Finale season is in full swing, and to get you to watch this week, our favorite dramas are offering an as sortment of clichéd endings that echo series past. Here is a look at some of what’s aired and what’s to come:
* “Desperate Housewives” —Viewers had the kitchen sink thrown at them this year: two women in jeopardy from two different crazies; the return of a long-lost bad guy; a birth; a big ol’ explosion. This is the way soaps were done back in Mama’s day, only with less cutesy music. Cliché Predecessor: “Knots Landing,” of course.
* “House” — Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy. He never changes! He might have proven he’s a good kisser, but House being a good boyfriend would interfere with the show’s formulaic dynamic. If these two are still together by the end of next season’s premiere, Mama will be amazed.
Cliché Predecessors: “Cheers”; “Moonlighting.”
* “Gossip Girl” — Also taking the classic primetime soap route, “GG” offered multiple cliffhangers. Surprise pregnancy? Check. Main character leaves town, like we think she’ll never return? Done. Chuck Bass shot in a Czech alley? Bingo!
Cliché Predecessors: “The O.C.”; “Melrose Place.”
* “Grey’s Anatomy” —The turgid slow-mo preview of chaos at the hospital and one of the characters getting shot reminds us that “Grey’s” rarely offers us anything we haven’t seen before.
Cliché Predecessor: Every sweeps episode of “ER.”
* “Lost” —Two and a half hours to go, and only 100 or so questions left to answer. At this point, it’s impossible to know what will be resolved and what won’t, but Mama admits that, after all the ups and downs of the past six seasons, the “Lost” finale could still be completely original and exciting. Predecessors: Difficult to predict . . . “The Prisoner” (Completely confusing and unsatisfying)? “Seinfeld” (lots of returning favorites used to no purpose)? “M*A*S*H” (an overlong but tearful farewell to beloved characters)? Here’s hoping “Lost” has a few aces up its sleeve.