| Karellian Knight | 01 May 2012 5:40 a.m. PST |
There was an episode of Happy Days in which Fonz jumps over a shark whilst skiing. That episode is considered the death knell of Happy Days, although it lasted another season if memory serves. |
| Bowman | 01 May 2012 3:54 p.m. PST |
"Jumping the Shark" is when the writers of a series have become so emptied of nuance, skill and creativity that they have to settle on the most ridiculous, improbable and contrived situations to keep the tired plot churning along. Something like that  |
| billthecat | 02 May 2012 10:20 a.m. PST |
So most TV shows after the first or second season. I guess Dr. Who did okay… (Note past tense). |
| deflatermouse | 29 Aug 2013 10:00 p.m. PST |
Matt Smith is really good, would be great if he had Martha (& Loiuse). But the shark appeared when Leela left |
 20thmaine  | 30 Aug 2013 4:43 a.m. PST |
Still watch it, but loath the sonic werapon of mass destruction. They should give it its own spin-off series. |
| Old Contemptibles | 30 Aug 2013 8:29 a.m. PST |
Same formula every time. The Doctor must have a female "companion" not that there is anything wrong with a female companion, but every time? It follows basically the same story line over and over again. Change the formula or let it die. NBC canceled the original Star Trek and yet Dr. Who is still on the air? That's messed up. Yes Dr. Who has jumped the shark, long time ago. |
| Mithmee | 30 Aug 2013 12:18 p.m. PST |
As Smokey put it. "When Baker left the show, about 25 years ago." |
| ubercommando | 31 Aug 2013 1:41 p.m. PST |
Never. The show keeps re-inventing itself. The "Tom Baker only" crowd has missed the point. |
| 20thmaine | 11 Sep 2013 4:57 a.m. PST |
The Doctor must have a female "companion" not that there is anything wrong with a female companion, but every time? Not so – Ian Chesterton, Steven Taylor, Ben Jackson, Jamie McCrimmon, Harry Sullivan, Adric, Vislor Turlough, K-9…. ….true that there were females as well, but not solely females. |
| billthecat | 11 Sep 2013 7:33 a.m. PST |
I think the concept is strongest when the Doctor (eccentric scientist meets Ford Prefect) has both a female companion and a male companion. Having two companions allows each of them to talk to another 'human' down on our level (instead of always: "Ooh, doctor, you're soooo clever…" or more recently "Ooh, Doctor, I love you…") As far as re-inventing goes… This is not always an improvement. Tom Baker is still the best incarnation! Woo Hoo! (Troughton and Hartnell were okay, too, and I am curious to see if the newest Doctor can veer away from the teeny-bopper vibe…) |
| deflatermouse | 12 Sep 2013 4:27 a.m. PST |
Yes The "I love the Doctor" is a bit..well, complete tosh. eg Rose (groan) "I miss me dad, lets eat chips.I carn't live wivout the Docta." Adds nothing. |
| brevior est vita | 12 Sep 2013 5:31 p.m. PST |
I am a long-time fan of the series, and I have watched all thirteen of the Doctor's incarnations, including Peter Cushing in the two films. My interest began to flag under the stewardship of John Nathan Turner and Peter Davison's younger "dishy" Doctor, with the absolute nadir being the infamous Colin Baker and Peri. The recent series revival has been okay, but apparently for demographic reasons has continued to revolve around younger actors and highlight sexual tension between the Doctor and his female companions. Now, with Peter Capaldi signaling an apparent return to an older, more avuncular Doctor (link), I am cautiously optimistic for my future interest in the series. |
| Bowman | 15 Sep 2013 7:12 a.m. PST |
So Pete Capaldi is the new Doctor Who. But, I'm sure I saw him in WWZ, where he played a WHO Doctor. |
