'Scrubs' - NBC screwed with the show one last time before it bolts for ABC, and showed that last episode out of sequence.

'Bones' - Had they been able to get in the three episodes lost to the strike, they might have been able to flesh out the details leading up to the big finish. (Heh heh... 'Bones', flesh out.... sorry.) As it is, it probably looked logical on paper, but the connection for the audience was lost. I accept what happened, I just don't like it because I was missing the completion of the lead-in.

'Criminal Minds' - not a show I watch save for episodes with interesting guest stars or for a particular plotline promised. Decided to check out the finale since everything else was either a repeat or a reality show (ugh). It came down to being really of interest in only the last few minutes - everybody on the team was put into the exact same situation and so we don't know who got picked for the big "shocker" (which - like you said for 'CSI', you could see coming).

'The Office' - I've never been a big fan of the concept; I'm not good with "cringe-worthy". Never got into the original at all, so it was awhile before I started with this. Still, I always record first so I can f/f through most of the Michael stuff.

However, it was a pretty decent finale with two characters making their good-byes. (Scuttlebut says that this was due to the spin-off coming in the fall.) One of the sub-plots was very funny, and it had a real cliff-hanger ending.

I just don't think the structure of the show (the documentary crew) can support running this show for much longer. But then, I doubt most in the audience would care......

'Boston Legal' - If this was the series finale rather than just the season's, it would have made a nice send-off. Didn't wrap up everybody's storyline, but the show's never really been about more than just the relationship between Denny and Allan.

'How I Met Your Mother' - to me, this is the 'Lost' of sitcoms. Very dense with its attention to detail and its callbacks to previous episodes and a timeline that must be strictly observed. They went into the finale's production with its fate still up in the air, but were still able to pull off a cliffhanger ending that could also serve as a finale. Well played!

'House' - probably the best of the drama bunch, very well-handled. As with most season finales/Sweeps week episodes, somebody was going on the big hiatus; and this was handled very well to eke out every bit of emotion it could from the characters as well as the audience.

'Reaper' - this is my backlog show. But from what few comments I let slip into my consciousness, the show apparently really improved after the strike, so I'm looking forward to the run of five episodes I have stored up.

Looking forward to next week's 'Lost' finale!

Sorry to have blathered on like that; just thought a viewpoint from over here on what you folks can expect might be of interest....