Jump the shark

[KC9ECI]

What is your favorite TV show from days' past (that leaves it open right up until yesterday), and when did it jump the shark for you?

[w4rot]

The Outer Limits....
I used to wet my footy PJ's..spooky stuff.
w4rot

[W5MEJ]

Well, for more current shows I used to enjoy NYPD Blue. #It jumped the shark about three seasons ago, though, and I haven't watched it much since.

Chuck

[kc2kde]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 04 2005,19:25)]What is your favorite TV show from days' past (that leaves it open right up until yesterday), and when did it jump the shark for you?
That would have to be CSI. I loved CSI, and still do, but when they started the CSI: Miami thing I was thinking that it would just be relocated to Miami. When I sit down with my milk and cookies to watch it is a whole different show, with different characters, etc. The original with the Grissom dude is the best! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w3sy]

M*A*S*H jumped the shark after Trapper John left.

Jumped it again when Hotlips became a goody-goody and Hawkeye became a sniveling wimp.

[W5MEJ]

I never felt that MASH jumped the shark...it seemed to maintain the same level of almost (but not quite) being believable throughout its run.

Granted some of the episodes got a little sappy when Alan Alda started writing and directing. #They were still somewhat believable in a historical context.

Besides...here's a paradox. #Could a show "jump the shark" if it was done before the Fonz actually jumped the shark?

paradoxically yours,
Chuck

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Feb. 04 2005,21:01)]I never felt that MASH jumped the shark...it seemed to maintain the same level of almost being believable throughout its run.

Granted some of the episodes got a little sappy when Alan Alda started writing and directing. #They were still somewhat believable in a historical context.

Besides...here's a paradox. #Could a show "jump the shark" if it was done before the Fonz actually jumped the shark?

paradoxically yours,
Chuck
your last name isn't ''cunningham'' by chance ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ Feb. 04 2005,22:07)]your last name isn't ''cunningham'' by chance ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Ahh, you caught me. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Anyone want to play some basketball?

[ai4ep]

Let us see...LOST could " jump the shark " by having a plane fly over the survivors, circle and throw out a couple of folks landing with a parachute ( 2 - 3 new characters for the series )...then abruptly end the season with the cliffhanger to start the next season.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES could " jump the shark " by all the ladies finding out on the last show of the season that they are all pregnant !!

BOSTON LEGAL could " jump the shark " by having the oldest man in the law firm having to testify in court with the JUDGE being the " african-american " lawyer who left last year being the JUDGE he got appointed into being.

btw: Your local tv news folks use "teasers " to inspire you to watch THEIR local newscast at 6 & 10 pm...have they ever "teased " you with a story that did not get "aired " during the newscast because of severe weather info, station problems, etc...?

[KC9ECI]

How about shows that never jumped the shark? I'd nominate Farscape for that, but they jumped with the Peacekeeper Wars.

[w4rot]

I retract my original Outer Limits post...I just figured out what jumping the shark means.
How about "Gunsmoke" when Festus left. Never did like what's his face much.
"Matthew........".
Loved that show.
w4rot

[kd7eze]

Back in my old motocross days, I remember jumping cars, schoolbuses, girls, etc., but I don't remember ever jumping a shark. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[N8CPA]

I, too, liked Gunsmoke before Festus left. My interest survived Chester leaving but Festus was a good replacement.

"Who are you and what in tarnation are these things?"
"I'm a carpenter, and those are my tools."
"What is THAT THAR thing?"
"Every FOOL knows THAT THAR's a level!"
"Well, THIS fool don't." http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K8ERV]

I'll bite, what does jump the shark mean?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[KC9ECI]

I still catch Gunsmoke on TV Land from time to time...stops me dead in my tracks to watch it too.

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (K8ERV @ Feb. 06 2005,07:50)]I'll bite, what does # jump the shark # mean?

TOM K8ERV #Montrose Colo
it refers to a tv series that does something unusual to boost sagging ratings.

happy days was losing viewers when they did the shark bit to get their ratings back up.

it was successful for them, and the term came to be applied to any time a series attempts to boost their ratings.

[KC9ECI]

http://www.jumpedtheshark.com/

[w3sy]

You don't really have to do anything "unusual" to jump the shark. Usually means that the writers, producers, WHOEVER -- inserted, removed or changed the nature of a character, or inserted a plot line, with the result being the show loses whatever "magic" made it popular in the first place.

It wasn't just the inane pictire of Fonzie jumping a shark in his leather jacket, shorts, and black socks that turned viewers off. It was the very IDEA that Fonz would travel to Hawaii with these goofs and take up acrobatic water skiing. Compare and contrast with the shadowy, cool, tough-guy, greaser, Harley riding, blue-collar Fonz. THAT was what the character was supposed to be. The writers kept diddling with the original Fonzie concept -- gradually, gradually, until the shark episode. It was truly the last straw! He became ONE HUNDRED PERCENT cartoon character (though he had been in the 80-90 percent range for some time).

As for Joanie at the reunion -- did she look like 20 miles of bad road, or what?

[AG3Y]

Quote[/b] ]As for Joanie at the reunion -- did she look like 20 miles of bad road, or what?

Boy, you got that right, but on the other hand "Marriam" ( or however you spell it ) must have been soaked in preservative. She was the best, healthiest looking person on the show! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Feb. 06 2005,13:52)]You don't really have to do anything "unusual" to jump the shark. Usually means that the writers, producers, WHOEVER -- inserted, removed or changed the nature of a character, or inserted a plot line, with the result being the show loses whatever "magic" made it popular in the first place.

It wasn't just the inane pictire of Fonzie jumping a shark in his leather jacket, shorts, and black socks that turned viewers off. It was the very IDEA that Fonz would travel to Hawaii with these goofs and take up acrobatic water skiing. #Compare and contrast with the shadowy, cool, tough-guy, greaser, Harley riding, blue-collar Fonz. THAT was what the character was supposed to be. The writers kept diddling with the original Fonzie concept -- gradually, gradually, until the shark episode. It was truly the last straw! He became ONE HUNDRED PERCENT #cartoon character (though he had been in the 80-90 percent range for some time).

As for Joanie at the reunion -- did she look like 20 miles of bad road, or what?
i never saw fonzie on a harley, he rode a triumph! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC9ECI]

Quote[/b] ] In the very early episodes he rode custom Harley-Davidson models. In the later episodes he rides a Triumph motorcycle. Overall, the Fonz drove a variety of models including Harley Panhead, Harley Knucklehead, Harley Sportster, Triumph 500 CC Twin, Trophy 650 CC and a BSA.http://www.tvacres.com/motorcycles_fonz.htm