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It’s been a while since a new topic has been put up here, and I just found a great site that gave me an idea for a new topic that could generate a lot of debate among the sci-fi geezers here. When did our favorite science fiction shows “jump the shark” (i.e. stop getting better every episode and started getting worse)? Here’s my opinion-
It jumped the shark when…
Star Trek (The Original Series)-When they started recycling cornball plots
Star Trek: The Next Generation-Never jumped
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine-When they got the Defiant
Star Trek: Voyager-When Kes left
Doctor Who-When Adric died
The X-Files-When Deep Throat got shot
The Lone Gunmen-Never had a chance to jump
Strange Luck-When it stopped making a damn bit of sense
Lexx-When Mantrid started disassembling the universe
Red Dwarf-When Kryten became a regular
Babylon 5-When Sheridan told the Shadows and the Vorlons to get the hell out of his galaxy
Crusade-Never had a chance to jump
Sliders-When they discovered the Kromaggs
Quantum Leap-Never jumped
Blake’s 7-When it stopped being like Doctor Who and started being like Battlestar Galactica
Space: Above and Beyond-Never had a chance to jump
Alien Nation-When George got pregnant
Batman-When Batgirl showed up
Get Smart-When Max and 99 got married
M.A.N.T.I.S.-When Miles’ clone got blown up
War of the Worlds-When the guy with the cool wheelchair died
Max Headroom-Never jumped
Farscape-When the beginning credits ended
quote:
Originally posted by DalekTek790:
It’s been a while since a new topic has been put up here, and I just found a great site that gave me an idea for a new topic that could generate a lot of debate among the sci-fi geezers here. When did our favorite science fiction shows “jump the shark” (i.e. stop getting better every episode and started getting worse)? Here’s my opinion-It jumped the shark when…
Star Trek (The Original Series)-When they started recycling cornball plots
Star Trek: The Next Generation-Never jumped
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine-When they got the Defiant
Star Trek: Voyager-When Kes left
Doctor Who-When Adric died
The X-Files-When Deep Throat got shot
The Lone Gunmen-Never had a chance to jump
Strange Luck-When it stopped making a damn bit of sense
Lexx-When Mantrid started disassembling the universe
Red Dwarf-When Kryten became a regular
i’ve never heard of this jumping shark terminology before but it’s quite catchy.
i disagree with the dwarf shark-jumping when kryten became a regular. He does have some jokes that fizzle but on the whole I think he inspires some good storylines. Some of the best moments in dwarf came after he became a regular.
I think dwarf initiated shark-jumping when rimmer was replaced with kochanski. Then they un-jumped a shark when red dwarfs crew was resurrected by the nanobots. What a comeback season!
toodle pipsky
DalekTek,
You must be a Howard Stern fan, too….the guy from the “Jump the Shark” site was a guest….I found it very interesting and about 99% accurate…
quote:
Originally posted by DalekTek790:
Farscape-When the beginning credits ended
Them’s fightin’ words
! Well, here’s what I think –
Original Trek – never jumped
Star Trek TNG – when the writers thought it would be cute to get Worf and Deanna together
Deep Space Nine – when the writers got Worf and Jadzia together
Voyager – I didn’t get to watch enough of it to have an opinion
Doctor Who – when Tom Baker’s doctor was killed, and Peter Davidson came on
Lexx – never jumped
Farscape – sure hasn’t jumped, although Zhaan’s death hurt it
Mann & Machine – never had a chance to go downhill
Friday the 13th the Series – season 3 when Ryan was turned into a child in the 2nd episode – or even when Johnny was introduced in Wedding Bell Blues in season 2
Quantum Leap – never jumped
Buffy – had a slight jump after season 3, but has got better than ever last season
Angel – hasn’t jumped yet
V the Series – didn’t have a chance – damn NBC for cancelling it!Star Trek (The Original Series)- Spock’s Brain “Brain? What is… brain?”
Star Trek: The Next Generation- the warp 7(?) speed limit.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine- Timecode frame 00:00:01 of the pilot episode.
Star Trek: Voyager- When they turned Seska into a badguy. Got better after 6of9 joined up. Started to spiral after Unamatrix 001.
Doctor Who- n/a [haven’t seen it all]
The X-Files- When Moulder got kidnapped by aliens.
The Lone Gunmen- I blinked! Where did it go?
Strange Luck- n/a [who?]
Lexx- Timecode frame 47:59:29 of episode, 4.24 Yo Way Yo.
Red Dwarf- n/a [haven’t seen it all]
Babylon 5- Pilot episode when Lyta left for
Earth. Got better when she returned. Sad when she left again.Crusade- When they cancelled it.
Sliders- The Cro-Mags.
Quantum Leap- When he met this guy in some bar who claimed he was God, controlling his jumps. Was that the last episode? I don’t remember. I thought it was lame.
Blake’s 7- n/a [never saw it]
Space: Above and Beyond- When the writers started writing the dialogue of the show. Cool idea, stupid and dull dialogue. How did FTL travel work?
Alien Nation- When the slaves were set free on Earth. Oh wait– that’s the premise!
Batman- The Hostess Twinkie ads in the comic books during the 1970s.
Get Smart- n/a [don’t remember]
M.A.N.T.I.S.- n/a [avoided show like the plague]
War of the Worlds- n/a [don’t remember]
Max Headroom- n/a [don’t remember]
Farscape- When the blue lady died. Tho I like the klutzy redhead! Show’s not over yet. Much as Lexx fans hate the show, it’s a good show nonetheless.
quote:
Originally posted by :
DalekTek,You must be a Howard Stern fan, too….the guy from the “Jump the Shark” site was a guest….
No! I do not watch Howard Stern!
All that can be said about those listed above has been said so I’ll only mention new ones.
Seaquest- Jumped when they switched captains. Bring back Bridger!
Earth 2- It never got the chance to jump in the public eye. Thank, whichever divine being you’re affiliated with, that the proposed (read: butchered) pilot for season 2 was never aired.
YOu have to admin, without Kryten you wouldn’t have the episode with the hand/spider (the name of which I can never remember)
Wadda great site!
Thanks for telling us about it.
I guess I’d agree with half of yer jumping (especially the Get Smart), but Dr Who jumped for me when Bonny Langford joined the show (although she has quite a bnice bum) 🙂
Babylon 5 jumped when Byron started singing huggy huggy songs with his nutty pals and Red Dwarf jumped at the end of season 8 when there was no plans for season 9
…. wow! I could go on for hours!
quote:
Originally posted by SadGeezer:
Wadda great site!Thanks for telling us about it.
I guess I’d agree with half of yer jumping (especially the Get Smart), but Dr Who jumped for me when Bonny Langford joined the show (although she has quite a bnice bum) 🙂
I thought the cast was best during the Peter Davison era with Tegan, Nyssa, and Adric as companions. That was Doctor Who‘s golden age. Then they killed off Adric.
Matthew Watterhouse is one of the greatest actors the show ever saw, and the character of Adric was very well-written. He was truly unlike any other companion in the entire run of the show, with complications that had only begun to be explored. But they killed him off. 
They didn’t even write him out by having him marry some alien chick or stay to help some underdeveloped planet, either. They decided to kill off our favorite Alzarian, and the show was never the same again. It destroyed the entire character chemistry.Now, Doctor Who improved greatly after the Colin Baker Doctor got killed off (in a sense) and we got Sylvester McCoy. That was when the show almost reached the Davison level of perfection, but not quite. I, personally, thought Bonnie Langford was pretty good. I mean, she was no Janet Fielding but Mel was a good companion and she played her well. I don’t see why everybody loves Ace so much.
Those are my Who thoughts.
——————
“Exterminate!” -Dalek warrior, The Daleks: Episode 4-The Ambush
“Feel the power of the dark Crystal!” -skekTek the Scientist, The Dark Crystal
“I will love you forever!” -drone #790, Lexx 1.1: I Worship His Shadow
quote:
Originally posted by DalekTek790:
Now, Doctor Who improved greatly after the Colin Baker Doctor got killed off (in a sense) and we got Sylvester McCoy. That was when the show almost reached the Davison level of perfection, but not quite. I, personally, thought Bonnie Langford was pretty good. I mean, she was no Janet Fielding but Mel was a good companion and she played her well. I don’t see why everybody loves Ace so much.Those are my Who thoughts.
——————
“Exterminate!” -Dalek warrior, The Daleks: Episode 4-The Ambush
“Feel the power of the dark Crystal!” -skekTek the Scientist, The Dark Crystal
“I will love you forever!” -drone #790, Lexx 1.1: I Worship His Shadow
I do agree that Sylvestor McCoy was a good doctor. But, I liked Ace, and hated Mel. I think what I hated about Mel was her voice. And, she seemed to scream way too much.
quote:
Originally posted by DalekTek790:
Babylon 5-When Sheridan told the Shadows and the Vorlons to get the hell out of his galaxy
Crusade-Never had a chance to jump
Notice the bit about “His” galaxy – he did think the galaxy was his didnt he
Never had a chance to jump, well yeah it did, it jumped just as the previous program faded out and it faded in for the first episode
Actually, he said “our” galaxy–meaning it belonged to all the younger races who weren’t going to let the Shadows and Vorlons play with them anymore.
Not that I really care…but I always have had a soft spot for Sheridan.
Agree with a lot of this stuff, just want people to look at all of this same as I did. Kiss kiss
Off for the nite. Ook ook!B5- I liked it less when Lockley was captain, and when Lennier tried to kill Sheridan I was NOT happy at ALL.
Crusade- liked it for the most part, especially the Galen/Dureena and Gideon/Lockley dynamics.
really want to know what’s going on with Delenn & Sheridan and their kid and LYTA(the epitome of coolness). Did ya know? Legend of the Rangers might turn into a series, and if it lasts long enough it’ll satisfactorly finish up Crusade and tie up loose ends with B5.
voyager-had some dry spells but remained fairly good the entire time.
Buffy/Angel-is, was, and ever shall be GOD.SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING
Spike, Buffy kissing. Angel’s baby. it’s SPECTACULAR!!!
SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNING SPOILER WARNINGLexx/Farscape- always good.
Strange Luck- the one on fox? yeah, it just stopped having any semblance of a plot after awhile.
Lone Gunmen- I saw them on X-files recently, they seem disgruntled.
Sliders-after Quinn and Colin left. the series finale made me angry!!
Earth2- never jumped. why did they cancel oops, have no idea how I double posted, ‘specially since flood control is activated,
but might as well include something relevant to the topic:For each ecstatic instant
We must an anguish pay
In keen and quivering ratio
To the ecstasy.
For each beloved hour
Sharp pittances of years-
Bitter contested farthing-
And Coffers heaped with Tears!
– Emily DickinsonRemember the best shows are the ones that can go the most wrong! Look at Sliders!
[ 18-11-2001: Message edited by: brainplague ]
I just received word that the upcoming X-Files episode 9X15 will be titled Jump the Shark.
——————
“Exterminate!” -Dalek
“Feel the power of the dark Crystal!” -skekTek
“I will love you forever!” -790
[ 31-03-2002: Message edited by: DalekTek790 ]
quote:
Originally posted by DalekTek790:
I just received word that the upcoming X-Files episode 9X15 will be titled Jump the Shark.
Shouldn’t they have done that episode a few years ago?
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