Nine Signs That A Science Fiction TV Series Has Been On Too Long

Here are some of the signs I've noticed that a science fiction or fantasy series has been on television too long:

• The characters have a "been there, done that" attitude, where little to nothing surprises them.


• Inside jokes become regular fare.


• You keep wondering what they're going to do to top the last set of calamities and special effects - and so do the writers.


• They recycle the old aliens that went out of fashion three seasons back.


• They have a flashback episode, where it's one scene from an older episode after another.


• You can hear the straining sounds when it comes to deciding whether to run another year or not.


• An actor previously phased out of the program shows up again under some convoluted explanation.


• The action figures came, and went, two years ago.


• Actors appear on the convention circuit.