trajectories of tv shows can go so many different ways. Some start out great, end up bad. Some start bad, then end up great. And there are others who start out at a certain quality, then goes downhill.... but winds up going back uphill.

What are tv shows in your opinion went this route?

Buffy - season 6 was a vast improvement over the "okay, but not the greatest" seasons 4 and 5... but season 7 was for the birds. Instead of deciding to go over-the-top again after season 4's Adam and season 5's Glory, they made this season a long character study about the characters transformations into grownups. And gave the characters layers they weren't given before, and in the end of the season when Willow goes crazy, you're equally rooting for her yet waiting for her to be saved. Season 6 was proof that it was smart of Joss Whedon to keep the show moving on after initially planning on ending after season 3's high school graduation.

Friends - season 4 was a huge return to the quality of seasons 1 and 2 following a blah season 3, and it stayed up there through season 6 before staying too long after the party should've ended through seasons 7-10.

Facts Of Life - season 8 was the best season they had since season 3, but season 9 blew. No, Cloris was no Mrs. G, but by that point of the show, Mrs. G was irrelevant to the series and Beverly really fit the void, almost as a "much older sister" part to the girls instead of the maternal Mrs. G.

Roswell - following a great first season and a dismal second season, the third (and unfortunately final) season returned the show to the quality of the first season. In the second season, the storylines became insane and it very well killed it. With season 3, it went back to the original premise of the series and brought the show back to the characters, but so many fans were lost in season 2 that the show never made it to a season 4, although season 3 was great.

South Park - seasons 7 and 8 have definately showed that there is no signs of slowing down, even tho seasons 5 and 6 have some classic episodes (season 5 has a few of the greatest ever), there were just as many blah episodes.

Charmed - while season 6 didn't come close to the excellent seasons 1-4, it sure made up for how awful and campy season 5 was

Charmed- after season 4 and 5, season 6 was a big improvement, becoming one of my fave seasons. It was better all around

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: after season 1, they got the show on track with season 2 and the seasons that followed. Season 4 was by far the best season, after season 5 (a terrible season) the show got better during season 6 but never regained its good storylines

I believe season 11 was a rebound season for Frasier.

Full House: Seasons 5 and 6 were great seasons but Season 7 was horrible.

Who's the Boss?: Season 8 wasnt the best season, but after the horrrible Seasons 6 and 7 it was def. an upgrate.

Originally posted by Superstar
Charmed- after season 4 and 5, season 6 was a big improvement, becoming one of my fave seasons. It was better all around

I think the biggest problem with season 5 was that the writers seemed to stop taking the show seriously and they changed the series from a semi-serious supernatural soap to Charlie's Angels. I love Charlie's Angels, but they were that way from the beginning. In season 5, it became "look what the Charmed ones are dressed as this week", and we had tons of bad episodes like the mermaid episode, and the naughty wood nymphs, the episode with the mummies, and the comic book heroes episode, and the episode with the leprechauns (IMO, the worst episode EVER). Season 6 was guilty of having a few of these cliches as well, but for the most part, it wasnt as over the top and the episodes mostly fit into the story. I do think the best seasons were with Shannen (1-3) and Julian (3-4, in season 5 you could tell both the writers and Julian McMahon himself were bored with the character) though. I like Paige, but there will never be another Prue.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I think the biggest problem with season 5 was that the writers seemed to stop taking the show seriously and they changed the series from a semi-serious supernatural soap to Charlie's Angels. I love Charlie's Angels, but they were that way from the beginning. In season 5, it became "look what the Charmed ones are dressed as this week", and we had tons of bad episodes like the mermaid episode, and the naughty wood nymphs, the episode with the mummies, and the comic book heroes episode, and the episode with the leprechauns (IMO, the worst episode EVER). Season 6 was guilty of having a few of these cliches as well, but for the most part, it wasnt as over the top and the episodes mostly fit into the story. I do think the best seasons were with Shannen (1-3) and Julian (3-4, in season 5 you could tell both the writers and Julian McMahon himself were bored with the character) though. I like Paige, but there will never be another Prue.

I agree with you about season 5, the writers didn't seem to be seriously. Thinking back at the episodes, they were horrible but I still like that season. I don't know why I love season 6 because the episodes were good but not fantastic (Its A Bad Bad Bad Bad World was fantastic though)

The episode with the leprauchauns was one of the worst though

Originally posted by Superstar
I agree with you about season 5, the writers didn't seem to be seriously. Thinking back at the episodes, they were horrible but I still like that season. I don't know why I love season 6 because the episodes were good but not fantastic (Its A Bad Bad Bad Bad World was fantastic though)

The episode with the leprauchauns was one of the worst though

well, Drew Fuller provided much-needed male eye candy that's been missing after Julian left (Brian Krause has really aged in the past few seasons, and Eric Dane was cute, but never a regular).

Plus, the series became exciting again because you were wanting to know every week what Chris' secret was (then we found out he was Piper and Leo's son in the future) and wondering when, where and if Piper and Leo will ever get back together again (that is still up in the air... I hope they do though). Season 5 didn't really have that much excitement in the whole of the plotline, just the first half was "okay, when is Cole going to get vanquished for good?" and the second half was "okay, Piper's a mom now... so what else?", and then season 6 put everything back into the storyline.

Originally posted by Chambers
I believe season 11 was a rebound season for Frasier.

I completely agree.
The show took a dip in quality (although it was still good, just not on par) in Season 8.
Seasons 9 and 10 continued the dip.
However, Season 11 had some episodes that beat out those of the "golden years" (Seasons 1-7)


I would also say Season 11 of Cheers. Seasons 8 and 9 heavily relied on Rebecca and Robin. Then Season 10 brought the horrid storyline of Sam and Rebecca trying to have a baby. But Season 11 was the best of the series, IMO.

Ellen-funny show, but that last season after she "came out" & announced she was gay, & every single episode dealt with it, was BAD.:(

Dallas-GREAT show, but the final season was only so-so.

Fraiser-good show, but in season 7 it definetly "jumped the shark". (but, to be fair, that was because David Angell-the creator and the "guiding force" behind "Frasier" & Cheers" was killed on 9/11) but then it recovered slightly the next year, then recovered completly the last couple of seasons.

MASH-"jumped the shark" in season 8 (when Radar left) and NEVER recovered.

Jeopardy! has rebounded by letting players go more than the maximum of five appearances without a loss. Go Ken Jennings!

THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY:

Even with Cousin Oliver replacing Robert Reed I thought a sixth season of The Brady Bunch would have been good, centering around Marcia's senior year.

I believe Family Matters could have done the same with a tenth season about Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow getting married and their new life, as well as their honeymoon. The "second Harriette"/Judyann Elders would have been pretty insignificant by then--they could have brought back JoMarie Payton for the wedding.

I also believe The Wonder Years could have done this with a seventh season, concentrating on the gang in their senior year of high school, as well as a few more seasons about the gang attending college.

Boy Meets World:
I didn't much care for season 6. In fact, I was so turned off that I quit watching it that year. Season 7, however made me a fan of the show again.

Sliders

Seasons 1 and 1 were great! Season 3 was terrible. That was the season that both John Rhys-Davies and Sabrina Lloyd left. JRD towards the end and SL right after the finale. However I feel that season 4 was great, not as good as 1 & 2 but a whole lot better than 3.

The following shows started off bad but got better:

One Day At A Time - The first two seasons was bad but it got its rhythm in the third season and hit its stride in the fourth season. The first full season without MacKenzie Phillips (80-81) was not good but rebounded in the following season when she came back.

Alice - The first season was bad but it got better in the second season.

Sanford & Son - The first season was bad but it got its rhythm in the second season.

Full House - The second season was far more improved and entertaining after a horrible first season. I hate watching the repeats of that first season.

The following show rebounded after a previous season that was bad:

All In the Family - The eighth and final season with Rob Reiner and Sally Sruthers was very good after a horrible 7th season.

Shows that started out great but went downhill:
The Cosby Show - After season three the show was not as entertaining. Out of the first three seasons Season 2 was the best.

Family Ties - After Season 4 the stories got too repetious about Alex and when Andrew began to talk the show was no good from that point on. Season 7 was much better and you saw more of Meredith Baxter Birney and Michael Gross in the forefront.

The Jeffersons - From 1975 until 1980 the show was very good and consistently funny. Once George mellowed out and becoming friends with Tom Willis it was not as entertaining to watch. Each season from that point on it was looking more and more tired.

Bewitched - Everyone knew what happened to the show after Dick York left. It could had went down as a classic series.

The New Dick Van Dyke Show - When the show relocated to Hollywood with an entirely different cast the show was not the same. The style of comedy in that season was not Dick's style of comedy. Without Carl Reiner Dick is not good at all. The comedy chemistry between Van Dyke and Reiner is very good.

Reba: The first season was great, the second season was good but not like the first season, and the third season was excellent!

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
well, Drew Fuller provided much-needed male eye candy that's been missing after Julian left (Brian Krause has really aged in the past few seasons, and Eric Dane was cute, but never a regular).

Plus, the series became exciting again because you were wanting to know every week what Chris' secret was (then we found out he was Piper and Leo's son in the future) and wondering when, where and if Piper and Leo will ever get back together again (that is still up in the air... I hope they do though). Season 5 didn't really have that much excitement in the whole of the plotline, just the first half was "okay, when is Cole going to get vanquished for good?" and the second half was "okay, Piper's a mom now... so what else?", and then season 6 put everything back into the storyline.


Yea, I got sick of the Phoebe/Cole storyline, I never liked it but they were dragging it out over 2 seasons which annoyed me. There wasn't really annoying continuing storyline thru season 5, it was a different storyline every week, they didn't have an ongoing problem throughout the whole season. Season 6 did have a good storyline, and its one of my faves (I hope Leo and Piper get back together too)

I think "Star Trek Voyager" had a few weak middle seasons. Storylines picked up when they got rid of Kes and brought Seven Of Nine onboard.

Originally posted by Superstar
Yea, I got sick of the Phoebe/Cole storyline, I never liked it but they were dragging it out over 2 seasons which annoyed me. There wasn't really annoying continuing storyline thru season 5, it was a different storyline every week, they didn't have an ongoing problem throughout the whole season. Season 6 did have a good storyline, and its one of my faves (I hope Leo and Piper get back together too)

all in all, while I did personally like the Phoebe/Cole thing for most of the time. I (and I know a few Charmed fans who'll shoot me) always thought that they're relationship was such a ripoff of Buffy and Angel's. Both relationships were doomed from the start, and both Angel and Cole turned evil, then good again, and both wound up with the men leaving (Cole getting vanquished for good, Angel leaving Sunnydale for L.A. to star in his own spinoff series).