Which TV shows had the greatest final episodes?

In the two-part finale of this popular, long-running series, Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) finally gets the confession he's been long searching for from the one-armed man, aka "Fred Johnson" (Bill Raisch). But not before a fight. Though the series endured low ratings during the final two of its four-season run, this still ranks among the most-watched final episodes of any series in TV history.

No doubt, "The Last Show" is one of the most memorable and well-done finales in television history. Only the annoying Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) is kept on once the new station manager takes over at WJM-TV. Rhoda (Valerie Harper) and Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) make guest appearances. However, it's the shuffling group hug and Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) turning off the lights to the newsroom, and on one of the greatest TV series of all time, that we'll never forget.

The highly anticipated, two-hour finale co-written by star Alan Alda was reportedly viewed by 105.97 million total viewers. The hype was as big as the Super Bowl and the episode is still the most watched of any television finale. As we got to say our farewell to each of the main characters, the emotion of 11 seasons of this beloved show was unleashed in full force. Hawkeye's helicopter taking off to see B.J.'s (Mike Farrell) message while the famed theme song plays remains the most memorable final scene in TV history.

The original Magnum lasted eight seasons, but the Season 7 finale ("Limbo") was designed to end the show's run when Tom Selleck's beloved character dies (or we think). However, the show was brought back for one more season, and the official ending sees Magnum apparently returning to the Navy and together with his daughter. Though maybe not as emotional as the intended finale, it was still a solid ending to the popular series.

So are viewers to believe that the happenings of this procedural, medical drama was all the product of an autistic boy's imagination? That's what we are to gather from the memorable final scene of this popular NBC show. In the end, network television back in the day was all fiction-based, so why not a little fiction, within the fiction of the mind. Still, a great show. 

Watched by more than 42 million people, only the "M*A*S*H" finale had a bigger audience. Sure, there is a little goofiness to it (Woody, a city councilman?), but it was heartfelt and a quality way to wrap up one of the best shows of all time. The return of Diane (Shelley Long) is a nice touch, but in the end, Sam (Ted Danson) returns to his "one true love."

The Season 6 series finale dragged on a little, and Kevin (Fred Savage) was more annoying and full of self-pity as ever, but there was something honest and genuine about the way the series wrapped up. With the Arnold family back intact enjoying a July 4 parade, Daniel Stern's voice-over as the grown-up, present-day Kevin touched us for the final time. Explaining the future of each main character, and the fact that Kevin and Winnie (Danica McKellar) did not end up together just seemed right. 

Now, there are various opinions on the much-anticipated, two-part finale to one of the funniest shows on television. While the plot line is kind of hokey, the return of some of our favorite "Seinfeld" characters (The Soup Nazi, The Bubble Boy and Mr. Bookman) was a lot of fun. In the end, "Seinfeld's" four main characters were exposed for the vile, unsympathetic people they really were.

In the one of the best final twists of any show in TV history, "Newhart's" final episode might be the most memorable of any show ever to grace the tube. Was Loudon (Bob Newhart), his wife, friends, the Darryl brothers and all those in Vermont all a product of a bad dream of Dr. Bob Hartley (The New Hartley Show)? That's what we are led to believe, and we still can't stop laughing.

Co-series creator Marta Kauffman reportedly said she patterned the show's two-part finale on that of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." That can be seen in the goodbyes of the main characters. Of course, Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) are ready to move forward together, which is probably best. Otherwise, it was a classy and unceremonious end to a stellar show.

There is a lot going on in the final episode of this successful "Cheers" spinoff. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is trying to find happiness. Roz (Peri Gilpin) gets promoted, Martin (John Mahoney) gets married and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) become parents. As was the case with "Cheers," the "Frasier" finally was poignant and heartfelt with just the right amount of comedy.

A shocker right off the bat, the finale of "Six Feet Under" opens with a birth. However, the final episode, which enjoyed plenty of critical and viewer acclaim, offers a creative take on the flash-forward sequence often used in these situations. While we get a glimpse into the future of the show's main characters, we also see how they die. That would only be fitting.

So is Tony dead or alive? Was he shot at the diner in the final scene of the massively successful HBO mob series as Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" played on the mini juke? The television world may never know, and some fans think David Chase copped out with that cut-to-black ending. Then again, the show always had it's unpredictable moments, and if we paid attention to dialogue and scenes throughout the show's final season, we might be able to draw our own plausible conclusion.

Another HBO smash that went out on a strong note, this was a pretty much a "life-goes-on" conclusion to the show. A job was done, and the main characters all went their various ways — good and bad — for the viewer to see, while the city of Baltimore does the same as a collective. While the show never enjoyed the through-the-roof ratings like other HBO hits, it was special nonetheless.

In kind of a bookend homage to the show's pilot, the ER is bustling both with patients and the tie-ups to storylines involving the likes of Dr. Carter (Noah Wylie) and Samantha Taggart (Linda Cardellini). The appearance of the late Dr. Greene's (Anthony Edwards) daughter is a nice touch and a tribute to one of the show's most beloved characters.

Another finale that we knew would have a bit of trouble living up to the hype. However, fans of the show are still wondering exactly what was going on in the church, on the island, etc. In the end, the finale offered closure for the characters, whether we agreed with it or not, and that their time together was what is most important and essentially defined them in many ways. Like it or hate, it still has us talking and thinking.

Another finale with a lot going on. But that's what we loved about "30 Rock" over the years. It was always about controlled chaos, and the craziness and the laughs were there right until the end. There might not have been a smarter, wittier comedy on network television the last decade. We were sad to see it go but grateful for the time we had.

In the end, Walt (Bryan Cranston) went out the way things were intended. He essentially tied up all those loose ends he needed to address and took care of his family in the process. The finale of this huge hit was as creative, compelling and honest as the series throughout its run. That's all viewers should expect, and we were not disappointed.

One of the more underrated comedies of all time, "Parks and Recreation" got better with age. And when it was time to say goodbye, it left on a strong note. The flash-forward scenes are entertaining, and the final season, in general, did a good job of digging deeper in to the lives of the characters to prepare us for the finale and what was ahead.

With so many great and memorable finales on the list, many critics believe the last episode of this hit FX show ranks right up there with best of all time. The show's unexpected, devastating, yet somewhat proper and fulfilling, ending only added to the overall creativity and genius that made it arguably the best piece of television during the decade.