# Shows that need to stop beating the old horse and put her out to pasture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 28, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660 "2011-07-28T19:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/21 "2011-07-28T22:36:39Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > **Weeds** has become a caricature of itself, and excepting Andy, none of the characters are likeable or intriguing. I am actually rooting for Nancy to get caught and go back to prison at this point. Same here. Anything remotely sympathetic about her ended when she left prison and got back into selling and dragging her kids into it again. It’s also not “sympathy dies” in the _Breaking Bad_ way where the character’s descent into evil is a main feature of the show but more in a “lazy writers who don’t know what to do with her” sort of way. (Though I did not like last season.) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/22 "2011-07-28T22:44:02Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I think almost any show after a few seasons if they don’t substantially change up the premise, or the actors. I think X-Files went on too long and I love X-Files. Now Doctor Who is on its sixth season but they’ve had three main actors so it feels more like there was three shows, with one at one season, one at four, and one at two so far. > > But I am a big proponent of having shows end after a certain point. Doctor Who has been going since 1963. They are on the eleventh person to play The Doctor. What happen din 2005 was not a reboot, it was a relaunch. It continued with the, err, continuity. ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/23 "2011-07-28T22:45:25Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > **30 Rock** - I used to love it but now every episode is pretty much the same: everybody’s wacky wacky wacky and it’s all driven by their already well set and defined personalities. Tracy says something that is obviously nuts, Jack says something that is obviously ultra conservative, Liz says something that is clueless, Kenneth says something about his southern gothic upbringing, Jenna says something amazingly shallow and neurotic, and every character is completely utterly self absorbed. There’s just really no place to go with it, and if they decide to get Liz and or Jenna pregnant that would make it worse, not better. (Few shows were ever improved by a character’s pregnancy.) Yeah. 30 Rock holds a place in my heart - there are two or three episodes from the first few seasons that may be among my favourite TV episodes ever - but it’s just going in circles now. I’m annoyed by both the things that do change - Jack settles down, gets married, baby, blah blah blah - and the things that down - oh that wacky Liz Lemon, can’t keep a man! The endless parade of guest stars is annoying as well in that there’s no point in caring about them too much, since obviously Matt Damon et. al. are only going to be in a few episodes. Not that I’m expecting, you know, huge amounts of suspense in my 30 Rock watching, but a new man showing up to be a love interest for Liz just means watching him seem nice, then wacky, then disturbingly creepy, then be gone. I am, however, in love with Jenna’s Jenna Maroney impersonating boyfriend. And I’m taking the fact they chose not to use Jane Krakowski’s or Tina Fey’s real pregnancies to shoe horn in pregnancy plots for their characters (other than Jenna’s hysterical pregnancy from this season) as a good sign. Still, I just think the show has run its course. The next season will be Baldwin’s last. Hopefully NBC doesn’t turn this into an _Office_ type thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/24 "2011-07-28T23:32:16Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > You realize that next season will be the last. Yes. Adding a seventh (or whatever) series finale is unlikely to make the situation better. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/25 "2011-07-28T23:34:40Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Isn’t **The Simpsons** the poster child for this thread? I’ll see your **Simpsons** and raise you a **South Park**. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/26 "2011-07-28T23:35:31Z")
**The Office** : Jim plays a prank on Dwight, Stanley does a crossword, Angela’s a bitch. Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/27 "2011-07-28T23:43:39Z")
> [@audit1](#): > > **MYTHBUSTERS** is close to running out of myths and things to blow up. They ran out of myths quite some time ago. The last couple of years they’ve become the “YouTube-Busters.” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/28 "2011-07-28T23:47:09Z")
Desperate Housewives should have been shot to death around year 3. Absolutely horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/29 "2011-07-29T00:41:15Z")
2.5 Men. They had a perfect excuse to just end it and instead they’re carrying on with Kutcher. I don’t see how it could possibly be interesting to watch once his newness wears off. Or hell, maybe that happening SAVED it, who knows. Either way, it’s a zombie. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/30 "2011-07-29T00:45:22Z")
Meet that mother already, sheesh. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/31 "2011-07-29T00:47:43Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > 2.5 Men. They had a perfect excuse to just end it and instead they’re carrying on with Kutcher. I don’t see how it could possibly be interesting to watch once his newness wears off. > Or hell, maybe that happening SAVED it, who knows. > Either way, it’s a zombie. Are you kidding? Watching Kutcher lay waste to that show will be must-see TV for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/32 "2011-07-29T01:20:12Z")
**Dirty Jobs** , for sure. Rowe ends every show now literally begging the audience for new material. Probably **Bizarre Foods** as well. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/33 "2011-07-29T01:33:03Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Are you kidding? Watching Kutcher lay waste to that show will be must-see TV for me. Lol, yeah, it can’t really get much worse. For some reason, these shows never know when to quit. American shows really could take a lesson from the British way of doing things, quitting before they jump the shark rather than jumping the shark and then adding five more seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/34 "2011-07-29T01:40:14Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Lol, yeah, it can’t really get much worse. > > For some reason, these shows never know when to quit. American shows really could take a lesson from the British way of doing things, quitting before they jump the shark rather than jumping the shark and then adding five more seasons. [In some cases jumping the shark and adding five more episodes.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/35 "2011-07-29T02:10:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > **30 Rock** They have the magic 100 for syndication. The rest is gravy. Or padding. Which is what gravy is when I make it. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/36 "2011-07-29T02:14:18Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > [In some cases jumping the shark and adding five more episodes.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29) When did Firefly jump the shark, and how can a show that lasted barely a season have even developed enough to jump the shark? 😕 😕 Unless this is a whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/37 "2011-07-29T02:18:33Z")
And Ariel is the pinnacle, of all episodes? Really? The only episode after it that is possibly weaker is Heart of Gold. Every other episode after it blows it out of the water. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/38 "2011-07-29T02:22:23Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > When did Firefly jump the shark, and how can a show that lasted barely a season have even developed enough to jump the shark? 😕 😕 > > Unless this is a whoosh. _Firefly_ jumped immediately. [Check the ratings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29#Ratings). > [@](#): > > At the time the series was cancelled by Fox, it averaged 4.48 million viewers and ranked 125th. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/39 "2011-07-29T08:34:10Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > _Firefly_ jumped immediately. [Check the ratings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29#Ratings). I don’t think “Jumping the Shark” means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660/40 "2011-07-29T08:34:48Z")
Jumpiong the shark is about quality, not ratings. \*\*Survivor \*\* is way past its sell-by date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-that-need-to-stop-beating-the-old-horse-and-put-her-out-to-pasture/590660.md?page=3)