Welcome to the Fond Farewell edition of Way Back Wednesday. This week we are highlighting the farewell scenes from some of TV’s memorable shows.
Cheers
The Finale of Cheers entitled “One for the Road“, has been named one of the best television finales of all time, as well as one of the highest rated ever on record. It aired on May 20, 1993 bringing 11 seasons to a close. The series aired on NBC from 1982 until 1993.
The show revolved around a group of patrons and employees at a fictional Boston Bar named “Cheers”. The main character was that of retired major league relief pitcher Sam “Mayday” Malone, played by Ted Danson. Sam purchased the bar while an alcoholic, but kept it once recovered to keep it as a reminder. The bar itself was molded after the “Bull & Finch Pub” in Boston. The actual pub has since been remained Cheers in honor of the sitcom.
It also Starred Shelly Long as Diane Chambers, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, George Wendt as Norm Peterson, John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, Nicholas Colasanto as “Coach” Ernie Pantusso, and Bebe Neuwirth as Lilith Sternin.
Originally the part of Sam Malone was offer to actor Fred Dryer (Hunter), and was to be a retired football player. Fred Dryer became unavailable, and the part was offered to Ted Danson, and changed to a retired baseball player.
The Wonder Years
The episode “Independence Day (part II)” aired on May 12, 1993, bringing the show to a close after Six Seasons. The Show began in 1988, and aired on ABC. I told the story of a boy named Kevin Arnold growing up in the late sixties and early seventies. The show was narrated by Daniel Stern as a grown up Kevin retelling the story of his life.
The show starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, Dan Lauria as Jack Arnold, Alley Mills as Norma Arnold, Josh Saviono as Kevin’s best friend Paul, Olivia d’Abo as Karen Arnold, Jason Hervey as Wayne Arnold, and Dancia McKellar as Kevin’s childhood girlfriend Gwendolyn “Winnie” cooper.
The final episode tells the outcome of the characters lives after the ending of the TV Series.
Friends
The second part of the finale titled “The Last One” aired on May 6, 2004. The episode wrapped up the story lines for the majority of all of the characters. The series aired on NBC from 1994 until 2004 and ended after it’s 10th season. The show revolved around a group of friends living in New York, and though panned by critics after it’s initial airing in 1994 became one of the most successful television comedies of the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
The Show Starred Jennifer Aniston, as Rachel Green, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courtney Cox-Arquette as Monica Geller-Bing, Lisa Kudrow as Pheobe Buffay, and Matt LaBlanc as Joey Tribbiani.
The West Wing
The show Finale titled “Tomorrow“, aired on May 14, 2006 ending a seven season run on NBC. The show premiered in 1999. It was a critically acclaimed drama series created by Alan Sorkin.
The show revolved around the fictional two terms of the presidential administration of Josiah Bartlett. The show made definitive that he was a democrat from New Hampshire. During the shows run many issues were tackled that were mirrors of real world events.
The Show Starred Martin Sheen as President Bartlett, Stockard Channing as Abby Bartlett, John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Allison Janney as CJ Craig, Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, Janel Maloney as Donna Moss, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman, Richard Schiff as Toby Zeigler, and Dule Hill as Charlie Young. Other cast members joined and left the ensemble cast during its seven seasons. The series ended with the election of President Matthew Santos portrayed by Jimmy Smitts.
That is the fond farewell edition of Way Back Wednesday! Stay tuned for the next episode of Way Back Wednesday!
~Aslan
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on Jun 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Guess maybe I’m just a bit older than you because my list of memorable farewell shows would have included M*A*S*H, All in the Family, and Happy Days.
on Jun 25th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
And of them all I miss only the West Wing.
on Jun 26th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I remember both the ending of Happy Days and MASH. I asked Aslan why they were left out, and he was trying to find video for them, and wasn;t able to. Hopefully they would be included in a future “Fond Farewell Episode”