TV shows, particularly popular ones, can be pretty reluctant to change. The old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems like a rallying call for network TV shows. This is why there is a ceaseless barrage of cop shows with will-they-won't-they romantic entanglements and sitcoms with, well, the same thing. Animated shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy point out the ridiculousness of continuing to return to stasis at the end of every episode (Homer becomes a millionaire, then loses all of his money, then goes back to working at the plant probably fifty times). Networks reason that if Gilligan ever left the island, there wouldn't be a show anymore. But magical TV worlds in which nothing ever changes can become stagnant and pretty boring, so we're here to suggest big twists to TV shows that need a kick in the pants to stay fresh. Not all of these shows are bad, in fact some are pretty great, but all of them could take off again after a new creative jolt. Just because a TV show is successful doesn't mean audiences will resist change: the last season of Breaking Bad proved that exciting TV could be made by throwing out the formula altogether. Obviously, some people are going to think that these changes would negatively impact these shows (the title is called Shocking Twists for a reason), but the important thing is for these shows to consider ideas that tweak their concepts. Now on to the list...
Bryan Hickman is a WhatCulture contributor residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bryan's passions include film, television, basketball, and writing about himself in the third person.
