Several people have advocated that the show end with them just chatting about nothing, in their idiosyncratic ways: the show is implied to go on as it has. There are several good things about this idea. A TV show isn't a book. After all, we know we'll see it in syndication, they will be chatting about nothing in their idiosyncratic ways for a very long time. And this particular show hasn't had an evolving story or any dramatic feel to it--to have an eventful ending would be so against its grain as to make it just be "off," to just not work for its fans.
Also, I can't say I often think about the ending of *M*A*S*H* or even know the ending of I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show or the Dick Van Dyke Show. When I'm watching these shows, they mostly exist in a plane of their own.
*But* I think watching a show where I know there will be new episodes and wonder what they'll do next, what funny bone they'll touch this time, is a little different than re-runs. It's current, not past history over and done with.
But what really has me thinking there should be some sort of closure is that I and others seem to be looking for one. I haven't really enjoyed this season, so why am I watching? I've tried to stop but I keep insisting. Why am I doing this? I think I'm looking for a resolution or an end and it's looked like the resolution will be really sad: "This show just isn't delivering what I really loved about it anymore and I don't know why since they used to deliver it week in and week out." But if I'm willing to watch a comedy I used to thoroughly enjoy but no longer love, to just get that sad resolution, then a resolution must worth a lot to me. I think a lot of us are in this position, looking at the content of a.t.s.
I do think they've got a very tough job on their hands to make an ending. It'd be really neat if they come up with something nifty that really works. Trying that would be risky. I'd rather see them strolling off chatting about nothing in their idiosyncratic ways than do something really wild that just falls flat. And I agree the resolution shouldn't be too negative. Babu killing Jerry is an idea I brought up months ago, but I see it's too easy.
That's my $0.02. I'll close with a little idea I had for a conclusion:
The show would have the rhythm and observation of a good Seinfeld show, one or more things would seem to be changed only to come "right" again. (For example, Kramer finds his serenity with the Latvian nun-woman, becomes mellow and super-accepting and has no ideas. Someone/something stops this and Kramer's behavior is like someone coming down off a psychoactive drug--to comedic effect and observations by the gang.) In the final vignette with the credits rolling and the familiar music, it's Jerry's dark apartment: he's woken up by a phone call or by Kramer on a food hunt. Jerry comes out in his pajamas, the lights on. Jerry ends the interruption and looks over toward us. More to himself than us says, "Oh, enough.." he comes over to our camera, barely glancing in it, saying, "Do you mind?" and switches it off. But then we're at another camera, and he comes over and says, "Some privacy already?" Then we're on a third camera, he comes over, again barely glancing in, gives us the old "Buh-bye.." The final shot is a wide shot of the aparment but he doesn't seem to notice our camera, he turns out the light, heads for the bedroom (offscreen) and the light goes out in there too. Its the dark apartment for a second. Kramer's heard slamming into the door. Jerry had locked it. (The end.)
Or maybe the entire show is just them reading all the conclusions we're writing. Now, *that* would suck. :-) :-)