Last night, ABC’s venerable sitcom, According to Jim, signed off after eight seasons and 182 episodes. The show has been performing poorly in the ratings for quite awhile but ABC just kept on bringing it back.
The reason? Well, sitcoms perform well in syndication. So, even though Jim wasn’t doing well in primetime, ABC Studios more than recoups the expenses when the episodes are rerun on cable and local stations. Similar economics have saved Scrubs.
All things must come to an end though and season eight is the end for Jim. Though ABC maintained that the sitcom could return for season nine, co-star Larry Joe Campbell revealed in December that the show’s sets had already been destroyed. Last month, the network conceded that Jim was indeed finished.
In the series finale, titled “Heaven Opposed to Hell,” Dana (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and Ryan (Mitch Rouse) return from California for a visit and announce that they’re expecting. Andy (Campbell) and Mandy (Jackie Debatin) also announce that they’re engaged. Jim couldn’t care less and then, while everyone else is congratulating the happy couples, he chokes on a shrimp puff. Everything goes white.
Jim then finds himself walking along in the clouds. He runs into Danny Michalski (Dan Aykroyd) on a motorcycle who tells Jim that they’re both dead. Jim almost gets into heaven but is stopped at the last minutes. He must first go on trial to prove that he’s worthy. God is played by Lee Majors while Satan is portrayed by Erik Estrada.
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With Andy as his defense attorney and Dana as the prosecuting lawyer, Jim goes on trial. Through clips, we’re reminded about Jim’s character. His children (Taylor Atelian, Billi Bruno, and Conner Rayburn) testify for him, as does his wife Cheryl (Courtney Thorne-Smith). Unfortunately, it’s not enough. Just when it looks like all is lost, his family and friend tell God that, if he’s sent to Hell, they love Jim enough to go with him. The almighty has no choice but send him back to Earth.
Jim returns, just as Andy has successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on him and has dislodged the shrimp puff. After he tells his family and friends about his experience, they expect him to say that he’s going to change his ways.
But Jim reasons that it’s his personality that saved him so he should never change a thing. After all, “God don’t want me. The Devil don’t want me. The way I figure it, if I never change, I’ll live forever.” He tosses another shrimp puff in the air and, just as he’s about to catch it in his mouth, the screen goes black. End of series.
Some feel that the sitcom had long overstayed its welcome. Some devoted fans are sorry to see it go. What do you think? Either way, was this a fitting series finale?
Image courtesy ABC.
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It’s a shame. I will miss “Jim”.
My wife and I just recently became fans of “According to Jim” after catching an episode quite by accident. We record every episode now and have tons to watch. But we will miss the show and the cast, who did a great jop. Andy and Dana had spot on comedic timing, they were great. Jim and Courtney were perfect in there roles and the kids were great also. It was a very very funny show that we will miss.
My husband and I are very sad to see this great show cancelled. With all the nonsense reality shows and mind-numbing garbage on, this was one of just a couple of shows we watched. It was funny and slapstick – Jim Belushi is a really great actor and musician. We know he (and the rest of the cast) will go on to do super things in future and we wish them all the luck and happiness in the world. We are lucky enough to see reruns on our local station.
This was a very fun show to watch. I looked forward to it every week. The characters were funny especially Andy and Dana. The cast had great chemistry together.I don’t like reality tv. I think it’s very degrading, and shows how pathetic people are trying to become famous. I hope ABC reconsiders their decision to cancel the show. There are not many shows left on television that I would allow my kids to watch.
gonna miss it, it was my all time favorite!!!!!!!!!!
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