Early end appears cowardly to public

Perhaps it's just me, but I believe quitting while you're ahead is for suckers.

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Popular culture is rife with tales of television shows, musical acts and actors who have "nobly" gone into that good night while still popular draws. The excuse often given is they want to get while the getting is good, retiring while fans still remember what made them great. Greta Garbo did it, and so did Jane's Addiction. Both Cheers and M*A*S*H prematurely pulled the plug. Gene Hackman and Sean Connery seem to have done it, and last week, Jamie Lee Curtis announced that she was done.

What a bunch of quitters.

I understand the fear of staying too long at the party. It happens, a lot, and nobody wants to be remembered for Chicago 19 or Firewall (What has happened to you, Harrison Ford?). Part of being an artist, however, is recognizing when the lights are starting to dim. Sure, Mr. Connery, Mr. Hackman and Ms. Curtis might have hit on a couple of duds - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Welcome to Mooseport and Christmas with the Kranks, respectively, but closing the curtain on a career seems premature.

What would have happened had Bob Dylan decided he was done after Desire. Fans would have missed what has become one of the more vital periods of his career. The same could be said for Martin Scorsese, who hadn't had a hit in nearly 20 years before scorching cinemas with The Departed, his current crime saga.

The job of an artist is to create and entertain. It's a contract entered into with fans. It's not a duty to be taken lightly, not a gig to be set aside just because an artist, act or production doesn't really feel like continuing.

The truth is this: Nobody cared that Garbo wanted to be alone. Fans wanted to see her on the screen. The idea that M*A*S*H might be better served leaving the air is ridiculous. Ratings were good and fans supportive and there were certainly stories left to be told. The Korean War easily could have contributed to television for a few more seasons.

So, here's an open letter to all who are thinking of quitting: Don't do it. You might not always be a success, but at least you won't be a coward.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.