Jump the shark moments - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-20-2020, 11:36 AM

When did the show jump the shark?

For me, when they changed the settings, first from Eastland to Edna's Edibles, then from Mrs.Garrett's store to Over Our Heads, and when Mrs. Garrett left.

Your opinions?

RetroGuy2000 · 03-20-2020, 01:04 PM

Same. When Mrs. Garrett's character was minimized to the point where she was just a character coming in and dispensing good advice and delicious quiches, the show lost its way. It became a different series, far from its roots as a show about Edna Garrett and her seven girls at Eastland.

MA · 03-20-2020, 01:31 PM

When Mrs. Garrett left.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-20-2020, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Same. When Mrs. Garrett's character was minimized to the point where she was just a character coming in and dispensing good advice and delicious quiches, the show lost its way. It became a different series, far from its roots as a show about Edna Garrett and her seven girls at Eastland.

True, the show changed a lot from the beginning. If we compare Rough Housing with The Beginning of the Beginning, it seems that we are watching two different shows. The main setting (Eastland) gone and replaced with a house, the main character (Edna Garrett) gone and replaced by her sister, new characters. I miss so much Eastland and the cafeteria, open Over Our Heads was a mistake.

cfr1970 · 03-20-2020, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MA

When Mrs. Garrett left.

Agree with MA. Everything else in the show was fine, but the loss of Mrs. Garrett was too much of a hole to ignore. Not to say the show was bad after her departure, but her loss was always felt through to the end of the series.

'80sSitcoms · 03-20-2020, 03:54 PM

Jo playing piano! lol

RetroGuy2000 · 03-20-2020, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Jo playing piano! lol

valentina warner · 03-20-2020, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Agree with MA. Everything else in the show was fine, but the loss of Mrs. Garrett was too much of a hole to ignore. Not to say the show was bad after her departure, but her loss was always felt through to the end of the series.

True, as retro once said: MRS G was the heart of the show, and it was never the same again after her departure.....

Lorimar Television · 03-21-2020, 04:10 AM

Trimming down the cast, but many would call that "Growing the beard" as its called when a show finds its stride.

Christopher · 03-21-2020, 10:48 AM

Season 1 and 9 are the worst seasons so anything from those years. Season 1 had awful writing and characters that weren't needed. Thankfully they got rid of the characters not working and started a trend. At the beginning of season 2, networks were able to see that a female cast show can work. The Facts of Life would not have been a hit if they kept the format from season 1 so that was definitely a jump the shark season that saved itself by retooling for the rest of the series. However season 9 had the girls drifting apart and acting weird, so that's another jump the shark moment for them.

Sitcommania · 03-21-2020, 12:30 PM

They couldn’t have avoided jumping the shark throughout the entire series, imo. Groups of friends don’t often live together through high school AND college (college and beyond maybe). Even if they had stuck to the season 1 premise, they would have eventually had to refresh with new characters, which also would have been jumping the shark.

Lorimar Television · 03-21-2020, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

Season 1 and 9 are the worst seasons so anything from those years. Season 1 had awful writing and characters that weren't needed. Thankfully they got rid of the characters not working and started a trend. At the beginning of season 2, networks were able to see that a female cast show can work. The Facts of Life would not have been a hit if they kept the format from season 1 so that was definitely a jump the shark season that saved itself by retooling for the rest of the series. However season 9 had the girls drifting apart and acting weird, so that's another jump the shark moment for them.

I dont think a first season can be jumping the shark, it has to be a certain point in the series where it cant be redeemed again. As I said above Season 2 was growing the beard.

valentina warner · 03-21-2020, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

Season 1 and 9 are the worst seasons so anything from those years. Season 1 had awful writing and characters that weren't needed. Thankfully they got rid of the characters not working and started a trend. At the beginning of season 2, networks were able to see that a female cast show can work. The Facts of Life would not have been a hit if they kept the format from season 1 so that was definitely a jump the shark season that saved itself by retooling for the rest of the series. However season 9 had the girls drifting apart and acting weird, so that's another jump the shark moment for them.

I strongly disagree with you regarding season 1: the set looked like a real boarding school and the actresses did just fine with their lines (especially SUE ANN was the best one out of the 'Lost girls').
It also had 2 great episodes such as 'Rough housing' and 'Like mother like daughter', where we see a lot of interaction between MRS G and CINDY vs BLAIR in one episode, and BLAIR + MRS G in the next.
Whats more: the pilot of DS 'The girl's school' was what first introduced us to FOL lol!
Nevertheless, i strongly agree with you regarding season 9: with MRS G gone by then and the girls acting weird, the writers wrote unbalanced stories, so it is no surprising the show ended....

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-21-2020, 06:38 PM

In my opinion, the cafeteria looked like a real boarding school, the dorm seems more like a house. I'm not a hater of a season 1 but I prefer s2-4 and 8 (although Mrs. Garrett was gone)

'80sSitcoms · 03-25-2020, 12:10 AM

I agree with the fellow season 1 fans. Most of the girls were needed. They all had individual personalities and characteristics, and therefore a place in the show, except arguably Nancy. The series of course became something wonderful, but it could also have been wonderful with a tomboy athlete, a midwest conservative, and an activist/feminist along for the ride (but a phone-glued girlfriend, maybe not so much).

Quote:

Originally Posted by valentina warner

the actresses did just fine with their lines (especially SUE ANN was the best one out of the 'Lost girls').

I think Julie Ann and Felice were much better. Molly may not have been "better", but she was cuter.

03-20-2020, 11:36 AM	#1
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	Jump the shark moments When did the show jump the shark? For me, when they changed the settings, first from Eastland to Edna's Edibles, then from Mrs.Garrett's store to Over Our Heads, and when Mrs. Garrett left. Your opinions?

03-20-2020, 01:04 PM	#2
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Same. When Mrs. Garrett's character was minimized to the point where she was just a character coming in and dispensing good advice and delicious quiches, the show lost its way. It became a different series, far from its roots as a show about Edna Garrett and her seven girls at Eastland.
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

03-20-2020, 01:31 PM	#3
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,589	When Mrs. Garrett left.
	__________________ ~-Mikaela-~

03-20-2020, 03:54 PM	#6
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Jo playing piano! lol
	__________________ "The Facts of Life" - re-imagined episode guide with all 8 girls in all 9 seasons

03-21-2020, 04:10 AM	#9
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Trimming down the cast, but many would call that "Growing the beard" as its called when a show finds its stride.
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

03-21-2020, 10:48 AM	#10
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	Season 1 and 9 are the worst seasons so anything from those years. Season 1 had awful writing and characters that weren't needed. Thankfully they got rid of the characters not working and started a trend. At the beginning of season 2, networks were able to see that a female cast show can work. The Facts of Life would not have been a hit if they kept the format from season 1 so that was definitely a jump the shark season that saved itself by retooling for the rest of the series. However season 9 had the girls drifting apart and acting weird, so that's another jump the shark moment for them.

03-21-2020, 12:30 PM	#11
Sitcommania Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 01, 2018 Location: New york Posts: 309	They couldn’t have avoided jumping the shark throughout the entire series, imo. Groups of friends don’t often live together through high school AND college (college and beyond maybe). Even if they had stuck to the season 1 premise, they would have eventually had to refresh with new characters, which also would have been jumping the shark.

03-21-2020, 06:38 PM	#14
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	In my opinion, the cafeteria looked like a real boarding school, the dorm seems more like a house. I'm not a hater of a season 1 but I prefer s2-4 and 8 (although Mrs. Garrett was gone)