On the third episode of the fifth season of the classic sitcom Happy Days, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzerelli memorably jumped over a shark while water skiing, still wearing his iconic leather jacket over his swimming trunks.
While the episode in question, "Hollywood: Part 3", is not considered one of the series' best, it was nonetheless a defining moment in the history of television.
As it inadvertently coined the phrase "jumping the shark", signifying when a once beloved television series has seen a serious decline in quality.
More often than not, most shows find themselves suffering this fate, namely when they've run out of ideas and should have gotten out while the getting was good.
Did anyone think the final season of Once Upon A Time made any sense?
However, thanks to intrepid writers and dedicated actors, certain shows manage to avoid shark-infested waters, and remain flawless, at least in the eyes of some fans, from beginning to end.
Redditor Calm-Hovercraft9858 was curious to hear which shows people thought were every bit as good when they finished as they were when they started, leading them to ask:
"What TV show never had a decline in quality?"
So Many Possibilities...
"No one's going to mention 'How It's Made?'"- ScumbagLady
Good Luck Explaining "The Germans" Episode Today Though...
"Fawlty Towers."
rowan atkinson GIFThe Only Renovation People Want To Keep Going...
"This Old House."- ripper4444
Some Would Call It Hypnotic...
"Everybody Loves Hypnotoad."- BuccellatiExplainsIt
Groundbreaking
"'Twilight Zone' the original Black and White."- sonoma95436
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"The Joy of Painting."
"RIP Bob Ross."- DuckFlat
Dont' Touch That Dial!
"On this Thanksgiving weekend, let us remember how WKRP in Cincinnati maintained excellence through all four seasons."
"Turkeys Away!"- ccguy
Things didn't get "Bad" till after the show was over...At Least for Bryan Cranston
"'Malcolm in the Middle' stayed pretty tried and true."- Letter10
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"The Golden Girls."- hi2squeak
B's Seem To Be Lucky...
"Band of Brothers."
"Breaking Bad."- 420DepravedDude
If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It...
"Stargate SG-1."
"It was a show that knew what it was."- Leeboman
stargate atlantis television GIFGiphyParents Like It Every Bit As Much...
"Bluey."- maebridge
Some People Make The Biggest Impact By Doing Very Little...
"Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."
"Fight me."- honest_true_man
television here's to you GIFBe it the ingenuity of the writers, the appeal of the cast, or just a genuinely great idea, some shows simply never lose their freshness.
Or are simply wise enough to know when to end, rather than try to freshen themselves up desperately.
Nope, I still haven't forgiven you Once Upon A Time...
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MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images
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