TV Shows On The Verge Of Jumping The Shark - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-26-2009, 11:37 AM

'Heroes'
The beginning of the series had comic diehards and fanboys nervously questioning a superhero show for the public airing on a broadcast network. It ended up succeeding- for awhile. Now ridiculous storylines and backtracking character plots have the series barely treading water trying to stay afloat in their own convoluted narrative.

'NCIS: Los Angeles'
This show, as stated before in our recap of a two parter of last season's 'NCIS', should never even have been greenlighted. While 'NCIS' was a successful spin-off of 'JAG', this looks like an abomination. It jumped its own shark when the new cast guest starred on 'NCIS'. All of the characters are two dimensional and extremely bland. While this spin-off universe almost worked for 'CSI' with 'CSI New York' and 'CSI Miami', it is time to give location spin-offs a place in TV graveyards.

'Ghost Whisperer'
There is no specific episode that pinpoints where this series jumped the shark, but instead we find that the fact it stayed so far under the radar, we didn't even know it was still on the air, is a big indicator.

'24'
The problem with '24', as many experts have mentioned, is a reverse issue. The show is television's version of 'Die Hard' in many ways, and wouldn't work if it didn't jump the shark on an episodic basis. Too much action, and the constant breakage of the suspension of disbelief are concepts that the show thrives upon. When is enough, enough? We would have said this past season. However, Katee Sackhoff, formerly of 'Battlestar Galactica' has joined in for the new season, so we have to trudge forward.

'Two and a Half Men'
This show is one of the very few remaining in three-camera production format ('How I Met Your Mother' is another) and is a good example of why this particular format is on its deathbed. This show jumped the shark when the funny little kid, the only solid character outside of appearances by Holland Taylor, Jane Lynch, and Melanie Lynskey, stopped being funny. Jane Lynch ('Glee', 'Party Down') is an actress with such a unique sense of comedic timing and humor she typically is the acting version of CPR. Not even she can save this show.

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index....umping_the_sha

browneyes106 · 07-26-2009, 12:36 PM

I agree with you on those shows. I think Ghost Whisperer jumped the shark with the husband's death and him taking over another body.

Mr. Television · 07-26-2009, 01:52 PM

I am worried about NCIS:LA. I didn't care for the spinoff episode at all. Then again I didn't care much for the spinoff episode of JAG that introduced NCIS. Hopefully it will improve. NCIS is a character driven show though ( as was JAG). This new show looked too much like all the CSI clones.

TJL · 07-26-2009, 03:05 PM

To me, high concept shows like Heroes and 24 jump the shark immediatly after the big season long plot is done.

Heroes - they saved the world. So, what now?

24 - Jack saves the world. Then he saves it again. And again.

How many times can a guy save the world?

70s show watcher · 07-26-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browneyes106

I agree with you on those shows. I think Ghost Whisperer jumped the shark with the husband's death and him taking over another body.

i wass going to put ghost whisperer when i saw the thread it was the show i imedeatly thought of

megamanj2004 · 07-27-2009, 12:25 AM

It's just sad how Heroes is one of the very few shows (outside of the Law and Order franchise) NBC has left to cling to in primetime.

07-26-2009, 11:37 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	TV Shows On The Verge Of Jumping The Shark 'Heroes' The beginning of the series had comic diehards and fanboys nervously questioning a superhero show for the public airing on a broadcast network. It ended up succeeding- for awhile. Now ridiculous storylines and backtracking character plots have the series barely treading water trying to stay afloat in their own convoluted narrative. 'NCIS: Los Angeles' This show, as stated before in our recap of a two parter of last season's 'NCIS', should never even have been greenlighted. While 'NCIS' was a successful spin-off of 'JAG', this looks like an abomination. It jumped its own shark when the new cast guest starred on 'NCIS'. All of the characters are two dimensional and extremely bland. While this spin-off universe almost worked for 'CSI' with 'CSI New York' and 'CSI Miami', it is time to give location spin-offs a place in TV graveyards. 'Ghost Whisperer' There is no specific episode that pinpoints where this series jumped the shark, but instead we find that the fact it stayed so far under the radar, we didn't even know it was still on the air, is a big indicator. '24' The problem with '24', as many experts have mentioned, is a reverse issue. The show is television's version of 'Die Hard' in many ways, and wouldn't work if it didn't jump the shark on an episodic basis. Too much action, and the constant breakage of the suspension of disbelief are concepts that the show thrives upon. When is enough, enough? We would have said this past season. However, Katee Sackhoff, formerly of 'Battlestar Galactica' has joined in for the new season, so we have to trudge forward. 'Two and a Half Men' This show is one of the very few remaining in three-camera production format ('How I Met Your Mother' is another) and is a good example of why this particular format is on its deathbed. This show jumped the shark when the funny little kid, the only solid character outside of appearances by Holland Taylor, Jane Lynch, and Melanie Lynskey, stopped being funny. Jane Lynch ('Glee', 'Party Down') is an actress with such a unique sense of comedic timing and humor she typically is the acting version of CPR. Not even she can save this show. http://www.starpulse.com/news/index....umping_the_sha
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07-26-2009, 01:52 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I am worried about NCIS:LA. I didn't care for the spinoff episode at all. Then again I didn't care much for the spinoff episode of JAG that introduced NCIS. Hopefully it will improve. NCIS is a character driven show though ( as was JAG). This new show looked too much like all the CSI clones.
	__________________ Sonny

07-26-2009, 03:05 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	To me, high concept shows like Heroes and 24 jump the shark immediatly after the big season long plot is done. Heroes - they saved the world. So, what now? 24 - Jack saves the world. Then he saves it again. And again. How many times can a guy save the world?
	__________________ "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

07-27-2009, 12:25 AM	#6
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,361	It's just sad how Heroes is one of the very few shows (outside of the Law and Order franchise) NBC has left to cling to in primetime.
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07-26-2009, 12:36 PM	#2
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I agree with you on those shows. I think Ghost Whisperer jumped the shark with the husband's death and him taking over another body.