What Happened on the Final Episode of ‘Taxi’?
Popular sitcoms have taken place in every workplace imaginable, from bars to radio stations, but few have ever been funnier (or stocked with better talent) than Taxi. Taking place mostly at the fictional Sunshine Cab Company station in New York City, the show centers around a tightknit bunch of cab drivers, most of whom harbor dreams of breaking away from the wheel to pursue better lives.
With a diverse cast of characters that included the jaded Alex Rieger (former stage star Judd Hirsch), conniving supervisor Louie DePalma (Danny DeVito), gorgeous single mom Elaine Nardo (Marilu Henner), and struggling boxer Tony Banta (Tony Danza), Taxi‘s masterful comedy was often matched by the poignancy of the character’s struggles with real-world issues like single parenthood, addiction and genuine loneliness.
A supreme showcase for its talented cast, Taxi helped transform standout talents like Andy Kaufman (who played affable immigrant Latka Gravas) and Christopher Lloyd (who stole the show here as burnout Jim Ignatowski years before he ever touched a DeLorean) into bona fide superstars. The series is widely regarded as one of television’s most critically beloved sitcoms ever, racking up an impressive 18 Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes. So why did it end after only five seasons?
Where Are They Now? The Cast of ‘Taxi’
Why Did Taxi End?
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Unfortunately, Taxi‘s quality may have been its undoing, as many believe the show was too sophisticated to appeal to ’80s TV viewers who craved something lighter. As TV entered an era where kid-friendly shows like Silver Spoons and Diff’rent Strokes would soon rule the roost, Taxi was a bit more “adult.” Though the first two seasons in 1978 and 1979 earned good ratings, that may have been due to the lead-in show, megahit Three’s Company; when the ABC schedule was retoggled in Season 3, the ratings began to decline. Sadly, the network made the hard call to end the show after Season 4.
But wait… there’s more! Following a minor uproar from devoted Taxi fans (as well as a hilarious sketch on Saturday Night Live that saw host Danny DeVito blow up ABC’s offices as revenge for the cancellation), NBC agreed to give the show a new start on their station. Loyal viewers were delighted to receive more Taxi, but with ratings still low, the show was finally put to bed after Season 5.
Marilu Henner Shares How ‘Taxi’ Changed Her Life
What Happened on the Final Episode of Taxi?
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Airing on June 15, 1983, the final episode of Taxi — “Simka’s Monthlies” — was not written as a series send-off in any way, shape or form. Boasting the show’s typical blend of absurd comedy and relatable real-life struggles, the episode centers around Latka’s wife Simka (played by Carol Kane, who had become a regular cast member by this point) and her battles with extreme mood swings and cravings brought about by her monthly “krempkapush” cycle — all while dealing with an impending immigration review that could threaten her with deportation.
As always, the Sunshine Cab Crew bands together to help Simka keep things together long enough to stay in the country, and life goes on — even as the show comes to an end for good. For a show that illuminates the rarely changing lives of a bunch of taxi drivers waiting for something better to come along, perhaps this was the perfect series finale after all.
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’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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