Many of my own preferred TV shows are several seasons into their run, so lately I've been taking an honest look at how I'm spending my viewing time. Who's still got the mojo and who's heading for a Hulu break-up? My incredibly scientific scale weighs how long each series has been on the air against their pros and cons before assigning their staying power on a scale from 1 to 5... 1 being "I won't be surprised if this is your last season" and 5 being "I won't be offended if lots of people want to see you." Trust me: it's for our own good!
"South Park" (Comedy Central)
Premise: Four young boys see the world through the lens of their quirky, misguided small town.
Seasons: 19
Pros: The show will never run out of fresh material thanks to society's unlimited supply of satirical targets.
Cons: Hardly any, though inconsistent network standards censor certain episodes but not others, dampening the brilliance of the show's message and impact.
Staying Power = 5
"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Premise: Four highly intelligent, science-oriented friends have a lot to learn about life and love.
Seasons: 9
Pros: The show is still a destination for elaborately constructed, highbrow dialogue and great guest stars from the realms of classic comedy and nerd culture.
Cons: Character development has been sacrificed for the sake of preserving running jokes that stopped being funny years ago. Let these guys grow up already... even if it's just a little bit!
Staying Power = 2.5
"Modern Family" (ABC)
Premise: A fake documentary chronicles the well-meaning misadventures of an extended family.
Seasons: 7
Pros: A formidably funny ensemble cast and the rarity of its nuanced, blink-and-you'll-miss-it non-verbal humor keep the laughs coming long past their prime.
Cons: Young actors will inevitably get older, but in this case, their increased screen presence and still-developing talent slows down the whip-smart pace of this otherwise solid farce.
Staying Power = 3
"Scandal" (ABC)
Premise: A high-profile D.C. fixer (and former White House staffer) juggles the demands of her firm with the lingering secrets of the current administration.
Seasons: 5
Pros: Much like its network companion "How To Get Away With Murder," this is a show with a diverse cast that isn't afraid to tackle current events and social issues, all without being preachy. Creator Shonda Rhimes is merciless (in the best possible way) with plot twists and cliffhangers.
Cons: While it has rebounded nicely from the soapier, melodramatic antics and underused main characters that weakened previous seasons, the temptation to place too much focus on the central love triangle could cause the show to fizzle out before its time.
Staying Power = 4.5
"Once Upon A Time" (ABC)
Premise: A curse brings all of the famous storybook characters into the real world.
Seasons: 5
Pros: Increasingly few, but memorable performances can still be found in the dual roles of Regina/The Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) and Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle).
Cons: The show used to subvert fairy-tale characters and situations to clever effect; now it seems to merely shove together as many unrelated characters as possible and force a connection among them. Not to mention that its once-promising non-linear narrative has fractured itself into too many timelines and settings for even an experienced viewer to keep track.
Staying Power = 1
"Homeland" (Showtime)
Premise: A bipolar CIA agent solves international cases while trying to hide her condition.
Seasons: 5
Pros: The show remains a phenomenal acting showcase for leads Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. Despite uneven storytelling, the shifts of power in their mentoring relationship are still compelling to watch.
Cons: Since the finale of its third season, which tied up the majority of its original plotlines, the show has essentially rebooted itself twice for its fourth and now its (current) fifth season -- losing touch with its initial sources of dramatic tension along the way.
Staying Power = 2
"Supernatural" (The CW)
Premise: Two brothers travel cross-country to battle the forces of darkness.
Seasons: 11
Pros: The long-running series winks at itself through self-aware, meta moments like the book-series-within-the-show about the show's events and its acknowledgement of the various segments of its own fan base and genre.
Cons: There will always be "new" monsters, but the show's core mythology of good vs. evil/angels vs. demons/heaven vs. hell has nearly exhausted itself. Only one credible story thread -- the identity and whereabouts of God, who is often referenced but never seen -- remains unexplored.
Staying Power = 1.5
"The Good Wife" (CBS)
Premise: The wife of a disgraced politician finds success and identity on her own terms.
Seasons: 7
Pros: This is one of the finest dramas on television, with fully-formed characters and truly realistic performances across the board. The juxtaposition of the title character's personal and professional life is a master-class in how to write, develop, and sustain subplots between episodes and entire seasons.
Cons: The departure of two beloved main characters in the last two years has taken its toll (both personally and dramatically), leaving fans to question how the show's endgame will eventually play out.
Staying Power = 4
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