Hit sitcoms prepare to bow out of the tube.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Nestor U. Torre

WHEN popular and long-running TV shows finally end their run, the leave-taking takes its toll not just on viewers, but on the people involved in those programs as well.

This year, two hit sitcoms are bowing out of the tube-not so much because they're no longer popular, but due to a veritable cocktail of other factors.

These include: The lack of fresh concepts to keep the shows interesting. Stars' huge salaries, after demanding and getting substantial raises through the years. Performers' boredom with the characters they've been portraying for so long. And their flourishing careers, which have given them many other performing options, thus necessitating their leaving the shows that established them as stars.

After 10 years on the TV screen, "Friends" is breaking up its hit barkada (Jennifer Aniston, Matt Leblanc, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox Arquette and David Schwimmer). Their show will end this spring-still at the top of the ratings.

That's a phenomenal achievement after a full decade on the tube, so you can imagine what extra goodies have been dangled in front of the show's six stars, to convince them to agree to stay on for one more season. The seductive ploys have been unsuccessful, however.