Jumping the Shark

My one and only appearance thus far on Shortland Street has had none of the expected or desired effects. It has not furthered my acting career, it has not given me street-recognition, and it has not even prompted an invitation to appear on “Shorty Street” again. The fact that I was not prominent in Ellen DeGeneres’ Academy Awards’ selfie is further evidence of my abject failure as an actor—shared by Lisa Minnelli. And the reason I have grown a beard is not, as I hoped, to escape unwanted attention, but simply because everybody else is doing it and I have a fear of loneliness.
So, there I am a sad forlorn case consigned to watching Jones and its repeat broadcasts of some of the classic shows of my youth. And therein lies a silver if somewhat perverse lining and a vivid example that I am in fact not alone. Many of the actors seen on Jones today are, like me, one-hit wonders, or close to it. Many are dead of course and it is very hard to come back from that even for The Love Boat or Fantasy Island. But others are consigned to memory, rest homes or the nostalgia circuit. Which is where I think some of their shows should also stay. Opinions will differ but it is clear that some shows stand the test of time (and a repeat on Jones) while others do not. Of those that do not—in my opinion—I would list, among others, Happy Days, On the Busses, and Bonanza. Of those I believe warrant repeats and I am thoroughly enjoying are Columbo (Stephen Fry calls Columbo one of his favourites), High Chaparral, and Cheers.
British comedies such as Dad’s Army deserve even more repeat viewings, but where is Hancock’s Half Hour?
Some of the programmes I have listed were in fact in the midst of their death throes first time around, which makes the repeats even more inexplicable. Uppermost among these are the later episodes (post Ron Howard) of Happy Days. Watch them now. Fonzie is a shadow of his former self—resorting to jumping over sharks in an ill-conceived foray to Hawaii. That very act, jumping a shark, has become a nomenclature for any show that resorts to outlandish situations to instil life into a moribund corpse. Another trick was to introduce new blood, usually someone sickingly cute. Happy days had Chachi Arcola  (Scott Baio) and the dreadful Roger Philips (Ted McGinley), and All in the Family introduced kids in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to infuse life into an already dead programme. Archie didn’t need it; nor, before him, did Alf have it.
But good on Jones for bringing these shows—good and bad—back. Where else on television these days can you see again such great characters as Buck Cannon and Manolito Montoya (High Chaparral), Norm and Cliff (Cheers), Louie De Palma and Reverend Jim" Ignatowski (Taxi) and of course Columbo?
It is just a great pity that we have to wade through sharks to get to them.