Was 25 episodes the perfect amount to cement Father Ted’s legacy as a classic? If it continued on longer, would the quality have declined like so many other brilliant shows? (Simpsons, Lost, etc.)

29 comments

  8. I could have done with another few. Especially since Dermot Morgan died at a very young 45. It’d be good to have another seasons to look back on.

  10. I know the it crowd which Graham Linehan was involved in. Came back for a one off episode a few years after it ended. Would have been interesting to see if that would of happened with Fr Ted.

  11. The death knell in my opinion was the football game with the geratric priests, the final series you could tell they were done with it. Go out on a high and the actors themselves probably didn’t want to do the same all over again.

    The final episode premise was also used in the final episode for the IT crowd, they’re doomed to stay and can’t leave. Without Ted/Jen the others couldn’t survive in the real world. For the writers and actors just close the door and walk away. Not a bad way to finish 2 hit shows. Take a final bow and exit stage left.

  12. Show should finish at their prime. It leaves people craving more=leaves the impression of a great experience. You give too much law of diminishing returns kicks in.

  15. I think it is the perfect amount. Always get half emotional on that final episode montage. That last episode is tinged with a bit of sadness.

  16. Some of the best shows ever made only have a handful of episodes (Father Ted, Fawlty Towers, I’m Alan Partridge, Police Squad).

  17. I think if Dermot Morgan hadn’t tragically passed unexpectedly, it might have gone on one or two more seasons, but Irish/UK shows tend to not get driven into the ground the way American ones do.

    But in fairness, the fact that so many of us talk about it is one of the first rules of showbiz – always leave ’em wanting more.

  21. I think s3 was marginally worse than the first two, in ways I find it hard to articulate…perhaps it seemed like it was trying too hard to be surreal or something?

    That said s3 is still classic comedy tv and better than like 90% of other comedies.

    It’s just that the first two seasons are more or less wall to wall gold.
    Still my favourite tv show over all.

  23. Thank God it was Channel 4 that made it. If it was RTE , there would have been so much interference from the church and the jokes toned down some much that it wouldn’t be the classic it is today.

    Come to think of it, they have made some banging limited series, Black books, the IT crowd etc.

  28. To anyone that’s seen the show Arrested Development another wacky comedy show was cancelled after it’s third season became a cult classic then they brought it back 7 years later and tarnished the following wouldn’t want that for Father Ted now

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