Which shows should be put to sleep?

By Will Pfeifer
Rockford (Ill.) Register Star

Sometimes, even when you love your pets dearly, you have to destroy them.

The same applies to TV shows. After several years on the air, they often just stumble around, looking pathetic, begging to be put out of their misery. It's not easy or pleasant, but it has to be done — for the good of everyone.

Listen, we once loved "ER" and "Friends" as much as you, but the time has come to face the facts. We have to examine our old favorites and be ruthless about what is worth saving and what isn't. Some deserve a second chance; others deserve a swift and merciful cancellation.

At least two shows — "The X-Files" and "Ally McBeal" — have decided to take the honorable way out. We hope others will follow in their footsteps.

'ER'
Premiered: 1994 on NBC

• The prosecution: Once fast-paced and exciting, this hospital drama now wallows in the personal tragedies of its characters, with a heavily hyped "very special episode" airing every week. Now that Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) is dead, it can only get worse.
• The defense: New characters, played by Maura Tierney and Mekhi Phifer, could add some life to this morose, lethargic show.
• The verdict: Put "ER" out of its misery, stat!

'Friends'
Premiered: 1994 on NBC

• The prosecution: Now that virtually every male on the show has hooked up with every female (except for Ross and Monica, of course), is there any point in continuing? Rachel's pregnancy smells like the sort of plot a dying show would concoct to desperately create interest.
• The defense: The writing — especially lines given to Joey (Matt LeBlanc) — is still pretty sharp. And other shows with babies — "I Love Lucy" and "Murphy Brown," — did well, despite predictions.
• The verdict: Do you really want to see Rachel raise a baby? Evict these tenants now.

'Oz'
Premiered: 1997 on HBO

• The prosecution: "Oz" has sacrificed any sense of reality for outlandish plots involving aging drug users, Chinese gangs and Betty Buckley.
• The defense: The horrifying battle of wills between Beecher (Lee Tergesen) and Schillinger (J.K. Simmons) is one of the most compelling stories on TV.
• The verdict: The unnamed state where "Oz" takes place allows the death penalty, so let's put it to use. (HBO has announced the next season of "Oz" will be its last.)

'NYPD Blue'
Premiered: 1993 on ABC

• The prosecution: Once so cutting-edge that its first season didn't air in some markets, "NYPD Blue" now looks like any other cop show.
• The defense: It's still better than most of them, and Dennis Franz has created one of TV's most complex characters in Andy Sipo-wicz. Plus, except for Franz and Gordon Clapp, the cast is almost entirely new.
• The verdict: Give it a stay of execution for at least one more season.

'Survivor'
Premiered: 2000 on CBS

• The prosecution: It used to be fresh and fun, but this reality show has settled into a real-life rut. The endless alliances have grown tiresome, we've seen all the challenges before and even host Jeff Probst looks bored.
• The defense: Thanks to masterful work in the editing room, "Survivor" still surprises.
• The verdict: We'll give this show one more chance, but if the series doesn't improve next season, "Survivor" gets voted off the island.

'The Real World'
Premiered: 1992 on MTV

• The prosecution: Since this reality series began a decade ago, the young cast members have grown shallower, the "drama" has grown more contrived and the rapid-fire editing has grown more annoying.
• The defense: The defense has no argument, your honor.
• The verdict: Let's stop being polite and start getting real. This show stinks. Cancel it.

'The Simpsons'
Premiered: 1990 on Fox

• The prosecution: On the average, the clever animated series isn't as good as it used to be.
• The defense: So what? A weak "Simpsons" is better than 99 percent of whatever else is on. The writing is sharp, the characters are richer than ever and — most importantly — it's still funny. Few TV shows can match this one for complexity, intelligence and all-around satirical brilliance. Homer, Bart, Marge and the rest of the cast have become pop culture icons — and for good reason.
• The verdict: Kill it? We should clone it — it's the best series in the history of television.