# Which current TV shows have "jumped the shark"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056 "2012-11-15T02:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/1 "2012-11-15T02:37:09Z")
One that comes leaping to mind is “The Mentalist.” For awhile, husband and I were rabid fans. Then Patrick Jane killed Red John, and we were VERY interested in seeing how things would play out - Patrick in prison, a long courtroom drama, etc. And what happened? They wrapped everything up in ONE episode! There was so much that could have been done with the storyline, so much more they could have explored, and everything was _Boom!_ over. It was as if they simply didn’t care enough to do any real in-depth writing. But we didn’t give up. We slogged through last season, and kept hoping things would get better. Now, we’re on Patrick Jane searching for the latest Red John accomplice, blowing off his CBI duties, etc. and, frankly, we’re getting VERY tired of it all! We’ve agreed to keep recording the show, and only watching those episodes which, based on the schedule blurbs, sound like they have a chance to be reasonably well-acted and well-written. If, at the end of the season, the number of shows watched is less than the number taped, we’re quitting. What would it take to keep holding our interest? Patrick Jane needs to get OVER the whole Red John obsession. Either catch the guy (or guys - my theory is that Red John is not a who, but a what - an organization of wealthy and powerful people who love playing God), kill him/them off once and for all, or do some more in-depth work into who he is/was. Or, better still, have him end up back in the asylum for a good while. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/2 "2012-11-15T02:58:34Z")
I think Survivor jumped the shark a while back when, after Rupert didn’t win, they had a sudden, surprise “well, let’s all vote for WHOEVER ELSE you think should win a million dollars!” and how about that… Rupert won a million dollars. I don’t watch to see who wins any more… I just watch so I can see pretty, crazy people wander around starving on a beach and get smacked in the face with coconuts every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/3 "2012-11-15T03:02:15Z")
2 1/2 Men ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/4 "2012-11-15T03:11:33Z")
I worry that The Big Bang Theory did it when they sent Howard into space. It was unrealistic enough when he found a hot looking babe to actually marry him. No doubt, next season he wins the SuperLotto. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/5 "2012-11-15T03:13:31Z")
Is it possible to jump, and then subsequently “un-jump”, the shark? IMO, Dexter did that. It had gotten pretty stale, but I’m enjoying it a lot more this season. It’s no longer a current show, but Weeds had certainly jumped the shark when it finally came to its anticlimactic ending. ETA: I also think Big Bang Theory has probably jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/6 "2012-11-15T03:16:39Z")
> [@caircair](#): > > One that comes leaping to mind is “The Mentalist.” \ > > What would it take to keep holding our interest? Patrick Jane needs to get OVER the whole Red John obsession. Either catch the guy (or guys - my theory is that Red John is not a who, but a what - an organization of wealthy and powerful people who love playing God), kill him/them off once and for all, or do some more in-depth work into who he is/was. Or, better still, have him end up back in the asylum for a good while. I can’t disagree too much; they either need to move on the Red John storyline or drop it. My husband had an interesting theory on Red John - that he is the uber-rich sociopath we just met in the last episode. For my vote, I think “How I Met Your Mother” jumped the shark with baby Marvin. Has there ever been a sitcom improved with the addition of a baby? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/7 "2012-11-15T03:25:21Z")
I usually don’t know when to quit a show, and let it torture me until it gets cancelled but I finally gave up on the UK show _Shameless_. I’m probably about 8 series too late but whatever - I found myself not caring anymore. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/8 "2012-11-15T03:40:25Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Has there ever been a sitcom improved with the addition of a baby? I think the birth of Frederick Crane on\* Cheers\* led to several very funny episodes that didn’t derail the show. Of course, Frederick was a background story line to an ensemble show. HIMYM is also an ensemble show, so if they keep Marvin in the background, it won’t necessarily ruin it. Although HIMYM is quickly running out of gas with or without a baby. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/9 "2012-11-15T03:41:55Z")
the simpsons 10 years ago seriously how the heck is this crap still on the air ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/10 "2012-11-15T03:48:48Z")
Scandal. It had great promise with a story of the week and a couple of longer term stories. Olivia Pope was a great political operative and PR expert, now it’s full on conspiracies that lack any reality at all. A shame, becuase it had real potential ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/11 "2012-11-15T03:59:12Z")
None of them. “Jumped the shark” is supposed to be a “post-mortem” term, used well after the entire run of a show has concluded. Well, it used to be, before the term itself jumped the shark. Nowadays it’s been reduced to "I saw a bad episode of this show, therefore it jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/12 "2012-11-15T04:20:27Z")
I stopped watching Bones when one of the main cast was brainwashed into murder, or something. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/13 "2012-11-15T04:23:06Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > None of them. > > “Jumped the shark” is supposed to be a “post-mortem” term, used well after the entire run of a show has concluded. Well, it used to be, before the term itself jumped the shark. Nowadays it’s been reduced to "I saw a bad episode of this show, therefore it jumped the shark. Well actually it’s based on Fonzie jumping the shark on Happy Days. It’s supposed to represent the high point of the curve and the decline of quality beyond that point. But actually it represents the point where the hype has exceeded the product. Happy Days continued for years, but it could never relight the roman candle. Other shows like Dallas with Who Shot JR did the same kind of thing. In the end people realize the quality was never there in the first place. It’s simply the point of disillusionment. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/14 "2012-11-15T04:32:57Z")
I hate to say it, because it is one of only a tiny handful of shows I regularly watch (no cable or satellite here) but I feel that _The Amazing Race_ is not nearly as enjoyable to watch as it once used to be. Too many gimmick contestants (the introduction of C list pseudo-celebrity teams), playing up artificially manufactured drama between the teams, toothless, Nerf-ified challenges (including taking money management completely out of the Race) and worst of all, it seems like lately 90% of the tasks have a very tenuous relationship to the country or culture that the show is supposed to be showcasing; Seriously, the best thing they can come up with when in a city with as much history and tradition as Tokyo is to have the teams sort thru a thousand mollyfocking licence plates looking for a specific number?!? That said, I still watch it, as even in it’s current watered-down form it is still more enjoyable than the vast majority of horseshite on TV these days, but it isn’t nearly as engaging as it was in years past. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/15 "2012-11-15T04:37:24Z")
The wife and I just finished the third season of _Glee_. It was noticeably of lower quality than the first two seasons. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/16 "2012-11-15T04:38:50Z")
I would say Glee, but I haven’t mustered up the energy to watch this season. It’s possible it got better, but last season was so bad, it’s tough to care anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/17 "2012-11-15T04:52:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Although HIMYM is quickly running out of gas with or without a baby. Yea, I don’t think the baby is really the problem. The shows simultaneously drawn out its romantic sub-plots too long to keep them interesting and made them more of a focus of the show. We’re on like the fifth iteration of the Robin/Ted/Barney love triangle, and the show seems to have abandoned the various work related, friend related, family related, etc. plots that kept a little variety. Maybe if they focused on the baby _more_ it would be better. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/18 "2012-11-15T05:29:40Z")
Sadly, _Burn Notice_ most definitely has made the leap. I keep watching though as I love Bruce Campbell. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/19 "2012-11-15T05:36:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well actually it’s based on Fonzie jumping the shark on Happy Days. It’s supposed to represent the high point of the curve and the decline of quality beyond that point. But actually it represents the point where the hype has exceeded the product. Happy Days continued for years, but it could never relight the roman candle. _And the the term was coined as a post-mortem analysis of the show._ If you call a current show as shark-jumped, you are using the shark-jumped version of “jumped the shark”. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056/20 "2012-11-15T05:45:53Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I worry that The Big Bang Theory did it when they sent Howard into space. It was unrealistic enough when he found a hot looking babe to actually marry him. No doubt, next season he wins the SuperLotto. If they haven’t jumped yet, they’ve at least got Sheldon on waterskis in a Fonzie jacket giving a thumbs up as he heads for the ramp… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-tv-shows-have-jumped-the-shark/641056.md?page=2)