Saddest tv moments [Archive]

Janet

03-21-2005, 01:18 AM

We all have our favorite tv shows. What are your favorite tear jerker moments?

I just dowloaded the Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamama....I don't know the rest of his name. It was supposedly on 50 First Dates, Meet Joe Black and other movies.

Well I remember it from ER, when Doug Green dies of cancer. In the end, when his daughter admits that she remembered him singing it to her...and they show everything while the music plays...so sad!

Also a scene from X Files. It was called Exsistence, when Scully has a baby and and her and Mulder stand face to face as he holds their child and they kiss.

There are many...

wondergirl9847

03-21-2005, 01:26 AM

When Leland Palmer dies on Twin Peaks. It's sad because he realizes what he did to his daughter and family. His life was pretty much stripped away from him thanks to the evil BOB. It's also uplifting because Laura forgives him. :) He would have been the perfect dad, had he not been overtaken by BOB.

Can't think of any others right off the bat. It's too dang late. LOL

thepoetinmyhear

03-21-2005, 02:11 AM

Here are my top 10 saddest TV moments (left vague for those who haven't seen them, but hopefully descriptive enough to be recognized by those who have seen them):

"Everwood" - "home" in which Colin goes back for surgery and the brilliant Treat Williams lets you know what happened without any words or any sad music cueing the audience. (actually most of everwood season 1 is sad)

"Wonder Years" when the buses go in opposite direction to the sounds of "God Only Knows."

"My So-Called Life" - the christmas episode with the homeless.

"Party of Five" - the seson 1 finale involving Bailey's (Scott Wolfe's character) girlfriend.

"Angel" - The ending of "You're Welcome." Seeing a character that has grown soo much from his/her first appearance die so young affected me quite a bit (especially for a TV character).

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" - Mary shutting the lights off in "It's a long way to Tipperary"

"Babylon 5" - Ivanova's monologue in "Sleeping in Light"

"Murphy Brown" - the episode where Avery (her mother) dies.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" - Dawn's reaction in "The Body".

"ER" - the aforementioned episode involving Dr. Corday's letter.

Michael

Janet

03-21-2005, 02:17 AM

thepoetinmyhear

03-21-2005, 02:28 AM

"My So-Called Life" - the christmas episode with the homeless.

I think most of that show made me cry. It was the perfect show at the perfect time of my life. I watch it now, 10 years later...it still makes me cry!

"My So Called Life" really was a great show that hasn't failed to remain relevant. I should mention an honorable mention is the "Muppet Show" Special after Jim Hensen died and they have the image of Kermit hugging the empty director's chair.

Janet

03-21-2005, 03:01 AM

That is the saddest thing I have ever heard :( I remember Jim Hensons death and that was just so untimely. He was such a good person for giving everyone those Muppets, who just brought joy to people's lives.

SuzeQuze

03-21-2005, 08:23 AM

Sugar

03-21-2005, 08:49 AM

I should mention an honorable mention is the "Muppet Show" Special after Jim Hensen died and they have the image of Kermit hugging the empty director's chair.

OMG I remember that! So sad! The muppets spend the whole thing talking about how great "this guy Jim Henson" is and "find out" he's dead at the end! So sad but wonderfuly creative for a wonderfuly creative man. (Says the girl who owns all the episodes of The Muppet Show)

I remember this one ER with an elderly guy and his elderly wife who dies and they end up waiting in the hallway for hours...him with his dead wife...Jeeze...brings me down just thinking about it... :(

GODDESS6

03-21-2005, 08:50 AM

the last M*A*S*H* as hawkeye was flying off in the helicopter he saw that honeycutt had spelled out "goodbye" in white rocks~ was sooooo very sad!!!~

hayley

03-21-2005, 09:31 AM

Last night's "Boston Legal" where Spader's character did everything he could to save a man on death row (black man with an IQ of 80) but in the end they executed him anyway and the execution was part of the show. :( A memorable quote from Spader, "Whether you're for the death penalty or against it, you should know what it is."
Oh, man, yeah. That was just awful. I was sitting there staring at the TV completely frozen. That was some of James's best work, too- his argument with the Texas high court judges.

The saddest thing I've ever seen on TV was in the pilot of Alias. Her fiance's died, and they do this terrific sequence of the funeral to Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes the Flood," which is the saddest song in the world. They show her in her bedroom, listening to her answering machine tape with him- one of those embarassingly cute couples' messages- and they show her taping over it with a new message. It made me cry like a baby, and it was the first thing I ever really loved about the show. It was just so sad, and hearing her try and fake cheerful, while her voice is cracking with grief- oh, man.

mondaymornin1

03-21-2005, 10:30 AM

This is gonna sound cheesy, but for me a big tear-jerker moment was the last episode of Friends when the camera panned around the empty apartment and finally focussed in on the six keys lying on the counter. I cried my eyes out. That show was one of my all-time favs.

Pretty much any episode of ER leaves me at a loss/depressed, etc. So...I don't watch it anymore. :p

catinthedark

03-21-2005, 10:37 AM

I should mention an honorable mention is the "Muppet Show" Special after Jim Hensen died and they have the image of Kermit hugging the empty director's chair.

Oh my God. I was sobbing. Also, when Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street died, and they had to explain to Big Bird that he was never coming back.

More recently, when Zoe was kidnapped on The West Wing, and Josh and Donna walk out of the White House to go home that night and come upon a spontaneous candlelight vigil for her, and Dead Can Dance's Sanvean is playing... That song will forever be known to me now as "the saddest song in the world.'

Also - the final episode of Mary Tyler Moore. I was, like, 7, and I bawled. Final episode of MASH. I could go on...

SuzeQuze

03-21-2005, 10:59 AM

Oh, man, yeah. That was just awful. I was sitting there staring at the TV completely frozen. That was some of James's best work, too- his argument with the Texas high court judges.

...

Spader really was excellent, I thought the same thing. Then, the look on his face at the very end, wowza.

I will have to catch Alias on DVD because it is one of those shows that is difficult to get into if you haven't watched all along. It just looks like a one woman costume party to me.

skcin

03-21-2005, 11:06 AM

There was an episode of ER in the first or second season where a woman dies giving birth & the last scene is her husband rocking the baby ( who was fine) in a rocking chair. :distress: It was just brutal to watch, cried my eyes out.

When Gary died on thirtysomething. Go ahead & laugh, you bastards. Why it was one of my favorite shows at the age of 16, I have no idea. But my GAWD when they killed him off I was inconsolable. I came upstairs crying & my mom's like "what happened? Are you alright?" And I'm sobbing "Gary died, he didn't even ride his bike cuse is was dangerous & he died anyway" and she's like "Gary who? Do I know him?" And I say "NO! Gary from thirtysomething! ON TV!" and she rolled her eyes & walked away. :rolleyes:

China Beach had several tearjerkers, but the one that sticks out is the time Dana Delany & Chloe Webb put on the "Supremes" show in the bar & a bomb hit. Lots of people were hurt, and Dana was a nurse on the show so she was running all over the place trying to fix everyone. Chloe was an entertainer, sent to cheer up the troops. She hated hospitals & medical stuff. One soldier was critically injured & Chloe sat, held his hand & sang to him while he died. Oh. My. God. Gut-wrenching.

mondaymornin1

03-21-2005, 11:24 AM

[QUOTE=skcin]
When Gary died on thirtysomething. Go ahead & laugh, you bastards. Why it was one of my favorite shows at the age of 16, I have no idea. But my GAWD when they killed him off I was inconsolable. I came upstairs crying & my mom's like "what happened? Are you alright?" And I'm sobbing "Gary died, he didn't even ride his bike cuse is was dangerous & he died anyway" and she's like "Gary who? Do I know him?" And I say "NO! Gary from thirtysomething! ON TV!" and she rolled her eyes & walked away. :rolleyes:

Omigod, someone else watched that? I, too, was inconsolable when Gary died! I can't remember the exact details, but I do remember that the preview for that episode led us to believe that something was gonna happen to someone who was in the hospital (can't remember now who that was), and then Gary was the one who actually died. I was heartbroken! I was in high school at the time, and none of my friends watched the show, so I had to be all upset alone. :rolleyes: Damn, the internet back then woulda been nice, huh?

GypsySorcerer

03-21-2005, 12:50 PM

The first one that comes to mind is the Wonder Years episode in which Kevin's math teacher passes away.

ontheEdgeof17

03-21-2005, 01:13 PM

The final scenes of the Golden Girls finale. I cry every damn time!

The Extreme Home Makeovers make me tear up every week. That has to be the saddest show ever created.

skcin

03-21-2005, 01:16 PM

Omigod, someone else watched that? I, too, was inconsolable when Gary died! I can't remember the exact details, but I do remember that the preview for that episode led us to believe that something was gonna happen to someone who was in the hospital (can't remember now who that was), and then Gary was the one who actually died. I was heartbroken! I was in high school at the time, and none of my friends watched the show, so I had to be all upset alone. :rolleyes: Damn, the internet back then woulda been nice, huh?

OMG, I know! It was Patricia Wettig's character - I thought she would die from the cancer. But they killed off Gary instead. Bastards. I can still see Melissa sobbing at the piano, I thought she was gonna pass out. :(

hayley

03-21-2005, 01:21 PM

I will have to catch Alias on DVD because it is one of those shows that is difficult to get into if you haven't watched all along. It just looks like a one woman costume party to me.

I always thought the same thing, and it took me awhile to give in and try it out- and I was hooked once I did. It's hit some bumpy patches now, but I think the first two seasons are some of the best stuff ever to hit TV. If you ever decide to give it a chance- let me know, I'd love to hear what you think.

Paula's probably the only one that could appreciate this, but there was a moment a few weeks ago on Gilmore Girls that absolutely killed me. The greatest TV couple in the universe broke up, and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) gave this monologue to her ex's answering machine that was so completely upsetting, basically about "The Way We Were" and wanting her best friend back. I cried and cried and cried.

I also cry every time I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition, despite Ty's presence. Ugh.

dissention

03-21-2005, 01:25 PM

I will have to catch Alias on DVD because it is one of those shows that is difficult to get into if you haven't watched all along. It just looks like a one woman costume party to me.

It certainly is this season. It was once the *greatest* show on television, but now? It's insanely bad. I haven't watched it in weeks and will just have to buy the DVDs when they come out soon.

Though I hear SpyMommy has been roped back into it for the season finale... :blob1:

skcin

03-21-2005, 01:25 PM

Paula's probably the only one that could appreciate this, but there was a moment a few weeks ago on Gilmore Girls that absolutely killed me. The greatest TV couple in the universe broke up, and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) gave this monologue to her ex's answering machine that was so completely upsetting, basically about "The Way We Were" and wanting her best friend back. I cried and cried and cried.

I also cry every time I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition, despite Ty's presence. Ugh.

I was about to post that one. :) Yup - I cried. My heart actually hurt when they broke up.

dissention

03-21-2005, 01:31 PM

Murphy Brown- The episode where her mother died and the episode where she found out she had cancer. I cried when Miles left, but then I cried tears of joy when Lily Tomlin replaced him. :D

Punky Brewster- I cried when I was a kid during the episode where Henry had a heart attack.

Picket Fences- Too many times to count, but most notably when Zelda Rubenstein died after falling into her meat freezer. Picket Fences was utter perfection.

hayley

03-21-2005, 01:39 PM

It certainly is this season. It was once the *greatest* show on television, but now? It's insanely bad. I haven't watched it in weeks and will just have to buy the DVDs when they come out soon.

Though I hear SpyMommy has been roped back into it for the season finale... :blob1:

You missed an insanely great episode a couple of weeks ago- "The Index." It was AWESOME, period. It gave me so much hope- then they brought me right back down to reality last week, which was crap outside the guest shot by Jason "Nick Andopolis" Segel. I will ALWAYS watch Alias as long as it's on- but I'm pretty much only looking forward to whenever Sark will come back, and to the Greg Grunberg/J.J. Abrams pilot "The Catch."

It's not official about Lena- who knows if that'll even happen. God, I miss her.

dissention

03-21-2005, 01:42 PM

You missed an insanely great episode a couple of weeks ago- "The Index." It was AWESOME, period. It gave me so much hope- then they brought me right back down to reality last week, which was crap outside the guest shot by Jason "Nick Andopolis" Segel. I will ALWAYS watch Alias as long as it's on- but I'm pretty much only looking forward to whenever Sark will come back, and to the Greg Grunberg/J.J. Abrams pilot "The Catch."

There's just something about it this season, it's lost too much heart and it all seems so incredibly rote. I'll definitely tune back in once Rossellini comes back, though.

They need to drop-kick Mia Maestro, man. Now.

It's not official about Lena- who knows if that'll even happen. God, I miss her.

I read somewhere that she's definitely coming back for the finale, but that they're just ****ing with us by spreading all that "will she or won't she" bull**** in the press to get us to tune in. I pray it's true, season two was the BEST.

hayley

03-21-2005, 01:56 PM

There's just something about it this season, it's lost too much heart and it all seems so incredibly rote. I'll definitely tune back in once Rossellini comes back, though.

They need to drop-kick Mia Maestro, man. Now.

My main problem with it is that I *hate* Sydney. She's become a whiny little brat. She's lost all of the sweetness that used to make her compelling, even when it was annoying. She no longer has a life outside the CIA- it almost makes me miss Francie. Almost. And I feared that Jen's breakup with Michael Vartan would effect the show, and it really, really has. Between that and them reordering the shows- there's absolutely no emotional involvement with those characters at all anymore.

I hate Mia Maestro, too. You definitely won't want to watch this week's episode, then- it goes into her backstory, and is going to be pretty much entirely in Spanish, with subtitles. I think it'll be good- but I'm not really that into it. Sonia Braga's going to be on, though, I think this week- I have no idea who she'll be playing (although I think she'd make a kickass Derevko), but I'm hoping it's good.

I read somewhere that she's definitely coming back for the finale, but that they're just ****ing with us by spreading all that "will she or won't she" bull**** in the press to get us to tune in. I pray it's true, season two was the BEST.

I agree. I've heard majorly conflicting things about it- some reports are that Lena wants like twice the amount of money that Jen makes per show, and ABC won't do it. Other reports say that they're willing to give her that much money, but that she just doesn't want to do the show, period, no matter what. I hope she comes back.

dissention

03-21-2005, 02:03 PM

My main problem with it is that I *hate* Sydney. She's become a whiny little brat. She's lost all of the sweetness that used to make her compelling, even when it was annoying. She no longer has a life outside the CIA- it almost makes me miss Francie. Almost. And I feared that Jen's breakup with Michael Vartan would effect the show, and it really, really has. Between that and them reordering the shows- there's absolutely no emotional involvement with those characters at all anymore.

Preach it. I could take her whiny bull**** when she had a good reason to be whiny and mopey, like when all that **** was going down with her mother and her father. But now? It's just cloying. Her character is stagnant and it makes the show dull.

If they really want to jolt some life into the show: BRING WILL BACK, GODDAMMIT.

I hate Mia Maestro, too. You definitely won't want to watch this week's episode, then- it goes into her backstory, and is going to be pretty much entirely in Spanish, with subtitles. I think it'll be good- but I'm not really that into it. Sonia Braga's going to be on, though, I think this week- I have no idea who she'll be playing (although I think she'd make a kickass Derevko), but I'm hoping it's good.

I'll pass. I've hated the whole sister **** ever since last season. I instantly disliked it. It completely f*cks up the family dynamic between Irina, Syd, and Jack. You know, the thing that people tune in to watch. It has not made me a happy camper in the least.

I agree. I've heard majorly conflicting things about it- some reports are that Lena wants like twice the amount of money that Jen makes per show, and ABC won't do it. Other reports say that they're willing to give her that much money, but that she just doesn't want to do the show, period, no matter what. I hope she comes back.

I pray she comes back. It hasn't been the same since season two, but now it's really in the gutter. Olin's presence alone would make it top notch.

chiliD

03-21-2005, 02:43 PM

Ok, a little break from the mini-Alias thread ;)

DISCLAIMER: Not necessarily "sad", just "emotional"

Count me in as another cry-baby on the Christmas episode of My So-Called Life.

Plus, the "soldier going to Iraq" episode of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.

Welled up & tears flowed constantly during the entire Warren Zevon show about his recording his final album.

MANY moments in many episodes of Third Watch

Also, ANY "final episode" of shows I've watched for years makes me well-up. In the past few years:

Friends
Frasier
Mad About You
Third Rock From The Sun
Northern Exposure
X-Files (thank God for "syndication"...but, I'm really jonesing for NEW Mulder/Scully stuff)

In sports, now or then:

When John Elway was inducted into football's Hall Of Fame.

The Red Sox finally winning a World Series

The Baltimore crowd reaction after Earl Weaver's final game of managing the Orioles. (and I'm not even an Orioles fan in the LEAST)

Everytime ESPN (or whoever) replays Kirk Gibson's home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series

At LEAST 1,000 moments in Ken Burns' Baseball series.

Every year, Vin Scully's opening statements on the Dodgers' opening game of the season.

When legendary Laker announcer Chick Hearn passed away (and everytime they replay his announcing ANY of the Laker championship moments)

HomerMcvie

03-21-2005, 04:13 PM

Also - the final episode of Mary Tyler Moore. I was, like, 7, and I bawled. Final episode of MASH. I could go on...
I agree. I would say MTM #1, and MASH #2.
MTM- it's when she says, "Thank you for being my family". Gets me EVERY time.

Brad

03-21-2005, 07:54 PM

dissention

03-21-2005, 07:59 PM

I don't think this one has been mentioned yet. The episode of Nip/Tuck from the first season where Sean's girlfriend with cancer kills herself in the hotel room. It's even got "Rocket Man" playing which makes it even more intense. This is truly the saddest scene I can remember watching in a TV show.

Brad

OMG, I was curled up in a ball WEEPING. To this day, I still can't watch that episode over again. It literally ripped my insides apart. When Megan was writing her letter to Sean, I could feel my tear ducts roaring up. Gawd, that was intense.

thepoetinmyhear

03-21-2005, 08:43 PM

I agree. I would say MTM #1, and MASH #2.
MTM- it's when she says, "Thank you for being my family". Gets me EVERY time.

I have always liked that moment but the look on Mary's face as she turns the lights out is what breaks my heart. The big group hug moving towards the tissues was wonderfully comedic to the point of making the Thank You for being my family sweet rather than sad for me.

I know I've listed my top ten already on page one and one honorable mention, but an epsiode of West Wing deserves some recognition: When CJ's sitting on the bench, weeping and "Hallejuiah" is playing. This is after someone close to her has died. There is no dialogue, just the song, and it makes me cry every time.

Michael

Sapphire Girl

03-21-2005, 09:06 PM

The episode of MASH where Col. Henry Blake is finally going home but in the final scene they find out that his plane was shot down over the Sea Of Japan and he didn't survive.

catinthedark

03-21-2005, 10:40 PM

I know I've listed my top ten already on page one and one honorable mention, but an epsiode of West Wing deserves some recognition: When CJ's sitting on the bench, weeping and "Hallejuiah" is playing. This is after someone close to her has died. There is no dialogue, just the song, and it makes me cry every time.

Michael

Oh, God. I could sob just thinking about that episode again. I was emotionally exhausted by the end of it. I think I watched that Halleluia scene 15 times in a row. I'm a glutton for emotional punishment. The producers of The West Wing have such a great way of using music to make one weep.

And thought of another: the episode of ER just this past season when Bob Newhart's character was going blind, and he's alone, and he eventually kills himself. Note to ER producers: just come on over, rip my heart out of my chest, and shred it next time.

Serrart

03-22-2005, 05:45 PM

-The teardrop on Picard's face when he's being transformed in Locutus in Star Trek TNG
-The death of Sipowicz's son in NYPD Blue
-Not saddest but very emotional: Rosemary Clooney singing Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas in ER
Zito's death in Miami Vice

Just some. :p

Romy

Janet

03-22-2005, 11:04 PM

ER when the fire fighter died...

ER when the young guy dies...of...burns...and he keeps asking for his son...and Nurse Hathaway is sitting with him and trying so hard...

ER with Ray Liotta!!

This show has made me cried so much but it's so great!

THAT ep with the young mom and she dies and her husband is holding the baby...and yes, with Bob Newhart, they just kept showing him and then boom, he's dead!

Oh yes, the ep with Ewen McGregor ( I can't spell) but he keeps talking about where he wants to be and he dies in the end and Hathaway just walks out of the hospital ...

I have goosebumps!

Johnny Stew

03-22-2005, 11:22 PM

macfanken

03-23-2005, 12:07 AM

When Maude Flanders died on the Simpsons. That was pretty sad. http://animatedtv.about.com/library/graphics/maudeflanders.jpg .

dissention

03-25-2005, 11:13 PM

It's not official about Lena- who knows if that'll even happen. God, I miss her.

Well, my love, it's official: Mrs. Olin is back for the 90-minute season finale on May 25th!

This calls for a :blob1: . I'm so excited that I can't see straight.

SuzeQuze

03-26-2005, 12:15 AM

The first new episode of 'Eight Simple Rules' after John Ritter died, where his character also died suddenly, was the saddest thing I've ever seen.

That episode and the tribute they did to him, reduced me to a crying mess. Seriously, I cried like I had known the man personally... and I never would have expected to have that reaction.

Oh my, yes. :nod: That was oh so sad. The strange thing was my Mom's cousin also died suddenly just before him. He was also young except Paul was 44 while Ritter was 54. Still, both way too young and having children that need them. So sad. I really identified with his family. I always loved Ritter, he was a very funny man.

irishgrl

03-26-2005, 01:32 AM

yeah right, as if it werent before:
There is an episode of Star Trek, called "Who Mourns for Adonis" where Apollo explains how he, out of all the Gods of Olympus, knew that mankind would someday reach the stars and at that time Man would again have awe for the Gods as they once were, and Kirk tells Apollo, in no uncertain terms, that Mankind has OUTGROWN the old Gods and no longer need to kneel down and worship them as before....then Apollo appeals to Zeus, Aphrodite, Hera, etc and says "You were right, they dont need us, please take me with you (the Olympian Gods had spread themselves thin upon the wind....)
and you see Apollo becoming less substantial as the other Gods forgive him for his faith in fickle mankind, and at the end, Kirk wonders what would it have hurt for mankind to bestow a few laurel leaves on the brows of the Gods......