In television lore, a series "jumps the shark tank" when it loses touch with its premise and begins its demise. This commemorates an episode of Happy Days when a character water-skied over a shark tank.
Actually there is another, more accurate, indicator. After years of research, I have concluded that a television show is nearing the end when they begin introducing new characters. It means that the original concept has been drained of ideas. The examples are numerous.
M*A*S*H spent years as the number one show, lasting four times as long as the conflict it depicted. When Igor (the cook) and Rizzo (the motor pool guy) became characters of interest, it was time to bring the troops home.
Cheers was another long-running sitcom. When story lines developed around peripheral characters Cliff and Norm, the end was in sight. When the show developed love interests for Carla, Woody, and Rebecca, it was time for last call.
Frasier (a spin off from Cheers) had this happen when Daphne's Mom, Niles's lawyer, and Martin's girlfriend become more than one-shot appearances. Office hours are over. (Perhaps another indicator of the beginning of the end is the presence of spin offs).
Saturday, April 23, 2011
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