• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, August 4, 2006

Many critics complain that too many first-year, quickly cancelled serial TV shows leave viewers with a bad taste in their mouths--not knowing what happens to characters and plotlines that briefly touched their TV fantasy lives.

The remedy for this is easy: even more abrupt series endings. Some TV shows---even good ones--go on too long, anyway.

Serial dramas work on the premise that their plots lines could end at anytime. They should take that more to heart. Now viewers know, week after week, that any character and plot line can disappear--and even the series itself.

These are the Internet days, full of short and really short video segments. Viewers understand entertainment can be short, frivolous, and still make a point.

The problem is how to get a proper ending. Well, if sturdy, theatrical improv actors can figure out where a scene ends up--on the fly--why can't TV writers do as much with a bit more time? Network executives seem to give writers and producers at least one episode to find closure.

Serial TV shows like "24" or "Lost" bring in more "engaged" viewers--just what advertisers are looking for. Television becomes less the cool medium, and more the urgent hot platform for entertainment--like the movies. Does anyone leave the movie theater in the final minutes of an action-adventure film starring Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, or Russell Crowe?

Serial dramas play havoc with TV marketing, viewer loyalty, and network schedulers. Not to mentioned that TV networks like to build--and keep--valuable assets for the long term. But in the end, drama, surprise and brevity make up the zeitgeist viewers really want from their TV shows.

TV producers should want viewers to ask questions, even stupid questions, while watching, such as: "How are they going to keep 'Prison Break' going after the first season? What happens to those guys after they break out?" (Fox says there is plenty to talk about this season--including a manhunt).

Maybe this year Jack Bauer really won't make it. Maybe someone on "Lost" will be rescued. But we all know Bauer makes it. We know that small prop plane isn't going to see any castaways on that island.

The only thing left is figuring out how. But, for the most part, that's not enough.