint. "It's always better to leave that way."
Clearly, "Seinfeld's" stars agree. After nine seasons, Julia Louis-Dreyfus still says with genuine feeling, "Every aspect has been a treasure in every regard. I don't know how to begin to explain it except it's been a miracle."
Show's over
And costar Michael Richards said of the long-running sitcom, "Most of the shows were well done. I'm proud of the shows, so that's the best part."
Meanwhile, the even longer-lived "Murphy Brown" is closing shop more quietly, despite plans for cake, champagne and an all-star finale.
Its 10 years, 18 Emmys and 245 episodes are a source of pride on the set.
And few will forget the days when then-Vice President Dan Quayle made Murphy's single motherhood a national debate. "This show became such a force of nature that you really had to grab on and hold on, and just hang on for the ride," said the show's star, Candice Bergen.
Lately, however, the show has fallen in the ratings, landing this year in about 75th place. An attempt at controversy this season, with a story line in which Murphy used pot to relieve the pain of breast cancer treatment, received some critical nods. It did little to bring viewers back.
But at least "Murphy Brown" gets an official swan song. Other sitcoms remain in limbo, having already taped what may or may not be their final show.
"Ellen," for one, has not yet received a stay of execution from ABC.
"I believe that ABC is canceling it. I have every indication that they are canceling it. I'm sad to see it go, especially in this way," said star Ellen DeGeneres. "I wish that it would have gone out with a little more support all year long."
While "Ellen's" acclaimed "coming-out" show spiked ratings and made history, most viewers didn't care about what happened afterward. This year, "Ellen" is losing more than a third of the viewers tuned in to "The Drew Carey Show" before it.
"It's always struggled to find an identity," said Joe Flint, a senior writer for Entertainment Weekly. "Now it has found that identity, but it's not appealing to the mainstream audience."
Then there is the matter of "Family Matters." When the cast and crew taped their 215th episode, they still hadn't received a decision from the WB.
At Warner Bros., though, the show's sets have been torn down, even though the final decision comes in May. Expect a May date for Ellen's fate as well. For these shows, there may be no good-bye, just a slow fade-out.
Related stories:
- Indigo Girls, Sarah McLachlan do cameos on 'Ellen' - January 7, 1998
- Seinfeld's exit may leave NBC peacock drooping - December 26, 1997
- Seinfeld calls decision to end show 'all about timing' - December 26, 1997
- 'Seinfeld' signs off at end of this season - December 26, 1997
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