When TV shows jump the shark

[Cindy B]

How about the Cosby Show, when they brought in Cousin Pam? Cousins are never a good sign.

I didn't like Raven on Cosby show either.

 

[penguin77]

www.jumptheshark.com

has everythin you need-- it rocks

 

[olena]

Wasn't it Family Ties where they had another baby? I think that was the shark for that show.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

How about the Cosby Show, when they brought in Cousin Pam? Cousins are never a good sign.

I always loved that show, but especially when they were a family raising kids with normal issues and not so much extended family. It seemed that when Rudy was no longer the cute baby, then they brought in Denise's stepdaughter (can't remember the character's name). She was a cutie for sure, but it changed for me as the other kids grew up. Ugh, it's reminding me of my own kids and how I sort of wish they'd stop getting older.

 

[Tinker74]

DH had to explain to me not long ago that the term "jumping the shark" originated from that scene in Happy Days. Before that I never knew what the term meant

Oh wow...I never knew that...I always wondered why they call it jumping the shark..

 

[Beth76]

I think Seinfeld only jumped the shark with the last episode. So silly. I guess they needed an excuse to have all the past characters on, but they could have come up with something a little funnier.

I agree. Not sure if you can call it jumping the shark on the last show though. I was in Europe for the last show and had 3 different people at home taping it for me. I was sooooooo disappointed when I came back. I was an awful final episode.

 

[olena]

Oh wow...I never knew that...I always wondered why they call it jumping the shark..

American Lexicon....

 

[Cindy B]

Growing Pains had a baby as well. What was the age difference between the little baby and the older kids -- something like 16 years?
And didn't Leo DiCaprio become a foster kid as well? That show got really weird.


Family Ties did have another baby--it ruined the show.

Who's the Boss--when Tony Danza and Judith Light started dating.

 

[JunieJay]

I always loved that show, but especially when they were a family raising kids with normal issues and not so much extended family. It seemed that when Rudy was no longer the cute baby, then they brought in Denise's stepdaughter (can't remember the character's name). She was a cutie for sure, but it changed for me as the other kids grew up. Ugh, it's reminding me of my own kids and how I sort of wish they'd stop getting older.

I actually liked the little girl (Olivia, played by Raven SImone), but I think what I liked most about her was the fact that Bill Cosby had a little kid to play off. There is no other actor who works as well with children.

That said, I preferred Rudy to Olivia, no doubt. But when RUdy grew up they needed another little kid and I think Raven did a pretty decent job of filling that void.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Murphy Brown, when she had a baby

The Facts of Life, when Mrs. G. left and Chloris Leachman came in

 

[JunieJay]

Growing Pains had a baby as well. What was the age difference between the little baby and the older kids -- something like 16 years?

Oh, and then they made her into a little girl. What an ANNOYING child actor that was. Does anyone else remember this child? She had curly red hair and she was just sooooooo annoying.

 

[Cindy B]

Another Happy Days one--when Fonzie became a substitute teacher. I guess he couldn't be a hoodlum anymore, so he was a sub teacher at the high school with Joanie. I think he was the gym teacher.

 

[lovetoscrap]

pretty much any time the sexual tension is broken and the characters actually start dating it is the beginning of the end.

 

[Cindy B]

Murphy Brown, when she had a baby

The Facts of Life, when Mrs. G. left and Chloris Leachman came in

I was going to say Facts of Life when the girls all worked at the "store"-- was Mrs. G gone then?

 

[Cindy B]

Moonlighting --when Cybil Shepard and Bruce Willis slept together--it went downhill from there.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

These have both already been mentioned, but;

7th Heaven - Should have ended a few years ago, after about Season 6. Hopefully, when it has its series finale it will actually end thise time. . . unlike last years series finale.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Should of ended when the PP said, when Buffy sacrificed herself, and not dragged out for another two seasons.

 

[JunieJay]

pretty much any time the sexual tension is broken and the characters actually start dating it is the beginning of the end.

Yup. Niles and Daphne from Frasier come to mind. They were always better when he was pining away from her and she was clueless. I just never bought that they would be a couple in real life.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

pretty much any time the sexual tension is broken and the characters actually start dating it is the beginning of the end.

Sometimes that does work though - Monica and Chadler were a great couple on Friends. And I also disagree with the OP - Rachel and Ross having a baby together was great and opened up some great story lines. Some of the best episodes, (in my opinion,) were from the season when Rachel was pregnant.

 

[Fairy Dust]

I'm intrigued...what does "jump the shark" mean?

 

[kfeuer]

L.A. Law--when Michael and Victor (and maybe somebody else? Can't remember) left to form their own practice.

ER--there's several moments to choose from, but I'll go with when Mark Green died (although I lost alot of interest when Carol left)