Which series that ran a LONG time - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

rezny717 · 09-21-2011, 08:37 PM

Got stale after a while,and were overripe for cancellation,lasting WAAY too long?

ajgenard · 09-23-2011, 05:59 AM

As much as I love Frasier, there was quite a stretch where it seemed to be in the doldrums ripe for cancellation. However I maintain all episodes are watchable. None of them went too far over-the-top (aside from the 3 Niles heart-surgery eps). But for too long the show just couldn't hold up to its former self and viewership reflected it.

It's a crying shame that the original writers were finally brought back for the fantastic final season but no one seemed to care anymore.

Regulus · 09-23-2011, 09:42 AM

Most, if not all long-running TV Series reached that point where they seemed no longer worth watching, a point referred to as "Jumping the Shark", which is attributed to an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumped over a Shark on waterskis. Here's a show I actually began watching After many people consider a "Post Jump", Lassie. I was six years old when I was introduced to the dawg, the show was well into its "Ranger" Years, and I enjoyed the show all the way to its end in 1973. I considered its earlier, black-and-white incarnations seperate shows, because I was unaware thay were actually the same series, and that the show was "Split" into two other series, mainly "Jeff's Collie" and "Timmy and Lassie" (Which most people consider the best period). Being the child I was, I had no idea four seasons (No.s 4, 9, 10 and 11) were LEFT OUT of the Syndication Passage, with seasons 4 & 11 having Lassie change Owners). I now have most of this series on DVD, thanks to someone in the Trading Post.

ajgenard · 09-23-2011, 11:01 AM

Personally I think a lot of people jump the gun when jumping the shark. The term has become overused and thrown about too generally. While some long-runners do indeed reach a point of sillyness like Happy Days did, a lot of them never do. In my eyes there's a big difference between "meh, this ain't what it used to be" and "LOL what the hell just happened to this show?!"

Regulus · 09-23-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgenard

Personally I think a lot of people jump the gun when jumping the shark. The term has become overused and thrown about too generally. While some long-runners do indeed reach a point of sillyness like Happy Days did, a lot of them never do. In my eyes there's a big difference between "meh, this ain't what it used to be" and "LOL what the hell just happened to this show?!"

You have a point there. I say The FBI and Hawaii Five-O fall into the former, while Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an example of the latter.

IMO Lassie "Never Jumped".

ajgenard · 09-23-2011, 01:30 PM

I haven't seen Lassie since I was very young (like 5 or 6) so I can't remember much at all. I didn't even know there were different owners and whatnot.

I don't think all shows outright jump the shark but there are many that end up in the water with the skis on and boat motor idling. They then become cancelled before events turn TOO ridiculous. A prime example of this situation would have to be Coach. Nobody in their right mind would argue the Orlando years were as good as Minnesota State but saying the show totally lost its appeal is going overboard.

Torgo · 09-27-2011, 07:39 PM

Laverne & Shirley...moving to California, eventually trying to have just Laverne.

With The Waltons, even though the last couple of seasons were extremely weak I still enjoy them.

James · 09-28-2011, 02:20 AM

Cheers. First, it should have ended prior to 1993; its series finale left The Wonder Years (which ended the same year but was WAY BETTER) in the dust. NBC should have ended it in 1984 and instead continued Happy Days for a 12th season!

ajgenard · 09-29-2011, 04:55 AM

Good lord I can't imagine what another season of Happy Days would have been like. Ending Cheers after the 2nd season would have been a HUGE mistake considering 8 of its 9 remaining seasons finished no lower than #8 in the ratings while Happy Days finished the 1983-84 season at #55.

factsoflife · 09-29-2011, 09:52 PM

Friends--- probably should have been canceled after Chandler and Monica got married; the last several years destroyed the show with dumb stories and lackluster writing.

Melrose Place- It should have ended when Kimberly set the bombs off. That's when it went downhill, the cast started leaving and new characters weren't very interesting.

Beverly Hills, 90210---The show started growing stale with the boring "College Years" but the final nail in the coffin is when everybody started leaving--- Jason Priestly's exit should have been it's last episode, w/out Brandon it needed not to go on.

Will & Grace--- It all went downhill after Season 4. It became a caricature of itself when Jack & Karen overtook the show.

That 70's Show--- It clearly last longer than need be.

James28 · 09-30-2011, 02:21 AM

This thread just shows that long-running television shows can sometimes be trouble.

EmoJoe · 10-01-2011, 02:47 AM

The Simpsons is the textbook definition of this. Absolutely brilliant show in its first eight seasons, then it started sliding around Season 9 and has been solidly mediocre for the past 12 years or so.

James · 10-05-2011, 01:10 AM

Friends. It should never have been allowed to succeed. In fact, it should have gone fewer episodes than the total number David Schwimmer guest-starred as Karen's boyfriend/husband Michael on The Wonder Years! Then he would be remembered first and foremost for that role!

ajgenard · 10-05-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmoJoe

The Simpsons is the textbook definition of this. Absolutely brilliant show in its first eight seasons, then it started sliding around Season 9 and has been solidly mediocre for the past 12 years or so.

Couldn't agree more. Yet many people will defend this show until the end of time. Seems to me The Simpsons is done out of pure vanity now.

treky · 10-07-2011, 12:46 AM

"FRIENDS" should have ended when Monica and Chandler got married.

09-21-2011, 08:37 PM	#1
rezny717 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 06, 2011 Location: Lincoln,Nebraska Posts: 659	Which series that ran a LONG time Got stale after a while,and were overripe for cancellation,lasting WAAY too long?

09-23-2011, 09:42 AM	#3
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Most, if not all long-running TV Series reached that point where they seemed no longer worth watching, a point referred to as "Jumping the Shark", which is attributed to an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumped over a Shark on waterskis. Here's a show I actually began watching After many people consider a "Post Jump", Lassie. I was six years old when I was introduced to the dawg, the show was well into its "Ranger" Years, and I enjoyed the show all the way to its end in 1973. I considered its earlier, black-and-white incarnations seperate shows, because I was unaware thay were actually the same series, and that the show was "Split" into two other series, mainly "Jeff's Collie" and "Timmy and Lassie" (Which most people consider the best period). Being the child I was, I had no idea four seasons (No.s 4, 9, 10 and 11) were LEFT OUT of the Syndication Passage, with seasons 4 & 11 having Lassie change Owners). I now have most of this series on DVD, thanks to someone in the Trading Post.
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

09-27-2011, 07:39 PM	#7
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,024	Laverne & Shirley...moving to California, eventually trying to have just Laverne. With The Waltons, even though the last couple of seasons were extremely weak I still enjoy them.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

09-29-2011, 09:52 PM	#10
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	Friends--- probably should have been canceled after Chandler and Monica got married; the last several years destroyed the show with dumb stories and lackluster writing. Melrose Place- It should have ended when Kimberly set the bombs off. That's when it went downhill, the cast started leaving and new characters weren't very interesting. Beverly Hills, 90210---The show started growing stale with the boring "College Years" but the final nail in the coffin is when everybody started leaving--- Jason Priestly's exit should have been it's last episode, w/out Brandon it needed not to go on. Will & Grace--- It all went downhill after Season 4. It became a caricature of itself when Jack & Karen overtook the show. That 70's Show--- It clearly last longer than need be.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

09-30-2011, 02:21 AM	#11
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,976	This thread just shows that long-running television shows can sometimes be trouble.
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09-23-2011, 05:59 AM	#2
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	As much as I love Frasier, there was quite a stretch where it seemed to be in the doldrums ripe for cancellation. However I maintain all episodes are watchable. None of them went too far over-the-top (aside from the 3 Niles heart-surgery eps). But for too long the show just couldn't hold up to its former self and viewership reflected it. It's a crying shame that the original writers were finally brought back for the fantastic final season but no one seemed to care anymore.

09-23-2011, 11:01 AM	#4
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	Personally I think a lot of people jump the gun when jumping the shark. The term has become overused and thrown about too generally. While some long-runners do indeed reach a point of sillyness like Happy Days did, a lot of them never do. In my eyes there's a big difference between "meh, this ain't what it used to be" and "LOL what the hell just happened to this show?!"

09-23-2011, 01:30 PM	#6
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	I haven't seen Lassie since I was very young (like 5 or 6) so I can't remember much at all. I didn't even know there were different owners and whatnot. I don't think all shows outright jump the shark but there are many that end up in the water with the skis on and boat motor idling. They then become cancelled before events turn TOO ridiculous. A prime example of this situation would have to be Coach. Nobody in their right mind would argue the Orlando years were as good as Minnesota State but saying the show totally lost its appeal is going overboard.

09-28-2011, 02:20 AM	#8
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Cheers. First, it should have ended prior to 1993; its series finale left The Wonder Years (which ended the same year but was WAY BETTER) in the dust. NBC should have ended it in 1984 and instead continued Happy Days for a 12th season!

09-29-2011, 04:55 AM	#9
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	Good lord I can't imagine what another season of Happy Days would have been like. Ending Cheers after the 2nd season would have been a HUGE mistake considering 8 of its 9 remaining seasons finished no lower than #8 in the ratings while Happy Days finished the 1983-84 season at #55.

10-01-2011, 02:47 AM	#12
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	The Simpsons is the textbook definition of this. Absolutely brilliant show in its first eight seasons, then it started sliding around Season 9 and has been solidly mediocre for the past 12 years or so.
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10-05-2011, 01:10 AM	#13
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Friends. It should never have been allowed to succeed. In fact, it should have gone fewer episodes than the total number David Schwimmer guest-starred as Karen's boyfriend/husband Michael on The Wonder Years! Then he would be remembered first and foremost for that role!

10-07-2011, 12:46 AM	#15
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	"FRIENDS" should have ended when Monica and Chandler got married.
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