But went on for one series too many.
Off the top of my head:
Coupling, Greenwing, even Only Fools and Horses eventually.
Sitcoms that started out great
Frasier had a real dip then kind of rallied again. All to do with Niles and Daphne getting together and her family coming into it.
The last two seasons of Frasier should have been illegal they were so bad.
Friends got too genreic, silly and soppy - having started out razor sharp.
Red Dwarf's last two series were a bit poo.
OFAH should have ended when they got rich (perfect ending, and just think how good a run it would have had. So consist and so funny.)
Simpsons. Obviously.
each and every sitcom eventually went bad. Some went rotten, disastrous.
It's easier to list those that went out at the peak of shark's fin. Or thereabouts.
Out of top of my head:
Blackadder
Yes (Prime) Minister
Vicar Of Dibley (last specials notwithstanding)
Arrested Development, IMHO, had gone downhill, but the slope was almost flat even then 
Thin Blue Line (although a two-series programmes should not count, I guess)
As to Frasier... yes, the last few seasons, especially after the couple got together finally, were pretty weak. Although - even bad Frasier episodes are better than many other US sitcom eps 
I don't think that Green Wing went on too long, but I think they tried to squeeze too much in to too little episodes. Coupling did dip a bit, but not sure I'd really say it was too long.
Are You Being Served? is a contender, sadly. Very good to start with, but after Trevor Bannister left, it lost its spark.
And WrongTale, no! Blackadder was brilliant all the way through. The peak was probably series 2 or 3 admittedly, but it didn't go nearly bad enough to qualify as having gone on too long! Yes, Prime Minister ditto. The situation changed so it lost a bit of the original dynamic, but the writing was still razor-sharp. And The Thin Blue Line was constantly brilliant!
Quote: Aaron @ September 1, 2007, 12:54 PMAnd WrongTale, no!
Well, I listed those sitcoms, which, IMHO, never (!) jumped the shark... saying that almost all others at some point before being canceled took a turn for worse.
So, it seems we agree in this case
Probably the only exceptions are those when a major actor died unexpectedly, and it was decided never to continue with other in his/her stead. I'm sure you know some examples. Dear John, maybe? (i have not seen the second series).
Think Blackadder was a strange one as it started out poorly and became great.
Ooh, so it did.
Quote: WrongTale @ September 1, 2007, 1:04 PMProbably the only exceptions are those when a major actor died unexpectedly, and it was decided never to continue with other in his/her stead. I'm sure you know some examples. Dear John, maybe? (i have not seen the second series).
No, the second series is much the same as the first. Ralph Bates didn't die until a few years afterwards, I don't think (?). Ironically that could actually be a contender though. For me, by far the best single episode is the first. Faultless writing throughout IMO.
The last series of Rising Damp was not too great. Actually the 3rd series was not superb, but still pretty good. The less said about the film the better!
Series 4 of Rising Damp was the best. Episodes like Pink Carnations and Great Expections are perfect.
The film is misleading. The writing's as good as any episode (mainly because it's a bunch of different episodes mashed into one), but the atmosphere from not having a studio audience - or laughter - is completely different, and really doesn't work. Pity.
Quote: Aaron @ September 2, 2007, 6:18 PMThe film is misleading. The writing's as good as any episode (mainly because it's a bunch of different episodes mashed into one), but the atmosphere from not having a studio audience - or laughter - is completely different, and really doesn't work. Pity.
I agree with you completly, Aaron. Watching the film is like the series never existed. All the lines from the old episodes were recited - with a new character, John, filling in for Alan. And without the studio audience it just felt really cold. It was a real house they filmed in so it wasn't a small and cosy set like in the series. It would have been better if it had an original story like Porridge ahd, but Leonard Rossiter wasn't keen on that idea and neither was the director. The writer, Eric Chapple wasn't getting paid awfully well to do it, so apparently felt that he could only put 45% of effort into it.
On the bright side, it was nice to see them in different settings, like the pub or - at one point - Rigsby and Mrs Jones were picnicing in a field. The title song was cool too. All right so it was dated, but to see the words Leonard Rossiter in Rising Damp is nice to see.
Quote: Dave @ September 2, 2007, 7:43 PMThe title song was cool too.
Yeah - I love the title song of the film! I know really shouldn't but just can't help but like it for some reason.
Quote: Mark @ September 2, 2007, 8:13 PMYeah - I love the title song of the film! I know really shouldn't but just can't help but like it for some reason.
"Rising damp (damp) is gonna get us all/Rising damp (damp) is out there in the hall/Rising damp (damp) is gonna get us all!"