Here are, what i think, the best examples of series finales:

1. Dawson's Creek - emotional, beautifully acted, edited and the writers really went all out (thank you to creator Kevin Williamson who left the show after its first season, but came back after five years to write the finale...BRILLIANT). The story was great, and i loved the whole "five years later" thing and how it went totally back to its roots (and ignored all that happened in the awful sixth season). Amazing
2. The O.C. - see blog below...amazing
3. FRIENDS - Predictable, but very very emotional, and its the end to a cultural phenomenon.
4. Will & Grace - so wonderfully written...it brings everything full circle and shows that the show was't just one large gay-joke. Very well done and the very very UNpredictable

Here are, what i think, the WORST examples of series finales:
1. Roseanne - for such a smart, wonderful, hilarious show that is one of the best looks at lower middlefamilies, the ending was the worst in any shows history. Dan died the previous season? The whole last season was a giant lie/joke/never happened? I get that she's a writer and that she wrote what happened because she couldn't deal with reality, but seriously, what a cop-out for the writers of the show...they couldn't deal with where the show was going...so they had to make everything a lie...Jackie was the gay one, not the grandmother? So stupid. Darlene was married to Mark, and Becky to David? AGHHH! So really, what we invested years in was all a lie. I choose to completely ignore the finale all together. It was absolutely horrid
2. Melrose Place - Amanda and Peter fake their own deaths? Puh-lease! So stupid! What else happened in the finale? Who cares, it obviously sucked wayy too much. Surprising? Yes. Notorious stupid? Absolutely.
3. Reba - I know the CW cancelled it and they didn't have time to prep a finale of REBA sized proportions, but they could have done a little bit better. The last line "We're survivors" by Reba was the saving grace. Love me some Reba!
4. Frasier - Frasier starts over in Chicago? Awful. Why could't the fans of Roz and Frasier be satisfied. I mean, i know it's predictable, but it's what i wanted. Frasier should have been with Roz...anything else is less than the show.
5. 90210 - What else happened other than Donna and David getting married? I mean, Dylan and Kelly semi get back together. But, if you asked me, i always hated Kelly and Dylan. I MUCH prefered Dylan and Brenda, and Kelly and Brendan. And what's with them bringing Valerie back (who i loved, don't get me wrong) but not bringing Brendan or Brenda back for Donna and David's wedding, Just sloppy, considering the entire show was about Brendan and Brenda and the Walshes in the first place...(But, the show went considerably downhill when Brendan and Valerie left. They should have ended it then, not dragged it out for two more seasons.)