Did BL ever Jump the Shark - Boston Legal (2004) Discussion

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Lakemystery3 15 years ago

Well, as I understand it, Jumping the Shark means the show pulls an outrageous stunt in order to bring in more viewers for later episodes. In this case, Denny and Alan getting married was the last episode of the series. So I don't think that qualifies.

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"She flattened a Dear John with a John Deere." - Douglas Wambaugh

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[–] Jem333 15 years ago

as I understand it, Jumping the Shark means the show pulls an outrageous stunt in order to bring in more viewers for later episodes

I don't think that's what it means. The expression was inspired by a stunt on Happy Days when Fonzie jumped over a shark on his motorcycle, but that was also when folks thought the show ceased being good.

I think Jump the Shark just means the point at which a previously good show has gone bad, and stayed that way - no stunt required.

And I don't think BL ever jumped the shark.

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[–] juviejay 15 years ago

Actually Fonzie jumped the shark on waterskies; he jumped something else on his motorcycle, I can't remember what, busses maybe, but whatever. I do think this show "jumped the shark" but I'm not sure when, exactly. Maybe it was when Clarence became a regular character on the show. Perhaps it was when Denny fell for Bethany, or when Jerry had a girlfriend who was an objectophile. Those events all stretched plausibility too much for me. But, if I had to say one moment, it would have to be when Brad and Jeffrey both dressed up as Buzz Lightyear and fought each other in the parking lot. After that the show seemed to have no constraints on the kind of lunacy it included. It got to be very annoying.

"Two thirds of that is half true."

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[–] Lakemystery3 15 years ago

"But, if I had to say one moment, it would have to be when Brad and Jeffrey both dressed up as Buzz Lightyear and fought each other in the parking lot."

How is that Jumping the Shark? I thought that was hilarious. They were at a costume party and both decided to come as Buzz Lightyear. It was just as funny hearing them both proclaim "I'm Buzz Lightyear" just like what happened in Toy Story 2. I don't think that could qualify as a stunt like Fonzie jumping the shark or the busses (I think you were right on that one, Juvie).

_______
"She flattened a Dear John with a John Deere." - Douglas Wambaugh

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[–] juviejay 15 years ago

Come on, two lawyers who happened to work at the same firm, and be interested in the same woman, are going to dress up as the same cartoon character and fight each other (in costume) in the parking lot? Not very likely. Also, there's that moment when Denny and Alan are watching them and one of them makes the comment about how no one else was like them, ie. the show. After that, the end of Season 3, things just got too ridiculous to enjoy. I'd watch the show and wait for the good parts, patiently waiting through all of the nonsense with Clarence, Bethany and Jerry's girlfriend.

"Two thirds of that is half true."

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[–] RoundTheTwist 15 years ago

juviejay, I reckon there's a fair chance they would both dress as the same character. It was the popular cartoon character of the time, prime for fancy dress and just showed how similar Coho and Chase were.

I thought it was a funny scene.

How likely is it? Not very in real life but again this was a TV show. Would have been pretty boring if they'd made the storyline akin to an real office party from a proper law film.

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[–] juviejay 15 years ago

I realize it was a TV show. And I enjoyed the sense of humor and when it broke the third wall. But this scene was beyond absurd. And I don't think their characters were that similar. Brad, okay, I could see him as Buzz. He kind of looked like Buzz and everyone called him that so it made sense that he'd dress like that. But where in the show did it talk about Coho looking like, or being anything like, Buzz Lightyear? No where, save the scene where he suddenly shows up dressed like him. Coho's character was more like, I don't know, Elvis. I could see him dressing as Elvis. He looks kind of like Elvis. If they had both gone as Elvis that would have made more sense. Elvis is a pretty common costume. Buzz Lightyear? Not very common, not for two adults anyway. Maybe two kids, but not two adults.

"Two thirds of that is half true."

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[–] RoundTheTwist 15 years ago

Suppose I was coming from the fact they were both after Denise too, that made them similar in a way.

I think Coho's very much like Buzz. Same jaw and all.

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[–] sydtheekid 15 years ago

Coho always (before I saw that scene) reminded me of Buzz's best friend Warp Darkmatter-in voice, mind. So I was tickled when they had a Buzz reference, even i it wasn't the exact thing I was thinking of.

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[–] scrapmetal7 15 years ago

No that's not what it means. From Wiki:

"Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment of downturn for a previously successful enterprise. The phrase was originally used to denote the point in a television program's history where the plot spins off into absurd story lines or unlikely characterizations."

So, you see? This show was designed from the beginning to approximate what shows are like after they "jump the shark". Whether that was the goal or not I can't say, but it was the result.

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[–] willywonkasrevenge 15 years ago

I loved this show when it was new, but since I've re-watched the series on DVD it seems to have jumped the shark for me around season 4 or 5 when:

1. It became the Jerry show, and
2. They sued the US government in every episode. I loved The Practice and early Boston Legal episodes because the court cases were complex and gripping. Later episodes were just an excuse for the producers to get on a soapbox and make ultra-liberal rants.

_____________________
I'm your Huckleberry.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Smush Master 15 years ago

Rehiring Jerry after threatening to kill Shirley. Perjuring himself. Firing someone for being a scientologist. Nobody would be allowed to practice law after all of that. Then he gets to practice law using a wooden cigarette? Lock his ass up.

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[–] WanderingGeek 15 years ago

Season 4 was pretty terrible, Season 5 was a much better improvement. But after giving Paul, Denise, Brad and Claire the axe and the bringing in Carl, Whitney, Loraine and Katie was pretty bad. Katie was the only one I could stand.

I'm Tracy Jordan. I'm black NBC. Very proud, like peacocks. Right, Janet? - 30 Rock

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[–] jimmyberluti1 15 years ago

It was in season 1 when Denny had Alan "pull a rabbit out of a hat" by calling Al Sharpton for the SECOND time.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] ranger_commander 13 years ago

I'm only 4 episodes into Season 4, and I've been disappointed so far. Losing Claire and the rest of the great cast hurt, but up until this season (though it was showing in the last half of the 3rd season) the show had balanced cases and while the show had been somewhat liberal in its overall philosophy, suddenly it seems the show was more overtly about political correctness and liberal ideology. More often then not the laws were completely ignored in favor of feel-good court results.

I know I'm in the minority conservative on this website, but I appreciated when the show was moderate and funny rather than just all about Allen's sex life and liberal soapboxing.

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[–] ladyoftheisland 13 years ago

I just finished watching the whole series, I think Season 3 was the best, losing Brad and Denise was the biggest hit, Alan needed that counterpoint and I liked Denise and Shirley. The show had more heart, I liked the "outside" lines like Paul's daughter and Clarence's activities. 5 is better than 4. I'm not sure the show was ever moderate though.

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[–] dragonsheart-1 15 years ago

Jerry didn't fire the guy because he was a scientologist but because he contstanted talked about his religion, he was hired to be a lawyer not to proselytize about his religion which was the point of the episode. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion, just because a coworker is religious and wants to talk about his/her religion, doesn't mean I have to listen to it.

When it comes to bad writing, bad acting, no one does it like the 'SyFy' channel.

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[–] lreynolds-11 15 years ago

Sorry Lakkemystery3...I enjoyed the dueling Buzz's...but I do think it jumped the shark once Clarence hired on at the firm...or beyond that...when Alan and Denny joined the coast guard. That went way too far. I disliked many of the later characters. Jerry was acceptable because he was brilliant but the Brit Madam and Clarence were a little over the top. Also, I would have liked to see at least one charcter with a Boston accent!

Like LA Law,the Practice and many others...David Kelly's shows start out brilliant then they become charcatures(sp) of themselves.

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[–] scrapmetal7 15 years ago

The question is, can it ever jump back? Not unless it makes a conscious effort to take itself seriously, and to not simply try to show the most preposterous situations in the courtroom and still have them win by making little heartfelt speeches. I just watched an episode where a Stephen Root was charged with killing seals in Boston Harbor. Candice Bergan made a little snivelly speech about veterans, and the judge came back and found the defendant "not guilty".

What's wrong with that? Not her points weren't well taken, of course veterans are criminally neglected. What's wrong with it is that he WAS guilty of WHAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH. The prosecution had proved it, so he can't be "not guilty". Now, if the judge had given a merciful sentencing, that would be different.... but he couldn't be found "not guilty" anywhere but in David E. Kelley's world of smug, deliberately quirky, overly self-congratulationary white people.

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[–] Sovereign_Knight 15 years ago

I think the show would have jumped the shark with the same sex marriage thing. Conservative [Palin types] probably would have stopped watching. Then again who knows how many of them actually watched.

Then again it was the over the top ending they were looking for to an over the top show!

Signed, but not dictated

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Brandos_Bitch 13 years ago

In my opinion,the first 2 seasons were great,the 3rd was mixed,the 4th was terrible and the Fifth,while somewhst of an improvement,was never as greatasit had been.So I guess it jumped the shark definetly with the first episode of season 4.

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[–] Jem333 12 years ago

...I just watched an episode where a Stephen Root was charged with killing seals in Boston Harbor. Candice Bergan made a little snivelly speech about veterans, and the judge came back and found the defendant "not guilty".
What's wrong with that? Not her points weren't well taken, of course veterans are criminally neglected. What's wrong with it is that he WAS guilty of WHAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH. The prosecution had proved it, so he can't be "not guilty". Now, if the judge had given a merciful sentencing, that would be different.... but he couldn't be found "not guilty" anywhere but in David E. Kelley's world...

Actually he could be found "not guilty" in real life (not that a comedy show has to be true to life, imho) if the jury decides that the law is unjust in that particular case. It's called "jury nullification" - see wikipedia for more info.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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