A lame
plot device consisting of a disclaimer often seen at the unexplained or hasty ending of a TV programme informing the viewer that either:
-a main character may have possibly died or left permanently (but usually hasn't, if they have the actor likely quit working on the show due to pay disputes)
-the script writers are fresh out of ideas until next week/month
-the director of the TV show believes viewers actually have attention spans longer than goldfish, absolutely no lives and care enough about the characters & plot that they are willing to sit on their
ass for days and nights patiently awaiting the conclusion of last week's
cliff-hanger-the director believes making an audience wait anywhere from 24 hours to 1 week for a continuation will actually build anticipation and suspense among them and generate more interest in his show (instead of actually annoying the living shit out of them)
-the script writers got over-ambitious or just plain fucking lazy, and couldn't finish the episode within the deadline
-the episode has gone
over it's allotted TV channel timeslot and hence will be replayed sometime later
-there wasn't enough time to finish the episode within 5 minutes
-technical/financial/on-set/casting difficulties made finishing the episode impossible
-a cliff-hanger/
what-if/multi-part
story arc has been planned for future episodes (usually occurs when one season of a show ends, the following episode will begin with a
recap of the previous one)
Actor 1: "But wait... I have the answer to the meaning of life of itself!"
Actor 2: "Oh my god! OH MY GOD! Quick... TELL ME!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
Jane: "Billy wait, before we get married... I have something I should tell you."
Billy: "Duh?"
Jane: "I'm actually cheating on you with your brother, pregnant with your son's child, an alien from Jupiter, the person responsible for killing your parents AND... I'm not actually Jane at all."
*Jane rips off her face*
Jane: "I'm your mother."
*Camera zooms in
on Billy's gaping expression of shock and then fades to black"
TO BE CONTINUED...
Agent
Mulder: "Scully, for the first time I can promise you behind this door lies a real, extraterrestrial, alien being... here on earth. See for your own eyes..."
Agent Scully: "Mulder, this is the 789th time you've said that... but okay, open the door. I'm ready."
*Agent Mulder opens the door to reveal...*
TO BE CONTINUED...
"The End?" can also be used a substitute for "
To be Continued..."