The original post: /r/television by /u/InflationLeft on 2025-09-27 15:37:19+00:00.
In the late 90s, the producers of both Seinfeld and The Simpsons came to the same crossroads but went down different routes. Their shows were both pop culture phenomenons, and faced with the choice of a 10th season, the producers knew they could keep going and keep coming up with more stories, but they couldn’t maintain the same quality.
Seinfeld’s producers (led largely by Jerry himself, who turned down a record-breaking offer from NBC) chose to go out on a high note. Today, the show’s solid 9 seasons still enjoy popularity and tons of rewatches. The Simpsons’ chose to keep going and most fans mark the end of The Simpsons Golden Age somewhere between seasons 8 and 12. Younger viewers (Gen Z) don’t appreciate the show the same way they appreciate Seinfeld because their earliest encounter is more likely to be with modern-day Zombie Simpsons.
What are some other shows that would have had better legacies if they had ended sooner?