The End

By Michelle Derrow, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

SO LONG, LOSERS Rare is the television star who heeds Kenny Rogers' "know when to fold 'em" rule. Jerry Seinfeld, who signed off this time last year to much fanfare, was the exception. Those shuffling off the screen this year are being pushed by precipitous ratings drops. Was it a change in the zeitgeist? The fact that they had enough episodes for syndication (all had more than 100)? Or did each, like Rhoda, make a fatal flub?

TELEVISION SERIES HOME IMPROVEMENT

KISS OF DEATH Jonathan Taylor Thomas leaves show on Sept. 29

EFFECT After two episodes, 1.6 million homes tuned out

[TELEVISION SERIES] MAD ABOUT YOU

[KISS OF DEATH] Stars Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt land $1 million-per-episode paychecks for the '98-'99 season

[EFFECT] Lowest ratings ever for the '98-'99 season

[TELEVISION SERIES] MELROSE PLACE

[KISS OF DEATH] Heather Locklear's hemlines upstaged by Ally McBeal's even higher ones in September '97

[EFFECT] Finishes season with 1.5 million fewer viewers than pre-Ally era

[TELEVISION SERIES] THE NANNY

[KISS OF DEATH] After five seasons of foreplay, she weds her man in May '98

[EFFECT] 3.7 million families defect by next new episode

Source: Nielsen Media Research