# Opposite of jump the shark **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676 "2006-12-18T19:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/1 "2006-12-18T19:29:52Z")
What TV event would be the code word for “moment a show got better?” I’d pick the cliffhanger to the Star Trek Next Gen episode “Best of Both Worlds” and say “kidnapped by the Borg.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/2 "2006-12-18T20:30:48Z")
[QUOTE=sciurophobic] What TV event would be the code word for “moment a show got better?” I’d pick the cliffhanger to the Star Trek Next Gen episode “Best of Both Worlds” and say “kidnapped by the Borg.” [/QUOTE] “Fired the Chrissy”? Naw, that doesn’t quite work. “Lobotomized the Howard.” “Wimpified the George.” “Hicked the Darryls.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/3 "2006-12-18T20:35:29Z")
Pencil-nosed the Homer? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/4 "2006-12-18T20:44:43Z")
I suspect it’s such a rare phenomenon that it doesn’t have a name. I have seen “hit full stride,” but usually a good show is good fairly early on (it can improve as things settle in, but it’s hard to point at one particular show where that happens). ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/5 "2006-12-18T20:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=sciurophobic] What TV event would be the code word for “moment a show got better?” I’d pick the cliffhanger to the Star Trek Next Gen episode “Best of Both Worlds” and say “kidnapped by the Borg.” [/QUOTE] I’ve seen it mentioned that the opposite of “Jumping The Shark” is “Growing the Beard.” This is in reference to the fact that ST:TNG got markedly better when Jonathan Frakes began growing his beard. > **[Urban Dictionary: grow the beard](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=grow+the+beard)** > > grow the beard: "Grow the beard" is an antonym of "jump the shark." In other words, it's when a show that starts off in Suck Town hits its stride. The term... Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/6 "2006-12-18T21:01:27Z")
I concur with **zev** , though I’ve not heard the term much. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/7 "2006-12-18T21:01:55Z")
“Mastering your domain”? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/8 "2006-12-18T21:11:32Z")
I think it is called “Hitting its Stride” similar to RealityChuck’s phrase. Night Court improved when Christine (Markie Post) was added to the show. A not very good show, Facts of Life, improved dramatically when the narrowed the focus to just the 4 roommates in the second season. Taxi improved when the added Rev Jim fulltime and made Louis a little human. I hate shows that hit the 3rd or 4th season and turn all the characters into Caricatures. Seinfeld & Murphy Brown suffered greatly from this IMHO. [Bosom Buddies](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080202/) actually got funny the second season when they downplayed the one laugh premise and took advantage of the comedic talents of Hanks, Scolari and Wendie Jo Sperber. Barney Miller started and finished strong, one of the few that never jumped the shark that had a long run. WKRP, Futurama & Police Squad (only 6 episodes) were killed before they had a chance to jump. M_A_S\*H arguable improved when BJ & Potter replaced the more one dimensional Trapper John and Colonel Blake. I actually though Charles gave the show a good boost as the plots were getting weaker. Jim ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/9 "2006-12-18T21:23:49Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] M_A_S\*H arguable improved when BJ & Potter replaced the more one dimensional Trapper John and Colonel Blake. [/QUOTE] No argument from me. NASA has actually measured the betterness of that show at the start of that season. Maybe we show say that the show “Got a BJ.” ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/10 "2006-12-18T21:26:31Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Pencil-nosed the Homer? [/QUOTE] I’d suggest “De-Matthaued the Homer”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/11 "2006-12-18T21:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] No argument from me. NASA has actually measured the betterness of that show at the start of that season. Maybe we show say that the show “Got a BJ.” [/QUOTE] Perfect, works on more than one level. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/12 "2006-12-18T22:53:48Z")
[QUOTE=zev\_steinhardt] I’ve seen it mentioned that the opposite of “Jumping The Shark” is “Growing the Beard.” This is in reference to the fact that ST:TNG got markedly better when Jonathan Frakes began growing his beard. [/QUOTE] Wow, that’s perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/13 "2006-12-19T01:03:24Z")
I’d say Law & Order got a BJ when Jerry Orbach joined the cast. ---
**Author:** ![Ammonius\_Saccus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Ammonius\_Saccus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ammonius_Saccus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/14 "2006-12-19T01:38:51Z")
How about the Urkel Effect? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/15 "2006-12-19T01:39:47Z")
**A Different World** improved dramatically when Denise Huxtable left. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/16 "2006-12-19T03:27:46Z")
Well, if it had previously jumped the shark but then got better, that’s unjumping the shark. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/17 "2006-12-19T03:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Barney Miller started and finished strong, one of the few that never jumped the shark that had a long run. [/QUOTE] One of my favorite shows, but I haven’t seen it in years. I wonder if I should avoid it just to keep my fond memories alive. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/18 "2006-12-19T03:48:15Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] One of my favorite shows, but I haven’t seen it in years. I wonder if I should avoid it just to keep my fond memories alive. [/QUOTE] No problem, last summer, Comcast had it On Demand, it was still just as funny. I was amazed really. It was also more pertinent than I realized, they had incorporated the NYC bankruptcy right into the show. They also included the blackout and various elections. It was a great show and it is a shame it gets no airtime. Currently Comcast has Soap on tubetime OnDemand. Not anywhere near as good as Barney Miller but still fun to watch. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/19 "2006-12-19T03:53:19Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] One of my favorite shows, but I haven’t seen it in years. I wonder if I should avoid it just to keep my fond memories alive. [/QUOTE] Check out [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=382635&highlight=barney+miller). ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676/20 "2006-12-19T14:03:30Z")
Just popping in to say, “In Soviet Russia, shark jumps YOU.” I’d vote for “Growing a beard.” Billp [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opposite-of-jump-the-shark/384676.md?page=2)