The series finale of any long-running television show is usually cause for lamentation, complete with a montage set to the tune of Green Day's ""Time Of Your Life."" A show can end prematurely, like ""Arrested Development,"" which is scoring huge DVD sales and will likely rake in big at the box office when the movie comes out. Or, a show can end at almost the right time, when the series has shown signs of age but still manages to pull through with a strong last season or a memorable series finale like ""Seinfeld"" or ""The Sopranos.""
But sometimes a show has lingered on a few seasons too long to warrant such warm feelings. Slowly, the characters are butchered, plotlines become contrived and guest stars are used desperately for ratings boosters. Once the highest-rated show on TV, ""ER"" had its series finale last Thursday on NBC.
This 15-season drama, set in a Chicago emergency room, premiered in 1994 and was one of the first shows to pave the way for medical dramas, a phenomena responsible for the success of shows like ""House"" and ""Grey's Anatomy."" Considering the high-pressure atmosphere of an emergency room buzzing with a team of good-looking doctors, the genre virtually writes itself, and ""ER"" set the standard.
Like many others, I thought ""ER"" had ended years ago. Apparently not. But the majority of shows continue for too long. If a network has a semi-consistent block of loyal viewers, it's a better bet than spending money on a brand new, high-risk show. Although ""ER"" aired for 15 seasons, it never bothered me as much as other shows that overstayed their welcome, such as ""7th Heaven."" That stupid show whored itself as long as it could, then had a highly publicized season finale only to be renewed soon after for another season, which attracted about seven viewers total.
True, ""ER"" slipped into the background of NBC Thursday nights. But instead of an irritation, it was comforting knowing that ""ER"" was still on—a relic from the financially stable '90s that didn't claim to be more than it was: a straightforward, reliable drama in an age of increasingly complex television shows. The cast was ever-changing and avoided character contrivances. The ""ER"" finale wasn't spectacular, but it was an appropriate salute, especially for longtime fans.
What will be missed even more than ""ER"" is NBC's medical comedy, ""Scrubs,"" which will have its series finale on May 6. After eight seasons and a network switch, ""Scrubs"" had its weaker moments toward the end, but will finish on a high note—the writing improved significantly once it switched to ABC.
""Scrubs"" was always a sleeper hit—popular with critics, but not big with viewers until the last few years. As someone who doesn't have patience for medical dramas, ""Scrubs"" worked for me because the lighthearted comedy gave way to subtle emotional moments. And who isn't rooting for J.D. and Elliot to get together once and for all?
Does this mean the medical series is on its way out? ""House"" and ""Grey's Anatomy"" say no, but it cuts out two major players of the genre. ""Scrubs"" will be greatly missed. ""ER"" not so much, but as the launchpad of careers like that of George Clooney and some of the most popular shows on TV, it deserves a hearty salute.
Do you think ""ER"" had officially overstayed its welcome when John Stamos was hired? E-mail Ali at rothschild@wisc.edu.
