Has Dancing with the Stars Jumped the Shark?
After almost every elimination, I get someone sending a message on the Pure DWTS contact form about how they’re never going to watch DWTS again. Many think that we’re the producers of DWTS, which I can assure you were are not! Most of these messages are easily ignored since it’s natural that fans of certain stars and pros are angry that they’ve been sent home. In most cases, those people end up coming back and watching DWTS again.
This season those messages have come at a much bigger rate than ever before. Most of the messages have revolved around Bristol Palin on the show (and sticking around) and the departure of Sabrina (which many thought was too early). The sheer volume has me wondering about the impact these events have had on DWTS. However, more disturbing has been the content of the messages. Usually you can just see the underlying anger about a specific incident. The messages this season have focused more on the show in general.
Certainly the ratings are down this season, but that could be caused by a ton of different X factors and Voices. However, I’ll be interested to see if this is a trend that continues in future seasons (yes, the ratings are still far from the show being cancelled).
With all of this in mind, I ask the question, has Dancing with the Stars “Jumped the Shark”? You can vote in the widget below (Click on Yes or No to vote):
For those not familiar with the term Jump the Shark, here’s the wikipedia description:
Jumping the shark is an idiom created by Jon Hein that is used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery. The phrase is also used to refer to a particular scene, episode, or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of “gimmick” in a desperate attempt to keep viewers’ interest.
In its initial usage, it referred to the point in a television program’s history when the program had outlived its freshness and viewers had begun to feel that the show’s writers were out of new ideas, often after great effort was made to revive interest in the show by the writers, producers, or network.
I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the poll and your thoughts in the comments.
I voted No, but I also think people’s response may have to do with how long they have been watching the show. I just got really into DWTS last season, so I only have YouTube videos as a frame of reference to how the show used to be.
I will say that I haven’t always enjoyed some of the curveballs that the producers have thrown in (i.e. different dance styles, Country week), but some new things I have enjoyed are letting the couples pick dance styles for each other and the upcoming trio dance and fusion dances. Unfortunately these curveballs have also interrupted the flow of the show, but that is bound to happen when trying new things. Hopefully TPTB will be able to learn from these hiccups in the future and smooth things out.
Like anything, it just depends on how many new things viewers are able to cope with and enjoy. It will be interesting to see how many new elements from this season TPTB keep for future seasons.
It also depends on how much people like the changes. The problem is that change doesn’t always mean better and a lot of times it means worse.
Trivia – the first usage of “Jumping the shark” was the Happy Days scene where Fonzie *literally* jumped a shark on waterskies…
This show has never been about true ballroom competition; it’s always been show dances loosly based on the styles at best. That said, I’d rather it stay there than delve into contemporary, hip hop, etc…
I voted no. I remember watching Fonzie literally jump the shark on “Happy Days” and thinking “What has happened to this show?” Although there are parts of DWTS that may annoy me at times, I haven’t had that “WTF?” moment yet with the show.
Great poll idea, John
And just to add to your definition of “Jump the Shark” – the term itself stems from later season episode of Happy Days where Fonzie waterskiied over a shark. Up until that point, the show had been realistic and relatable, so the sudden turn to the outlandish & gimmicky seemed to signify the downfall of the show. There used to be a website called “Jump the Shark” that was basically an archive of all the tv shows that were perceived by viewers as “having jumped the shark” in various ways, and it even broke it down by category – there was the “very special episode” shark (where a normally comedic show suddenly decides to attack serious subject matter in a special episode), the “big move” shark (where the setting of the show itself is inexplicably moved to a new city – i.e. the move from Miami to LA in Nip/Tuck), even the “Ted McGinley” shark (a tendency for shows to go downhill after Ted McGinley guest stars…this has happened more than you might think!). It was actually a really cool site, but I can’t find it now 
I think it got bought out and they ran it into the ground…but I digress…
…Heidi & I have been chatting for awhile now (since probably season 11, when eveyone thought they had jumped the shark by having Bristol on the show) about how DWTS is probably closer to the END of its run, as opposed to the beginning. All shows eventually decline – it’s just the things that they do and the changes that they make that determine how fast they decline. When I first heard about the all-star season, I kinda wondered if this was maybe a move to try and reboot the show – to add a fresh twist that might keep ratings afloat (ironically, by doing the opposite of “fresh”: bringing back former contestants). When shows start making changes like this (or making seemingly uneccessary changes, like adding all sorts of new dance styles), I think they may actually be hastening their decline, as opposed to slowing it down. Screw too much with the formula viewers have grow familiar with, and you lose them. Don’t screw with it enough, and things get stale? You lose them. It’s a delicate balance.
I was chatting with a coworker the other day about how I think we’re witnessing the death throes of the reality tv talent competition – interest in shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, & even DWTS seems to be waning across the board. It’s been over 10 years since Idol hit the airwaves, and while it was a massive hit at first that churned out legitimate musicians, I hear less & less about the winners as the years wear on. Gone are the days of singers with longevity like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, & Chris Daughtry – I couldn’t tell you what Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, or Scotty McCreery have been up to since they won. Similar declines in quality seem to be occuring on AGT, SYTYCD, & ABDC as well – SYTYCD has yet to be renewed for another season, AGT is going through struggles with judge changes and a lack of truly unique talent, and ABDC is recycling just about every aspect of their show in an attempt to stay relevant. Fads in television wax & wane – I think the song & dance competition reality show is just on its way out. I think in a few years from now, most of these shows probably won’t be around anymore – the question is, where is television headed now? What’s the next big fad in television that will spawn a million different iterations of the same concept?
I voted “no” too. The show may have it’s times where ratings fall,etc but, if you look at the other shows, they are usually down in numbers too for some reason (ie: football or something else competing with it). It hasn’t lost it’s appeal or edge yet imo. If it has, it’s not been by much or enough to worry on.
Loves this Poll, John!!! THANKS!
I voted no, and have been watching every season since 4. While there are many, ok MANY things, I’d like to change with the show (mostly consistency of judges), I still like the overall idea of the show. I think a new judge or panel of judges may help. But even if they want to keep same judges, they just need to NOT PLAY FAVORITES. Every season there is one or two stars each judge fawns over excessively and one or two they have an irrational dislike of.
But even if judges stay their blatantly transparent selves, I’ll still watch. I’ve loved dance shows on tv since the 70′s-80′s when I had a crush on Deney Terrio on Dance Fever. (Came on right after Solid Gold). LOL! But I do also watch SYTYCD and really enjoy watching hip-hop the most there. I like to watch all kinds of dancing, and DWTS DOES seem to do a good job of showcasing ballroom in a fun way, IMO.
Good analysis and history. Interestingly, I think Survivor and Amazing Race have also had staying power as reality shows and I don’t see that waning. It’s not increasing, but I think they’re still doing well. A little different comparison. I won’t even bring up the cable reality TV which gives a bad name to talent reality TV shows I think.
I agree Vogue that it’s not time to worry about DWTS being cancelled. Plus, the ratings could just be down because it’s the All Star season. A regular season might boost ratings back, especially if they can get the right stars.
I voted “no” but I really wanted to vote “maybe”. As excited as I was for this All-Star season, I feel shortchanged in a sense. There are just too many different themes/dances/messes each week. This season more than ever, it just seem like anything goes.
Could it be heading toward the end? Maybe or Maybe Not, kind of like my initial response above.
My grandmother always used to say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
People around here tend to over simplify ratings as being “down” and then try to list factors. Fact is ALL TV IS DOWN. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/22/abc-cbs-fox-commercial-ratings-getting-crushed-vs-last-season-too/154136/
There are hundreds of TV stations now for people to choose from. The networks have to up their game if they want to stay in the game. That said, DWTS is STILL a top 10 show – it would be a Top 5 show if not for sports. In non-sports programming it’s only getting beat in total viewers by NCIS, Big Bang Theory and Person of Interest. It’s beating the Voice in total viewers EASILY. It has NEVER been a top 10 show in the demographic, so nothing new there.
Heck, when the world series wasn’t on, DWTS was the 5th show in total viewers and the results show was 10th.
I think they have tried a few things or made some choices for the show over seasons that have bombed,been aggravating and caused ppl to criticise. But this season it is like they are trying to throw in every twist turn or kitchen sink that ANYONE EVER thought of. I think it has helped to spoil what many fans really looked forward to,it has made the show seem messy, random and not really about the best dancing of returning champs. I think it has really hurt the quality of the dancing…only 2 or 3 of the returning stars have been able to cope with this season and dance well. I think there are at least 7 or 8 this season who could have turned in some decent performances but they and the pros are concerned about the twists and turns along with the usual pressure to “have chemistry” the pressure, hype and attitudes that have gotten over the top and the show “promoting” that kind of disruption. The dancing and production, with a couple of exceptions, is a mess, lower than the standards of a regular season.
And this show like many others is beginning to be a little bit too much about the judges. I think the first couple of seasons they were just allowed “to Judge”. They made a few comments about the dancing. Then something happened..I think, (and this is just my opinion), they were “asked” to make their comments more interesting or controversial and further on, I think somehow scoring, in the last 4 or 5 seasons, is on “some type of curve” to try to ensure certain stars remain (for ratings reasons or promises made or something) because the judging this season, even more noticably than the last 4 seasons does NOT match the dancing.
There have been sloppy, no content dances praised to high heaven and given huge scores and dances as close to perfect as you can do, get lower scores. People being told one week to step up quality and that MORE is expected from them and when they do more, get horrid comments and lower scores. Others “phoning it in, stumbling and the camera angles shot in a way to help cover and the judges raving about “a great performance. I have seen every episode of this show, dance, teach and represent dancers but this will probably be the last season I really keep up with or watch this show. I may tape or watch if certain stars are on…..but if more seasons like this are coming I won’t watch regularly.
I voted “yes”, I have been watching the show since season 2, I stopped for a couple of seasons, but then went back. And honestly at this point I can stop watching at any point, something I would not say 1-2-3 seasons ago.
The judges have never been fair – but now it seems just ridiculous; Bristol an All-Star?; extreme story-boarding – the things I really dislike now.
I actually am OK with the dance changes – styles as well as fusion.
My 2 cents.
I dunno, Court – the Voice kinda changed my mind a bit on that. The massive success of that show in the perfect Demo (it’s getting beat by DWTS in total viewers, tho) is, to me, an example of what you have to do to keep that type of show around. You have to give it a fresh twist, a new look. The Voice did that very well, I think. That’s the same reason why the X Factor hasn’t fared nearly as well. It’s an American Idol reboot complete with Simon Cowell. I predicted it very accurately before that show aired it’s first episode. I think the casting of the judges and the hosts on those shows is KEY. Again, why The Voice does so much better than X Factor. I think most viewers love the interaction between the judges on the Voice and the over all TONE of the show. Not so much on the X Factor. Now, looking at the most recent weeks ratings, X Factor only gets 6.17 million viewers to The Voices 3.79 million viewers for a REPEAT. The Voice gets 11-12 million total viewers for new shows, to DWTS 13-14 million viewers. X factor is about HALF that. So, I think it’s not just that type of show in general, but the format, the people, etc that’s key. Which is just like scripted tv. If it looks the same as something old, then why watch it?
I think the fact that DWTS is still in the Top 5 to Top 10 in total viewers – exactly where it’s always been – shows that it can maintain for a while as long as they don’t screw with it too much. Which is exactly what they are doing. Combine that with the epic decline in general of broadcast viewers and it’s not just DWTS that’s in trouble. I’ll be curious to see what happens as well. I think that these types of shows – with the right people involved – can be around for a very long time. But that takes creativity and risk and resisting the urge to tinker.
ETA: I think that it’s a mistake to include whether shows produce legitimate talent or not in the equation. I feel like that has always been secondary to the real function of those shows which is to provide an hour or two of entertainment. Idol produced artists, but that wasn’t critical to it’s success as a TV show. It’s clearly not critical to the success of DWTS. I htink all the shows Court mentions are just too much alike and there’s not enough room for them all. I think DWTS benefits from the “star” angle. But who knows?
For now I’m gonna say No………………that might change to yes when the producers have the guys do a chip n dale routine and they get the pole out for the girls.
Princess Heidi,
I’ve been a big fan of the Voice for many of the reasons you mention. Although, it really hit home when I switched on X Factor last night and realized how their singers sucked compared to The Voice. I couldn’t keep watching. The Voice has me spoiled with great singers.
“But that takes creativity and risk and resisting the urge to tinker.”
This is the balance that Court talks about. Being creative enough to change something, but not Tinker so much that you kill your audience. Mark Burnett is genius at this which is why Survivor has lasted so long and why the changes to The Voice this season are working well.
I couldn’t even stick to watching The Voice for an entire season.
That Carson is good, he usually has the microphone in the correct hand in order to free up the other one to raise their arm in the battle rounds. I always wondered if he already knew whom they were going to choose before they even performed.
I voted yes and then reconsidered after reading comments. I do think the producers are guilty of throwing in too many changes – and that has really driven me away this season. That and Bristol. If they can get their formula under control and stay away from polarizing stars, they should do alright.
LOL, Sandy.
My watching of the Voice has more to do with the interaction of the judges (particularly Blake and Adam) than anything else.
I agree with Heidi that The Voice has done well because it took the American Idol formula and gave it a fresh twist.
I can see a show trying new things to see if the audience responds, say like DWTS having couples pick dances for each other, introducing new dances like Contemporary and Bollywood, etc. If the audience doesn’t like it or the outcome is unfavorable, don’t do it again.
What would it take for DWTS to jump the shark for me? Replacing Tom Bergeron with someone like J-Lo’s boytoy, for example. I never know how to say something’s jumped the shark until it’s acutally happened then I sit there and go, “Wow. They jumped the shark there.”
I’d say DWTS jumped the shark quite a few seasons ago, but that doesn’t mean it is in imminent danger of cancelation or that it still can’t throw a random hit season in there (i.e. #12). Oh though, how I miss the days when people simply learned, performed, and professionally critiqued & scored on a dance without all the drama, storyboarding, scripting, fauxshowmancing, backstage staging, theme weeks, inappropriate music, non-Ballroom dancing, non-stars, non-favoritism, troupes, shock jock judge comments, seeming last minute rule changes, 20 different dance styles in one night, pairs having 80 different dances a week, marathon dances, team dances, scored group dances, judges yapping during performances, the peanut gallering participation of the supersized studio audience…
I’m a long-time viewer and I still love the show and it’s the only reality-type program that I watch with any regularity, although I do enjoy SYTYCD when I get a chance to catch it. Sure there are occasional annoyances with DWTS but overall I still think it’s a special program that delivers entertainment, laughs, joy, tears, amazement, and the occasional eye-roll. Even with all the storyboarding, tinkering by the producers, screwy judging, I think it still has a genuine human element that helps it rise above most of television. Plus, my guess is that even with an overall decline in ratings, it’s still probably one of the most profitable shows out there and while I don’t think we’ll get twenty more seasons, I imagine that it’s in no danger of cancellation.
Heidi, there is a reason that “ALL” TV is down. They are NOT catching the interest of the people.
People are finding the shows boring, been there seen that or too blantly vulgar to watch, or who wants to watch repeat after repeat of a 61 year old slobbering all over Maks or a soap cougar slobbering all over Val a 25 year old when soaps are being canceled on networks and replaced by other shows.
DWTS needs to watch what they are putting on the show. Stars as in Shawn, Melissa, Emmett, can’t slobber all over the pros to get the winning votes(in my case loose the votes because I wouldn’t vote for that)
Shawn is a little too young to expect to do that, Emmett is VERY married, Melissa is VERY married and her pro also is VERY married.
NOW those are the exact ones I watch because I a SICK of the others!
I excuse myself for a drink of water or bathroom break during those dances because I am sick of it and NOTHING anyone tells TPTB about how sick they are of it does any good it only causes more of IT!
So my aggitation is from complaints being looked at as OK NOW I WILL DO THAT ANNOYANCE MORE.
Will I watch this week? on the fence about it.
There are 3 I REALLY ok maybe 4 I really want to see walk out the doors of all stars forever: Gilles, Kirstie, Kelly and another couple I won’t mention.
There is a REASON DWTS has fallen from 27 million viewers to struggling to get 11 to 12 million.
If DWTS looses viewers to SPORTS or activities other than TV…. It is the shows fault. It means they are turning OFF viewers and the viewers are loosing interest.
That’s my conclusion of DWTS problems. They don’t listen to the viewers and THEY CERTAINLY don’t have there fingers on the pulse of those 15 million that stopped watching DWTS.
The voice meanwhile is growing in the ratings they had an increase recently of 17%. That is huge! When Shakira gets on the show I expect to see DWTS DROP like a ROCK from an airplane. She will draw many!
Heidi: Just my own evaluation
It may be also time to save the show by deleting Tom and Brooke for Carson or some other fun personality. Tom’s jokes are getting old and Brookes questions have always been old!
BUT they haven’t even gotten rid of the stale, unfair, lack of viewer’s approval judges.
Instead of gripping all the time about it and nothing be done about it, I totally understand why people stop watching DWTS.
The best thing that happened to Two and a Half Men was Charlie leaving, the show is rebounding and doing very well in the ratings and increasing in viewers each week.
I think Tom is the glue that takes the show from good to great. In my opinion, the frustration with the show stems from the judges not judging fairly, giving point to those who shouldn’t get them and withholding them from those who deserve them. I just can’t get over Kirstie and Shawn getting the same scores…it is ludicrous and while I think the show can survive…if it doesn’t I think that is when it jumped the shark. By the way I am a fan of Kirstie’s so this is not about her personally.
Speaking of the X Factor and “jumping the shark” (if things don’t shape up in a hurry), I was so disappointed in this week’s first LIVE shows. All the contestants were so over produced and manufactured that you couldn’t even hear them sing or feel any emotion in their performances, etc. I have a friend who is watching as well and he was disappointed too.
And Khloe Kardashian …omg, she was just awful as a host. What was Simon thinking getting her? My friend and I are hoping she gets picked to go home next week instead of one the contestants. lol
Vogue, apparently Cheslie Hightower is getting some heat for critizing Khloe…and good for Chelsie, she’s standing her ground. (Of all the Kardashians, I find Khloe the most tolerable, so I don’t have anything against her, but if she’s not a good host, then she’s not a good host.)
I agree with you, Lynne, about Tom. That’s why I said earlier that replacing him would be jumping the shark. Sure, he can be a bit corny sometimes, but I think the show in general can be a bit corny. (That’s one of the reasons why I watch it.)
Gee, not catchng the interest of viewers…you don’t say, Sweepster. Pretty sure I just said that.
Then the rest of your post just shows that you weren’t paying attention and don’t understand the ratings at all.
I voted “yes” because I think DWTS is on the downhill part of the road. Does that mean I’m going to stop watching? No. I still very much enjoy the show. However, I do feel TPTB, with all their storyboarding and “novel” twists, are starting to reach for the botox injections, like some aging star desperately trying to hang onto the past by trying to appear young and fresh.
PH said “I think DWTS benefits from the “star” angle”, and for me that’s 100% true. DWTS is the only “competition” reality show I watch. I have absolutely ZERO interest in a show where the “competitors” are trying to “get a contract” to start their artistic career. I like DWTS precisely because there’s very little to be gained by winning the MBT. As Evaine (God bless her glittery spirit) reminds us, it’s a sparkly dance show. If there was something substantial to win (or lose) on DWTS, I wouldn’t be watching. Maybe that’s just me being a contrarian, but that’s how I feel about it.
I still enjoy the show, warts and all.
I think the show has jumped the shark in terms of judging. In the beginning, it seemed like dances were actually judged based on what we saw live on the dance floor. But season after season it just keeps getting worse – to the point where everyone is always SO CLOSE and scores are based much more on who’s getting viewer votes (or not) and who’s good to keep around for ratings. I don’t blame the judges as much as I blame the producers. The producers are pulling the puppet strings, telling the judges what to do and it’s a shame. Even if you replace the judges, it might freshen up the faces, but it won’t change the scoring.
The dancing has been amazing and I’m so glad they did an All-Stars, but I’m wondering if future seasons will be hurt because it’s hard to go back to mediocre or even bad dancing when we’re so spoiled now. Also, being up against a show like The Voice is tough – I love that show too! (Watch one, DVR the other
NO….There will always be someone who gets voted off these types of shows that people complain about. People have to realiize that some of the stars share the same fan base. I voted for Sabrina to return but I DID NOT vote for her on the show because I had 3 other favorites.
I voted yes. I have faithfully watched this show since day 1 of Season 1.
It seems every year the judges scoring and sad to say, the peoples voting, has become more and more unbelievable.
Name one other show where those who receive the lowest judges scores continue on, while those with higher scores (even top scores) are kicked off? I believe that is what is turning the people off the show.
Could you see for example, in the Olympics – the person receiving the perfect 10 is eliminated and the person who received the worst score is given the gold medal. Well, that is basically what has been going on the last few seasons.
Season 1 had an outcry when the person at or near the bottom the whole time won, while the one who received steady high scores lost. Their solution was to have a dance-off which proved who was better(the person who lost John O’Hurley)..yet her title remained. For those who were not watching it was Kelly Monaco.If you have noticed, that the judges have made several comments about her performance that season.
Now again, she is at the bottom, yet a high scorer went home.
Some will say it is because she is a Soap star. Think about it ! If Soaps are being cancelled because (according to the networks) no one is watching them, where are all her votes coming from? She would have to have received at least as many votes as everybody else on there, plus thousands more than any of them to make up for her low judges score.
Does that even seem possible? You do realize that if this continues to happen, we will again have a champion who was at the bottom judges scores.
Why isn’t it possible to show how many votes each person got? Afterall, we know almost immediately during a Presidential election and that is the whole nation voting, surely they can handle these votes.The only problem would be that we would then know that our votes are not the ones keeping the people in (or out).
I enjoy the dancing, even the new ones they have added…but as long as the eliminations go the way they have been, I see the end of this show!
We are supposed to be judging who “danced” the best, not who has a big fan base because they are on a certain show, or band group, or political affiliation, or Disney sponsored show.The show is called “Dancing”, not “walking” or “standing still.”
If this show is to survive ( and I hope it does) there has to be a lot of changes made to keep the integrity of the show.