# What long running tv shows did NOT jump the shark? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260 "2012-07-24T17:04:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/141 "2012-12-02T15:12:18Z")
I think Star Trek: STTNG came close a few times in a few of the Brent Spiner Showcase Episodes. And, frankly, I stopped watching after Lor was shown leading some group of rogue band of Borg; I didn’t stick around to learn what the hell that was all about. But it recovered for the most part, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/142 "2012-12-02T18:58:11Z")
That’s funny because I stopped watching after the season finale “All Good Things…” not because it was bad but because I thought that was the_series_ finale. Then I saw it was still on and watched the Borg/Lor season finale. Then I really did think that was the series finale. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/143 "2012-12-02T19:42:39Z")
> [@Gerald\_II](#): > > That’s funny because I stopped watching after the season finale “All Good Things…” not because it was bad but because I thought that was the_series_ finale. > > Then I saw it was still on and watched the Borg/Lor season finale. Then I really did think that was the series finale. Huh? ‘All good things…’ **was** the series finale. The show ran seven seasons and the Borg/Lor episode (called ‘Descent’) was the season six finale. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/144 "2012-12-03T21:07:12Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > Huh? ‘All good things…’ **was** the series finale. The show ran seven seasons and the Borg/Lor episode (called ‘Descent’) was the season six finale. Ah, okay. I got it backwards. I thought “Descent” was the series finale and stopped watching. I think it was also because ST: Deep Space Nine started and I thought that meant Next Generation was ending. Only much later did I see commercials for new episodes like the one with Data wearing a mask and being possessed by a mythic deity. “All Good Things…” was a great send off for that series. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/145 "2012-12-04T00:26:26Z")
> [@Colaveare](#): > > Battleship Galactica (2005) Battlestar > [@Colaveare](#): > > Doctor Who (2005) > Though I am still unsure about current season. 50/50 depending on second part that is restarting soon. I’m pretty sure DW is Shark-Jump-Proof. There have been some truly, monumentally stupid episodes of that show and it just keeps on chugging, no matter how many times they dilute the Weeping Angels. I guess nanobots and love CAN pretty much fix anything.\* \*Except that pesky Dalek/Cybermen infestation. Guys are more persistent than bedbugs. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/146 "2012-12-04T01:03:57Z")
China Beach never went off the rails that I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/147 "2012-12-04T01:49:47Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Are there any long running shows (at least 3-4 seasons) that never resolved a sexual tension relationship? A couple of years ago I had a thread on a similar topic: [“Will they or won’t they” couples…who didn’t](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538398) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/148 "2012-12-04T07:22:36Z")
> [@Colaveare](#): > > Battleship Galactica (2005) BSG jumped Shark Week. So many shark jumps in that series. All Along the Watchtower. (a song from 5000 years in the future?) The “Guest star of the week who dies at the end of the episode” part was pretty annoying. Introduced some good ideas that were never thought of again. Starbuck well they totally screwed that pooch. The biggest shark jump was the “movie” that they had between seasons with the back story of the Pegasus. My god that was bad. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/149 "2012-12-04T17:34:33Z")
_American Dad_ started out a bit shaky but came into its own after the first few episodes. It’s been quite consistently entertaining ever since. However, the latest season isn’t as strong as some of the earlier ones, and some characters are definitely starting to get that exaggerated feel that often happens in a comedy show that runs too long. It could be putting on the water skis, but it hasn’t quite yet. I think it’s got a much higher quality to length ratio than _Family Guy_, which definitely jumped the shark, though I couldn’t tell you exactly when. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/150 "2012-12-04T18:17:37Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Any takers on _Monk_? It had some ups and downs but seemed pretty good over all to me. I’ll second _Monk_. Not only did I find it consistently entertaining throughout, but I found the final episode to be very satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/151 "2012-12-04T20:20:41Z")
I’d vote for The Big Bang Theory. Indeed, it grew several beards: when they realized what an absolute gem they had in Jim Parsons, when Bernadette was introduced, ditto with Amy Farrah Fowler. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/152 "2012-12-04T23:58:23Z")
I’m going to suggest that _Little House on the Prairie_ managed to make it to the end of its run just fine. The aborted year called _Little House: A New Beginning_ was dreck, of course, but you can debate whether that was the original series or not. I don’t recall for sure if _Lassie_ ever had a serious ratings decline before it ended. _Eight is Enough_ did fine through its five years. _Kojak_ I think managed to make it through five years without too much trouble. If you liked it, did you think _Dallas_ jumped the shark? How about _Hill Street Blues_? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/153 "2012-12-05T01:19:32Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > If you liked it, did you think _Dallas_ jumped the shark? It was all a dream? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/154 "2012-12-05T01:31:20Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Gunsmoke Nope, Gunsmoke jumped when Kitty left the show. Much like Bonanza when Dan Blocker died, the remaining episodes were such sad imitations of earlier seasons that most of us have simply stricken them from our memories. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/155 "2012-12-08T17:43:28Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > _Family Guy_, which definitely jumped the shark, though I couldn’t tell you exactly when. I think it was shortly after they returned from being cancelled, which was season 4. They started running self-referential jokes, which comes off as really self-serving in such a young series, and reusing jokes and joke-styles that weren’t particularly funny the first time around. For example, the chicken fight, and drawing out a gag until it becomes awkward for how long they draw it out for the “humor,” like when Peter hits his shin and in pain says, “Aahhhhh, sssssssssssss, aahhhhhhh, ssssssssss,” for like 10 seconds. I thought the first few seasons were pretty amusing, but I gave up on the show years ago. You’re right that American Dad is much better at this point. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/156 "2012-12-08T22:36:00Z")
I’ll vote MASH. Later episodes leaned towards maudlin, sometimes extremely so, but overall the series remained watchable to the very end. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/157 "2012-12-09T10:05:36Z")
> [@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. Season 7 did, according to many. They added the gimmick of the anti-Prophets, whatever they were called, and completely changed the tenor of the show. ’ I personally have never gotten around to watching the entire series. I keep putting it off because then there will be no prime universe Trek left for me. Annie-Xmas: No fair nominating a show that hasn’t went off the air yet. It still could jump. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/158 "2012-12-09T22:37:43Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > I think it was shortly after they returned from being cancelled, which was season 4. They started running self-referential jokes, which comes off as really self-serving in such a young series, and reusing jokes and joke-styles that weren’t particularly funny the first time around. For example, the chicken fight, and drawing out a gag until it becomes awkward for how long they draw it out for the “humor,” like when Peter hits his shin and in pain says, “Aahhhhh, sssssssssssss, aahhhhhhh, ssssssssss,” for like 10 seconds. And if you’re of more lenient bent, the moment it jumped was when we got an _entire Conway Twitty song_ in the middle of an episode. The whole damn song. I mean, I like Conway Twitty well enough but that was just a big “fuck you” to the whole audience. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/159 "2012-12-10T00:52:56Z")
Someone a few posts back mentioned “Hill Street Blues”. I hadn’t thought about this show in a long time. Though the last couple years were weaker, it was worth watching through its entire run. One of my all-time favorites. eta - Gyrate, I agree with you re that Conway Twitty song. self-indulgence defined ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260/160 "2012-12-10T21:55:15Z")
The Shield maintained high quality and great plot twists throughout. A few storylines would fall flat occasionally but I never thought it jumped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-long-running-tv-shows-did-not-jump-the-shark/629260.md?page=9)