It’s the season of the cliff-hanger.

As the TV year came to an end last week, viewers of many of the top shows were left hanging – and not just a little frustrated – wondering what would happen to some of their favorite characters.

They should be used to it. Once TV shows ended the season before the summer hiatus with a regular episode. But no more. Now – even though some popular shows, like the “Law & Order” franchises, succeed without cliff-hangers – many love to leave their audiences with a lot of “to be continued” questions.

This trend escalated during the “90s, when many of the sitcoms, not just the dramas, began their own cliff-hangers to keep people hungry to tune in again in the fall.

Now it’s become one of the rites of summer. Some of this year’s season-ending cliff-hangers seemed more tired than inspired (Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier and Peri Gilpin’s Roz as a romantic duo on “Frasier”).

Others seemed like deja vu (another precinct member, this time Esai Morales’ Lt. Rodriguez, in a hospital bed on “NYPD Blue”).

And a few just lost their way (like “The Practice” ending a marriage before, more recently, dismissing half its cast).

But a handful of shows really did manage to go out in high drama – leaving us eagerly anticipating their return in the fall. Here’s a look at a half-dozen of the best – and a few ideas for them.



• 24

What happened: Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer averted a war, but the bad guys instantly moved on to Plan B and felled the reinstated President Palmer with a toxic handshake from last season’s female terrorist.

How it played: Very, very well. The things Jack went through stretched credulity big time, but the drama and tension kept things from breaking, and the surprise ending sets up next year’s season beautifully.

What should happen next: Team the terrorist and Nina as a pair of lovely lethal ladies, and have Jack and company scrambling for an antidote to Palmer’s condition.

• CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

What happened: Grissom (William Petersen), his hearing loss getting worse, walked bravely into emergency surgery.

How it played: Inevitably. The hearing-loss subplot had run its course, and should be resolved and retired next season.

What should happen next: Other than restoring Grissom’s hearing, pairing him again with Lady Heather, the dominatrix who helped heat up the show for two episodes last season – and maybe having Marg Helgenberger’s Catherine spend more time with her, too.

• ALIAS

What happened: The look-alike who murdered and took the place of Fran (Merrin Dungey) stabbed Will (Bradley Cooper), who lived, then had a brutal showdown fight with Jennifer Garner’s Sydney. Sydney shot her three times, then lapsed into unconsciousness. When she awoke, in a different country wearing different clothes, she reported in by phone – and learned that almost two years had passed.

How it played: From out of left field, yet very intriguingly.

What should happen next: Anything goes. Sydney’s lover, Michael Vartan’s Vaughn, remarried in the interim, and who knows what Sydney and everyone else did in the interim? She certainly doesn’t know – and the new season should be devoted to finding out.

• FRIENDS

What happened: Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel finally kissed Matt Le Blanc’s Joey, and meant it.

How it played: Fun to watch, because it sets the wheels in motion for the show’s final season.

What should happen next: Duh. The final season ends the way the series began, with Rachel in a wedding dress. This time, though, she stays put – and marries Joey.

• THIRD WATCH

What happened: Amy Carlson’s Taylor died in a gruesome explosion at an accident scene, and the season ended with two of the show’s characters pointing guns at one another in a point-blank duel.

How it played: The death scene was memorably sudden and, though restrained, somewhat gory. The cliffhanger duel, though, was tense, even though it was wholly expected.

What should happen next: Because it’s the road not usually taken, let the bad guy – in this case, Tia Texada’s corrupt Sgt. Cruz – win for now, and be victorious in the shootout. That would make her the villain to target for next season, in a story that could play for quite a while.

• THE WEST WING

What happened: Martin Sheen’s Josiah Bartlet resigned the presidency, a direct reaction to the kidnapping of his daughter Zoe. With the vice president already gone, power was transferred to the Republican speaker of the House, played by a snarling and imposing John Goodman.

How it played: Terrifically. If this was Aaron Sorkin’s last stand (the show’s creator is not supposed to be back next year), he went out like a champ.

What should happen next: There’s been a major shakeup behind the scenes of this show with Sorkin’s departure. So how about an on-air shakeup as well – and a long fight by Sheen’s character to regain control of the Oval Office.

(c) 2003, New York Daily News.

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Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-05-30-03 1003EDT