May Brings TV Finales And Farewells

A slew of long-running shows are saying goodbye in the coming weeks, while others are saying farewell.

"Will & Grace" will take its final bow May 18, eight years after it premiered on NBC's schedule. Harry Connick Jr., Kevin Bacon, and Bobby Cannavale will make appearances.

NBC's long-running political drama "The West Wing" is signing off on May 14, after seven seasons. An hour-long retrospective was also scheduled to air that night, but it was subsequently cancelled by the network. Former cast member Rob Lowe will appear in the finale.

Fox comedies "Malcolm in the Middle" and "That 70s Show," which made stars of Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama and Frankie Muniz, are wrapping up May 14 and May 18, respectively.

New mom Jennifer Garner is saying au revoir to her action-packed ABC crime drama "Alias," which lagged in the ratings this year. The series finale will air May 22.

There are many season finales also worth tuning into this month. Libby (Cynthia Watros) died in the May 11 episode of ABC's "Lost," but executive producer Damon Lindelof tells TV Guide Online that her backstory will be explained in flashbacks, starting with the finale on May 24.

Press materials for CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" finale of May 15 promise to answer the 'will they or won't they' question for characters Ted (Josh Radnor) and Robin (Cobie Smulders). On May 16's "NCIS" finale a major player leaves the team. The mole of the "CSI: Miami" lab is revealed on the season finale May 22.

The first season finale of Fox's hit drama "Prison Break" on May 15 should be a nail biter, with an escape plan already in motion and the inmates running for a chance at freedom. And the fourth season finale of "24" on May 22 will bring another jam-packed day to a close for Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland).

"The Office" star Steve Carell wrote his season finale, airing May 11, in which the paper employees have a 'Casino Night' for charity. "Scrubs" two-part finale on May 16 has Carell's "The 40 Year Old Virgin" costar, Elizabeth Banks, guest starring as an urologist.

Other series and season finales to make a note of:

CBS

"Survivor" season finale, May 14
"How I Met Your Mother" season finale, May 15
"NCIS" season finale, May 16
"The Unit" season finale, May 16
"CSI: NY" season finale, May 17
"The Amazing Race 9" season finale, May 17
"Without A Trace" season finale, May 18
"CSI" season finale, May 18
"Numb3rs" season finale, May 19
"Close To Home" season finale, May 19
"Cold Case" season finale, May 21
"The King of Queens" season finale, May 22
"Two and a Half Men" season finale, May 22
"The New Adventures of Old Christine" season finale, May 22
"CSI: Miami" season finale, May 22

Fox

"Unan1mous", season finale, May 10
"American Dad, season finale, May 14
"King of the Hill" season spring finale, May 14
"Malcolm In The Middle" series finale, May 14
"Prison Break" season finale, May 15
"Bones" season finale, May 17
"That '70s Show" series finale, May 18
"The O.C." season finale, May 18
"MADtv" season finale, May 20
"The Simpsons" season spring finale, May 21
"24" season finale, May 22
"House" season finale, May 23
"American Idol" season finale, May 24

UPN

"Everybody Hates Chris" season finale, May 11
"Love, Inc" season finale, May 11
"Eve" season finale, May 11
"Cuts" season finale, May 11
"All of Us" season finale, May 15
"Half & Half" season finale, May 15
"America's Next Top Model" season finale, May 17

ABC

"Grey's Anatomy" season finale, May 14
"Boston Legal" season finale, May 16
"Invasion" season finale, May 17
"American Inventor" season finale, May 18
"Commander In Chief" season finale, May 18
"America's Funniest Home Videos" season finale, May 19
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" season finale, May 21
"Desperate Housewives" season finale, May 21
"Wife Swap" season finale, May 22
"Alias" series finale, May 22
"Lost" season finale, May 24

The WB

"Smallville" season finale, May 11
"Charmed" series finale, May 21
"Everwood" season finale, June 5

NBC

"My Name Is Earl" season finale, May 11
"The Office" season finale, May 11
"Las Vegas" season finale, May 12
"The West Wing" series finale, May 14
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" season finale, May 14
"Scrubs" season finale, May 16
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" season finale, May 16
"Law & Order" season finale, May 17
"Will & Grace" series finale, May 18
"ER" season finale, May 18
"Conviction" season finale, May 19
"Medium" season finale, May 22
"The Apprentice" season finale, June 5