What long running tv shows did NOT jump the shark?

[BMalion]

Sincs The Prisoner was only 17 episodes, I don't think it qualifies as "long-running".

[ftg]

Cheers? That went into the toilet big time when Shelley Long left. Not a fan of her or the character (or the "Sam and Diane" thing), but something happened to the show after that. The writing went downhill. People were just going thru the motions. The plots got really idiotic.

Plus Kirstie Alley is one of the world's worst actresses.

For example, Tom Skerritt is a fairly good actor. It was painful to watch him walk thru his episodes.

[Oogly Woogly]

Do shows ever even get the chance to Grow the Beard? It seems like they usually end up getting cancelled before the first signs of stubble.

[BrotherCadfael]

Originally Posted by Bob Ducca

Just Shoot Me ran for seven seasons and I thought it stayed pretty consistent throughout.

Yeah, but it was Just Shoot Me. It consistently sucked from Episode 1 right through to the end.

[woodstockbirdybird]

Originally Posted by Quimby

It may strain the definition of "long running" but The Wire lasted four seasons without jumping.

Since it ran for 5 seasons, does that mean you think it jumped it after the fourth?

Though season 5 of The Wire was easily the weakest, I don't think it ever jumped. I'll also second Deadwood and The Shield.

Though they're still running, I'd be surprised if Breaking Bad, Mad Men or Curb Your Enthusiasm ended up jumping the shark.

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Originally Posted by BrotherCadfael

Yeah, but it was Just Shoot Me. It consistently sucked from Episode 1 right through to the end.

What, you missed the episode with Slow Donnie?

[BMalion]

Monty Python's Flying Circus.

[John DiFool]

Originally Posted by Oogly Woogly

Do shows ever even get the chance to Grow the Beard? It seems like they usually end up getting cancelled before the first signs of stubble.

Agreed...Brimstone is an excellent example-we'll never know what the revelation in the final episode would have wrought down the road, because Fox then canceled it.

SPOILER:

Ash, the putative lady cop, was actually an escapee of Hell, the ringleader of the escape in fact. Up to that point she had been making buddy-buddy with Zach.

[audit1]

Gunsmoke

[Tibby or Not Tibby]

Originally Posted by ministryman

Damn! Game, Set, Match! Well played, sir....

I’d have preferred a restrained golf clap…but I tip my hat to your effort, my good fellow.

[dalej42]

Although I haven't seen the show in years, I don't think the Alice sitcom really jumped the shark.

Of course, Flo (Polly Holiday) left for the disaster that was Flo. But, the show continued to revolve around Alice, Vera, and Mel as well as the new waitress Jolene.

The best episodes were during the seasons Polly Holiday appeared, but I remember the later episodes as being watchable for a good laugh.

[Quimby]

Originally Posted by woodstockbirdybird

Since it ran for 5 seasons, does that mean you think it jumped it after the fourth?

Though season 5 of The Wire was easily the weakest, I don't think it ever jumped. I'll also second Deadwood and The Shield.

Though they're still running, I'd be surprised if Breaking Bad, Mad Men or Curb Your Enthusiasm ended up jumping the shark.

Nope just made a mistake I shall blame faulty memory. Thanks for the correction.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by CalMeacham

Did Lassie ever Jump the Shark? I never watched it, but it ran forever. Same with Bonanza.

Bonanza survived the departure of Adam (Pernell Roberts) and the introduction of Candy (David Canary). But it jumped the shark when Candy left and Ben Cartwright adopted teenager Jamie Hunter (played by Mitch Vogel) in 1971.

[Tarwater]

Originally Posted by Quimby

It may strain the definition of "long running" but The Wire lasted four seasons without jumping.

Yeah, but then it jumped the shark in its fifth season.

[The Second Stone]

Arrested Development
The Rockford Files
I, Claudius

[njtt]

Originally Posted by BMalion

Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Maybe "jumped the shark" is too strong, but it wasn't quite the same after Cleese left.

Also, in the movies, Meaning of Life shows quite a decline compared to Holy Grail and Life of Brian.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

Arrested Development
The Rockford Files
I, Claudius

I'll second The Rockford Files. It was consistently good until the end.

[Nature's Call]

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

Arrested Development
The Rockford Files
I, Claudius

Originally Posted by Fear Itself

I'll second The Rockford Files. It was consistently good until the end.

And instantly the theme song is lodged in my head! Thanks! (not sarcastic - great tune!)

[chizzuk]

Perry Mason? Of course, given that much of it was based directly off mystery novels and it didn't really have overarching plot development, I guess it doesn't count.

Although Raymond Burr did turn into a whale by the end.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

I think Barney Miller went eight seasons without jumping.

In fact, I even think it grew a beard (or in this case a moustache) in the second season by eliminating the scenes of Barney's home life.

I agree with every word.

And allow me to boldly add Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.


mmm

[BMalion]

The Andy Griffith Show.

[bup]

Originally Posted by dalej42

Although I haven't seen the show in years, I don't think the Alice sitcom really jumped the shark.

It was never that great, but:

In the first season, Alice was still struggling with the death of her trucker husband, and the plots were very real world and human.

In a later season, Mel hired a robot waitress.

It jumped the shark.

Originally Posted by BMalion

The Andy Griffith Show.

Blessed are you, for you have never seen a color episode of TAGS, nor apparently do you know they exist.

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by bup

It was never that great, but:

In the first season, Alice was still struggling with the death of her trucker husband, and the plots were very real world and human.

In a later season, Mel hired a robot waitress.

It jumped the shark.

Blessed are you, for you have never seen a color episode of TAGS, nor apparently do you know they exist.

If you're referring to Mayberry R.F.D. that is a different show.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by BMalion

If you're referring to Mayberry R.F.D. that is a different show.

Any of the shows with Jack Burns are dead to me.

[Push You Down]

Originally Posted by Quimby

It may strain the definition of "long running" but The Wire lasted four seasons without jumping.

I think most shows that make it that far start to show their age around season 5 or so. That is usually when the people behind it start moving on to other things and the people that take their place start making short cuts.

The Wire went for more than 4 seasons.

[bup]

Originally Posted by BMalion

If you're referring to Mayberry R.F.D. that is a different show.

Nope, talking about the ones after Barney left. And apparently so did most of the gag writers. Entire episodes without a laugh. Ever seen the one where Aunt Bea and the church choir threaten to disband if they don't get new robes? But Howard Sprague says the church needs a new foundation?

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by bup

Nope, talking about the ones after Barney left. And apparently so did most of the gag writers. Entire episodes without a laugh. Ever seen the one where Aunt Bea and the church choir threaten to disband if they don't get new robes? But Howard Sprague says the church needs a new foundation?

I luckily must have missed those.

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by MPB in Salt Lake

The King Of Queens (a show I never watched a single second of until it started running in syndication, a few years after it wrapped up on CBS) stayed about the same in quality (mostly mediocre with some really funny episodes occasionally sprinkled in) from what I can tell, although I probably haven't seen each & every single episode.

It jumped the shark when Doug and Carrie decided to adopt a baby.

[Barkis is Willin']

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

Arrested Development

True, it never jumped the shark, but 3 seasons is not what I'd consider long running.

[Enright3]

Originally Posted by The Other Waldo Pepper

What, you missed the episode with Slow Donnie?

+1 That episode was HILARIOUS
"Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie!"

[hogarth]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

I think Barney Miller went eight seasons without jumping.

In fact, I even think it grew a beard (or in this case a moustache) in the second season by eliminating the scenes of Barney's home life.

How much you like the later seasons depends on your tolerance for Levitt, I think.

[notfrommensa]

Originally Posted by CalMeacham

Did Lassie ever Jump the Shark? I never watched it, but it ran forever. Same with Bonanza.

Timmy tried and failed to Jump the Shark that was in a well, but Lassie saved him.

[WotNot]

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

I, Claudius

I'm not sure that a 13-episode adaptation of a novel and its sequel is quite what the OP meant by "long running tv show".

[Electric Warrior]

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

Arrested Development
The Rockford Files
I, Claudius

And I'll second Arrested Development, at least if you can consider 3 seasons to be "long running". IMO, it definitely 'grew the beard' when it evolved from a fairly standard, if well-acted, awkward-comedy sitcom to a work of absurdist brilliance. Which I think happened somewhere in season 2.

[terentii]

Both "Twin Peaks" and "Crime Story" were excellent in their first season and pathetic in their (mercifully abbreviated) second seasons. The problem was that the basic conflicts were resolved in the final episodes of their first season, and with them went the whole premise of each show. I mean, where can you go from up except down?

Most of the shows that never jumped the shark (MTM, DVD, "Cheers!") had the good grace to exit voluntarily while things were still going well, and the story possibilities had yet to be exhausted.

[foolsguinea]

Originally Posted by digs

There should be a term for a great show with a last WTF? episode.

On TVTropes, it's TrippyFinaleSyndrome, shading into GainaxEnding if it's incomprehensible.

The Prisoner got nuts during development. I think McGoohan wanted weird, weirder than some of the writers expected. But does that count as Jumping the Shark? I'm gonna say no.

[Ponch8]

I'm going to go against the prevailing opinion on SDMB and say The Simpsons. There are still quite a few scenes and entire episodes that are hilarious.

[johnpost]

Boston Legal was good to the end.

[Harvey The Heavy]

Adam-12.

[Gyrate]

Originally Posted by terentii

Both "Twin Peaks" and "Crime Story" were excellent in their first season and pathetic in their (mercifully abbreviated) second seasons. The problem was that the basic conflicts were resolved in the final episodes of their first season, and with them went the whole premise of each show. I mean, where can you go from up except down?

Actually the problem with "Twin Peaks" is that it didn't resolve the basic conflicts in the final episode of the first season. Everything leading up to it promised a spectacular resolution to the "Who Killed Laura Palmer?" question, and instead we got no answers and a new "Who Shot Agent Cooper?" question. It was like a big "fuck you" to the fans, and they duly abandoned it the next season.

And this is why I never bothered watching "Lost" after the first few episodes, when it became obvious that the entire series was going to be like that.

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

I don't think COLUMBO jumped.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Harvey The Heavy

Adam-12.

I'll call your Adam-12 and raise you Dragnet. In both cases, it's hard to jump a shark when every episode is practically identical to every other episode.

[Gedd]

Any takers on Monk? It had some ups and downs but seemed pretty good over all to me.

[raspberry hunter]

I thought Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did pretty well -- it had the occasional bad episode/arc (*cough*Ezri) at any given point during the run, but the last couple of seasons as a whole were awesome.

[Tom Scud]

Originally Posted by Yllaria

I could agree to that. And The Prisoner is the best and most venerable example of the trope. Although I could also get behind another phrase that was more Prisoner related. I just can't think of one off hand.

Popped the security bubble? Became an irrational number? Launched the rocket of WTF?

Pulled off the gorilla mask?

[Voyager]

Originally Posted by BMalion

Sincs The Prisoner was only 17 episodes, I don't think it qualifies as "long-running".

I agree. And while the final episode was strange, it was far better than a more mundane explanation.
Now, the remake jumped at minute 1, when Number 6 saw a guy with a real Number 6 jacket. It sank from there.

I saw all of Danger Man/Secret Agent, including the early 30 minute episodes, and it only jumped at the final 2 or 3 color (sorry, colour) episodes. And I'll say that is almost a non-jump since McGoohan then jumped ship. If you consider the Prisoner a continuation of Secret Agent, then it would be a massive and quick un-jump.

[billfish678]

Originally Posted by The Other Waldo Pepper

I don't think COLUMBO jumped.

I don't think he bathed either

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

The Twilight Zone

[priapus]

Originally Posted by chizzuk

Perry Mason? Of course, given that much of it was based directly off mystery novels and it didn't really have overarching plot development, I guess it doesn't count.

Although Raymond Burr did turn into a whale by the end.

I loved Perry mason as a child.When I read the stories as an adult I found all the tv series and the books had in common were the titles. There was very little connection. On the side, I found a 1930's version of Perry Mason that presented a young Errol Flynn (non-speaking role) as the victim. Sorry about the hijack.

[priapus]

Originally Posted by Rubixcube

Grew the beard is a real term. It refers to ST:TNG where Riker grew a beard right around the same time the show improved massively.

ST:TNG must have ended too well since the-powers-that-be sent Ryker over to ST:Enterprise to jump their shark.