New Baby On The Way - Is "Malcolm" Jumping The Shark? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJL · 02-08-2003, 06:12 PM

The general concensus among the various folks here at S.O. is that the addition of a baby to a popular sitcom means the beginning of the end for a show. Mad About You, Growing Pains, and others...

So, now that Lois has announced to her brood that a new baby is on the way, has "Malcolm In The Middle" jumped the shark, or will it shake the "new baby" curse that has claimed so many a sitcom?

Answers please...
Bonus points for anyone who answers in rhyme.

Brian Damage · 02-11-2003, 02:23 PM

I think it'll all depend on how the show handles the new addition. A lot of those other shows that you mentioned tanked because they put all of the focus on the baby and lost sight of what the show was really all about.

nimrod_86 · 03-02-2003, 05:06 PM

It hasn't jumped yet, but then again there have only been 2 episodes with any mention of it, and the baby hasn't been born yet.

Owen · 03-19-2003, 06:29 PM

Hasn't jumped yet.

JethroSimpson · 03-28-2003, 05:54 PM

I think Malcolm has jumped already and I haven't even seen season 4 yet! I thought the 3rd season had a lot of terrible episodes.

Owen · 03-28-2003, 07:42 PM

Malcolm had not jumped the shark,
It's still a bloody good lark

JethroSimpson · 03-29-2003, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Owen
Malcolm had not jumped the shark,
It's still a bloody good lark

It is sometimes, but I think they've completely lost the original idea that they had in seasons 1 and 2.

Malcolm has just become Reese, and in general the kids have become really badly behaved- Reese used to be just a troublemaker but now he's just a thug.

Lois and Hal's characters are both also too exagerated now.

Striel · 03-29-2003, 03:17 PM

I think this is the type of show that can handle a new addition without jumping the shark.

TJL · 03-29-2003, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JethroSimpson
Malcolm has just become Reese, and in general the kids have become really badly behaved- Reese used to be just a troublemaker but now he's just a thug.

I agree with that. Malcolm used to be the level headed kid between monster Reese and odd little Dewey, but this season Malcolm has just become an unruly Reese clone. All the fighting and screaming is really getting out of control.

nimrod_86 · 04-07-2003, 09:39 PM

Yeah, and also, has anyone noticed how they sorta just forgot about the Krelboyne(sp?) kids?

02-08-2003, 06:12 PM	#1
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	New Baby On The Way - Is "Malcolm" Jumping The Shark? The general concensus among the various folks here at S.O. is that the addition of a baby to a popular sitcom means the beginning of the end for a show. Mad About You, Growing Pains, and others... So, now that Lois has announced to her brood that a new baby is on the way, has "Malcolm In The Middle" jumped the shark, or will it shake the "new baby" curse that has claimed so many a sitcom? Answers please... Bonus points for anyone who answers in rhyme.
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02-11-2003, 02:23 PM	#2
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	I think it'll all depend on how the show handles the new addition. A lot of those other shows that you mentioned tanked because they put all of the focus on the baby and lost sight of what the show was really all about.
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03-02-2003, 05:06 PM	#3
nimrod_86 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 11, 2002 Posts: 196	It hasn't jumped yet, but then again there have only been 2 episodes with any mention of it, and the baby hasn't been born yet.
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03-19-2003, 06:29 PM	#4
Owen The Sheriff Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 23, 2003 Posts: 189	Hasn't jumped yet.
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03-28-2003, 05:54 PM	#5
JethroSimpson Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 01, 2001 Location: England,UK Posts: 1,080	I think Malcolm has jumped already and I haven't even seen season 4 yet! I thought the 3rd season had a lot of terrible episodes.
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03-28-2003, 07:42 PM	#6
Owen The Sheriff Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 23, 2003 Posts: 189	Malcolm had not jumped the shark, It's still a bloody good lark

03-29-2003, 03:17 PM	#8
Striel Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 28, 2003 Location: earth. Posts: 81	I think this is the type of show that can handle a new addition without jumping the shark.
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04-07-2003, 09:39 PM	#10
nimrod_86 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 11, 2002 Posts: 196	Yeah, and also, has anyone noticed how they sorta just forgot about the Krelboyne(sp?) kids?