More Thoughts on Cancellation and Jumping the Shark

[JL82]

Was there some doubt as to whether The Nanny would continue after season 3? Because that is how the whole business of Max saying "I love you" and taking it back feels to me...the end of a "A Pup in Paris" seemed like Fran and Max were going to get together (and it was also possible they were going to perish in a crash.)

But, the show is going to continue so they have to keep the suspense going. Max doesn't actually say, "I didn't mean it. I don't love you." He says, "I said it too soon." It's almost like he's conscious that he's in a show and has to keep the suspense going. And some of the other exchanges he and Fran have, where she is trying to get him to say it, feel like that too - holding out for the sake of holding out.

And while I know everyone says officially hooking up the two leads kills a show - in a way, I think introducing the "will they, won't they" plot in the first place might have caused the show to, if not jump the shark, go in a different direction.

The Nanny was originally something of a modern-day Sound of Music: fun, not-so-conventional "blithe spirit" enters a stuffy and/or conventional household and helps it to be, well, less stuffy and conventional. And helps everyone, especially the kids, to enjoy life more. But once they started the whole saga of Fran wanting a committed relationship and/or marriage, and Max being phobic about it, 1) Fran was often upset, even desperate, so her personality didn't seem fun anymore - frankly, sometimes, it wasn't that pleasant, and 2) the kids and Fran's relationship with them got pushed into the background. She was at times too preoccupied with their dad to be really attentive to them. And I've read other people commenting that seasons 5 and 6 feel different from the rest of the series - but this shift in direction I am talking about comes starting with season 4, with Max's retraction, of course.

And, Fran being different from everyone in Max's usual circle is a big part of the show's premise - but she was not a character who was comfortable with her differentness in an inspiring way - she often came across as very insecure, even after Max committed to her. She really cared about being accepted by his circle. She was supposed to be "genuine" where others were phony, but she actually does dishonest things in the last three seasons - usually involving money.

They could have done it more like Mary Poppins - have the nanny loosen up and cheer up the household while navigating being a circle where she's so different (and perhaps that could have included helping Niles and CC admit to having feelings for each other) without being the dad's love interest.

In some ways, season 5 was the worst part, because they were sort-of-together-but-not. On the one hand, Max was kind of acknowledging it as a relationship (something he hadn't done before), but on the other hand, there was all that stuff about him being distant, not expressing feelings, and working too much. So it was like, this is how he does relationships even when he's having one. Making him less appealing. When it was "he is attracted to Fran but isn't sure he can ever be in a relationship with another woman after losing his wife, therefore he gives Fran mixed signals and resists getting really involved", it was more romantic. Plus, early on, they indicated that while Max wasn't sure about having a serious relationship, he wasn't a guy who believed in just fooling around without strings. He avoids sleeping with Fran because of not being able/ready to commit. Then in season 5, there are hints about him having more physical flings with other women, during that time, as well as times he seems to want to sleep with Fran but he's still not saying anything about love or marriage.

[tlc38tlc38]

I think the show lasted just the perfect amount of time. Max and Fran NEEDED to end up together. Once the kids grew up, they didn't need a nanny so it just made sense for Fran and Max to end up together to keep the show going.

If the show went on, it would've JTS.

[JL82]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I think the show lasted just the perfect amount of time. Max and Fran NEEDED to end up together. Once the kids grew up, they didn't need a nanny so it just made sense for Fran and Max to end up together to keep the show going.

If the show went on, it would've JTS.

I suppose the factor of the kids' ages could also play a role in Fran getting more desperate in season 5 - once they kids are too old for a nanny, what role is there for her in the household if she's not Max's wife / partner.

Although, I thought, as the focus was placed more and more Max's relationship, or her desire for one, it seemed like the kids were pushed into the background and she became less interested in them.