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CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark'

CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark' 5) WEEDS
Where to start? I think it's safe to say Weeds was basically done when Majestic drug-queen Nancy Botwin burnt down her neighborhood and hightailed it, with her children in tow, to Del Mar. After that, the whole critique of the suburbia status quo was lost, and each season felt like the writers were trying to start anew, changing the locale, characters, and just about everything else in hopes to light up some sort of magic.

CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark'
4) LOST
I admit, I found Lost absolutely ridiculous from about halfway through the first season. I stuck it out, though. And I will forever maintain the idea that this show was entirely lost. What was meant to be complex became convoluted, what was to be a conspiracy felt like the writers making everything up as they went along, desperately trying to connect the island's many whack-a-doo vines of logic together at the end.

CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark'
3) HEROES
What started as a fantastic super hero serial about humans quickly flew into the realm of gag-worthy and comic schtick. The series had so much promise. So much. But by the series' final season, in which the Sullivan brothers and the carnival rolled on in, it had, arguably, become way too much. Though the cheerleader was indestructible, the writers proved that Heroes was not.

CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark'
2) AMERICAN IDOL
Idol is undoubtedly the paramount example of reality shows overstaying their welcome, hiring and firing all-star judges to bring in ratings, and of course, bowing to the almighty dollar. When Cowell departed, everything came crashing down in a glitzy, Coca-Cola ad-spritzed mess. I think it's safe to say that not even the melodramatic Mariah Carey, nor the absolutely insane Nicki Minaj can bring Idol back. Let's just let this show rest, and allow Ryan Seacrest to move ahead with the next Kardashian spin-off.

CRITIC'S CUT: Most Notable Shows in Recent Years to 'Jump the Shark'
1) GLEE
It's irrefutable that Glee began to jump the shark prior to its current season - but let's just be honest: this whole show-within-a-show, splitting its time between the New Directions and kids actually going in a direction (Rachel and Kurt) is just, well, awkward. It does not work. Plus, its methodology of rehashing storylines is obviously lazy, and its unabashedly tolerant tone has hit a new high. It had so much promise in its first season. Remember how oddly dark the pilot was? Four years later, Glee is much less daring, and much more preachy.