During the 90s and 2000s, the various “Star Trek” spin-offs (such as “The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine,” and “Voyager”) would end their runs after seven seasons. (Or after four seasons, in “Enterprise”’s case.) Despite fans clamoring for more seasons, it seemed like a hardened rule, regardless of the show’s popularity. Whether it was for cost reasons, to clear room for a new series, or some other reason, in retrospect it seemed like a good idea. (The recent “Trek” incarnations made for Paramount+ top out at five seasons, per shorter runs the norm for many streaming TV shows.) Seven seasons means well over 150 episodes, an ample amount for syndicated reruns. It also allowed TNG, DS9, and “Voyager” to go out on a high note, versus overstaying their welcome and becoming a zombie series.
“The Simpsons,” unfortunately, is the prime example of the latter, as it’s now the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show. With over 800 episodes, it’d take almost three weeks to watch the entire run, if doing nothing else but sleeping and watching “The Simpsons” 16 hours a day. (Which is more vacation time than most Americans get in a year.) The idea the show still needs even more episodes and 800 isn’t enough is ludicrous to me, and a prime example of quantity over quality. (Or Fox just needing to fill the timeslot against fall ratings champ “Sunday Night Football.”)
But where would “The Simpsons” have left off if it adhered to “Star Trek”’s seven-season rule? Or similar long-running shows like “Arthur,” “South Park,” and “SpongeBob?” Below I look at what would’ve been the series finale if long-running TV cartoons had ended at seven seasons.
My criteria:
- The show must have run basically non-stop, so I’m not counting reboots/revival shows, like the various incarnations of “Scooby-Doo” or “The Flintstones.”
- I’m just looking at Western cartoons.
- Number of seasons and episodes for still-running shows are as of this writing.
Arthur
Total number of seasons/episodes: 25 seasons / 253 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “April 9”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 105
The seventh season of PBS Kids’ “Arthur” aired in 2002, and ran for 10 episodes. It ended on a serious half-hour-long episode, “April 9.” As the title suggests, it was meant to help kids deal with traumatic events; it aired in November 2022, a year after the 2001 World Trade Center attack. The episode sees Arthur and his classmates deal with the aftermath of their school catching on fire.
Cyberchase
Total number of seasons/episodes (to date): 16 seasons / 153 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “Spellbound”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 89
The seventh season of PBS Kids series “Cyberchase” ran in 2009 for seven episodes. The show had already begun its shift away from math to environmental themes, with this season placing an emphasis on lessons about weather.
The episode “Spellbound” sees the Wicked Witch cast a spell, which can only be broken via the use of grids to make a much larger version of an image. The leader of the cybersite the heroes help has a voice resembling Apu from “The Simpsons.”
The Fairly OddParents
Total number of seasons/episodes: 10 seasons / 172 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “Spellementary School” / “Operation: Dinkleberg”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 120
The seventh season of “The Fairly OddParents” isn’t exactly a favorite of fans, though the remaining three seasons seem liked even less (for introducing unpopular new characters like Sparky, the fairy dog). This season aired over several years, from 2009 to 2011 (plus a straggler episode in 2012).
“Spellementary School” sees Poof, Cosmo and Wanda’s son, go to school for the first time. There, Poof competes with his evil anti-fairy counterpart, Foop (who’s basically a G-rated Stewie Griffin from “Family Guy”). “Operation: Dinkleberg” focuses on Mr. Turner’s one-sided rivalry with the Turners’ neighbor, Mr. Dinkleberg.
The Simpsons
Total number of seasons/episodes (to date): 37 seasons / 808 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “Summer of 4 Ft. 2”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 153
The seventh season of “The Simpsons” ran from 1995 to 1996. A number of classic episodes aired during this season, even if I think the show’s first five seasons was its peak. The season opens with the second part of “Who Shot Mr. Burns?.”
“Summer of 4 Ft. 2” sees the Simpsons family go on vacation to a seaside New England town, where Lisa wins over new friends, to Bart’s growing jealousy. While this wasn’t an all-time classic episode, it would’ve been an OK spot to end the show on.
SpongeBob SquarePants
Total number of seasons/episodes (to date): 17 seasons / 336 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “Big Sister Sam” / “Perfect Chemistry”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 152
The seventh season of “SpongeBob” ran for 26 episodes, and aired from 2009 to 2011. In my opinion, the first four or five seasons was “SpongeBob”’s peak; in comparison, the seventh season had a lot of clunkers (“Stuck in the Wringer,” etc.). Fortunately, “The First 100 Episodes” DVD set covers the first five seasons, plus there’s cheap season DVD sets covering the same episodes.
“Big Sister Sam” sees Patrick’s brutish sister Sam pay him a visit. Later episodes and “The Patrick Star Show” seem to ignore Sam, not that continuity’s a strong point for “SpongeBob.” “Perfect Chemistry” sees Sandy and Plankton work together on a teleporter invention of Sandy’s.
South Park
Total number of seasons/episodes (to date): 28 seasons / 338 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “It’s Christmas in Canada”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 111
The seventh season of “South Park” aired in 2003. Plots focused on metrosexuals, online music piracy, and the War in Iraq, per trends and events in the early aughts. The show was still at its peak popularity by this point, with its 100th episode airing during this season (as well as an episode, ironically, about cancellation).
“It’s Christmas in Canada” sees the boys go to Canada in an attempt to rescue Kyle’s adopted brother Ike.
Teen Titans Go
Total number of seasons/episodes (to date): nine seasons / 447 episodes
Final episode of Season 7: “365!”
Number of episodes, Seasons 1-7: 365
No, that number of episodes isn’t a typo; “Teen Titans Go” really has dominated Cartoon Network that much in the 2010s and 2020s. (The episodes are a quarter-hour long each.)
The seventh season aired in 2022, ending with the episode “365!,” celebrating the 365th episode. This one sees the Titans celebrate it by seeking out 2010s DC movie director Zach Snyder (who voices himself). This episode definitely is from another era—around the time of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger being finalized and the “Snyderverse” DC films mercifully winding down.
Image: “The Simpsons” episode “Summer of 4 Ft. 2.” (Fox)
