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TV’s Best Season Finale Episodes: ‘Cheers,’ ‘Sopranos,’ ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ and More Great Endings

Entertainment

Apr 10, 2025 11:47 am·

By LOUISE A. BARILE

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Closer takes a look at the 10 most memorable season finale episodes of our favorite television series.

1 of 10

‘Cheers’

Sam and Diane’s “will they or won’t they?” romance was a hallmark of Cheers’ early seasons, but would they really fly off into the sunset together? Of course not. After an electrical problem on the plane, Ted Danson’s barkeep returns to his true love — the place where everyone knows his name. “Well, I tell ya,” he says. “I’m the luckiest son of a bitch on earth.”

2 of 10

‘Seinfeld’

In this deeply polarizing finale, the gang are put on trial for their years of self-centered behavior with a parade of past characters including the Soup Nazi, the woman mugged for her marble rye and more testifying against them. Jerry’s prison stand-up routine brings in a final laugh.

3 of 10

‘The Sopranos’

The crime drama ends while Tony (James Gandolfini) and his family wait for Meadow to join them for dinner as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” plays. Tony looks up and the screen cuts to black leaving viewers to decide what happened.

4 of 10

‘MAS*H’

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is treated for PTSD, as a cease-fire is declared in the Korean War and the 4077’s staff mull their next moves. As Hawkeye helicopters out, he sees that B.J. (Mike Farrell) has spelled out “goodbye” in rocks on the ground. This final episode is still the most-watched in TV history.

5 of 10

‘ER’

The opening of The Carter Center, founded by Noah Wylie’s Dr. John Carter, brings a lot of familiar faces together one last time — but the circle of life and death continues at fictional County General Hospital.

6 of 10

‘Friends’

After a decade of relationship and career ups and downs in New York, Monica and Chandler move their babies to the suburbs; Joey gets new pets and Rachel chooses between Ross and Paris. But first — one last cup of coffee together at Central Perk.

7 of 10

‘LOST’

Six seasons of head-spinning twists end as Jack (Matthew Fox) fulfills his promise to protect the island. The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 and their loved ones reunite before moving on to the afterlife.

8 of 10

‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’

Lou, Mary, Murray, and Sue Ann are fired — leaving Ted (Ted Knight) to give them an on-air send off in his usual blustery style. The series ends with a heartfelt group hug, lots of tissues and the gang singing “It’s a Long Way To Tipperary” as they exit the newsroom.

9 of 10

‘Newhart’

In one of the most clever finales of all time, series star Bob Newhart wakes up as Dr. Robert Hartley — the character he previously played on The Bob Newhart Show — and remarks to his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) that he had a strange dream about being a Vermont Inn keeper. Bob credited his real-life wife, Ginny, with coming up with the idea.

10 of 10

‘The Fugitive’

The modern TV finale was born when Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) confronts the One-Armed Man after four seasons on the run. He and his former nemesis Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse) part with a handshake.

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