You can't jump back over a shark...but you might have been mistaken for jumping a shark in the first place.
I say this is invalid. I think you can do it, though I can't really come up with any great examples.
FALSE!
Jumping the Shark, as I'm sure you know, originated from when Fonzi literally jumped a shark in the season five premier of Happy Days. It shows that a show has exhausted its original premise, and the writers have run out of ideas.
Here's some that's close:
- Saturday Night Live, but that's more cast related so not completely fair.
Right. But, SNL never really waivered from their path. I'd say they less 'Jumped The Shark, then jumped back over the shark' and more 'might have gone past the expiration date, but turns out its still good'. Jumping The Shark would've been making the auditions for a new cast member a reality show, and integrating it into SNL's show format.
Oh god that sounds like a kind of good idea that can ruin a show. Man I hope Lorne Michaels doesn't know how to google stuff yet. Oh man..I just said Lorne Michaels as well. If I say Lorne Michaels one more time, he'll know we're talking about him. Oh wait...
- Friday Night Lights was awfully close to jumping the shark in the second season with some truly abysmal plot lines
Look, I'm as likely as anyone to criticize the Tammy or Tyra-heavy storylines. But for all the hand wringing that has been done about season two (which, btw, is a new thing that has just started in like the last month or so), it still had Riggins, Coach Taylor, and Saerson. So, you're wrong. You're just wrong. That's like saying 'The Wire' jumped the shark in season 2 when they went to the docks. Yeah, its probably the worst season (although its a personal fav of mine..freakin Ziggy, amirite??), but its still better than 90% of the crap out there even on its worst day.
- South Park had some really dark years after the initial novelty wore off, and before they started to do the social commentary thing.
You mean like season 5? Like..you know...when they did Scott Tenorman Must Die, their best episode EVER?? Season 6, with Asspen, and Simpsons Did It? Season 7, with Toilet Paper and Hennifer Lopez?
No but in all seriousness, SP might have jumped the shark when they did get all political. It used to be subtle, now its just..overt and kind of forced. Like Weekend Update co-opted the show.
Also, boooo PosImpos for stealing my thunder!