Shark Bytes

Is it possible for a show to jump the shark when it only lasted two episodes?

Jumped from day 1. Actually, it jumped before day 1. When I heard about the premise of this show, I almost didn't believe it. David E. Kelly must have been really stapped for ideas if that was the best he could come up with. I guess three young female lawyers taking on the old boys network would have been something really attention getting... 50 years ago. Hey David! For your next show why don't you really push the envelope. Why don't you include an interracial couple. Or a single mom. Or, or, better yet... show a man and a woman who live together. BUT THEY AREN'T MARRIED! Yeah, that'll stir up the controversy.

Believe it or not, not one but TWO reviews - JS Online ("On Wisconsin") and TIME Magazine - compared this show to another, older television show about three empowered young women who stick together, take on crime, and have big round eyes and squeaky little-kid voices. Both reviewers found the earlier show to be much more believable and much superior to "the lowercase lawyergirls". And what was the show that both reviews said made "girls club" look like so much of a joke in comparison? "The Powerpuff Girls".

Chyler Leigh was forced out of 3 shows in 12 months ('80s, GC, and then another DEK vehicle, The Practice, in a cost-cutting move). She is, as ESPN The Magazine would say, The Next One (in this case, the next Teddy Mac). By the way, to the poster right above, unless you were obviously joking (and it's sometimes hard to tell on these online posts), I must say that there NEVER WAS a 3rd episode. GC had 2, the same amount as Melba (Moore), and at least THAT show had the excuse of its premiere having to follow the Challenger disaster by mere hours.

Once Tuesday from That 80's Show started doing drugs in the third episode, I turned off the show. Also, who the hell cast Gretchen Mol? She can't act at all. I fast forward through any scene in "Rounders" in which she appears.

Thin to thinner. That's the DEK way. Except that this was Ally McBeal times three, minus the amiable quirky nature. From a bona fide lawyer, you're entitled to much better than that

Thank GOD they cancelled this show so quickly. When the commercials aired, if I remember correctly, it seemed that it was supposed to be about three smart, deserving young women trying to make it in a law firm instead bumping their heads on the glass ceiling, or something to that effect. As strident as that kind of plot becomes without a subtle touch (NOT DEK's strong point), it would have been infinitely preferable to what we got instead: three self-important, snotty brats in whose minds arrogance to authority is perfectly acceptable, as is abandoning professionalism and basic maturity when things don't go their way (waah), and citing "acting on impulse" as an acceptable excuse for screaming homophobic slurs in the workplace is perfectly reasonable--as if anyone would want to continue to employ someone who actually *acts* on such impulses. I hate that DEK tried to make us feel sorry for these women, marginalized by the obligatory nasty men and ugly, bitchy women, when it's their own behavior that is more immediately reprehensible. Grow up.

Why even a single episode of this show aired is one of the great mysteries of the 21st Century.

Ok, the show had problems, but to cancel it so soon? Make changes first. If that doesn't work, THEN you can cancel it. Kathleen Robertson (Claire from 90210) was the best thing about this show. She's an incredible actress and as hot as hell. Why was this cancelled but crap like Friends, Frasier, The Practice and Becker are still on? So many shows had terrible ratings in their first season and were under threat of cancellation: Cheers, Married With Children, Roseanne, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210. Look what happened to them: the most successful shows of the 90's. And Seinfeld: cancelled after ONE episode, then picked up a year later for 4 episodes as a mid season replacement. Do I even need to say how successful that show turned out. This show deserved more time. Emmy-worthy Kathleen Robertson will find success with her talent. She was smart enough to get off 90210 before it jumped the shark. (College Graduation. Although that was her final episode, so I guess it jumped the shark because she left)

I, on the other hand, didn't mind the eye candy. I could have watched a few more episodes before they pulled the plug. (OK, I could have watched a few more Kathleen Robertson scenes before they pulled the plug.)

Didn't need to even watch to know it was going to be crap. Any show that has an old cast member from 90210 has an instant kiss of death stigma attached to it, especially that shitty Claire. Fox is trying to capitalize on the success they thought they had with 90210 by making more horrible shows with the same bad actors (Tiffani Thiessen in Fastlane, perhaps?) Like I said, I didn't watch the show but just had to rest my head knowing that it was cancelled. No one in their right mind should ever give that Claire another role, ever. I'm doing a happy dance right now knowing that I can watch Fox without seeing that fugly untalented bitch on promos for yet another bad lawyer show. Maybe Fox will give Brian Green his own variety show like Cedric. I think at that point i'll have to somehow block Fox from my television.

In addition to the hideousness of this show, I would just like to comment on the above poster who claims to be a law student and to submit on behalf of myself and all other American law students, I am quite embarrassed that a person like him/her is attempting to represent the rest of us in critiquing law-based television shows. I don't know which law school made the mistake of admitting you (perhaps you are the one who has been handing out sexual favors), but the typographic and grammatical errors contained in your posts are evidence enough that you shouldn't be so quick to voice an opinion on who would be hired at a large firm. Good luck with the job search. You'll need it. But I agree that this show was an abomination and should never have been given a chance to jump. A balance should be struck between reality and dramatization on television programs and this show (like almost every one of Kelley's others) completely missed the mark.

I didn't even have to watch the show to consider this show crap!! It was a stupid knock off Ally McBeal. In fact it looked like they were reincarnations of Ally, Ling, and Nell. Chyler Leigh a lawyer? C'mon her punk character on "That's 80's Show" was better and that was cancelled. I think anyone who would've guessed stared on that show would have to kill themselves afterwards. Even Ted McGinley has standards. This is a perfect example of David E. Kelley's 15 minutes wizzing by. REALITY CHECK DAVEY.. GIVE UP!! IT'S OVER!!! NOBODY WANT'S TO SEE ANOTHER LAWYER SHOW!!!

It jumped when i noticed that clair from 90210 got a more realistic nose job before starting a new show. I guess michael jackson wanted the square, plastic one their shared, back!

I watched this show because I liked That '80s Show and wanted to see if Chyler Leigh would get the chance she deserved with her first series. That being said, I agree with many of the posters who point out how unlikable the characters were. As least professionally. It seemed as though we were supposed to be on their side, when in reality, everything the partners did to them (other than the possible sexual harassment) were perfectly normal, if not acceptable. I am almost curious to know where they would have eventually taken it. I don't care that I won't ever find out, I'm just mad that Fox replaced it with Boston Public reruns. Replace crap with rerun crap. But I also agree with the people who are not jumping down David Kelley's throat. As mentioned, it is fiction. It is really a parody of what new female employees of a law firm go through. Let's face it, there aren't any bars in American like Cheers. I'm worked in hospital ERs before, and they are nothing like ER, Chicago Hope or St. Elsewhere. And comparing the ratings of ER to TLC's Trauma, Life in the ER shows exactly WHY writers fictionalize the experience. So I don't blame Kelley for that. Nor do I think that Fix is all that upset with him. I personally haven't liked any show he has done. However, he has possible given Fox more profits than any other single person ever. Even more than Matt Groenig. So I think Fox can overlook one clunker.