diff --git a/examples/color/named_colors.py b/examples/color/named_colors.py
index 232b514eda30..2280e6ea18bb 100644
--- a/examples/color/named_colors.py
+++ b/examples/color/named_colors.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 ncols = 4
 nrows = int(np.ceil(1. * n / ncols))
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 5))
 
 X, Y = fig.get_dpi() * fig.get_size_inches()
 
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@
             horizontalalignment='left',
             verticalalignment='center')
 
-    # Add extra black line a little bit thicker to make
-    # clear colors more visible.
-    ax.hlines(
-        y, xi_line, xf_line, color='black', linewidth=(h * 0.7))
     ax.hlines(
         y + h * 0.1, xi_line, xf_line, color=colors[name], linewidth=(h * 0.6))
 
diff --git a/examples/pylab_examples/csd_demo.py b/examples/pylab_examples/csd_demo.py
index c988e2c1aa69..d5f41c9ab402 100644
--- a/examples/pylab_examples/csd_demo.py
+++ b/examples/pylab_examples/csd_demo.py
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
+
+fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(2, 1)
 # make a little extra space between the subplots
-plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.5)
+fig.subplots_adjust(hspace=0.5)
 
 dt = 0.01
 t = np.arange(0, 30, dt)
@@ -21,14 +23,12 @@
 s1 = 0.01*np.sin(2*np.pi*10*t) + cnse1
 s2 = 0.01*np.sin(2*np.pi*10*t) + cnse2
 
-plt.subplot(211)
-plt.plot(t, s1, t, s2)
-plt.xlim(0, 5)
-plt.xlabel('time')
-plt.ylabel('s1 and s2')
-plt.grid(True)
+ax1.plot(t, s1, t, s2)
+ax1.set_xlim(0, 5)
+ax1.set_xlabel('time')
+ax1.set_ylabel('s1 and s2')
+ax1.grid(True)
 
-plt.subplot(212)
-cxy, f = plt.csd(s1, s2, 256, 1./dt)
-plt.ylabel('CSD (db)')
+cxy, f = ax2.csd(s1, s2, 256, 1./dt)
+ax2.set_ylabel('CSD (db)')
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py b/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
index c0ea4045ef3c..737c37dd8f59 100644
--- a/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
+++ b/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
@@ -27,10 +27,12 @@
 ax.get_xaxis().tick_bottom()
 ax.get_yaxis().tick_left()
 
+fig.subplots_adjust(left=.06, right=.75, bottom=.02, top=.94)
 # Limit the range of the plot to only where the data is.
 # Avoid unnecessary whitespace.
-plt.xlim(1968.5, 2011.1)
-plt.ylim(-0.25, 90)
+ax.set_xlim(1968.5, 2011.1)
+ax.set_ylim(-0.25, 90)
+ax.get_xaxis().get_major_formatter().set_useOffset(False)
 
 # Make sure your axis ticks are large enough to be easily read.
 # You don't want your viewers squinting to read your plot.
@@ -91,10 +93,10 @@
 
 # Note that if the title is descriptive enough, it is unnecessary to include
 # axis labels; they are self-evident, in this plot's case.
-plt.title('Percentage of Bachelor\'s degrees conferred to women in '
-          'the U.S.A. by major (1970-2011)\n', fontsize=18, ha='center')
+fig.suptitle('Percentage of Bachelor\'s degrees conferred to women in '
+             'the U.S.A. by major (1970-2011)\n', fontsize=18, ha='center')
 
 # Finally, save the figure as a PNG.
 # You can also save it as a PDF, JPEG, etc.
 # Just change the file extension in this call.
-plt.savefig('percent-bachelors-degrees-women-usa.png', bbox_inches='tight')
+# plt.savefig('percent-bachelors-degrees-women-usa.png', bbox_inches='tight')