I was reading an interesting article on TV shows that have ‘lost it’. In North American terms this is called Jumping the Shark:

The term jumping the shark alludes to a specific scene in a 1977 episode of the TV series Happy Days when the popular character Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli literally jumps over a shark while water skiing. The scene was so preposterous that many believed it to be an ill-conceived attempt at reviving the declining ratings of the flagging show. The phrase has become a colloquialism used by U.S. TV critics and fans to denote the point at which the characters or plot of a TV series veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Such a show is typically deemed to have passed its peak. Once a show has "jumped the shark" fans sense a noticeable decline in quality or feel the show has undergone too many changes to retain its original appeal.

There are a lot of people out there who love to tell me about how they are above TV or ‘just don’t watch TV’ as they would rather listen to Chopin and read 18th century literature. I have said it before, I will say it again, I like TV. So for the heck of it, here is my list of current TV favourites categorized by shark status:

Definitely have not jumped the shark ….

• Supernatural: I came across this series in a hotel a year ago (It was the beginning of Season 2) and was hooked instantly. Well written, great plot and I love sci-fi type stuff. Highly recommended viewing.
• Battlestar Galactica: Another epic show with a great plot that keeps getting better. This is the last season, so like other smart series, they are ending it while they are ahead. A friend send me a link, looks like they are already filming the prequel – Caprica..
• 30 Rock: Alex Baldwin, enough said. Love his GE Jack Welshisms.
• Entourage: Brilliant. HBO continues to make some of the best programming around and anything that is loosely based on Marky Mark is fine by me.
• Flight of the Conchords: Truly one of the weirdest shows you will watch. Two New Zealand guys trying to make it big in New York. That is what makes it so funny. This months Wired describes them as ‘New Zealand’s second most popular guitar based, digi-bongo, a cappella, rap-funk-comedy folk duo’. They also won this years Grammy for best comedy album.
• How I Met Your Mother: I am surprised. I thought it would not last, but it has. Really – who does he marry and could Doogie Houser be any funnier?
• The Office: I am a huge British office fan. I was sceptical about this show. As each season progresses, I hate to say it, I become convinced that it is better than the British version.
• Life: I am a huge Band of Brothers fan and so was destined to watch this show. Gritty, unique plot, humorous, well written. It was just renewed for a second season. Fantastic. If you can, catch the rerun.

The shark is circling:

• Dexter: Truly one of the best written TV series I have ever seen. Dark, brooding, cutting humour and a plot that has the twists and turns of a mountain road, a great series. However, the end to Season 2 bordered on too much. We will see if it can survive a 3rd season. I cannot recommend the first 2 seasons highly enough.
• Boston Legal: How many more quirky characters with weird habits or afflictions can they bring on the show? Well written, Shatner and Spader are fantastic characters. We will see.
• Carpoolers: A quirky sitcom written by Bruce McCullough from The Kids in the Hall (The best sketch comedy show of all time .. Daves I know and the Eradicator). This scene summarizes the humour. Didn’t think it would work but after a few they had me, just don’t know if it is mainstream enough to survive. TJ Miller is a very funny comedian and the Sliders dude is good too.
• Chuck: Very funny comedy about a young guy who has a NSA computer downloaded into his head. I know, it sounds silly, but it is quite funny. The problem is that he walks around San Francisco and just ‘happens’ to bump into international terrorists. What, do they all live in San Fran? Sorry, it cannot last.
• Scrubs: I am on the fence here. Funny show but it comes and goes.

Jumped the shark ….

• House: Hugh, loved you in the first 2 seasons but it is getting a bit much. Gee, will he figure out the mysterious illness while playing with everyone’s mind? Tune in to find out. Sorry, you lost me with the whole ‘who gets to be my intern’ competition thing.
• My Name is Earl: It was funny for a while. Now it is just old.
• Rescue Me: Another truly great show. I am a big Dennis Leary fan – so when this show started I was on it. Dark sarcastic Leary humour, very deep plot (all about firefighters post 911, Leary had a cousin die). Well worth a watch, but expect a roller coaster of emotions. And as an aside, Leary plays a true anti-hero and season 5 (July) is the last. It is time.
• 24: Oh my goodness Jack, die already. You lost me after the 4th crisis where you implemented your patented TV show framework.
• X-Files: Look, I loved this show. Great writing and when they were actually solving mysteries, very entertaining. But by the end I was so confused as to who is doing what to whom, I did not know which way was up. Which begs the question – how can they make a second movie? If this movie has any link to the previous story line – who will remember what happened before except for the guy who still lives in his mom’s basement at 40?

Shows that never jumped the shark and I wish would come back …..

• Firefly: What a great series. Although killing off a main character in the movie makes the likelihood of this come back low. How about if we say please?
• John from Cincinnati: Too weird to survive, but a very interesting single season show. Bring him back, I want to know who he really is.
• Seinfeld: Come on? One more season Jerry?
• Arrested Development: Seriously, I would watch another season. Who doesn’t want to watch the plight of a family caught building houses in Iraq? Will Arnett is just as funny in 30 Rock.

And a few that I have on my ‘too be watched’ queue, and remain un-judged:

• Lost (Much debate on whether this has jumped the shark. I have not watched it yet, but plan to this year), Nip/Tuck (On my to be watched), Gavin and Stacy (very popular Brit show), Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia (great reviews), Journeyman (Time travelling father? Another with good reviews), Monk, The Shield, Journeyman, Mad Men (watched a few – great show about 50’s ad guys – just watching them smoke and drink in the office makes me laugh), Painkiller Jane, Men in Trees (huge Northern Exposure fan .. is it like that?), Primevil (Brit show about dinosaurs .. one to watch with the boys), Pushing Daisys, Sarah Connor Chronicles (Terminator, of course we have to watch it), The Riches, Doctor Who (how can I be in the UK and not try it out?), Blade (loved the movies) and The 4400 (which was highly recommended to me).

As an aside, here are a few old UK shows that I have come across and recommend:

• Green Wing: Great UK comedy about a crazy hospital. Good laugh.
• Life on Mars: The story of a cop who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1970. Like Mad Men, going back in time and watching their socially unacceptable environment is quite entertaining. They closed this after 2 seasons – perfect.
• The IT Crowd: A story of 2 hapless IT support guys working out of the basement. A good geek laugh. Enjoy this support clip.

So ends my TV assessment.