Will anything take their place?

What happens when a number of your favorite shows leave the airwaves at the same time? What is a man to do? Lost and 24 have both ended their runs - as have Heroes and FlashForward, but who's counting? - and it's time to turn our attention to what's going to fill the void.

Nothing will "replace" Lost, and, quite frankly, it's foolish to pretend that anything will. The show is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, and, in keeping with that notion, I don't expect to see anything like it again. 24, on the other hand, may have been ahead of its time and a groundbreaking achievement, but that was more than five years ago, and it's been showing signs of wear since the fifth season.

Next fall, Survivor will be all that remains of my once-dominant trio of programs. Other contenders, long waiting in the wings, will need to step forward - Friday Night Lights, The Office, or Chuck, for example. Will they be the same? Unlikely, but maybe something new fills the void. I can only hope...

Don't forget the early years

It's not uncommon for a show to overstay its welcome. Even critical and pop-culture favorites like Friends managed to hang on too long, as ratings and, ultimately, finances cause networks to do peculiar things. 24 was no different, but we kept coming back, always hopeful that it would recapture some of its old magic.

The show was a tricky one, because it never truly spiraled off into the abyss. Every season brought with it hope & promise, and each year had its own run of strong episodes. Each one's final grade was determined, however, by its ability to sustain whatever momentum it built up early on, by its willingness to steer clear of the tried & true, and by its ability to minimize those cringe-worthy moments.

Well, season 8 had its moments, but too many of them involved the show veering steadily off the rails. Does it make me love the show any less? Does it make me forget what this show once was? Certainly not, but its time had come. I'll choose to remember those great early seasons, and I'll still look forward to one final journey in the years to come...