15 TV shows that ended in 2015, from 'Parks and Recreation' to Letterman

Dec. 29, 2015, 8:26 PM UTC / Source: TODAY

By Chris Serico

The TV shows we had to say goodbye to this year made us laugh, cry, wince and hug our loved ones.

From "Parks and Recreation" to the longstanding king of late night, David Letterman, here's 15 TV series that we'll miss most once 2016 comes, listed in order of increasing cultural impact.

"Parks and Recreation" and "Late Show with David Letterman" were among the celebrated TV series to come to an end in 2015.NBC, CBS

TV won't be the same without them.

15. "Revenge" (ABC)

Finale air date: May 10

Number of seasons: Four

What we'll remember: Emily Thorne (played by Emily VanCamp) captivated viewers in a prime-time soap that offered eye candy, schadenfreude and a real-life relationship (VanCamp and co-star Josh Bowman).

14. "Cougar Town" (ABC/TBS)

Finale air date: March 31

Number of seasons: Six

What we'll remember: Fans who adored the comedy even more than its characters loved wine helped the Courtney Cox vehicle stay afloat after its ride on ABC, continuing two more seasons and surpassing the 100-episode threshold on TBS.

13. "Parenthood" (NBC)

Finale air date: Jan. 29

Number of seasons: Six

What we'll remember: Both critics and a small but loyal fan base were captivated by the ups and downs of the Braverman family. The heartwarming drama was led by gripping performances from an all-star cast that included Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter and Craig T. Nelson.

12. "Justified" (HBO)

Finale air date: April 14

Number of seasons: Six

What we'll remember: In addition to the best use of Timothy Olyphant's scowl since HBO's "Deadwood," the extended adaptation of an Elmore Leonard short story fostered Emmy Award-winning performances by Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies.

11. "The Mentalist" (CBS)

Finale air date: Feb. 18

Number of seasons: Seven

What we'll remember: The series was a career-maker for Simon Baker, who starred as Patrick Jane, a phony psychic medium who helped solve crimes using the skill set he'd honed.

10. "Hannibal" (NBC)

Finale air date: Aug. 29

Number of seasons: Three

What we'll remember: The bloodlust for this drama among devout fans was unmatched, and critics reveled in Mads Mikkelsen's savage yet nuanced portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

9. "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)

Finale air date: June 28

Number of seasons: Seven

What we'll remember: Edie Falco took home a fourth Emmy in 2010 for her comedic work on the nurse-oriented dramedy. Her co-star, Merritt Wever, won one of her own in 2013.

8. "Key & Peele" (Comedy Central)

Finale air date: Sept. 9

Number of seasons: Five

What we'll remember: Going out on a high note and on their own terms, the endlessly hilarious Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele delivered bold, viral and often profound takes on race, politics, relationships, status and pop culture.

7. "The Soup" (E!)

Finale air date: Dec. 18

Number of seasons: 11

What we'll remember: Ruthlessly funny in his weekly take-downs of TV, including the TODAY show on more than one occasion, Joel McHale joined a steady stream of cross-promoting celebrity guests in making fun of ridiculous clips for more than a decade.

6. "Parks and Recreation" (NBC)

Finale air date: Feb. 24

Number of seasons: Seven

What we'll remember: Amy Poehler's award-caliber performance that crazily never yielded her an Emmy win. Besides "Treat Yo Self," "Parks and Rec" fans tuned into the show for comedy with heart, thanks to sharp writing and an incredible ensemble — including emerging superstar Chris Pratt.

5. "Glee" (Fox)

Finale air date: March 20

Number of seasons: Six

What we'll remember: The show's finale featured a touching tribute to the show's late star Cory Monteith, bringing back the singer's cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" from the show's premiere. The show's soundtracks and national tours were further aided by witty dialogue and heavy plot-lines around social issues.

4. "Two and a Half Men" (CBS)

Finale air date: Feb. 19

Number of seasons: 12

What we'll remember: The ratings juggernaut churned out 262 episodes and survived the departure of one of its two primary stars, Charlie Sheen (who succeeded by Ashton Kutcher). By the end of its run, the show garnered three Emmy acting wins: two for Jon Cryer and another for guest star Kathy Bates.

3. "Mad Men" (AMC)

Finale air date: May 17

Number of seasons: Seven

Why it's significant: "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner's Madison Avenue drama proved devastatingly charming. Celebrated for complex characters and pitch-perfect aesthetic, it, in 2009, was the first basic-cable series to win a best-drama Emmy. Following a hotly debated finale, the final season produced a long-overdue Emmy win for its star, Jon Hamm.

2. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (Comedy Central)

Finale air date: Aug. 6

Number of seasons: 16

What we'll remember: The show became a favorite among young viewers over traditional newscasts because of Stewart's ability to distill issues with biting commentary. Stewart helped carry the show to win 11 consecutive Emmy Awards for variety from 2003 to 2013, and who could forget Stewart's funny and tearful finale.

1. "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS)

Finale air date: May 20

Number of seasons: 22 on CBS; 33 if you want to include his run on NBC's "Late Night"

What we'll remember: Most living comedians — including but not limited to late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart — cite Letterman and his late-night talk shows as major influences. Letterman's wry humor, theater of the absurd, remote segments, legendary interviews, earnest assessment of tragic and deeply personal events, and ability to turn failed bits into huge laughs rejuvenated television, let alone comedy. This article has five too many entries and not nearly enough jokes to work as one of his Top 10 lists, but that won't stop his "Late Show" earning No. 1 in our hearts.

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