Jump The Shark: Newhart - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

callmetootie · 09-27-2001, 05:15 PM

When do you think Newhart jumped the shark? I think it did when Michael joined the cast...such an annoying character.

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Andrew Carden

Penny Lane · 10-20-2001, 03:26 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by callmetootie:
[B]When do you think Newhart jumped the shark? I think it did when Michael joined the cast...such an annoying character.

It never did! It just got better, especially after Michael and Stephanie joined the cast.

JulzRulz86 · 01-03-2002, 07:10 PM

I loved the last episode with Little Stephanie in it, but I think when Steph was preganant, so some viewers thought "Why watch her go through that, she'll become a mom and she won't be funny anymore".

rkeil · 09-06-2002, 01:40 PM

This show jumped the shark in the 7th season. I think this is when Stephanie and michael decide to get married. The shows from thew 7th season are odd and the shows from the 8th season are mostly bizarre. The plots seem like such a stretch. Overall, though I love the show.

A also liked the Kirk Devane character but felt that Michael was just as funny.

The Gooch · 09-07-2002, 06:36 PM

Although it had some pretty good episodes once in a while, I really think the show jumped after the first season. It turned from video to film, Stepahnie was added, and Kirk (because he was stealing the show) was slowly written out. It went from being a great, funny show to being an average, sometimes funny show.

TJL · 09-07-2002, 07:41 PM

I think the show jumped then Larry, Daryl and Daryl became regulars. It got a little tedious when they would come in week after week and Bob would have to deal with their crazy antics...

GeorgeJefferson · 12-13-2003, 06:18 PM

I think the whole Baby Stephanie thing was a little corny and possibly was an indicator that this show jumped the shark. But it certainly redeemed itself and made great TV history with that finale. What a great episode! It is probably my favorite television conclusion of all time.

pilotguy · 05-24-2004, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I think the show jumped then Larry, Daryl and Daryl became regulars. It got a little tedious when they would come in week after week and Bob would have to deal with their crazy antics...

I agree (and have always thought that)....It's like when Christopher Lloyd as "Jim" became a regular on "Taxi"....Crazy characters like that AS WEEKLY REGULARS make an otherwise witty, well-written sitcom too "cartoon-like".

moconnor09 · 09-26-2004, 01:02 PM

Not sure if anyone is still around, but here's my 2 cents. The Newhart show was in some trouble during the "Kirk" seasons. I kept watching, but would cringe whenever he made an appearance. He was a 70s character in an 80s show and just didn't fit. Not only that, his character was just plain annoying. Leslie was OK as a foil, but Stephanie was a much better comedic character, especially for the times.

Personally I preferred the film over the video look. It always looked like nighttime in the video and it was eerily quiet, like a stage play.

As for jumping the shark, it came close a number of times, but one would have to say the marriage of Michael and Stephanie was the beginning of the end. Only so many plots are available for any sitcom anyway. This one did very well!

Mike

TJL · 09-26-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moconnor09
Not sure if anyone is still around, but here's my 2 cents. The Newhart show was in some trouble during the "Kirk" seasons. I kept watching, but would cringe whenever he made an appearance. He was a 70s character in an 80s show and just didn't fit. Not only that, his character was just plain annoying. Leslie was OK as a foil, but Stephanie was a much better comedic character, especially for the times.

Yeah, Kirk wasn't a reall strong character. I guess that's why they got rid of him.
The show worked reall well when they brought in more members of the town to interact with Bob. Bob Newhart was always at his best when he is playing the exasperated straight man to a bunch of crazy folk.

mapleleaves · 05-09-2005, 09:35 PM

Was the funniest line Kirk ever had. Oddly, it's one of the most memorable lines (for me) of the entire series.

Rezny@gmail.com · 04-24-2010, 05:49 PM

When almost --but not every-show centered around Michael and Stephanie.Soon,it ,to me,at least,became the Michael and Stephanie show,and Bob,and all the rest of the characters were shoved aside.

catlover79 · 04-24-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapleleaves

Was the funniest line Kirk ever had. Oddly, it's one of the most memorable lines (for me) of the entire series.

I thought that was Ricky Nelson, not Wayne Newton.

Miss Lisa · 04-27-2010, 09:58 PM

I think that the episode that started the show going downhill was when Stephanie and Micheal were married and Stephanie's parents wanted Michael to take her last name when they got married. That whole thing just kind of seemed like it was taking it too far. After that, the show centered around Michael and Staphanie and just got way too silly after she returned back pregnant. Especially when they were looking for a place to live, that was sort of ridiculous.

I have to admit though, after all of this, the show was able to pull together and create one of the best finales. As a matter of fact, one of the only finales I'll ever watch.

catlover79 · 05-13-2010, 11:56 AM

Now that I think of it, the show was a bit too centered on Stephanie/Michael and Larry/Darryl/Darryl in the last couple of seasons. It's like Bob took a backseat on his own show.

09-27-2001, 05:15 PM	#1
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	Jump The Shark: Newhart When do you think Newhart jumped the shark? I think it did when Michael joined the cast...such an annoying character. ------------------ Andrew Carden

01-03-2002, 07:10 PM	#3
JulzRulz86 Cheers2Diane Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 13	I loved the last episode with Little Stephanie in it, but I think when Steph was preganant, so some viewers thought "Why watch her go through that, she'll become a mom and she won't be funny anymore".
	__________________ ~Julz*Rulz~

09-07-2002, 07:41 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I think the show jumped then Larry, Daryl and Daryl became regulars. It got a little tedious when they would come in week after week and Bob would have to deal with their crazy antics...
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

05-09-2005, 09:35 PM	#11
mapleleaves Member Forum Hawk Join Date: May 09, 2005 Posts: 4	I've got Wayne Newton up my nose! Was the funniest line Kirk ever had. Oddly, it's one of the most memorable lines (for me) of the entire series.

04-27-2010, 09:58 PM	#14
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	I think that the episode that started the show going downhill was when Stephanie and Micheal were married and Stephanie's parents wanted Michael to take her last name when they got married. That whole thing just kind of seemed like it was taking it too far. After that, the show centered around Michael and Staphanie and just got way too silly after she returned back pregnant. Especially when they were looking for a place to live, that was sort of ridiculous. I have to admit though, after all of this, the show was able to pull together and create one of the best finales. As a matter of fact, one of the only finales I'll ever watch.
	__________________ TEAM COCO ~♥~"No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it."~♥~ - Grace Slick http://deviantrose112.posterous.com/

10-20-2001, 03:26 PM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,313	[QUOTE]Originally posted by callmetootie: [B]When do you think Newhart jumped the shark? I think it did when Michael joined the cast...such an annoying character. It never did! It just got better, especially after Michael and Stephanie joined the cast.

09-06-2002, 01:40 PM	#4
rkeil Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 16, 2002 Posts: 21	This show jumped the shark in the 7th season. I think this is when Stephanie and michael decide to get married. The shows from thew 7th season are odd and the shows from the 8th season are mostly bizarre. The plots seem like such a stretch. Overall, though I love the show. A also liked the Kirk Devane character but felt that Michael was just as funny.

09-07-2002, 06:36 PM	#5
The Gooch Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Posts: 137	Although it had some pretty good episodes once in a while, I really think the show jumped after the first season. It turned from video to film, Stepahnie was added, and Kirk (because he was stealing the show) was slowly written out. It went from being a great, funny show to being an average, sometimes funny show.

12-13-2003, 06:18 PM	#7
GeorgeJefferson Pop Culture GOP Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 20, 2003 Location: FRESNO Posts: 367	I think the whole Baby Stephanie thing was a little corny and possibly was an indicator that this show jumped the shark. But it certainly redeemed itself and made great TV history with that finale. What a great episode! It is probably my favorite television conclusion of all time.

09-26-2004, 01:02 PM	#9
moconnor09 Member Forum Cub Join Date: Sep 26, 2004 Location: Oxford, PA Posts: 2	Not sure if anyone is still around, but here's my 2 cents. The Newhart show was in some trouble during the "Kirk" seasons. I kept watching, but would cringe whenever he made an appearance. He was a 70s character in an 80s show and just didn't fit. Not only that, his character was just plain annoying. Leslie was OK as a foil, but Stephanie was a much better comedic character, especially for the times. Personally I preferred the film over the video look. It always looked like nighttime in the video and it was eerily quiet, like a stage play. As for jumping the shark, it came close a number of times, but one would have to say the marriage of Michael and Stephanie was the beginning of the end. Only so many plots are available for any sitcom anyway. This one did very well! Mike

04-24-2010, 05:49 PM	#12
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	When almost --but not every-show centered around Michael and Stephanie.Soon,it ,to me,at least,became the Michael and Stephanie show,and Bob,and all the rest of the characters were shoved aside.

05-13-2010, 11:56 AM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Now that I think of it, the show was a bit too centered on Stephanie/Michael and Larry/Darryl/Darryl in the last couple of seasons. It's like Bob took a backseat on his own show.