Why so many shows ending early

Does anyone know why so many shows have ended their season runs with quite a
bit of sweeps time remaining? Is replacing Criminal Minds with TAR a ratings
winner? Are there any dramas on the WB with the exception of Everwood that
hasn't finished its season (I'm ignoring the Pepper Babe, doesn't everyone
anyway)? So is it movies for the WB from here on out?

Patrick Joseph McNamara...

Actually their ending late. It use to be that most shows wrapped up in March
(then repeated their entire run until fall), then it extended to April and
now it's May.

Barry Margolin...

Is this really so different from previous years? I think season finales
are usually spread throughout May. This is often necessary to allow
room for double-length episodes, retrospectives, sweeps specials, etc.

Rob Jensen...

Most of the shows ending this week and next are ending early because
they're getting out of the way of the 24, Lost and Idol season finales

Daniel Damouth...

Gee, wouldn't it be nice if they would stay out of each other's way ALL
YEAR?? Maybe as the sweeps system declines...

-Dan Damouth

two weeks from now.

Ian J. Ball...

That doesn't explain The WB's ending OTH a week before running 2-hours
of that ratings black-hole "The Bedford Diaries", or The WB ending GG
this week, IMO.

Ian (Meanwhile, "Smallville" and "Charmed" don't end until *next*
week!)

David B...

Smallville's season finale is tonight.

-- Rob

Laddy...

That makes sense I guess. I only watch 24 so I guess I'll be having a lot of
free time for DVD viewing.

Arthur Lipscomb...

I have a huge backlog of DVDs. I'm eagerly waiting for the TV season to end
so I can watch them.