“Jump the Shark” has Jumped the Shark

I was reading a post about Steve Carell leaving The Office, and against my better judgment read some user comments. Of course, several were along the lines of “The Original was better!” (yeah, haven’t heard that 15 BILLION TIMES over the last 6 years) but the other negative comment I kept reading was, “They need to just cancel the show, it jumped the shark years ago.”

Okay, to everyone out there in regards to "Jump the Shark"

Now, I remember when this term kind of came into internet vogue in the early 2000s, and I thought I understood it’s meaning. But Urban Dictionary tells me it’s: “a term to describe a moment when something that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.”

I take this to mean “Jump the shark” can refer to anything that’s not quite as good as it once was.

“My car sure jumped the shark after it reached 100,000 miles.”
“Ew, this milk has jumped the shark!”
“Grandma really jumped the shark when she developed osteoporosis.”
“I’m sorry, I have you break up with you, this relationship has jumped the shark.”

Wow, “Jump the shark” has, well, kinda jumped the shark in that people have taken this term that once referred to someone very specific and now just uses it as a quick and easy criticism of any TV show that had an episode or storyline they didn’t care for. The Old “Jump the Shark” website even had a category where people listed shows they felt jumped the shark on Day One. THIS MAKE NO SENSE!

The original meaning (from Wikipedia) was, “a moment…characterized by absurdity, when a show abandons its core premises and begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery.”

It’s not just when a show gradually becomes stale and repetitive, which is pretty much bound to happen to any show that runs longer than 2-3 seasons, it’s the point where the show does something ridiculous and completely incongruent with the show, and THEN suffers a steady decline marked by gimmicky and desperate attempts to regain audience.

True “jumping the shark” is things like this happening:

• same character: different actor
• introduction of a new kid because the other kids on the show are getting older.
• ridiculously “themed” episode (I’m talking black and white “what would this show be like in the 40’s” episodes)
• character coming back from the dead
• completely outlandish storyline

A TV show can definitely have any of these shark jumping moments, but if it recovers from them, the series as a whole hasn’t really “jumped the shark.”

Now I’ll concede that The Office has had some “shark jumpy” moments (the Dwight/Angela/Andy story line in Season 4 comes to mind) but I also feel the current Season 7 has been their strongest in years.

So unless Michael Scott is killed off and then brought back from the dead, but played by a different actor, I don’t believe The Office has or will truly “jump the shark.”

New Member of the Super Friends

Let’s Snark on: Glee ep.212

I’m not sure if there’s a show on TV that frustrates me more than Glee. On the one hand, it has a fun premise, witty dialogue, a few great characters, sometimes very awesome performances, and on occasion a moment that just makes me bawl my eyes out. On the other hand, many characters are rather thinly developed, a lot of performances feel like big-budget karaoke, and the plot holes make me want to tear my hair out. (Dear Glee Writers, It’s called continuity, here’s a link. Or perhaps your goal is to make the plot be as all over the place as a teenager’s moods, in which case, well done.)

So how will this week’s episode, “Silly Love Songs” hold up to my scrutiny? Let’s watch and find out! (I've included the timemark of each moment so you can watch along on Hulu and snark with me)

01:00 Hmm, the, ahem, robust Lauren doesn’t dig on hottie Puckerman, interesting turning of tables.

01:15 Reasons Puck likes Lauren: “Maybe it’s because she’s constantly insulting me like my mom”.

02:15 WTF FINN?! You like Quinn again?! Not worth it, dude.

04:00 Blaine better be talking about Kurt, or he’s leading the poor kid along. I’m sure in some cultures buying someone coffee is the equivalent of getting engaged.

04:09 “Totally gonna graduate now!” Oh, Brittany, don’t change ever

04:45 Slow your roll, Finnster.

05:30 Mr. Schue: Addicted to Vests.

06:30 Had to Googled the “I spell woman ‘Z-I-Z-E-S” line. Note to writers, make sure we know a character's last name before making a joke referencing it.

07:40 Even the bird shits itself when Blaine suggests the Warblers sing off campus.

08:13 I love you, Kurt, even the way you raise your hand is awesome. But still, you been with the Warblers for like 5 days, they’re not gonna listen to your opinion. They have a COUNCIL!!!

08:55 Oh Noes, Blaine likes some guy at the Gap! Hugs through the screen, Kurt.

10:30 It’s official, a Kurt/Rachel/Mercedes slumber party is better than your slumber party.

10:45 Puck sings “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen (aka epic band that Glee should never be allowed to cover ever) What what what are you doing?!

13:30 Are things like kissing booths even allowed in American High Schools? Seems like it would only lead to many angry phone calls from parents.

16:15 What, why was Finn keeping Rachel’s Christmas present at his kissing both. Oh well, it leads the first kinda sweet moment of the episode.

17:20 Okay, that whole lead-in to “P.Y.T.” was awkward.

19:00 But I’m digging the Artie-singing Mike-dancing thing.

21:00 Messing with Puck’s ego, beating up Santana, I think I like Lauren.

21:35 Seriously, do the writers not remember that Finn and Quinn have been together like 3 times now, and it’s always sucked?

23:00 Doesn’t Blaine know the whole stalking serenade thing only works in music videos? Otherwise it’s kinda creepy. And by “kinda” I mean “very”.

25:15 Wait, why did this kid get fired? Because of a flash mob he had nothing to do with?

26:20 “Gassy infant look” Ha! Okay, Santana, I hate you less now.

28:45 Aaaand just when I thought Glee was doing a good job of portraying an overweight character, Puck wins Lauren over with a candy ring pop.

29:50 Finn and Quinn meet and talk . . . I still can’t bring myself to care.

32:00 So wait, Kurt says to Blaine “I thought the guy you liked was me” and Blaine basically said “Oh, I guess I kinda do like you, let’s go out.” WHERE IS THIS PLACE WHERE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN?!?!?

32:40 “Well that’ll buy us half a ticket to nationals.” Geez, Mr. Schue, could you be less grateful, please?

34:25 Dear writers: I hate to keep chewing you out but I think you’ve mistaken Tina sobbing on the floor as “character development”, try giving her more than two lines in an episode, then see what happens.

35:00 Just a sidenote, I wikied Mono, and it said it takes 4-7 weeks after exposure for symptoms to show up, not half a day. That’s all, carry on.

39:55 Rachel, white tights, why?

40:00 So remember when Mr. Schuester said the theme was “World’s Greatest Love Songs”? You probably forgot since only “My Funny Valentine” came close to fitting the description of “Great Love Songs”. You get an A, Tina.

40:45 Still, I’ve decided Katy Perry is just the kind of artist Glee needs to cover. Catchy recent songs that have vocals the Glee kids can improve on.

43:30 I know Santana’s just giving Sam a “I know your girlfriend’s kissing someone else” look, but now I’m totally all for a Santana and Sam pairing, at least Santana’s not as boring as Quinn.

So yeah, there’s “Silly Love Songs”. If I had to sum it up in 3 words, it’s “NEEDS MOAR SUE.” Maybe next week.