We're talking television here. Since when does a TV show have to be relevant to anyone? Its meant to be escapism. which is why I hate reality shows. In the end everything is driven by ratings. Relevant or not.

And since when did the writers of Big Bang and the Unmet Mother EVER have anything valuable to say?

This isn't what I thought it was going to be. There is a difference between what is completely irrelevant, and what has just been on long enough, I think.

I guess what makes something irrelevant, using your example, is a show that doesn't know how to write for today's audience any more.

I think the CSI's are a great example of something which is stuck in a tired formula - people would rather the way in which crime drama was told moved on (a la Person of Interest). There are so many run of the mill procedurals which come out these days, most of them are cancelled after a single season.

Dare I sare it (probably get horrid responses to this) I think shows like the Sopranos, the Wire, Breaking Bad, Dexter and Weeds are about to be a thing of the past too. They were shows where people 'went there' to create anti-heroes who were heros, people who we strangely liked even though they did things we wouldn't approve of. But I think we have been there now, and in some ways those kind of shows feel gratuitous now.

I'd also like to believe that vampires are become irrelevant due to complete oversaturation. But they probably aren't.

I'm very proud of you Chris. You got through the whole thing without mentioning Two and Half Men or Mike & Molly. Neither of which seem to have ever been relevant.

Family Guy, The Simpsons, HIMYM, Big Bang Theory and Community should all end after the next season.

Family Guy was amazing but lately it's just seemingly more and more random things thrown in for cheap laughs.

The Simpsons because it's boring and outdated.

HIMYM because it's been going on too long for such a simple premise they have really dragged out the story.

Big Bang Theory because what was fresh and funny is quickly becoming stale and boring.

Community because the last season faltered a bit and 4 years is long enough for community college, any longer wouldn't make sense.

I think Americans need to follow more in the footsteps of the British who can bring out quality shows and end them when they are still quality rather than bleed them dry.

Also Jersey Shore, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and all spin offs should end and have the creators shot. Pure trash

I watched the first season on HIMYM when it aired on TV3 on Saturday nights. I liked it, although very few other people in New Zealand even seemed to know it was on. I understand it's gotten better known since then. I think I'd like to get back to it, and may some day. But I am very confident that there are a reasonable number of people who would be annoyed at not finding out HHMTM.

A few years back, I might have said I wouldn't mind if The Simpsons was to announce a final season. I'm a religious watcher of new episodes (and even first repeats), but season 23 is right up there with the best, and I'm pretty sure that whatever replaced it, I wouldn't like it as much. I wouldn't blame them if they did though, so we may be at the same point.

As a long time fan of Californication, I have to agree with you, Chris. It's past its prime/done its dash, sadly. I think other irrelevant shows for me are all the reality shows that are on TV; yup the whole lot, a blanket statement from me on this. They are not in my universe therefore all are irrelevant, as are all the versions of CSI and NCIS, all are well past their best.

As for shows I have/continue to follow, House of Lies was irrelevant from the start and I will not be investing any further in it. Others that quickly became irrelevant for me after their first season were Burn Notice, Alpha's, Touch and Once Upon a Time.

You've just made me want to listen to Limp Bizkit now :p

Ben #2: Good post. I think the makers of those shows you mention know this too and I suspect a few of them won't go on for ever as they run wide story arcs that need to finish. The Big-C and Breaking Bad finish next year, but will True Blood keep going for 9 seasons? I sort of hope not.

I still watch The Simpsons but Bart's badboy schtick is irrelevant these days, especially when you compare him to someone like Eric Cartman.

Well I guess we do tend to judge comedy differently to drama.

Does a comedy actually still need to be "relevant"? Because really all we want from them in general is 23 minutes + ads worth of light hearted escapism, rather than a search for deeper truths.

I'd judge a comedy by the way it makes me react. If I am completely failing to react to a comedy (in this case 2.5 Men, How I Met Your Mother) for a couple of seasons, then to me, it's time to be off with their heads. However I might be the minority voice, and other people might still be falling off their sofa laughing every episode. The majority of the internet moaners that I read about do suggest that these shows have jumped the shark though.