4/17/08 Jumping the Shark

BuddyDebbie · 04-17-2008, 10:43 AM

Okay, usually it irks me A LOT when people use the phrase "jump the shark" because I think people throw it around too often when it actually isn't warranted. But I think it's time for a question of the day about it anyway.

Think back to the bazillions of shows that have aired. Can you name pivotal moments of these shows that you can honestly say are jump-the-shark moments? Please be prepared to back up your statements.

TheEditor · 04-17-2008, 03:56 PM

Jumping the Shark is my favorite thing ever. For me, the most obvious example is after the fourth season of The West Wing when Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme left the show. That completely altered what the show was.

Going back a bit, the Connors winning the lottery on Roseanne was painfully terrible, and that last season is probably the biggest trainwreck ever.

It's hard to find exact moments, because shows now have the unique ability to jump back. 24 was jumped many a shark, yet it always gets to restart the clock and get better than ever. Same goes for a show like Lost, or Gilmore Girls, or Buffy.

BuddyDebbie · 04-17-2008, 04:01 PM

I think Buffy jumped the shark when Spike joined the Scoobies. The whole point of the Scoobs was that they were outsiders, on the fringe, but they cared enough to save the world. But then Spike had to join and be all cool and screw up the dynamic and there was that stupid love affair with Buffy and ugh!

adiafaith · 04-17-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Going back a bit, the Connors winning the lottery on Roseanne was painfully terrible, and that last season is probably the biggest trainwreck ever.

Oh God, totally agree. From the lottery to the whole Jackie with the prince, Dan dying, the whole thing being a dream, and Becky with David and Darlene with Mark....it literally felt like they jumped the shark every episode of that season.

BuddyD · 04-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Aw, Debbie isn't a Spuffy fan. I also hate the whole "jump the shark" term, mainly because people throw it around too loosely. However, I will say that the bus crash in the season 2 opener of Veronica Mars could count. That was the beginning of a long, ridiculous season that would be followed by another season that was all over the place in terms of quality. It was never as good as season one.

For Gilmore Girls, I'd definitely say Amy Sherman-Palladino leaving was the shark jumper.

TheEditor · 04-18-2008, 02:40 PM

Ok, first, I stand by VM seasons 2 and 3. Sure, they weren't as good as season 1, but that's because they sort of forced themselves into having to do this season-long arc thing that couldn't be matched, because in season 1, everyone was a suspect. And even with Wallace's stupid girlfriend and Meg's stupid baby, the individual episodes were all decent enough, though I'll admit to getting a bit confused by the Irish gang stuff and Weevil's friends...there were a whole lot of red herrings. But come on, the "Not Pictured" reveal was almost worth it all. And I actually think season 3 stands up quite well. The rap storyline was OK, but the dead dean was great, as were some of the standalones.

As for GG, if it did "Jump the shark," it was well before ASP left. It was probably sometime around the character assassination of Christopher in season 5 and the utter crapfest that was the constant lying betwee Lorelai and Luke. The first seasons were brilliant, but I am sick and tired of people putting ASP up for sainthood when, by the end of her run, the show and characters were pale imitations of their former greatness.

BuddyDebbie · 04-18-2008, 03:00 PM

I agree. I think GG jumped the shark with the introduction of April, aka not-Rory. There is absolutely no reason why Luke would keep Lorelai in the dark about all of that.

BuddyD · 04-18-2008, 05:45 PM

Actually yeah, I think season 6 of Gilmore Girls was when it went off the rails a bit. The difference was that even when the plotting was off, the dialogue still crackled thanks to ASP. In season 7 we lost the crackle and the good plotting.

As for Veronica Mars, I actually did enjoy season 3. It wasn't perfect, and I hated everything with Logan, but it was better than season 2. The season 2 Beaver reveal played out like a terrible Scooby-Doo whodunit, with SuperBeaver blowing up buses and airplanes and twirling his mustache while tying Veronica to the train tracks. I hated that with a passion.

04-17-2008, 10:43 AM	#1
BuddyDebbie Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,028,849	4/17/08 Jumping the Shark Okay, usually it irks me A LOT when people use the phrase "jump the shark" because I think people throw it around too often when it actually isn't warranted. But I think it's time for a question of the day about it anyway. Think back to the bazillions of shows that have aired. Can you name pivotal moments of these shows that you can honestly say are jump-the-shark moments? Please be prepared to back up your statements. __________________

04-17-2008, 04:01 PM	#3
BuddyDebbie Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,028,849	I think Buffy jumped the shark when Spike joined the Scoobies. The whole point of the Scoobs was that they were outsiders, on the fringe, but they cared enough to save the world. But then Spike had to join and be all cool and screw up the dynamic and there was that stupid love affair with Buffy and ugh! __________________

04-18-2008, 03:00 PM	#7
BuddyDebbie Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,028,849	I agree. I think GG jumped the shark with the introduction of April, aka not-Rory. There is absolutely no reason why Luke would keep Lorelai in the dark about all of that. __________________

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04-17-2008, 03:56 PM	#2
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Jumping the Shark is my favorite thing ever. For me, the most obvious example is after the fourth season of The West Wing when Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme left the show. That completely altered what the show was. Going back a bit, the Connors winning the lottery on Roseanne was painfully terrible, and that last season is probably the biggest trainwreck ever. It's hard to find exact moments, because shows now have the unique ability to jump back. 24 was jumped many a shark, yet it always gets to restart the clock and get better than ever. Same goes for a show like Lost, or Gilmore Girls, or Buffy.

04-17-2008, 04:45 PM	#5
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	Aw, Debbie isn't a Spuffy fan. I also hate the whole "jump the shark" term, mainly because people throw it around too loosely. However, I will say that the bus crash in the season 2 opener of Veronica Mars could count. That was the beginning of a long, ridiculous season that would be followed by another season that was all over the place in terms of quality. It was never as good as season one. For Gilmore Girls, I'd definitely say Amy Sherman-Palladino leaving was the shark jumper.

04-18-2008, 02:40 PM	#6
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	Ok, first, I stand by VM seasons 2 and 3. Sure, they weren't as good as season 1, but that's because they sort of forced themselves into having to do this season-long arc thing that couldn't be matched, because in season 1, everyone was a suspect. And even with Wallace's stupid girlfriend and Meg's stupid baby, the individual episodes were all decent enough, though I'll admit to getting a bit confused by the Irish gang stuff and Weevil's friends...there were a whole lot of red herrings. But come on, the "Not Pictured" reveal was almost worth it all. And I actually think season 3 stands up quite well. The rap storyline was OK, but the dead dean was great, as were some of the standalones. As for GG, if it did "Jump the shark," it was well before ASP left. It was probably sometime around the character assassination of Christopher in season 5 and the utter crapfest that was the constant lying betwee Lorelai and Luke. The first seasons were brilliant, but I am sick and tired of people putting ASP up for sainthood when, by the end of her run, the show and characters were pale imitations of their former greatness.

04-18-2008, 05:45 PM	#8
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	Actually yeah, I think season 6 of Gilmore Girls was when it went off the rails a bit. The difference was that even when the plotting was off, the dialogue still crackled thanks to ASP. In season 7 we lost the crackle and the good plotting. As for Veronica Mars, I actually did enjoy season 3. It wasn't perfect, and I hated everything with Logan, but it was better than season 2. The season 2 Beaver reveal played out like a terrible Scooby-Doo whodunit, with SuperBeaver blowing up buses and airplanes and twirling his mustache while tying Veronica to the train tracks. I hated that with a passion.