I loved MASH also, but the last couple of years seemed too predictable—each character had his clearly defined role. Also, I liked Henry Blake better than Col. Potter, and Frank Burns was funnier than Winchester. Some shows I wondered how they ever got past the first couple of shows. Did you EVER get excited about an episode of Hazel? Facts of Life? Webster? Ugh.
I always appreciated quirky, with an ensemble cast. Remember Northern Exposure? Some other shows I loved:
Rockford Files
NYPD Blue
The Sopranos
The West Wing
Kung **
At first, I really liked West Wing but then the writing began to wear on me because every character cannot be a "quick wit". The responses were overlapping. VEEP has that same kind of vibe but there are some killer lines in just about every episode.
That whole ensemble cast idea was pioneered by two of my all time favorite TV shows, Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere, both of which were renewed with <good ratings. Surprisingly, HSB was more successful but St. Elsewhere launched more careers, Denzel Washington, David Morse and Howie Mandell, who was a stand up but became much better known. To this day, I have never seen a better wrap up for a TV series than the ending of St. Elsewhere, it was masterful and planned from the beginning and no one saw it coming.
I agree about MASH as everything has a life. Some of my favorite series went a little long. I felt Sons of Anarchy went one season too long but Rescue Me was one too short for me. But these writers get a hit and have to stretch it like they did Lost and I don't think JJ Abrams had the ending in mind when it began. These guys don't even know if the series is going to get renewed when the pilot gets bought.
