Beau Cameron’s top 10 shows that need to end–now

by Beau Cameron, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Winter break is time for some of of our favorite series, but there are also a few we could do without. Whether your childhood favorite has deteriorated into your least favorite listing, or you’re just sick and tired about hearing your peers talk about the latest episode, there are shows you’d rather have cancelled.

With 2017 coming to a close, perhaps some series should as well. That in mind, in no specific order, I have listed ten shows that, in my opinion, need to end.

1. Supernatural

Supernatural has thousands of die-hard fans, but even many of them acknowledge that it’s time for the curtains to close on the Winchester brothers. Two boys going cross-country, fighting monsters: what’s not to love? However, there are only so many ghost stories to tell. Sam and Dean Winchester have been to hell and back several times now. The series went from a paranormal buddy-cop show to a story so convoluted that there are even dedicated fans who aren’t quite sure what’s going on.

2. Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory has recently become one of the most divisive shows on television. There are clearly a ton of people who still enjoy it, while detractors say it’s little more than a half hour of the same joke repeated over and over again: the main characters are nerds.

“Nerd” culture has recently become part of mainstream media, especially with the popularity of movies such as The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. The idea that nerds are incapable of basic human interaction and the mundane tasks is officially outdated. While Big Bang Theory may have been considered original when it first aired, eventually, you need real jokes for a laugh track to play.

3. Keeping up with the Kardashians

Keeping Up with the Kardashians is one of the worst shows on television. Even fans agree, but that’s also why it made this list. The show is obviously scripted and has no educational or entertainment value. In one episode, the sisters literally brought a homeless man off of the streets to “play with” him. Disgusting. The Kardashian family doesn’t do anything except act out obviously scripted fights and promote sponsored products, and yet they pull in millions for their undeniably terrible show.

4. NCIS

I grew up watching NCIS; I remember being 7 years old and watching Agent Gibbs and the rest of the agents take down international terrorists. After Agent Ziva (played by Cote de Pablo) left the show in season 13, the show should’ve ended. Now that the main character, Agent Gibbs (played by Michael Weatherly) has left the show, it isn’t really NCIS anymore. It hasn’t been the NCIS we all knew and loved since Ziva left, and with Gibbs gone, it’s practically a different show–despite the same plot being reused a few hundred times.

5. Once Upon a Time

When Once Upon a Time first aired, its premise was enough for the show to generate a lot of buzz. As the series drags on, however, it’s gone from a clever and unique story to a total snooze fest. There are only so many plot-lines centered around time travel and amnesia people can take. The acting and writing were questionable to begin with, but bringing in Anna and Elsa from Frozen should’ve been a sign that Once Upon a Time needs to find its happily ever after.

6. Law and Order SVU 

Law and Order SVU‘s season 15 has been one of the most popular yet, but with the recent finale, it may be time for the series to come to a close. For 15 years we’ve seen Mariska Hargitay’s Sergeant Olivia Benson chase, capture, and interrogate some of the worst criminals imaginable. It’s possible that Benson will be leaving the team soon, however, especially with her beginning the path to adoption and growing struggles with PTSD.

In every way, Benson is SVU. It’s impossible to imagine the show without her, and, frankly, no fan wants to fathom that thought. I personally think the series has been going on for too long to begin with: like many crime shows, it seems to not know when to stop. The end has been a long time coming, with or without Benson leaving the team.

7. The Simpsons

While this number is definitely controversial, it has to be said. The Simpsons pioneered comedic cartoons for adults. It established the formula for so many animated families, and it’s still one of the most quoted TV shows out there. But after nearly 30 years on air, it’s simply done everything there is for it to do. It was best stated on South Park: any idea you might have for a TV show plot, “The Simpsons already did it.”

Critics frequently say the series peaked around Season 10, but it’s not as if the show has become awful since then. It’s simply grown stale, having become overly reliant on pop culture references. It will remain one of the most impactful cartoons of our era, but it’s time for The Simpsons to step aside and let newer shows have their chance.

8. Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy‘s popularity has tapered off in recent years, and for good reason. Despite the fact that medicine isn’t ordinarily an overly dangerous practice, the series has killed off many of its strongest characters — a strong contributing factor to its ongoing mediocrity. It’s not necessarily awful, but, like many of the shows on this list, it’s just grown stale.

With 14 seasons and a decently sized base of fan-girls, there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.  But maybe the producers should take a cue from how they handled the death of “McDreamy” and take the show off life support.

9. Family Guy

It’s strange to think that back when Family Guy was first cancelled in 2002. Fans were outraged by the decision. The series has enjoyed a great run, but people have gotten as tired of the show as they are of its trademark cutaway gags. Characters like Stewie have evolved personalities unrecognizable from their debut, and the show has had to resort to moments like Brian’s fake-out death just to get people talking about it nowadays.

It’s reached the point where the series is dragging on and slowly descending into incomprehensible madness. (e.g. Peter’s fight with the chicken.) It’s time for Fox to say goodbye to Family Guy once again before its legacy is tarnished beyond repair.

10. The Walking Dead

With steadily dropping ratings and an ever-shrinking fan-base, it’s no surprise that The Walking Dead needs to end. At the beginning, the show was centered around family and how much the characters cared for each other. With so many beloved characters being killed off, it’s hard to fall in love with any of the new additions to the team. The lack of connection between characters means the show is just full of monsters — and that’s a hard thing to stay invested in.

Furthermore, the show used to have a real sense of purpose. It’s no secret the zombie show is supposed to be about humanity and the efforts to keep it in dark times. But the series hasn’t actually made any new points about humanity for a while now because it seems to have forgotten what it was originally about. Story lines have become bland and predictable, characters lack substance, and ratings are steadily declining. It’s time to end.