Personally I think MASH should have been #1.  I remember watching it when it first aired what a great send off to a great series.

I agree with biggkidd...  MASH's original airing was before my time, but I saw a majority of the show through midday re-runs while I was working on homework and/or studying in college.  The finale was executed perfectly, I thought.  Great way to end the series.

Then again, I never once have seen The Fugitive, so I guess it's possible MASH was one-upped somehow... but I doubt it.

Since you are including non-genre TV shows I would vote for the Newhart finaale. Bob wakes up in a familiar bedroom next to his TV wife Suzanne Pleshette, to discover the entire series of Newhart was a dream and he is still in 'The Bob Newhart Show'. The minute I saw the lamps I knew what was coming. :)

The Sopranos ending really left me unfulfilled.  I am not sure I would have included it on this list.

The Everybody Loves Raymond Finale actually ended the Series on a nice note.  As much bickering as there was, they realized that they loved and needed each other. 

The Shield finale should be number one.  If you have not seen this show, you can got o your library and rent it.  I couldn't stop watching.  Literally 4-5 episodes a night, and they are 45 minutes long.  It was a great way to end a great show.   Do yourself a favor and watch it.  It is most definitely worth it.

MASH should be #1, but Star Trek: TNG should have been #2!

And where is Blake's 7?  Our Heros are killed off one by one in a gun battle and only Avon is left surounded by enemies.  He smiles, raises his gun and it cuts to black.  There is one gunshot, then a dozen more (as, one presumes, Avon is torn to shreds by gunfire), more poingant as it is left to the viewers' imagination.

Kara S

I love everything Joss Whedon, and I loved Angel. But if it's series finale was on here, then the Buffy series finale most definitely should've been. That is still one of my favorite finales of all time hands down. Epic in many ways and a worthy ending to an awesome series.

But if I'm going by the given list, I agree that M*A*S*H should've been #1.

This article reminds me of how much I miss The Sopranos, The Shield and Battlestar Galactica :(

It's a shame that other great TV series didn't have good finales.  The problem is that many great TV shows stay past their expiration dates and have mediocre endings (think Seinfeld, All in the Family and Cheers to name a few). As far as this list is concerned, the last episode of MASH should be #1 and the finale for Newhart should be here as well.

I'm really glad you didn't include the finale to Quantum Leap.  I loved that show, and all the endless possibilities it had.  However, I thought the final show was a slap in the face to fans, especially because it has never been picked up by any other network to truly concluded Dr. Sam Beckett's travels.  It's such a shame to waste an amazing show on such a crappy finale.