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Twenty-four years ago this summer, ABC aired one of the most shocking and unexpected finales in TV history.
The show was calledDinosaurs, and itwas essentially an inverse ofThe Flintstones.
But as the show got shuffled into different time slots, its ratings took a dive.
In the end, it wasnt worth it for them.
The show would end by completing the metaphor and showing that extinction.
With the beetles gone, the vines grow out of control and obstruct WESAYSO factories.
Earls boss, B.P.
This fails spectacularly, and it starts snowing heavily across Pangea.
We certainly wanted to make the episode to be educational to the audience, Jacobs said.
Im sure itll all work out okay, Earl says, as the family huddles in warm clothes.
After all, dinosaurs have been on this earth for 150 million years.
Its not like were going to just … disappear!
Pankin, who voiced Earl, thinks the power of the finale is in what it doesnt show.
Theres subtlety in the way it ended with the snow.
It was a simplistic and heartfelt social comment, yet it was very powerful, he said.
Changing Nature was certainly shocking, but it wasnt the shows first foray into heavy imagery and serious subjects.
But when it came time to kill all the dinosaurs, the internet wasnt as happy.
One morning, Jacobs got a call from ABCs then-president, Ted Harbert.
Jacobs recalled, laughing.
My source for doing this is history!
He thought about it for about 30 seconds on the phone, in silence, and said, Okay.
Despite the shocking conclusion, Pankin doesnt recall much anger among viewers.
Everybody was at first shocked, but I think it was more of a reaction to the show ending.
There was a lot of sadness about it being over, he said.
Jacobs, meanwhile, got letters from upset parents who got the message.
If the show had aired today, it would have caused an immediate social-media storm.
TheDinosaursseries finale is available to stream onHulu.
