4 ms·

"I think some of the reason 'Calvin and Hobbes' still finds an audience today is because I chose not to run the wheels off it." A good, good lesson.

jodrellblank 17y ago
You only need to look at Garf-Eel to see how the alternative can play out: http://www.comics.chickennation.com/2010/01/26/garf-eel/ http://www.comics.chickennation.com/2010/01/26/garf-eel/
mattm 17y ago
It would be great if the entertainment industry could learn this lesson.
goatforce5 17y ago
Fawlty Towers ended after only 12 episodes because John Cleese basically wanted every episode to be 100% awesome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers#Episode_guide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers#Episode_guide (see the last para in that section)
- gcheong 17y ago
  The original version of "The Office" ended for similar reasons I believe. Contrast that to the American "let's beat this thing till it jumps the shark" version.
  - RyanMcGreal 17y ago
    I approached the American version of The Office with trepidation for this very reason (in fact I avoided it altogether until after the fourth season had come out). When I finally started watching it, I was delighted to discover that it is, if anything, even better than the original. The characters are more complex and richly realized; the boss is as much an object of pity and even compassion as of scorn (er, Scarn); and Dwight is almost unbearably awesome. There may be a shark-jumping in the show's future (heck, it may be happening as I write this - I won't get to see the current season until it comes out on DVD this coming September), but I haven't seen it yet.
    - gcheong 17y ago
      Well for me it has jumped the shark but that doesn't mean I won't watch the odd episode now and then but my point is that American shows almost never leave on a high note.
      - dasil003 17y ago
        Lost Season 6 starts tomorrow and I have high high hopes. Perhaps too high.
  - FluidDjango 17y ago
    Actually, I don't think the 'studios' (or networks) mind jumping the shark. The slogan seems to be, "let's beat this thing till the revenue drops."

jodrellblank 17y ago

You only need to look at Garf-Eel to see how the alternative can play out: http://www.comics.chickennation.com/2010/01/26/garf-eel/ http://www.comics.chickennation.com/2010/01/26/garf-eel/

mattm 17y ago

It would be great if the entertainment industry could learn this lesson.

goatforce5 17y ago

Fawlty Towers ended after only 12 episodes because John Cleese basically wanted every episode to be 100% awesome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers#Episode_guide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers#Episode_guide (see the last para in that section)

gcheong 17y ago
The original version of "The Office" ended for similar reasons I believe. Contrast that to the American "let's beat this thing till it jumps the shark" version.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  I approached the American version of The Office with trepidation for this very reason (in fact I avoided it altogether until after the fourth season had come out). When I finally started watching it, I was delighted to discover that it is, if anything, even better than the original. The characters are more complex and richly realized; the boss is as much an object of pity and even compassion as of scorn (er, Scarn); and Dwight is almost unbearably awesome. There may be a shark-jumping in the show's future (heck, it may be happening as I write this - I won't get to see the current season until it comes out on DVD this coming September), but I haven't seen it yet.
  - gcheong 17y ago
    Well for me it has jumped the shark but that doesn't mean I won't watch the odd episode now and then but my point is that American shows almost never leave on a high note.
    - dasil003 17y ago
      Lost Season 6 starts tomorrow and I have high high hopes. Perhaps too high.
- FluidDjango 17y ago
  Actually, I don't think the 'studios' (or networks) mind jumping the shark. The slogan seems to be, "let's beat this thing till the revenue drops."