Definition of the word season finale

The phrase "season finale" originated in the world of television programming in the late 1940s. Prior to that time, TV shows typically aired for a limited number of episodes during a single season (which usually spanned from September to June) and were then cancelled until the following year. Consequently, the final episode of a season was simply referred to as the "last episode" or "final show" of that season. However, in the post-WWII era, television networks began to produce more shows and demand for programming increased. In response, they began ordering more episodes of successful shows and expanded seasons into longer runs. This led to the need for a new term to describe the episode that brought a season to a close, and "season finale" entered the lexicon. It was a way to underscore the importance of that installment and to hint at the potential for cliffhangers, tie-ins to future storylines, or other dramatic developments. Over time, "season finale" even earned a place in pop culture, with fans eagerly anticipating the big event and sometimes referring to it as "sweeps week," as this was the time when TV networks would attempt to attract the highest ratings in order to secure advertising dollars.